ALL ABOUT PLAYER PIANOS THE BASIC FUNCTION OF PLAYER PIANOS IS TO PLAY THE PIANO BY MECHANICAL MEANS. TWO BASIC METHODS WERE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. 1. USE OF AIR PRESSURE PRODUCED BY A BELLOWS PUMP OPERATED BY PIANIST'S FEET, OR SUPPLIED BY A MOTOR-DRIVEN AIR PUMP. THE AIR PRESSURE PRODUCED BY THE BELLOWS OR PUMP WAS TRANSPORTED TO A METAL BAR WHICH CONTAINED ROWS OF HOLES CONNECTED TO THE HAMMERS OF CORRESPONDING STRINGS ON THE PIANO SOUND BOARD. TO PRODUCE MUSIC FROM THE PLAYER PIANO, IT WAS NECESSARY TO PREPARE A ROLL OF PAPER THE WIDTH OF THE METAL SOUND BAR AND TO PERFORATE IT TO CORRESPOND WITH THE MUSICAL NOTES THAT MADE UP A TUNE. AS THE PERFORATED PAPER MOVED OVER THE METAL SOUND BAR, IT RELEASED AIR PRESSURE THROUGH EACH PERFORATION AS IT PASSED. THIS CAUSED EACH HAMMER TO STRIKE THE PROPER STRING TO PLAY THE TUNE WHICH WAS PERFORATED ON THE PAPER ROLL. 2. ANOTHER METHOD OF PRODUCING MUSIC BY MECHANICAL MEANS WAS BY USING A ROTATING CYLINDER WITH PROJECTING PINS THAT ACTIVATED A MUSICAL SOURCE SUCH AS HAMMERS, REEDS, STEAM CALLIOPE, ETC. THIS TYPE OF MECHANICAL MUSIC MAKER IS STILL USED IN CIRCUS MERRY-GO-ROUNDS, BY STREET VENDORS, IN CHILDREN'S TOYS AND TO MAKE THE DAINTY MUSIC IN MINATURE MUSIC BOXES AND JEWELRY CASES. SOME TYPES OF PLAYER PIANOS CAN BE PLAYED IN THE NORMAL MANNER WHEN REQUIRED. compiled by Fred Kerby

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