The Mills Novelty Company
Automatic Violin Playing Machines

(Photograph from The Violin-Playing Machines -- A Study and Appreciation,
by Q. David Bowers, Forward and Technical Editing by Arthur A. Reblitz.)

The Mills Automatic Virtuosa, circa 1905. This was Mill's introductory music roll operated automatic musical instrument, which consisted of an automatically played violin and nothing more. In some demonstrations a pianist accompanied the Automatic Virtuosa. The combination of violin with piano accompaniment was thought so pleasing that in 1911 a piano was added and the Mills Automatic Virtuosa became the famous Mills Violano-Virtuoso. 

(Photograph from The Violin-Playing Machines -- A Study and Appreciation,
by Q. David Bowers, Forward and Technical Editing by Arthur A. Reblitz.)

The Mills Automatic Virtuosa in a later style case, circa 1907. This case style appears to be the forerunner of the Commercial or "bow front" model Violano-Virtuoso introduced in 1911.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Commercial or "bow front" model Violano-Virtuoso. There are known to be at least two distinct case variations for this case style: (1) the later variation as pictured above, and (2) an earlier version (not pictured) with a square extension on the back of the case to house the piano. It is believed that those examples with the square case extension are early Automatic Virtuosa (violin only) cases that were modified by the factory for use as a Violano-Virtuoso (violin plus piano).

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Viol-Xylophone. This is thought to be an artists rendering, using the Commercial or "bow front" cut, and modifying for advertising purposes by blocking out the piano and inserting over it a xylophone. It is interesting to wonder what a violin with xylophone accompaniment might sound like. No Viol-Xylophone specimens are know to exist, and it is doubtful that any were ever manufactured, at least on a commercial basis.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Home model Violano-Virtuoso. It is unknown exactly when the Home model was introduced, but one example exists with a very early "overhead" violin playing mechanism installed. Thus, it may be that the Home model was introduced circa 1911, incorporating the piano, but still using the Automatic Virtuosa violin mechanism. This early home model is interesting in that it incorporated mechanisms to reverse the direction of the bow wheels, along with ingenious links to provide glissando effects, and it could individually pluck the violin strings. These exceptional features were dropped in later machines, perhaps to simply construction and/or because these features were found unnecessary for the types of popular music demanded by the public.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Viol-Cello. This combination of violin and cello was apparently manufactured, as one old timer reportedly saw one on location, but it was never made in significant quantity. No Viol-Cello specimens or music rolls are known to exist.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Melody Violins. This unit consisted of a keyboard attached to four automatically played violins. This hand-played set of violins was advertised as ideal for moving picture houses or legitimate theater, and the perfect instrument to be used in conjunction with organ or piano. The musician sits at the console, touches the keys, and plays the violins, of which all four stings can be played at once. No specimens are know to exist.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills (Baby) Grand model Violano-Virtuoso. Most of the Violano-Virtuosos that survive today are of the (Baby) Grand or Concert Grand type. The two models differing mainly by size, with the Concert Grand case being slightly larger to accommodate a larger piano plate.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills Concert Grand model Violano-Virtuoso. This and the slightly smaller Baby Grand, make up the majority of Violano-Virtuosos that survive today. The heftier piano plate used in the Concert Grand is the same as used in the DeLuxe (Double) Violano-Virtuoso introduced in 1916, and so it may be that the Concert Grand model came into being about the same time.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Smythe)

The Mills DeLuxe (Double Violin) model Violano-Virtuoso. This machine consists of two violins playing in unison with each other, accompanied by piano. Each violin simultaneously plays the same musical note, which due to slight differences in tuning tend to produce a richly harmonic and loud tone. Introduced in 1916, the DeLuxe model uses a larger scale symmetrical piano (also used in the Concert Grand model), but its most unique visual feature is that it plays two violins.