Player piano, pianola

Pianolas first appeared on the American market in the late 19th century. The first example was made by Edwin Scott Votey in 1895. Votey later joined the Aeolian Company, which manufactured this instrument and trademarked the term 'Pianola'. Originally based in New York, the company expanded into Europe acquiring manufacturing plants in Germany and England. After the outbreak of World War I, Aeolian transferred most of its European production to the former Orchestrelle Company factory at Hayes, Middlesex.

Pianolas or 'player pianos' did not require any significant musical ability to use. They were operated by using the two foot pedals which controlled a pneumatic mechanism inside. The pianola played pieces using a perforated music roll. The perforations corresponded to the notes on sheet music. The pianola player would adjust the tempo using a lever which meant they had to be familiar with the music in order to anticipate changes.

Pianolas declined in popularity as home entertainment during the inter-war years as cheaper wireless sets and gramophones became more widely available. This 88 note 'Steck' pianola can also be played as a conventional piano and was almost certainly purchased as such from a London dealer called Markson Pianos.