Edwin Scott Votey (June 8, 1856 – January 21, 1931)

 

Edwin, Scot, Votey, inventor of Pianola

Edwin Scott Votey (June 8, 1856 – January 21, 1931)

 Edwin Scott Votey was an American businessman, inventor, industrial designer, and manufacturer of pianos and organs. He worked in the organ field all his adult life

 Votey in 1895 invented the first practical self-playing mechanical piano that played complete musical performances by means of perforated paper rolls patterned for a particular piece of music The cabinet device could be attached to and removed from a typical piano. Prototype testing for manufacturing the product started at the end of 1896 by AeolianCompany. In 1897, at the age of 41, Votey became vice president of the company. Votey filed his patent application for the piano player on January 25, 1897.

 The self-playing mechanical piano device was put into full production and introduced to the public in 1898. It was a mechanical piano player and received the name Pianola by the Aeolian Company, which was their trademark. The company came out with their first Pianola catalog in 1898 that introduced their new line of Pianola products. Votey's first Pianola was given to Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 1922

The First Pianola by Edwin Scot Votey