MMD > Archives > December 1998 > 1998.12.10 > 10Prev  Next


Styles of Coinola Pianos
By Don Teach

There were at least three Coinola models made with tulips in the
art glass.  The Style A had a tulip in the center panel with two
oval art glass panels on the sides of a square piece  of art glass.
The A-2 had no clear glass, and what I would call "duct weed" in the
two side oval pieces of art glass.  Of course I am no flower expert
and should ask my wife.  The early Coinola literature features an
A-F with this same glass and a set of flute pipes.

There was also a model with the famous Coinola Bells.  That model
is not mentioned in my literature but does exist in collections.

The most elaborate model was the Coinola C with the flowers in the
center and almost rectangular panels of art glass on the sides of
the center panel with nice wooden post separating the panels.  The
Model C came equipped to with A-rolls or the rare type C expression
rolls.

There was also a C-F that played A-rolls, and sometimes O-rolls,
with Flute pipes, and the C-X that typically plays the xylophone
using the O-roll and sometimes you will find one playing the A-roll.
None of the books I have mention all the Coinola models.

The Coinola line was a large offering of coin operated pianos.
The Coinola pianos became a favorite with collectors in the early
days of piano collecting partially due to the fine arrangements that
were offered on the O-roll by the Capital Roll company.

The Capital rolls have some of the best arrangements you will ever
hear on any American-made coin operated piano.  Unfortunately many
of the home made coin operated pianos use this roll and just don't
do the O-roll justice.

If anyone has any questions post them in MMD and I will see if I have
the answer on Coinola.

Don Teach


(Message sent Thu 10 Dec 1998, 15:58:21 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Coinola, Pianos, Styles
Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation
No PayPal account required
SSL Certificate
by
Let's Encrypt