Pianola Collection

How Pianola Works 1912
How the player-piano works - air passes through the holes in the piano-roll and acts on the bellows mechanism, causing a hammer to strike a key

Advert for Pianola Piano 1913
Social gathering around Pianola Piano, pre-war ladies and gentlemen in their evening attire being entertained by the piano. Date: 1913

Pianola
Advertisement for the Pianola, the automatic piano-player from the Orchestrelle Company of Regent Street

Lolotte and Werther, 1810. Creator: Eunice Pinney
Lolotte and Werther, 1810

Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917
Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. It had an electric player violin and a player piano. It played music off of rolls'. Machine that automatically played a violin and a piano

Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917
Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. It had an electric player violin and a player piano. It played music off of rolls'. Machine that automatically played a violin and a piano

Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917
Violano Virtuoso, between 1914 and 1917. It had an electric player violin and a player piano. It played music off of rolls'. Machine that automatically played a violin and a piano

Aeolian Pianola Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for the Aeolian Co. Ltd. promoting the Pianola Piano, accompanied with a painting which depicts a scene where three ladies with fans are enjoying the beautiful music

The Pianola Piano Advertisement
An advertisement for the Orchestrelle Company, promoting the Weber Pianola piano, by giving a visual depiction, through illustration of Pierette Op. 41, a ballet by Cecile Louise Stephanie Chaminade

Orchestrelle Company Advertisement Pianola
An illustrated advertisement for The Orchestrelle Company, promoting the Pianola piano. The image shows a red haired woman playing the instrument, to the admiration two happy people behind

Pianola advert
An advert for the pianola. It is a player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via programmed music recorded

Piano Advertisement
Advert for the Duo-Art Pianola Piano, a self-playing and traditional piano in one. Date: 1925

The Pianola Company Advertisement
This advertisement illustration shows a young lady playing the Pianola Piano for an admiring audience consisting of an older gentleman with a lady wearing a red dress. Date: circa 1917

E-12: English Drawing Room of the Georgian Period, c. 1800, United States, c. 1937

Advertisement for pianola (litho)
583000 Advertisement for pianola (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for pianola)

Anita Chartres sitting at a player piano, c. 1898 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381352 Anita Chartres sitting at a player piano, c.1898 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 20.3x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

A Hardman Peck & Co. player piano, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381266 A Hardman Peck & Co. player piano, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 20.3x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York, USA; (add.info.: established in 1842)

Man and woman playing a player piano, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381261 Man and woman playing a player piano, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Four men, one playing an H. Bruman Co. player piano, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381229 Four men, one playing an H. Bruman Co. player piano, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Women playing a player piano and a violin, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381263 Women playing a player piano and a violin, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

A player piano, 1915-16 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381225 A player piano, 1915-16 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York, USA; (add.info.: made by Whitman)

Sir Henry Wood and the invisible pianists (litho)
560018 Sir Henry Wood and the invisible pianists (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Henry Wood and the invisible pianists)

Advert for Pianola Piano 1919
Evening scene with people listening to music on the piano. Date: 1919

Player piano recital, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381262 Player piano recital, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York, USA; eMuseum of the City of New York; American

A player piano by Ricca & Son Piano Co. 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381278 A player piano by Ricca & Son Piano Co. 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 20.3x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Advertisement for the Grand Pianola Piano, from the Orchestrelle Co, London (colour litho)
6031030 Advertisement for the Grand Pianola Piano, from the Orchestrelle Co, London (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A man playing a player piano in a piano showroom in New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381265 A man playing a player piano in a piano showroom in New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 20.3x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Diagram of the mechanism of the metrosyle pianola (litho)
6013760 Diagram of the mechanism of the metrosyle pianola (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Diagram of the mechanism of the metrosyle pianola)

Welcome to Queens Road Banner above street in Clifton, Bristol, Circa 1930s

Stokes Croft Road, Bristol, Circa 1905

PIANOLA ADVERT 1
Everyone admires the Duo-Art Pianola; such an instrument as this leaves prejudice defenceless Date: 1916

Aeolian piano
Aeolian Co. Man and woman at an Aeolian player piano. Date: 1906

Advert for Le Pianola-Piano 1912
Le Pianola-Piano permits anyone with a taste for music to play - without any previous study - the most difficult pieces in the repertory, to the admiration of all ! Date: 1912

The Pianola Piano advertisement, WW1
Advertisement for the Pianola Piano, depicting a lady at the keyboard surrounded by appreciative army officers for, in times of anxiety (it)

Advert for Pianola Piano 1914
The ever-seasonable Pianola Piano. Pre-programmed music recorded on a roll. 1914

PIANOLA ADVERTISEMENT, 1905. German newspaper advertisement, 1905, for Choralian pianolas, or player pianos

EDVARD GRIEG (1843-1907). Norwegian composer. Drawing by Joseph Simpson for an English Pianola advertisement, 1911

Demonstrating a pianola
Aeolian Co. Man demonstrating the Aeolian player piano

Pianola Advert 2
Listeners admire the reproductive quality of the Duo-Art Pianola

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The Pianola, also known as the player piano, revolutionized music in the early 20th century. Introduced in 1895 by the Aeolian Company, this remarkable instrument allowed anyone to play beautiful melodies without any musical training. One of the earliest mentions of the they are be found in a 1912 publication titled "How Pianola Works. " This informative guide provided insights into the inner workings of this mechanical marvel and how it reproduced music with astonishing accuracy. Soon after its introduction, advertisements for Pianolas flooded newspapers and magazines across the country. In a captivating advert from 1913, a family gathers around their new Pianola Piano, experiencing pure joy as they witness its magical performance. The Aeolian Company was at the forefront of promoting this innovative invention. Their numerous advertisements showcased different models and features that made each Pianola unique. One such advertisement emphasized how owning a Pianola could transform an ordinary living room into a concert hall filled with enchanting melodies. Competitors like The Orchestrelle Company also joined in on promoting their own version of player pianos through captivating adverts. These advertisements highlighted not only the exceptional sound quality but also how easy it was to operate and enjoy music on these instruments. As time went on, more companies jumped on board to advertise their own versions of player pianos under various names like "Piano Advertisement" or "The Pianola Company Advertisement. " Each ad aimed to capture potential buyers' attention by showcasing elegant designs and emphasizing how effortlessly one could create beautiful music using these instruments. Whether it was an Aeolian or another brand's model being advertised, one thing remained consistent –the promise of bringing live performances right into people's homes. The convenience and versatility offered by these self-playing pianos were truly revolutionary for both musicians and enthusiasts alike. Throughout history there have been many advancements in musical technology; however, few have had the impact and lasting legacy of the Pianola.