[ Was "Unknown Weight-powered Barrel Piano" ]

I noticed Rod Cornelius' posting in 200703 MMDigest asking for
identification of the early English chamber piano in a New Zealand
museum collection.

It has a bit heavier cabinet style then the other three that I know
of, but it is most definitely one of the very few (a handful at most)
weight-driven, barrel-operated chamber pianos made by John Longman at
his 131 Cheapside, London, address.  Longman also partnered with other
specialists to create other exquisite pieces such as shown here:

https://emuseum.history.org/objects/96758/organized-piano 

Longman was better known for his organs, mechanical and manual-playing,
but there are, I believe, four of these particular mechanical pianos
known to date (three with National Trust, Speelklok Museum, Guinness/
Morris Museum, and one in private hands).  And now there is this fifth
one in New Zealand!

See Ord-Hume's "Automatic Pianos," pages 78, 79, 423.  Also see:

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1312254 
 [ "barrel piano ... three barrels ... Attributed to John Longman"
 [  -- Robbie

I can forward to Rod Cornelius or to his son photos of the Guinness
example as well as some recordings that I made three or four years ago.

This piano has a beautifully simple or "pure" early piano sound because
of its overall design, low tensioning, and delicate hammer strike
capability, something not possible on later-date strung instruments
that needed to provide more volume to entertain a larger audience.

These are more of a personal performance instrument, ideally suited
for in-home family or guest entertainment, similar to an early keywind
cylinder box.

Jere Ryder - Conservator, Guinness Collection 
Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey 
https://morrismuseum.org/ 
jryder@morrismuseum.org.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]