I am trying to piece together the history of an early Emerson
Artrio-Angelus upright (no. 106717) here in the UK. The piano
appears to be a standard 88-note Emerson Angelus player which has
had the Artrio-Angelus mechanism plus an electric pump added at
some time, early in the life of the instrument. Just look at the
retro-fitted "Artrio" plaque on the key fall. This is perhaps the
earliest Artrio-Angelus piano in existence and may even be some
sort of early prototype.

The question is, when, how and why did it come to the UK? The
other four or five known Artrio-Angelus pianos in the UK are all
much later instruments with Simplex actions. Emerson pianos are
unknown in the UK.

This is what I know. The piano appeared on eBay auction in 2006.
The seller, and the seller's location, are unknown to me. The piano
was bought by Tony Clayton, who is now deceased. A correspondent
in the U.S. thinks he may have seen this, or a similar piano, in
a pub in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland, in 1976. That's all I know!

Does anyone recognise this instrument, and perhaps have some
information about its earlier life?

Rowland Lee
Lincolnshire, UK

 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/12/18/201218_124352_thumbnail_erzgebirge%20and%20emerson%20023.jpg 
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/12/18/201218_124352_thumbnail_Artrio-Angelus%20in%20Emmerson%20031.jpg 
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/12/18/201218_124352_thumbnail_erzgebirge%20and%20emerson%20020.jpg 
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/12/18/201218_124352_thumbnail_Artrio-Angelus%20in%20Emmerson%20017.jpg