The recent correspondence about the earliest player pianos reminds
me of the one at the Cotton Musical Museum in East Anglia, England,
founded by the late Robert Finbow.
This, I believe, is one built by Gavioli in 1892 and is book-playing.
I imagine it to be the fore-runner of the book-playing organ, which
was first seen in 1895. I don't know offhand whether it's keyed or
keyless, but perhaps someone out there knows more.
Regards,
John Page
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