In regards to a previous message on the MMD about a player piano with a
phonograph _in_ it -- I have one of those pianos.  The piano is labeled a
"Pianista". It is slightly shorter than a conventional upright player of
the 1920's.

The piano is a regular upright-style piano, rather ordinary.  The player
mechanism is a conventional Standard double-valve action.  One difference
in the player is that the tracker unit is not mounted to the _left_ of
the spoolbox; it is mounted _on top_, with a teeter-totter type pneumatic
instead of a double-leaved pneumatic like a Standard (in order to clear
the underside of the lid).

The piano has _1_ sliding door in front of the spoolbox, instead of 2.
This is because the phonograph is mounted to the _left_ of the spoolbox.
On the front of the cabinet is a door to the left of the spoolbox with a
knob at the top to pull open the door (which swings down).

The phonograph : It is a "Phonola".  It is mounted _vertically_, slightly
tilted backwards at the top, to keep the record from falling off the
turntable.  The tone-arm is counter-balanced to allow the arm to work
vertically; the weight of the reproducer keeps the needle in the groove.

Two neat things about this : for a horn, the piano does _not_ use an
outside horn.  The _spoolbox_ is the horn - the top part of the spoolbox
(where the roll goes) is tapered from right to left, towards the rear of
the piano.  This connects to the tone-arm, allowing the sound to radiate
from the record.  The crank (to wind up the spring on the phonograph)
goes into the piano through a hole in the side of the cabinet.

Of course, I did get the crank.  It looks to be about 3-4 long, in order
to reach the spring winder from the outside of the cabinet.  The crank is
situated to line up behind the wind motor and the spoolbox.

I figure the best bet for the crank is to obtain a regular crank (with a
short threaded section) and use a long piece of steel rod, threaded at
one end to connect to the spring motor, and a threaded union to screw the
crank into.

I found this piano in Florida in an antique store.  When I went to pick
it up, it had casters under it! Real fun, especially since I didn't
have a dolly with me! Arg!

I have not restored the piano/phonograph yet; I have _so_ many projects
going at once right now (and who doesn't when collecting these wonderful
machines?!?!?)

Just thought I would add my 2 cents worth.

By the way : there was also a player piano with a _radio_ in it; the one
that comes to mind was pictured in either the Player Piano Treasury, or
the Encyclopedia.  I can't remember which, but I do remember the piano was
advertised as the "Weydig Radi-O-Player", using an antenna that was stuck
in a hole in the lid.

Nike Carey¶
mcarey@usit.net