Art Reblitz and I are continuing our gathering of information for
what is planned to be an important study of coin-operated pianos and
orchestrions made or sold in the United States.  At the moment we
are involved with Peerless instruments.  If anyone has any leaflets,
catalogues, letterheads, photographs, roll catalogues, or historical
information not reflected in the books we have done, we would be very
grateful for the opportunity to correspond.

Most (but not all) instruments were sold under the Peerless name.
The company names are these:

- Roth & Engelhardt, St. Johnsville, NY, 1889-1913 (pianos 1899 onward).
Peerless instruments.

- Engelhardt-Seybold Company 1913-1915, St. Johnsville, NY, and
Chicago, Illinois.  Peerless instruments.  Seybold Style SA (of which
we know little).

- National Music Roll Co., St. Johnsville, NY, 1913 to the late 1920s.

- Engelhardt Piano Co. St. Johnsville, NY. 1916 to the 1920s.
"Engelhardt" instruments as well as Peerless.

- National Electric Piano Co., St. Johnsville, NY.  Peerless instruments.

While the above query relates mostly to illustrations and historical
information, as part of the project Art Reblitz is seeking photographs,
serial numbers, and other information regarding extant coin-operated
instruments made by any of the above.  Certain of the Engelhardt Piano
Co. and National Electric Piano Co. instruments are very obscure, and
just about anything would be useful!

Thank you for any interest you may take.  All contributions will be
gratefully acknowledged in the final work.

Dave Bowers
qdbarchive@metrocast.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]