Music is an important part of being human and seems to be universal as some form of music is found in all cultures. Drums, rattles, and flutes seem to be the oldest musical instruments. Over the millennia, humans have invented numerous musical instruments, including the piano.
Pianos are not a particularly ancient musical instrument, but date back to the early 1700s when the softly dampened hammers of the piano began to replace the pluckier, tinnier sound of the harpsichord. The first piano was produced by Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori in 1709.
There are two basic types of modern pianos: the upright piano and the grand piano. The grand piano comes in three different sizes: baby grand (4 feet 11 inches long), parlor grand or boudoir grand (from 5 feet 7 inches to 7 feet 3 inches), and the concert grand (from 7 feet 3 inches to 9 feet 10 inches). Upright pianos, invented by Robert Wornum in London in 1826, are generally found in homes, churches, schools, and taverns. In addition, the square piano was popular in the nineteenth century.
The player piano (also known as a pianola) is a self-playing piano which was developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It reached its height of popularity in 1924.
Both the harpsicord and the piano are string instruments, while the organ uses air passing through pipes to produce sound. The organ is one of the oldest instruments still used in European classical music.
Shown below are some pianos and organs displayed in museums.
History Museum, Hood River, Oregon
Shown above is a pianola.
According to the display:
“This piano player attachment sat in front of a regular upright piano and played the keys with a set of small fingers made of wood, metal and felt.”
Shown above is a melodeon which was a common parlor instrument. Air suction on free reeds produced the sound. While it looks like a piano, it produces a sound like an organ.
Renton History Museum, Renton, Washington
Franklin County Historical Society and Museum, Pasco, Washington
The piano shown above dates to the early 1900s.
Fort Dalles Museum, The Dalles, Oregon
Presby House Museum, Goldendale, Washington
Shown above is a Milwaukee Thiery Pump Organ.
East Benton County Historical Society and Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Swan River Tavern, Swan Valley Historical Museum, Condon, Montana
History Museum at Fort Missoula, Missoula, Montana
Nevada City Living History Museum, Nevada City, Montana
Shown above is the Butterfly Organ made by the B.A.B. Organ Co. about 1900.
Shown above is the Regina Sublima, a coin-operated mechanical piano made about 1910. While over 3,000 of these were manufactured between 1906 and 1921, only a few dozen still exist.
According to the display:
“It plays large cardboard music rolls which control a completely mechanical piano action. The music is unique, sounding like a chorus of strumming mandolins.”
Shown above is a Molinari Barrel Piano. This is also known as a street piano.
Shown above is a Peerless Coin Piano, Style 44, made by the Engelhardt Piano Co. in the late 1910s. This was one of America’s first coin-operated pianos. It plays endless music rolls.
Shown above is a Cremona Coin Piano, Style 3 made by the Marquette Piano Co. in 1912.
Shown above is a Wurlitzer Coin Piano, Style DX made in 1914.
Shown above is a Story and Clark Player Reed Organ made about 1905. This was originally intended for home use.
According to the display:
“Player reed organs were among the first instruments to use the new pneumatic systems and ‘piano rolls’ beginning in the 1890’s. This organ has an especially beautiful inlaid oak case and porcelain pulls.”
Wenatchee Valley Museum, Wenatchee, Washington
North Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincoln City, Oregon
Heritage Station Museum, Pendleton, Oregon
The square piano shown above was made by the Sherman-Hyde company in the late 1800s.
Deschutes Historical Museum, Bend, Oregon
Wasco County Historical Museum, The Dalles, Oregon
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California
Burrows House Museum, Newport, Oregon
Miracle of America Museum, Polson, Montana
Cataldo Mission, Idaho
The Cataldo Mission was built by the Catholic Jesuits for the Coeur d’Alene Indians in 1850.
Organ music must have sounded strange to Indian ears.
World Museum of Mining, Butte, Montana
Powell County Museum, Deer Lodge, Montana
Museums 201
This series presents photo tours of exhibits from several museums. More from this series:
Museums 201: Sewing machines (photo diary)
Museums 201: Model railroad dioramas (photo diary)
Museums 201: Wood-fired kitchen ranges (photo diary)
Museums 201: Washing machines (photo diary)
Museums 201: Electric ranges and refrigerators (photo diary)
Museums 201: Schools (photo diary)
Museums 201: Antique farming equipment (photo diary)
Museums 201: Wood-fired heating stoves (photo diary)