That is indeed the first generation of the Pianino; it reminds me of
an abbreviated Wurlitzer Tonophone case (study the Tonophone case and
the first generation Pianino case).  The vacuum motor was eliminated
on the next generation, and the vacuum pressure in the stack was
slightly increased to around 15 inches WC.

Those first years' music arrangements were very sparsely arranged;
I suppose, as they wanted to use more notes later to compete with the
superior North Tonawanda Pianolin arrangements, they reasoned that
they needed a more efficient and vacuum conserving system.  The early,
boxy pneumatics, among other factors, made the piano sound softer
than the later design stacks.

I don't know if the string scaling was different; some calipers and
comparisons could determine that.  I have only seen one of that
earliest vintage Pianino, owned by the late Ferrett brothers of Hemet,
California.  They kept it in their famous (or should I say "infamous")
Quonset hut on a dirt floor.  Anyone know what happened to it

Congratulations to Don for acquiring a very rare key instrument in an
historical collection of coin pianos.

Stephen Goodman

 [ In 1972 Frederick and Charles Ferrett, known as "the Ferrett
 [ Brothers," moved their huge, eclectic collection to their
 [ Music Barn on De Anza Drive, San Jacinto, Calif.  Ref.:
 [ http://www.press-enterprise.com/newsarchive/1998/09/06/905059253.html
 [ -- Robbie