A little more on this topic, from Down Under.  Kevin McElhone has
identified our Aeolian Orchestrelle as a Colonial suction operated from
a photo I sent him.  From its label, it was initially retailed in Perth,
believed around 1900.  The number of the instrument is 7(something)39;
the (something) was on part of the paper label, now missing.  Can
anyone glean anything from this incomplete number?

This instrument can play with the roll exposed, held down onto the
tracker bar by the suction.  It has a 3-part single-acting motor for the
roll drive.  It appears to have been set up for mechanical pumping at
some stage (vacuum cleaner?), as there is a plugged hose connection on
the reservoir.

Peter Edmonds
Perth, Western Australia