For many years, the Delta Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada (not to
be confused with Virginia City, Montana) had a coin piano with a sign
on top identifying it as "L'Organola" supposedly made in 1909 with
late 'teens Seeburg parts below the keyboard and an accordion above.

The fallboard has a decal made of individual letters spelling out
"Hoist & Smallwood/ Electric Piano Co/ San Francisco."  Charlie
Smallwood once had a number of coin pianos and orchestrions on
location in Virginia City, and I assume this was one of them.

Is there an MMD reader who can answer the following questions about
the piano?  I'm inquiring on behalf of the current owner, who acquired
it in 2000.

1. What is the significance of "Hoist and Smallwood?"

2. Did Charlie Smallwood put this together or buy it from someone
else?  When?

3. Any other interesting stories about it?

Its collectors' value lies in the fact that it was likely seen and
enjoyed by many thousands of people in the historic Delta Saloon
rather than for its authenticity as something that was made by
a major orchestrion builder.

Art Reblitz
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://www.reblitzrestorations.com/