Roll Playing Reed Organ

Roll Playing Organ

As I Own one of these I will give you a brief description, as many reading this probably haven’t even heard of them.

I own The very bass Model Style 1050 Aeolian 43 note roll playing reed organ, marketed during the 1880’s & 1890’s. It wasn’t going when I purchased it but I have managed to get it going without any major rebuilding. I ownely have about 4 rolls for it so have no intcentive to do any major works to it (if anyone knows where I can find any please let me know).

If you look at the image of it you’ll see that is not unlike any ordinary reed organ except that there is a spot for the roll. This particular model was the first mass produced player organ by the Aeolian Co.

Player reed organs, most of which are of upright style with keyboard, developed from the organette. The first models appeared commercially in the late 1870’s. Most player reed organs made in America used thin paper rolls and a pneumatic action system. In Germany barrel operated and cardboard -stripe-operated reed organs.

These organs were extremely popular in the US from around 1885 to 1910, but by the end of this era the player piano had captured the market for automatic operated keyboard instruments in the home.