Al Menashe recently wrote:

> I saw an interesting item at an auction here in Portland.  It was a
> Player piano with a phonograph built it. <snip> I don’t recall the brand,
> but it was American made.

Could it have been a "Standard Playerpiano [sic] Phonograph"?

In  the book "Player Piano Treasury" by Harvey N. Roehl, see page 55's text
... okay, I'll show it to you:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"The Standard Playerpiano Phonograph, the first announcement of which
was made in the Standard Player Monthly for March, has caused
widespread comment.

This device permits manufacturers and dealers to sell a playerpiano and
phonograph in the same playerpiano case. The phonograph is built on the
player action at the left of the spoolbox and is invisible in the
playerpiano except when the left panel in the top frame is open to
receive the record.

This playerpiano phonograph is equipped with a Meisselback spring
motor. We consider this the best and most reliable motor for the
purpose. It is especially designed to do the most efficient work
required and of the gears and pinions and even the frame itself is
especially heavy. Nothing but cut gears are used. The worm gear is hand
made, and the fibre [sic] gear in which the worm runs is especially cut
to give the best results. The sulfo-bronze barings, micronic
adjustments and nickel trimmings place this motor at the head of it's
class.

The turntable in this phonograph runs nearly vertical but is set at
such a plane that it absolutely prevents the record from falling over.

The tone-arm is especially designed to give a full, round, deep tone,
free from the scratch that is so annoying in many phonographs. It is of
the universal type and with it's black die-cast case swings freely on
it's pivot baring. The tone-arm is so balanced that the needle runs
firmly and smoothly along the sound waves.

In the selection of the sound box, great care was taken to select one
that gives a pure, rich, full tone. The sound box will not easily get
out of adjustment, and will give the best results on all styles of
records.

The spoolbox acts as a tone-chamber for the phonograph. The horn, which
carries the tone waves from the tone arm to the tone chamber is made of
wood.  The phonograph will play any phonograph record manufactured. By
simply turning the sound-box or reproducer, you can play either
laterally-cut or vertically-cut records.

The playerpiano case does not have to be mutilated in any manner in
order to receive this playerpiano phonograph. The only restrictions
involve the use of a three panel top frame. This is for a left panel
must be provided to open and expose the turntable to receive the
records.

Of course, the playerpiano is fundamental and of first importance, but
this new invention permits dealers to sell their customers two
instruments in one - a playerpiano and phonograph."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Photographs and a drawing accompany this article.

It's interesting to see on the same page an ad for a Weydig Piano
Corporation "Radi-O-Player", that instead of a record player, has a
radio set in the upper left panel by the stack. Neat!

- K a r l   B.   E l l i s o n
  Ashland, Massachusetts  U.S.A.
  KBEllison@aol.com
  http://members.aol.com/kbellison/kbe.html

 [ Editor's Note:  Is this book out of print ?  I'd sure like
 [ to find a copy of it some time...
 [
 [ Jody