Player piano
Maker
Straube Piano Co.
Date1916-1917 ca.
Place MadeHammond, Indiana, United States, North America
ModelHammond Melo-Harp
Serial No.26494
SignedGold-colored letters (decal) on the fallboard: Hammond / Melo-Harp / ChicagoCast in the iron plate, above the wrest pins: MANUFACTURED BY STRAUBE PIANO CO. HAMMOND / CHICAGO
MarkingsDecal on hammer rail: PATENTED / VERTICAL GRAND / FRENCH REPEATING ACTION
Stamped on wrest plank: 26494
DescriptionUpright player piano. Plays 88-note rolls.
Mahogany case. Compass AAA to CS (88 notes; 7+ octaves).
Three pedals: 1) piano (reduces hammer stroke / half blow); 2) interposes strips of felt between the hammers and strings; from B upwards the tabs have staples near their ends for a jarring ("honky- tonk") tone, i.e., the "melo-harp"; 3) dampers. Player mechanism powered by two pedals; with several buttons and levers under a small supplementary fallboard in front of the keys, including the advertised pneumatic button for the melo-harp
ProvenancePurchased by Perry Fuller Pinkerton for his wife, Isadora, in 1918. Delivered by train and wagon to the family farmhouse in Quimby, Iowa, where it remained until coming to the NMM. This player piano filled family events with music and provided accompaniment for dancing.
Credit LineGift of Ross and Arlene Pinkerton and Family, 2009
Object number14434
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