PianolaIn 1900, a U.S. patent was granted to Edwin S. Votey for the first practical pneumatic piano attachment, or pianola (No. 650,285). His original invention (1896) led to a model that was larger than the piano itself. The patent described the device as being of practical and economical construction which could be applied to and removed from any piano. It was produced by the Aeolian Company. |