Summary
Coin-operated Violano-Virtuoso containing an automatically-played violin with piano accompaniment, controlled by paper rolls. Made by the Mills Novelty Co., Chicago, USA, circa 1920s.
The Violano-Virtuoso was acquired from the National Music Museum in Brentford, Middlesex, England, in 1980.
Physical Description
Instrument located within a wooden cabinet with glass door access to the violin in the upper half. Wood door access to paper roll device & storage in the lower half and wood door access to the piano at the rear. The violin and piano are played electro- magnetically and are under the control of perforated paper rolls.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Manufacturer
Mills Novelty Co, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, circa 1920s
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Classification
Music & musical instruments, Playback devices - mechanical, Music boxes
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
1095 mm (Width), 785 mm (Depth), 1630 mm (Height), 299 kg (Weight)
Depth with front top glass doors open = 910mm; Depth with front bottom wooden doors open = 1130mm; Depth with rear wooden door open = 1660mm
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Keywords
Mechanical Musical Instruments, Musical Instruments, Stringed Instruments, Violano-Virtuosos