John,
   I think that calling early digitally controlled textile
looms and pianos "computers" to be quite an exaggeration.
However its clear that the underpinnings of "digital control"
started evolving a long time ago (the looms _ARE_ given credit
in my computer textbooks).

   Now although I have said player pianos are not "computers",
there are some really interesting digitally controlled analog
functions that take place in the reproducing pianos.  The manifold
pressure is controlled by a "digital to analog converter" and in
some cases involves a very interesting analog feedback mechanism,
and the crescendo involves an analog "integrator".

These functions were never mentioned in my textbooks.  In as much
as Robbie Rhodes has a master's degree in "control systems", I
wonder if his professors ever talked about the location of
reproducing pianos on the "control system evolution" totem pole ?

Jody

CC: rrhodes@foxtail.com