Details
Image(s)
TitlePianola with automaton, Horse Race
CreatorMills Novelty Company
PlaceChicago (United States)
Year ca. 1926
Object number0834
Object categorymechanical hammered string instruments
Object namepianola, piano with roll
DescriptionThe Horse Race is not an orchestrion, but a coin-operated electric piano. The music carrier is a paper roll which carries 5 or 10 tunes. In the front is a glass plate behind which is a race track with a number of mechanically propelled horses running and then stopping suddenly - and you never know which one will win at any given time! In the background an audience can be seen in the stands. Illumination is provided by light bulb and coin insertion is required for each race. Operation is entirely electric - the piano hammers are driven by electromagnets and the reading of the rolls is also electric.
Accompanying textsThe instrument uses the 75-tone Mills Magnetic expression piano roll, which plays 64 notes from A to C#. The rest are for the expression functions and the stop function; there are also 2 'empty' holes. The repertoire is primarily dance music from the US.
From 1920 to 1933 there was a so-called prohibition in America: a ban on alcohol. People sought other (illegal) forms of entertainment, such as gambling, which became very popular during this time. The number of successful "bookies" - gambling offices, and gambling halls grew. In addition, small, illegal drinking establishments arose: the "Speakeasies," where relatively small musical instruments such as the race horse fitted in well.
At the time, the Mills Novelty Company advertised," This machine will make money for you." Mills was mainly in the slot machine business, but also regularly made coin-operated musical machines, the most famous of which is an automatic piano with violin (see cat. no. 21). With this "Horse Race" pianola, Mills combined their areas of expertise: in addition to being an automatic piano, it's also possible to bet on which horse will win - an extra incentive to entice café visitors to toss in a coin.
This model went into production around 1921. Between 50 and 100 'Horse Race' pianos were manufactured, some of which were made to be sent to England. Only 12 survived, of which this is the only one in Europe. The instrument bears patents registered in 1926. The instrument can therefore be dated to at least after this.
From 1920 to 1933 there was a so-called prohibition in America: a ban on alcohol. People sought other (illegal) forms of entertainment, such as gambling, which became very popular during this time. The number of successful "bookies" - gambling offices, and gambling halls grew. In addition, small, illegal drinking establishments arose: the "Speakeasies," where relatively small musical instruments such as the race horse fitted in well.
At the time, the Mills Novelty Company advertised," This machine will make money for you." Mills was mainly in the slot machine business, but also regularly made coin-operated musical machines, the most famous of which is an automatic piano with violin (see cat. no. 21). With this "Horse Race" pianola, Mills combined their areas of expertise: in addition to being an automatic piano, it's also possible to bet on which horse will win - an extra incentive to entice café visitors to toss in a coin.
This model went into production around 1921. Between 50 and 100 'Horse Race' pianos were manufactured, some of which were made to be sent to England. Only 12 survived, of which this is the only one in Europe. The instrument bears patents registered in 1926. The instrument can therefore be dated to at least after this.
Dimensions
geheel height: 164 cm
geheel width: 140 cm
geheel depth: 70 cm
geheel width: 140 cm
geheel depth: 70 cm
Digital references