Smith, Barnes & Strohber Piano
Used In Seeburg Coin Pianos

(Photograph courtesy of Earl Hennagir)

One of the oldest known Seeburg coin pianos, made in 1909 just after Seeburg began marketing instruments with its own mechanisms. The cabinet is similar to a Cremona Style 3. The piano is Smith, Barnes & Strohber #107,809.

(Photograph courtesy of Earl Hennagir)

Upper portion of the Smith, Barnes & Strohber plate in Seeburg #107,809. The pinblock is exposed, or open face, and the cast iron plate above the tuning pin area is separate from the main part of the plate below, in a design known as a ¾ plate. The treble hammers are divided into two sections where the main plate has an extra vertical strut. This strut is necessary because without it, the ¾ plate wouldn’t be strong enough to support the pinblock all the way across the treble section.

(Photograph courtesy of Earl Hennagir)

Treble portion of Smith, Barnes & Strohber #107,809, with the piano action and keybed removed, showing the extra strut in the midrange of the treble. The horizontal rail supporting a row of tiny metal balls is a rare style of mandolin attachment only found in the very earliest Seeburgs.

(Photograph courtesy of Earl Hennagir)

Lower portion of Seeburg #107,809, showing the early pump, roll mechanism and behind the player apparatus is the bottom part of the Smith, Barnes & Strohber plate.