“Aeolian” Pianola Factory, No. 4487(?).
USA, New York, early 20th century

“PIANOLA / THE AEOLIAN COMPANY / NEW YORK / [label of the “Zimmerman” trading house]” — a stamp by golden dye on the insides of the hinged cover (fragments of the cover with an inscription and a label are lost);
“4487” — a printed label glued to the bar supporting the push levers for the keys of the bass register; “92” — embossed with a punch on the end of the left side bar;
“PIANOLA / Tempo Indikator / [graduation scale]” — a printed celluloid label (area of the 4-levered tempo control panel);
“PATENTED.
№ 322,566 July 21, 1885.
581,390 April 27, 1897.
584,492 June 15, 1897.
594,981 Dec. 7, 1897.
595,466 Dec. 14, 1897.
601,162 Mar. 22, 1898.
637,540 Nov. 21, 1899.” — a printed label nailed with ornamental studs to the left side of the case (area of fastening air ducts to the push levers of the keys of the bass register)

1108×947×410

1924, transferred from the Yusupov House Museum
Stock number: 1899/1

The 2-pedal device designed to be attached to a traditional piano, which turns it into a mechanical piano. The case is rectangular with a curved composite cover, tinted black. A complex music playback mechanism is mounted in the case and under the cover: 65 wooden levers, an enclosure for a platen with music preset on a paper punch card, windbags, an air-conducting system, a complex of lever-wheel-spring-chain drives. The mechanism is driven by 2 pedals. The front sides of the cover and the side bars are decorated with plated carving (floral ornament).