I just acquired a very early upright piano in a rosewood cabinet
with brass band inlay and brass applied decorations, Empire styling.
The keyboard has just six octaves and the cabinet is about 6'8" tall.
There is no name except traces of an elaborate name and decorations
remain on the curved key cover.  Serial number 2570 so there were
several built.

Now for the interesting part.  Below the keyboard is a pinned
cylinder (not changeable) which has a compass of 45 keys and is driven
by a fusee drive but has a coiled spring in a drum instead of a weight.
All parts are hand made and forged so it is early.  The cylinder has
only one tune and is spirally pinned and probably plays for about ten
minutes.  Closer observation to the cylinder reveals that the pins are
set at different heights to render expression(!), the higher the pin
the greater force applied to the key reader lever.

Does anyone know who made this instrument?  My guess it was built about
1820-40.  Has anyone encountered piano cylinder pinning with different
heights before?

Greg Filardo