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"V'olin" = "V'Oleon" Self-playing Violin Device
By John McConnel

Troopers,  Posts regarding Robert-Morton's violin attachment are
spelling its name "V'olin", which is incorrect.  Its correct spelling
is "V'Oleon".  For a story on the V'Oleon, see pp. 530 and 521 of Vol.
II of the "Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ".  This volume
of the Encyclopedia was authored by David L. Junchen.

The V'Oleon's strings were "bowed" by a rotating cylinder of rosin.
Included in the V'Oleon story is a copy of a letter to an organ
builder that was written by Harry L. Boynton, the V'Oleon inventor.
Mr. Boynton says his instrument "is a marvel".  A V'Oleon advertisement
is reproduced on p. 530.

Kilgen offered a similar instrument, called a Mills Violano, for their
organs.  The caption on the V'Oleon ad mentions that very few of either
the V'Oleon or the Mills Violano were installed.

John McConnel


(Message sent Tue 1 Jan 2019, 23:46:52 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Device, Self-playing, Violin, V'Oleon, V'olin
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