Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > June 2006 > 2006.06.13 > 06Prev  Next


Autopiano Player Piano & Auto Pneumatic Action
By Jeffrey R. Wood

Autopianos were built over a period of roughly twenty years.  Different
models were made concurrently and, during this long course of production,
many changes in construction occurred, mainly to simplify the mechanism
and/or to reduce production costs.  Generally speaking, the later
instruments do not allow enough space for the installation of an
earlier player action, or extensive alterations will be required in
one, the other, or both.

Here is a representative sampling of Autopianos I've observed over the
years:

Auto Pneumatic Action:
  Studio model, 65-note only
  Studio model, 65-88 note
  Conservatory model (taller than Studio), 88-note only

Auto DeLuxe Action:
  (Medium-sized instrument, very well made)

Standard Player Action, single-valve:
  (Autopiano by this time essentially identical to Kohler & Campbell,
Francis Bacon and other makes built in the same factory.  Casting
bearing name bolted to pin block but separate from plate.)

In addition, the Auto Pneumatic Action, one of the finest player
actions ever built, was advertised as "Used in 90 per cent of the
Highest Grade Player Pianos".  In larger instruments, the Auto
Pneumatic Action is found to have stack pneumatics significantly
longer than in the smaller.  Renamed during the early teens "Auto
DeLuxe" or "Standard" (depending upon grade), it became one of the
most popular makes.

Jeffrey R. Wood


(Message sent Tue 13 Jun 2006, 12:55:51 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Auto, Autopiano, Piano, Player, Pneumatic

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page