Orange Coast Piano Inc.
Since 1981
2658 SOUTH GRAND AVE. SANTA ANA. CA. 92705
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Historical Research on the 8th Wonder of World as it was described at the Chicago World's Fair of 1909
VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO
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1909-1929 Mills Novelty Company Violano Virtuoso
Description: Violano Virtuoso, Mills Novelty Company, 1909 to 1929, though not an arcade game, the Mills Violano is a beautiful work of art. The cabinet can be either in mahogany or oak. The Mills Violano Used rolls of perforated paper to play like a "player piano". The mechanic's work very similar to the electronic player devises of today. Instead of pneumatics like on a player piano there are solenoids to operate both the piano and violin.The Mills Violano can play music on the violin, piano, or both at the same time. A glass divider between the piano mechanism and the violin mechanism indicates an early Mill Violano model. Some Mills Violano's were made without the piano accompaniment. Most Mills Violano produced before 1912 contained only a violin, and those after 1912 had the addition of a 44 note piano.
The violin/piano combination models are known as the "Violano-Virtuoso". Machines with two violins are known as the De Luxe model Violano-Virtuoso, or nicknamed the "Double Mills Violano". They made about 4000 to 5000 of these, and they run on 110 volts AC. Henry K. Sandell was the main inventor of the Mills Violano. There are even some people fitting electronic Midi attachments to original Mills Violano's.
These Instruments like the one shown above are highly sought after and command a handsome price, ranging from the Low $20,000's to as much as $45.000.00.
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