I am working on a research project and looking for some information
about recording pianos.  I'm interested in early reproducing pianos,
but it is harder to find information about the pianos used to record
the rolls!

I'm familiar with the strange Welte mercury trough setup, but I'm
curious whether there are any systems that predate the Welte trough.
It's the earliest I have found (and I learned much about it in the MMD
Archives!), but I imagine there might be a less elaborate predecessor.
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Nick Seaver

 [ The first mechanical system was the Pianographe [or Pianograph]
 [ (27 Feb. 1747) described by a Reverend Creed.  More in the article
 [ by Françoise Dussour, "Who Invented the Electric Player Piano?", at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Pictures/CharlesCrosPatent.html  -- Robbie