The Schoninger Bell Organ was a fairly successful design in the late 19th century. I've seen several of these reed organs which have a special stop which plays a set of nested saucer bells. This firm also made a piano with the same bells. There seem to be more of the organs surviving, however. In the 1880s, I believe reed organs outsold pianos. I saw another upright piano in a Bristol. England auction a few years ago. It had a stop to play a set of orchestra bells along with the piano strings. Early pianos had all sorts of off pedal-actuated effects from triangles and drums to organ reeds. One piano beat the soundboard for a percussive effect. Great for orchestral transcriptions! Philip Jamison West Chester, PA _________________________________________________________________ Play games, earn tickets, get cool prizes. Play nowit's FREE! http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_hotmailtextlink1
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