How good were pianolas? Modern recording methods rendered them obsolete but for hifi sound you can't beat them. Don't know what got me onto pianolas but this youtube video brought back memories. It's all done with cogs levers and vacuum. As a little fellow I wasn't heavy enough to pump the bellows without applying a full strength underhand grip to the keyboard. That no doubt helped my windsurfing later on.




Here's Scott Joplin recorded in 1902.