Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > December 2019 > 2019.12.14 > 01Prev  Next


Most Responsive Foot-pumped Player Pianos
By Gavin East

Alas, we will never be able to assess the legendary "O-So-Eesi
Piano-Player" . In P.G. Wodehouse's short story, "Ukridge's Accident
Syndicate", first published in 1923, a minor character is "Victor
Beamish, the artist, the man who drew that picture of the O-So-Eesi
Piano-Player in the advertisement pages of the Piccadilly Magazine".
I wonder if Wodehouse was "inspired" by the Gulbransen baby?

If I ever get my 1928 Gulbransen Triano upright restored I hope it
lives up to Gulbransen's reputation.  It is an odd little critter --
a pedal/electric Recordo with no fold-down treadles but what appear
to be three piano pedals.  The middle one is sustain but the outer
two are pumpers.  To play a standard 88-note roll you use the electric
motor and pump to power the roll drive but you pump the stack with
these little pedals.

I'd be interested to know if there are many of these pianos around.
There are a few in Australia and mine turned up here in New Zealand.

Best wishes from Lincoln, New Zealand,

Gavin East


(Message sent Sun 15 Dec 2019, 10:18:11 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Foot-pumped, Most, Pianos, Player, Responsive

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page