Barrel piano?

[samuel marquez]

Keith, we just restored one which had been previously restored.  Do take a
look at the one in question .  See if it had been worked on before, query
in point is everything original or jerry rigged.  The person who did the
last one didn't know how to tie strings and consequently the instrument
couldn't even be tuned.  Actually  the scale was all wrong also.  Some of
the mechanism had been replaced.  some fine machine work to duplicate the
old, but it was reproduced in aluminum vs. iron.  That part (the sprocket)
won't last very long.  We have seen them as small as two feel and the
largest, five feet tall.

When you see it, be careful which way you crank it.  If it isn't working
correctly, you can crank it backwards and further damage whatever is there.
 Usually there is a selector on the same side as the crank.  One of the
other normally shows the direction.

I have found that the damper system is usually missing.  This can account
for the possible terrible sound, but if it is strung correctly and working
properly, it should be somewhat pleasing, albeit loud.  The scale can
really vary.  It is not necessarily chromatic, may go in thirds, fifths,
octave or whatever fits the songs on the barrel.  
  

It is called a street piano, but through the vernacular, many diferent
names-barrel organ, barrel  piano, organ grinder, etc.  Also, the
instrument was made into the 1920's and maybe a little later, in Italy.   A
good bit of history as to why it's demise.  Good luck.