Randolph Herr asked [000828 MMDigest]:

> I recently came across a beautiful item in Connecticut that is engraved
> "Annie Mand Votey" from the late 1800's.  Does anybody know if she was
> related to Edwin Votey who helped perfect the Pianola?  Did he live in
> Connecticut?  Any information or leads will be much appreciated.

According to Rex Lawson, in his highly authoritative article,
"Towards a History of the Aeolian Company", in Pianola Journal No 11
(1998), Edwin Scott Votey was born in 1853 and at the age of 27,
already a reed organ salesman and builder, settled in Detroit.  The
Voteys were from the Huguenot De Vauxtie family who, according to his
father, Charles Augustus, arrived in America around 1745.

Votey, with local music dealer C J Whitney, bought out the failing
Detroit Organ Co and renamed it Whitney Organ Co.  In 1887 Whitney
retired; treasurer W R Farrand took his place and the company became
the Farrand & Votey Organ Co.  This firm had close ties with the
Aeolian Organ & Music Co whose main plant was then at Meriden, CT --
so that might prove the connection.  Rex says that the local business
directories of the day are incredibly detailed as to who worked where.

According to Rex (who I think was quoting from Votey's presentation
to the Smithsonian Institution in 1922), Votey built the first
prototype Pianola in the summer of 1895 in his workshop on the third
floor of 312 Forest Avenue, Detroit.  In 1896 he was made a director
of the Aeolian Co.

Dan Wilson, London