History Blog
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 The barrel piano on display in the East Gallery of the Hudson River Maritime Museum. This barrel piano is a more recent addition to the museum's collection and is believed to have been used to provide music for the Merry-Go-Round or carousel at Kingston Point Park.  The merry-go-round at Kingston Point Park, from a postcard circa 1906. The carousel had 30 horses to choose from. Hudson River Maritime Museum Collection. A barrel piano, also known as a street piano, uses a hand crank to turn a pinned barrel. The pins in the barrel hit the levers of the piano hammers, which then strike the piano strings, making a sound. How the pins are placed on the barrel determines what song is played. The person operating the crank must move it in a steady rhythm, or the music will come out jumbled. Sometimes confused with other crank instruments like the barrel organ (which uses forced air and pipes to make sound) or the hurdy gurdy (which turns a rosined wheel against the strings of a violin-like instrument), the barrel piano was often a feature of amusement parks. Also not to be confused with the steam calliope, which would have provided music aboard steamboats and was powered by their steam engines.  Label for E. Bona & A. Antoniazzi, Manufacturers of "Cilinder" Pianos & Organs, 336-338 Water St., New York, NY. The manufacturer of the barrel piano, Hudson River Maritime Museum Collection. The museum's particular barrel piano, also known as a cylinder piano, was manufactured by E. Bona & A. Atoniazzi in New York City. Little is known about the original owners, but the company became known later as the B.A.B. Organ Company. You can read more about the company history here. To hear what a barrel piano might have sounded like, check out this video of one playing a very complex piece of music. If you would like to see the barrel piano in person, come visit the Hudson River Maritime Museum and head to the East Gallery.
2 Comments
2/27/2021 03:05:06 pm
Hi! I read with great interest the information about the barrel piano in the museum's collection and it possible association with the Kingston Point Park carousel. Does the museum have photos and information about the Kingston carousel in their files? I would be interested in knowing what is available. If others reading this blog have information about the carousel please contact me. Patrick Wentzel, National Carousel Association President. [email protected]
Kent K Freeman
1/10/2024 06:14:31 pm
The article was full of information, relatiing to the piano and the style of the piano. I would like more information relating to the year the piano was manufactured , and the various years they were manufactured .Thank your for the information that you have provided. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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AuthorThis blog is written by Hudson River Maritime Museum staff, volunteers and guest contributors. Archives
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