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MILLS NOVELTY CO. MAGNIFICENT BOW-FRONT VIOLANO

Currency:CAD Category:Antiques Start Price:50,000.00 CAD Estimated At:185,000.00 - 280,000.00 CAD
MILLS NOVELTY CO. MAGNIFICENT BOW-FRONT VIOLANO
Worldwide shipping available. Read shipping info for details.

Items must be paid in full on the day of the sale.

AUCTION DATE: MARCH 27, 2021 10AM PST

PICK UP DATES: MARCH 28 - APRIL 1
PICK TIMES: SUNDAY 11AM-5PM | MON - THU 10AM - 4:30PM
PICK UP LOCATION: 2306 MADISON AVE, BURNABY

NOTE: ALL ITEMS NOT PICKED UP BEFORE APRIL 2ND WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF DIRECT LIQUIDATION. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PICK UP BEFORE.
Collector Concierge International Off Site Consignment
Ships FOB Chicago Illinois

***NOTICE*** MANY POTENTIAL PURCHASURES HAVE CONTACTED US WISHING THEY HAD TIME / ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO INSPECT ITEM BEFORE BIDING ..........

SOLUTION; Our consignor has agreed that the high bidder may inspect the Violano before we release the funds (within 14 days), If the high bidder is not completely satisfied the condition stated is 100% accurate, funds will be returned with no obligation to complete the sale.

Question 2. Do I have to pay state tax? No we are a canadian company under no obligation to collect state sales tax.

We hope this helps all bid with confidence!


The Violano-Virtuoso was invented by Henry Konrad Sandell, a contemporary of Thomas Edison, who arrived in Chicago via Sweden in 1888 at the age of twelve. In March 1905 Mr. Sandell applied for his patent for an electric self-playing violin. It was granted in December of 1905 and assigned to the Mills Novelty Company. The first instrument produced, the Automatic Virtuosa, only contained the violin. During that time, coin-operated player pianos were very popular so it didn't take long for the Mills Novelty Company to realize that the violin by itself was not going to be marketable enough. Most of the Automatic Virtuosa violins were sent back to the factory to be retrofitted with a piano.

When the Mills Novelty Company set out to produce this instrument they faced the task of finding a "true" violin that could be played for hours on end without losing its sound quality or tone. They tested over two hundred violins by prominent makers of the day but after many failed findings the company set out to produce violins in their own factories to suit the particular needs of a self-playing violin, which included correct principles as to height of the arch, placing of sound post and "extra thick" backs.

The Violano-Virtuoso was first displayed at the Alas-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, Washington in 1909 but didn't become available to the public in quantity until around 1911. They were usually coin-operated machines.

The United States patent office designated the Violano-Virtuoso "one of the eight great scientific instruments of the decade" and all the instruments proudly displayed that information with a printed paper label attached above the piano board that was easily viewed through accordion-hinged glass doors. These instruments, unlike others of the time period, operate the violin and piano by electric motors or magnets and not pneumatically (compressed air). When the starting lever is tripped either manually or by a coin it starts the perforated music roll, which usually carried five songs, while the roll revolves a metal brush passes over the paper making electrical connections through the perforations. The piano portion of the instrument is played by regular hammers using the standard player piano movement of forty-four notes, half the number of keys found on a normal piano board. And with the distinctive layout of the strings having the bass strings at the center of the frame and the treble strings extending out from the center, it gives a unique but classic sound. Some say the instrument is a marvel of simplicity both in construction and operation.

Every component of the Violano was engineered to withstand the rugged journeys they would make all over the World and to perform reliably under constant use in commercial establishments. An ingenious tuning system with adjustable weights providing tension on the strings, allows the owner to tune the Violin without professional assistance.

In their day, Violanos performed in thousands of public venues and in the homes of the wealthiest families around the country and overseas. There was even one made for the Smithsonian Institute.

The Bow-Front Models were extremely rare even at the time of manufacture costing considerably more that the single of even straight cased double models, Bow-Fronts were only purchased by society`s elite and prominently displayed in ones castle or estate. It is estimated about 2000 of the single violano instruments still exist, but ONLY 22 Bow-Front models are known. The tiger oak Bow- Fronts are thought to be rarer than mahogany variation as well.

The beautiful tight-grained tiger oak Bow-Front on offer is well known in mechanical music circles due to condition and rarity, coming from the famed "Frank Zygmunt Collection" out of Chicago. It has recently undergone a complete no expense spared restoration to the value of $40,000.00 performed by Roberts Musical Restorations, Robert Loeffler has stated. " he has worked on many violanos and this particular ones violin has an incredible voice."

This is the definition of an Investment Grade Collectible and is suited for the discerning collector that seeks the world's rarest and best of the best. To

The only comparable public sale record we could find from a reputable auction house would be The Millhouse Collection Lot 742 February 25-25 2012 selling at $207,000.00 USD


Attention collectors in Europe UK UAE Dutch Pickers from Bennies Fifties are making it easy as pie to own this amazing piece of artwork looking after shipping from America to setting up in your living room and even working coordinating the restorer Robert Loeffler to assemble and tune for complete white glove service!
Robert of Roberts Musical Restorations can also be reached for any detailed questions at 1 407 234 4747

6 rolls are included. Condition: (Flawless)
**Serious inquiries are welcome the contact Rick Sky direct at 011 604 230 3692 or email at ricksky@shaw.ca
Ships from Chicago Illinois

Dimensions: 71" x 47" x 30"
Weight: 350 lbs