Original
Catalogue Specifications:
- Model A case design.
- Integral case and chassis format.
- Duplex roll changers with windmotor for forward music roll operation.
- Uses Hupfeld Phonoliszt piano (only) rolls, or Phonoliszt-Violina rolls.
- Height: 7 ft. 8 in.
Width: 5 ft. 2 in.
Depth: 3 ft. 1 in.
Musical Scale:
-
Standard
keyboard piano for manual playing use.
- Hupfeld Phonoliszt piano expression controls playing a 38-note accompaniment
piano scale, with a 12 note (one octave) treble extension coupler.
- "E" (right side) violin: playing open E string plus 16 fingered notes.
- "A" (center) violin playing open A string plus 10 fingered notes.
- "D" (left side) violin playing open D string plus 10 fingered notes.
Notes:
- The left side roll changer plays Phonoliszt-Violina (violin and piano)
rolls, the right side roll changer plays Phonoliszt (piano only) rolls.
- Bow speeds:
Forte (loud-default speed): 27 R.P.M.
Mezzoforte (medium):
14 R.P.M.
Piano (slow/soft) : 7 R.P.M.
Accent: 32 R.P.M.
- This instrument was originally fitted with remotely operated electromagnetic
to pneumatic controls suitable for theatre use. Thus, someone in the projection
booth could start, stop or rewind a music roll, or switch to a roll on the
other roll changer, so as to alter the music according to a motion picture's
accompaniment needs. The "bank" of five solenoid operated control valves
is mounted on the backside of the instrument, at the top of the piano back
frame.
- The term Phonoliszt literally means "Sounds of Liszt." Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
was born in Hungary, and became known as the World's greatest pianist. He
lived in Germany for a number of years, and his daughter, Cosima, married
the renowned German composer Richard Wagner, further endearing Germans to
Liszt's music.
Chronological History:
Circa 1912-14
Manufactured by Hupfeld, Leipzig, Germany.
Circa 1912-14
A Café in Bremen, Germany.
Circa 1960s
Paul Corin, England.
Reportedly, Paul Corin operated a musical museum in England. According to
a letter from Mr. Corin to Ken Goldman, the current owner of the Phonoliszt-Violina,
the instrument came from a cafe in Bremen, North Germany. Paul Corin mentions
that he cannot remember the name of the lady from whom the instrument was purchased.
Circa 1973
Friberg/Mekanisk Music Museum collection,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Circa 1973
Bowers collection, California.
The instrument was bought by Dave Bowers circa 1973, and was shipped to California.
After the close of H&B, Terry Hathaway maintained a restoration shop in the
Whittier, California, area for about two years, and the instrument, along with
another Model A Phonoliszt-Violina with duplex roll-changers (this one belonging
to Terry Hathaway) were stored in the new workshop. Both machines were cleaned
up, with enough work on the Bowers Phonoliszt-Violina to get it in satisfactory
playing condition. It was one of the many automatic musical instruments to be
featured in the AMICA convention held in Los Angeles in 1980.
1986
Goldman Collection,
Massachusetts.
The
instrument was bought by Ken Goldman and shipped to Ron Cappel in central California
for a complete and exacting restoration. Restoration was completed in
1992. After the instruments was recorded by Ron Cappel for his own reference
(a sample sound clip from this April 2, 1992, tape recording can be heard by
clicking on the speaker icon near the top of this page) the instrument was shipped
to Massachusetts.
Credits:
Information provided by Terry Hathaway, Dave Bowers,
Ken Goldman, Ron Cappel and Art Reblitz.
Photographs:
Ken Goldman; and Ron Cappel.
