An authentic coin-operated barrel piano plays 10 French tunes, and is a larger version of the Victorian street piano or roller piano. The carved case has an oil painting, there is a wind-up mechanism and another crank to adjust the barrel to play 10 different French tunes shown on an indicator dial and hand-written list.
This remarkable antique was probably made around Nice, which was Italian at the time, see the speed adjustment "Celere - Adagio." There are bells and a wood block. The case has it's original painting and early Art Nouveau carving, and is worn and repaired from being used in a neighborhood pub.
The mechanism operates, although the tunes are raucous and not very musical. There is a need for tuning and adjustment on this historic mechanical instrument. Iron pegs on a wooden drum operate the piano "keys." Size of this early version of a jukebox is 44" wide, 52" including the cranks, 26" deep and 59" tall. C-P1173 |