Books › The Story of the violano-virtuoso : world's only self-playing violin and piano, 1900 › scan 26
Scan 26
The Story of the violano-virtuoso : world's only self-playing violin and piano, 1900
24 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 20. See the scan on archive.org.
1Ours is purely an electrically operated piano. There is a magnet for each one of the forty-four notes; when the perforations in the music rolls permit the current through to complete the contact, the magnets pull the hammer down on the strings to sound the notes. The only way for the piano to get out of order would be for one of the magnets to burn out, and as all magnets are tested for a voltage many times what they will ever be required to carry, this seldom happens.
3The piano plays by electricity. The response of the action is instantaneous. Electrical control of pedaling also permits a fine range of expression.
5Specially Arranged Strings
7Our piano is the only one made with its unique arrangement of strings; instead of placing the long strings on one side of the piano and the shorter ones on the other side—as is the case with all other pianos; the long bass strings are placed in the middle of the sounding board and the shorter treble strings are on either side. The result is an unusual balance and evenness of tone. Each string has its proper length without crossing over another string. This arrangement is scientifically correct as the vibration of one string against the sounding board does not interfere with that of another. The piano also stays in tune longer, as the tension on the piano plate is evenly distributed and does not have a tendency to twist the plate.
9"I can safely say that the instrument has averaged $100.00 per month in the two years that I have owned it."
10—JOE DISTILLATOR,
11Norfolk, Va.
13"During the sixteen months it has been in my possession it has netted me something over $1,470.00."
14—PETER PSAROS,
15Davenport, Iowa.
17"My Violano took in approximately $2,000 in one year."
18—H. ERMATINGER,
19Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
21"Averaged $80 a month since installing it."
22—FRANK MUZILLO,
23Auburn, Ind.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.