Description: The Mills Novelty Company out of Chicago is mostly remembered for the Violano Virtuoso and the arcade and gaming machines. Born as the “Mills Automatic Virtuosa” in 1905 its inventor- Henry K. Sandell developed the idea further and in 1912 the Mills Violano Virtuoso started to become a big success. This is what the advertisement said: The world’s greatest musical attraction. No composition is too difficult for the Violano-Virtuoso. Classical, operatic, and popular music are all equally well played. Every note is clear, full and true. The faults common to other automatic players are all successfully eliminated. It is without doubt the musical masterpiece of the day. The Violano-Virtuoso may be best defined as a violin with piano accompaniment. The violin is played by a finger-like arrangement of electro magnets operated by a small motor. Where other companies in the mechanical music field used pneumatics, the Violano is operated with only electro magnets. Jerry’s Violano bears Serial # 1530 and really plays very nicely. Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, USA, Approx. 1912, 72 original and recut multi- tune rolls. 161 x 105 x 75 cm. Sold and shipped from Los Angeles. Viewing by appointment only.
Description: The Mills Novelty Company out of Chicago is mostly remembered for the Violano Virtuoso and the arcade and gaming machines. Born as the “Mills Automatic Virtuosa” in 1905 its inventor- Henry K. Sandell developed the idea further and in 1912 the Mills Violano Virtuoso started to become a big success. This is what the advertisement said: The world’s greatest musical attraction. No composition is too difficult for the Violano-Virtuoso. Classical, operatic, and popular music are all equally well played. Every note is clear, full and true. The faults common to other automatic players are all successfully eliminated. It is without doubt the musical masterpiece of the day. The Violano-Virtuoso may be best defined as a violin with piano accompaniment. The violin is played by a finger-like arrangement of electro magnets operated by a small motor. Where other companies in the mechanical music field used pneumatics, the Violano is operated with only electro magnets. Jerry’s Violano bears Serial # 1530 and really plays very nicely. Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, USA, Approx. 1912, 72 original and recut multi- tune rolls. 161 x 105 x 75 cm. Sold and shipped from Los Angeles. Viewing by appointment only.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
