By Tom Dawson
photos by the author
[This text appeared first in MMDigest 1998.11.28 and 1998.11.30.]
I am in the process
of restoring a nickelodeon that I bought about three weeks ago. I
just am wondering if anyone has any info on the company. It is an
H. G. Johnson Quality Electric, Menomonie, Wis.
It had a wonderful quarter sawn oak case with lots of fancy trim and
three excellent stain glass front panels with outdoor scenes in the glass.
The case appears to be almost identical to the Cremona style A art case
piano on page 498 of Bowers Encyclopedia (2nd down from top). Plays
an A roll, has mandolin rail and 24 note glockenspiel or bells. I
understand Cremona pianos were marketed under other names.
Could H. G. Johnson be one of them ?
The spool frame
looks like the Monarch on page 709 of Bowers' Encyclopedia. It has
the pulley on the front belted to the flywheel, but the pumps are horizontal
and look like Cremona. Also, I have figured out that the serial number
fits in with Cremona for a date of approx. 1915. The serial number
does not fit in with H. G. Johnson number at all. (They made player
pianos in Bellvue, Iowa.)
The case is built
for a nickelodeon and not a standard player. It is deeper and made
as wide as possible on the inside. The pedals are also different.
They are round and have music lyres cast into the top. I am working
on getting some pictures.
Though the details are hard to see in the picture on page 498, the style
A-art (later case) is almost exact. The only difference I can see
is the Johnson has a smooth bottom board and is not paneled like the Cremona
in the picture.
Restoration is
coming along nicely and was just wondering about the company behind this
instrument. I have not found any reference to this company in any
of my books.
Thanks,
Tom Dawson
radio4me@hotmail.com.geentroep