(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. Housed in a handsome quartered oak case with two hanging lamps and colorful art glass that is somewhat unusual in that prominently displayed on two separate white opalescent glass panes are delicate cameos of couples finally dressed in costumes popular during colonial times. This 1920s introduction was advertised as a theatre orchestrion, which implies that it could be controlled remotely, such as with push-buttons located in the projection booth or elsewhere. But this specimen is only equipped with a standard coin slot and a coin/solenoid triggered accumulator magazine, which can only start or add more plays by a remote wall box or push button. Although a so-called theatre orchestrion, the instrument is not equipped with the remote-control options and foot pedals usually associated with instruments specifically designed to be manually or automatically played to accompany some on screen mood.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. Above the keyboard is the pneumatic stack (hidden behind the fallboard), and situated above the stack is the pipe chest and the roll mechanism, originally playing Peerless 20,000 series rolls, but that has been cut down in width and fitted with a replacement tracker bar to play standard style “G” music rolls. Below the keyboard are various control devices, the electric motor which drives the 4-lobe rotary pump, and all of the percussive trapwork. This includes the bass drum, snare drum (which originally had three beaters), cymbal, triangle, and two separate castanet actions.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. The pipe chest supports 25 open metal flute pipes, which are arranged into two rows—front and back. The little pneumatics at the bottom of the pipe chest open pallet valves inside the chest that, in turn, admit wind-pressure to the toe of the pipe sitting above it.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. Small celluloid label located on the top front of the pipe chest. It reads: “When ordering Music Rolls for this instrument always order in the 20,000 Series from Catalogue at National Music Roll Co.; St. Johnsville—New York.”

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. This below the keyboard view focuses on the left side of the instrument. At far left is the tall rectangular coin receptacle box. To its right is the bass drum, and in front and below it is the triangle. Next is the brass cymbal, which stands out in front of the drums. Moving up a bit and to the right is the snare drum, which originally had three beaters (the 20,000 rolls used three separate snare drum perforations to good effect), but now only one beater remains to satisfy the limitations of the style “G” music rolls. To the right of the snare drum are two sets of castanets (the 20,000 series rolls have two separate castanet perforations).

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. This below the keyboard view focuses on the right side of the instrument. Under the predominately obvious two sets of castanets is the electric motor (not original to this piano), and to its right is the 4-lobe rotary vacuum/windpressure pump, with the vacuum reservoir easily visible and with the attached pressure reservoir barely visible on the far side of the pump. And notice the wood framework that holds the four pump bellows, and the sturdy cast iron framework that not only strengthens the wood framework, but supports the central crankshaft for the pump. Above the pump and difficult to distinguish in this photograph are various register and other necessary control devices.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. The coin slot on this piano is of the typical stamped metal construction and it protrudes through a metal escutcheon plate at an angle dependent upon how the wood panel to which it is attached is niched out on the backside. The brass escutcheon plate has a punched rectangular hole at its center that loosely accommodates the coin chute, and it is affixed to the piano case by tiny wood screws located at each of the four corners. On the front edge of the piano case is an elaborate decal representing a sleeved arm with one finger extended and wrapping around the case corner and pointing directly to the coin slot. The bold text on the sleeve reads: Drop Coin Here.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. The photograph clearly shows the back end of the coin slot and the receiving drop chute as seen from inside the piano case. First off, it is obvious that the slug trap and associated magnet, an important part of the coin slot when used commercially, are missing. But if the slug trap is present and functional, the coin slot delivers a legitimate dropped coin to the drop chute, which then guides the falling coin to the coin magazine, whereby all slugs and undersized coins are outright rejected and deposited harmlessly in a small auxiliary tray. Meanwhile, legitimate coins passing through the coin magazine impact a paddle that trips the power switch on, or, if the piano is already playing, adds one additional play, with the piano playing a tunes for each coin tallied or “accumulated.” After passing through the coin magazine the coin falls into the coin receptacle, which for this piano is a tall rectangular lock box located below the keyboard. For a detailed description of the coin magazine, go to the Coin and Magazine Slot Boxes section, click on the thumbnail, and scroll down to Magazine Slot Box No. 8.

(Photograph courtesy of Paul Horgan.)

Colonial Elite, Model H Theatre Orchestrion, serial number 57888. On the backside of the piano is the typical fuse box found on Peerless, Engelhardt, and National Electric Company pianos. For this particular piano, manufactured in the 1920s, the then common Edison base (Type T) screw-in fuses are used. Both sides of the 120 VAC line appear to be fused, probably because electrical wall plugs of the 1920s did not force plug polarization as do the U-Ground electrical outlets in use today.