4 pedal upright, 'tremelo' pedal???

[Tom Cole]

Doug Hershberger wrote:
> 
> Hello list,
>    I had always heard that these pianos with the four or five pedals were at
> one time used for accompanying silent movies. Supposedly they were on the
> wings of the stage and the pedals were used for effects. Old wives tale
> perhaps? Anyone else heard of this?

I'm looking in a coffeetable book called simply "Piano" by David Crombie
in which it shows a picture of a massive upright piano next to a box of
organ pipes. It was made by the American Photo Player Company (1920 -
1925) and contained numerous percussion and sound effect devices. It had
two spoolboxes, so that one roll could be re-wound while the other is
playing. There were several strap handles along the top, levers just
below the keyboard and four footpedals for triggering the effects,
including gunshot, thunder, cymbals, wind/siren, whistle and chimes.

It seems that there was a shortage of competent piano players during the
silent era which gave rise to this particular application of automatic
instruments.

Tom
-- 
Thomas A. Cole, RPT
Santa Cruz, CA
mailto:tcole@cruzio.com