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MMD > Archives > February 2020 > 2020.02.23 > 03Prev  Next


Coin Piano in Movie "The Roaring Twenties"
By Andrew Barrett

Hi Mr. Krall,  I just saw your MMDigest post and can tell you that
the piano is a very early Coinola style "A", also sold under the
"Victor" brand name.  Style "A" is the actual model designation,
I believe, and later versions of the "A" have art glass in the
vertical oval portions and center rectangular portion.  Here is the
"A" advertising postcard courtesy Mr. Don Teach: from:
https://www.mmdigest.com/Gallery/Pictures/Coinola/coinola_cards.html 
https://www.mmdigest.com/Gallery/Pictures/Coinola/coinola3arollA.jpg 

This style case design was used for the "AX" (with xylophone or bells,
I think), "AF" (with flute pipes), "AK" (with two ranks of pipes below
the keyboard), and "A reproducing" (style C rolls) models.

I'm not aware of an orchestrion with drums ever having been built in
this case, or at least advertised, but no doubt Coinola could have made
one for a customer on special order, if that ever happened.

A surprising number of style A's have survived.  There is an "A" on
display (occasionally played for visitors) at the J. A. Cooley Museum
in San Diego, California, and Ed Copeland in Minnesota had another
"A" for sale recently (maybe still for sale?).  There is an "AF" with
flute pipes, playing "O" rolls, in a private California collection,
and another one in an Illinois collection.

About 15 years ago, Alan Erb had the first and only "AK" (with two
ranks of pipes and the "A2" art glass) I've ever seen, for sale on his
website, but I'm pretty sure it sold to someone. He'd have more info
about that piano, for the historians.

There are many more out there.  Here's an "A" with the clear beveled
glass just like the movie piano, that was on LiveAuctioneers a while
back (sold at auction in Iowa in November 2011):

This one has the "Victor" brand name and is serial #10409:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9908722_coin-operated-piano-victor-mfgd-by-operators-piano-co 

Another "Victor" coin piano in the "A" case with clear glass sold at
auction in Tacoma, Washington, in July 2012.

Check out the roll frame in this piano -- it's the earliest design
Coinola frame I've ever seen, and the only one I've seen with a leather
belt _in_ the transmission itself:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/12029122_102-beautiful-coin-operated-nickelodeon-player-piano-b 

Yet another style "A", this time with the 'tulip' art glass (partially
clear panels, partially colored panels), and gutted and converted using
modern O-roll components (possibly Ragola or Player Piano Co.) sold at
auction in April, 2012 in Ann Arbor, Michigan :

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/11069590_1943-early-piano-conversion-to-a-nickelodeon 

Here's the "A-2" color postcard:
https://www.mmdigest.com/Gallery/Pictures/Coinola/coinola3arollA.jpg

The "A-2" variation (this one #147464) has some _gorgeous_ art glass
and the 'cat-tail' "A2" playing "C" rolls that was auctioned off on
LiveAuctioneers here to an unknown party, is on my 'wish list' should
it ever surface again. (I've wanted a C roll piano for a long time).

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9908600_coin-operated-reproducing-piano-coinola-wleaded-glass 

Hope this helps,
Andrew Barrett

P.S.: I'm looking to get in touch with the person in the Carolinas
(North or South Carolina) who had the Wurlitzer Autograph Piano
(a late Art-Echo model in the arts and crafts case) and was looking
for the 105-hole late Art-Echo type changer rolls for it, in want ads
in either the MBSI Bulletin or AMICA Bulletin, sometime in the past
(1990s? 2000s?).

Apparently the original owner passed and their son(?) now has the
piano and might want to sell.  I have never been able to learn the
name of this person or find the want ad despite many hours of searching
back-issues.

An Art-Echo type Autograph piano is near the very top of my 'most
wanted' list, despite lack of existing music.  I would like to buy
that piano so if you or any other MMD readers know this person,
or at least their name, or in which one of the Carolinas they're
located, please contact me!  If it helps, that person is supposed
to also have a Wurlitzer Pianino. Thanks!

P.P.S.: With regards to the Wurlitzer I or A piano in the Cincinnati
saloon photo, here are two of this case design that sold a while back.

First, #12906, a style A with flute pipes, which sold at auction in
Iowa in November 2011.  This has the clear glass:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9908947_coin-operated-piano-wurlitzer-a-w38-pipes-and-3-beveled 

Second, #14191, a style I with mandolin(?), with parts (out of the
piano?), which sold at the same Iowa auction in 2011.  This has
a beautiful and unusual style of art glass I've never seen in this
model before and which I hope will be shown in the upcoming
Reblitz-Bowers book as it's very beautiful:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9908943_coin-operated-piano-wurlitzer-chicago-wart-glass-pane 


(Message sent Sun 23 Feb 2020, 21:12:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Coin, Movie, Piano, Roaring, Twenties

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