Meet the Violano-Virtuoso

By Diana Skinner: My sister has rarely met a museum she didn’t love. So when she happened upon the Lightner Museum and started to deluge me with photos, I knew she had found her new favorite place. Located in the former Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida, this stunning museum is as interesting architecturally as are the treasures it houses. I was prepared for the beautiful Tiffany works and stained glass, including this lovely portrait of Beethoven. But I was completely caught off-guard by the Violano-Virtuoso. Taking the idea of the player piano to new heights, here’s how the Violano-Virtuoso is described by the museum: Invented in 1909 by H.K. Sandell for the Mills Novelty Co. of Chicago, the Violano-Virtuoso was hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the age. The concept of an electric violin and a piano played alone or together was truly unique. Each string of the violin is played by a circular bow operated by a small motor. The strings are fingered by metal tabs and electro-magnets. The notes of the piano are also operated by electro-magnets as are the soft and loud pedals. The music is programmed on a paper roll which automatically rewinds. Used in hotels and restaurants the Violano-Virtuoso was coin-operated. There’s an entire book about its construction. And a quick search on YouTube was all it took to hear an actual Violano-Virtuoso. Enjoy this little piece of musical ingenuity. And check out the Lightner Museum if you ever get to St. Augustine. I know I will! * * *

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