Hupfeld Model A Phonoliszt-Violina

Exterior View of the Hupfeld Model A Phonoliszt-Violina. Access doors for each roll changer (of the duplex roll changer assembly) allow for easy changes of music. The left roll-changer plays only Phonoliszt-Violina rolls, while the right-side changer plays Phonoliszt rolls (piano only). During normal operation the roll-changers alternate, playing music for violins with piano accompaniment, or alternately, just piano only.

The piano keyboard can be played like any regular upright piano when the instrument is not being played automatically.

Interior View of the Hupfeld Model A Phonoliszt-Violina. Directly below the key-bed is the main valve chest or stack, with the tiny pneumatic motors (not visible) that operate the piano action on its backside. The piano action is barely visible behind the duplex roll-changer assembly.

Below the main stack are various piano expression devices, and at the bottom of the case is the vacuum pump (technically called a feeder bellows). The motor (not visible) to drive the pump's crankshaft is located on the exterior back-side of the instrument.

The small black object just below the key-bed at the far right, with the three red felted sliding valves, is the wind-motor, which powers the forward playing motion of the music rolls.

Rear view of the pneumatic violin actuating mechanisms in the Hupfeld Model A Phonoliszt-Violina. The circular horsehair bow is driven by a large wind-motor housed (at left) in a wooden soundproofing enclosure. The small round-leather belt at the top of the shiny aluminum bow mechanism can be seen threading it way into the wind-motor's special enclosure.

All the valve chests, expression controls and other mechanisms for the playing of the violins are located in the upper portion of the casework, adjacent to the violins themselves.

Below the violin playing mechanisms, on the upper piano back frame, are a series of remote solenoid operated electrical controls, which are used to start, stop, and rewind the music rolls, or switch from one roll changer to the other. The three ceramic mercury pot switches to the left of the solenoid controls are for the motor.