Yesterday I visited Shaw's Corner, home of famous Irish playwright,
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-shawscorner.htm
and saw his Bechstein upright piano.  I noticed that the stool was
slightly sloped, like a pianola stool though this one was probably
a harmonium stool.

I was discussing this with the room stewards who speculated that Shaw
might have had a "push-up".  They pointed to wooden blocks attached at
the left and right front of the keybed which had some odd holes drilled
in them.  These blocks could serve no conceivable function for the
instrument as a piano and might have been attachment points for a
push-up.  One of the stewards also thought he might have seen a box of
rolls in an attic.

Unfortunately I was not allowed to take photos -- National Trust policy
-- and the curator of the property was not present to allow an exception
to this.

Shaw was well known as an enthusiast for technology; for example, some
of the rooms are lit by early fluorescent light fittings.  It seems
quite plausible that he had a push-up.  Does anyone have any further
evidence?

Jeffrey Borinsky, London