That uncanny combination of magic and mechanization-the proverbial ghost in the machine-was all the more gobsmacking to folks in the early 1900s, when radios and record players (let alone televisions) were still a little ways down the road. Even a kid raised on Youtube and Spotify can find themselves momentarily mesmerized by the sight and sound of 88 untouched keys bobbing up and down with harmonious precision-seemingly at the hands of an invisible man. The appealing weirdness and wonder of these mechanical instruments, however, is almost uniquely unchanged across 100+ years.
The self-playing piano, aka the “player piano,” “reproducing piano,” or “pianola,” is certainly an endangered species of the musical kingdom these days-a novelty often relegated to kitschy hotel lobbies or shopping mall food courts. The leading pianists of the country are represented on Q-R-S Autograph Music Rolls with all their individuality faithfully recorded.” -Q-R-S advertisement, 1913 And its playing on your instrument is identical with the manual playing of the artist who made it in the first place. Autograph Music Roll is hand played-it is practically a photographic record of the hand playing of an artist. “Up to the advent of the Q-R-S Autograph Roll all player piano music rolls were much alike-all made the same mechanical way. Made By: The Q-R-S Company, 412 Fine Arts Building – Factory at 4829 S. Museum Artifacts: QRS Player Piano “Autograph Word Roll” #340 – “Forever is a Long Long Time,” 1916
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