Whoa there, let me take issue with D. L. Bullock's remark that player
pianos started in 1906.

Having owned a 1904, and 1905, and 1906 Autopianos, all 65-note
players, I believe that player pianos certainly were made before 1906.
I don't know when the earliest were made, but I do have piano rolls that
are dated in the 1890's, and it is difficult to believe that anyone would
make rolls for a player piano that didn't exist.

Hal Davis

 [ D. L. Bullock was speaking about the player piano, with the
 [ mechanism built inside, and this was pretty rare in the Gay
 [ Nineties.  It's more likely that your old rolls were made for a reed
 [ organ, or perhaps a push-up player.  Bowers' Encyclopedia, page 255,
 [ notes that Wilcox-White sold a combination reed organ and player
 [ piano (built-in) in 1892.  However, "Although inner players or player
 [ pianos, as they came to be called universally, were made earlier ...
 [ the popularization of the piano with built-in mechanisms began
 [ shortly after 1900."  -- Robbie