Although I am not an expert on these instruments, I have heard a few
(probably the worst and best), and I have a pretty good idea what they
should sound like.  The first one I heard was years ago at Player Piano
Co. in Kansas.  It was full of dust and looked like it was ready for
a complete restoration.  I asked Mr. Armstrong if I could hear it, and
he told me "it does play, but it is a little out of tune".

He put a nickel in it anyway and I have to say it sounded really bad.
It would have been a candidate for the "two-slot coin mechanism" (as
described on an earlier post) and I would have gladly supplied the
dime to turn it off.

In contrast, I have since heard two of the most awesome sounding
machines on the planet, in my opinion: one (a double) is in the Nix
collection, the other is a part of Mr. Mills Novelty Co. himself,
Mr. Mike Ames.  Both of these machines sound fabulous!  If anyone
wants to find out what a Violano should sound like, they need to hear
one of these.  Although I an sure there are others in existence that
sound as good, these have really impressed me.

Rich Ingram - in the triple-digit heat of So. California!