I find these semantics confusing.  If we take an 'A-roll' machine,
I believe that it's generally agreed that it _is_ an orchestrion, yet
there are several of these machines that only play the piano (through
no fault of their own).

So do we call them a player piano?  What if we take that same piano and
add a set of pipes and a triangle and drum; is that player piano now an
orchestrion?

What about the Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina?  I believe that by Art
Reblitz' definition it qualifies, but I'm not sure that the Mills
Violano Virtuoso does, yet they can play the same instruments.  (Please,
Hupfeld owners, don't be upset with me -- I'm not comparing these two,
though I would be glad to own either).

Is it really possible to come up with a good definition?  Out of
curiosity, I checked with Webster's web site.  Orchestrion is defined as:

  A large mechanical instrument resembling a barrel organ that produces
  sound in imitation of an orchestra.  [orchestr(a) + (melod)eon.]

  Alternatively: A large music box imitating a variety of orchestral
  instruments.

I'm not sure where "resembling a barrel organ" comes in.  I imagine
that there must be a better definition out there somewhere.

Eliyahu Shahar