AEOLIAN
The Aeolian Company became a world power in the music business.
Starting modestly in the 1880’s by selling table top, hand cranked organettes,
this Company soon developed the most successful line of player pianos and
by 1913, had patented the Duo Art reproducing piano. Through acquisition
of established pipe organ firms, Aeolian began making self playing pipe organ
for the home in the 1890’s. The home pipe organ business was a natural
expansion of its sophisticated home reed organ business. The early Aeolian
pipe organs and the late model reed organs used the same music rolls.
As the organ business evolved, so did the rolls. Organ rolls
started as 46 note then 58 note, then 116 note, and finally the fully automatic
176 note Duo Art organ roll. During the depression years, Aeolian merged
its organ business with the Skinner Organ Company, forming the Aeolian-Skinner
organ company. Aeolian survived until 1985.
home