Automatic String Instruments

Orchestrion "Violano-Virtuoso"

    Orchestrion "Violano-Virtuoso"

    USA

    1920

    Mills Novelty Co.

    Wood (maple, mahogany, spruce, birch), metal, glass, plastic, leather; decalcomania, carving, casting, presswork, engraving

    1009 x 780 x 1630 cm, 400 kg

    On fingerboard: "3284"; inscriptions: "VIOLINPIANO/VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO IN VENTED By H.K. SANDELL/MNF’D: By Mills Novelty Co."; USA and other countries patents' dates: "FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND"; Inside the body on wooden plate: "VIOLANO VIRTUOSO/SELF PLAYING/VIOLIN AND PIANO»; «VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO/MANUFACTURED BY MILLSNOVELTYCO./MILLSBLDG.-CHICAO, U.S.A."; printed stamp on metal plate inside the instrument: "VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO/VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO/MNF’DBYMILLSNOVELTYCO./DESIGNATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS ONE OF THE EIGHT GREATEST INVENTIONS OF THE DECADE/MILLS NOVELTY CO., CHICAGO" on facade: "MILLSNOVELTYCO., CHICAGO"

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    Wooden case, made in the form of cabinet, decorated with mahogany veneer, with blind and glass doors, with a lock. Electric motor 110 V and music paper – paper music roll are hidden behind the door in the case bottom part. A violin and part of the movement are located in the façade upper part behind the sliding doors, consisting of four wings with faceted glass. Violin body is oval with rounded sides (rims) and rests on a metal stand. Violin lower deck is made of maple wood, the upper one – of spruce; rim and neck of Karelian birch wood. The violin has four strings, metal frame with four plastic knobs, tuned to the interval of a fifth: G, D, A, E (G of small octave; D and A of the first octave, E of the second octave). A metal box "electric cart" for individual playing the piano is above the violin. Metal strings that sound when struck by hammers are inside the case on the resonant deck. The movement is activated by coin.

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    Инв.1010/ММП