Western Movie Cliché
We can see the type of a piano like when we saw it in the Western movie saloon scene. In that movie, there is a sandy, spluttering, and tinkling piano in the corner. The piano player is bent hard over the keyboard, brows wrinkled in concentration while cowboys and Indians alike pitch coins into his beer mug. Next, someone shoots the piano player. He falls dead and shockingly the piano keeps on playing. That is because many life-sized of the piano music boxes were made in the 1800's and early 1900's which is called piano rolls.
Those piano rolls work typically the similar principles with the smaller music boxes that fit on a shelf. The bump trips a flat hammer, which in itself makes the melody. In the case of piano roll, the hammer of the piano music boxes doesn't make the sound, although trips a wire to play piano innards. It was one way to merge music box mechanics with the noise of a piano.
Modern Models
Currently, the piano rolls are not popular anymore and if those still exist; they will cost thousands dollars. Unlike a real piano, they can only play the tune on the cylinder. If you wanted to hear another tune, you had to buy another cylinder. It is just nearly the same with the work of a record player. Currently, these piano music boxes are made in a small size that can be putted on a table or shelf.
Piano music boxes have become as popular as the twirling ballerina on the top of a jewelry music box. There were many brands that made piano music boxes in numerous sizes, colors, and materials. One brand that still survive is the Japanese brand, Sanyo which is also create the twirling ballerina and angel music boxes. Another famous brand is the San Francisco Music Box Company.
There are still many piano music boxes that made by hand. Conversely, you are still permitted to alter the tune mechanism into another tune just like when you want to alter a record on a record player. Principally, you can find these piano music boxes in several specialty shops around you or you can find them on the internet. One thing to keep in mind, you must ensure that you only buy in reliable and reputable websites on the internet.