Aeolian Company designs in collections, at auction, and in exhibitions
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 31 October 2018 | Updated 23 December 2021
LINK: Aeolian Company design catalogues and historical information
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Above, cropped view of Aeolian Company advertisement in Vogue in February 1917. For more information, see the entry on the parallel Aeolian Company design catalogues and historical information webpage.
"The Aeolian Company, founded in 1887 as the Aeolian Organ & Music Company, was a manufacturer of player organs and pianos. The manufacture of residence or "chamber" organs to provide entertainment in the mansions of millionaires was an extremely profitable undertaking, and Aeolian virtually cornered the market in this trade..."
"Before 1930 as many as thirty-eight Aeolian organs were installed in houses on Fifth Avenue’s millionaire’s row." — Descriptive text accompanying installed Aeolian Pipe Organ and Console (1915-17), Reynolda House Museum of Art, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (See below.)
"... The Aeolian Co., manufacturers of self-playing musical instruments and music, was organized in 1887 with a capital stock of $225,000. Their factory is located on Tremont street, corner of Cambridge [in Meriden, Connecticut], and a large force of hands are daily employed... " [Excerpt from Davis book (c. 1897), p. 928. See Aeolian Company design catalogues and historical information page for entry in compilation.]
A. Aeolian Company (1887-1932 focus) musical instruments in collections
| Info/photo status: |
= info and photo online = info online, no photo = completely offline |
| 1880s | c. 1887-1896 - organetteAeolian Organ & Music Co. (c. 1887-1896). Organette. Wood, brass. (Artifact no. 1979.0074.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00254). |
| 1890s | 1890-1910 - Aeolian OrchestrelleAeolian Company. (1890-1910). Aeolian Orchestrelle, player reed organ (stamped "7099"). [Object no. 2006/151/28. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00279(b)]. 1897 - pianolaAeolian Company. (1897). Pianola model piano player. (Accession no. 69233. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00281). |
| 1900s | c. 1900-05 - pianolaAeolian Company. (c. 1900-05). Pianola. (Artifact no. 1971.0371.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00248). c. 1901 - pianola(Attributed Edwin Votey for) Aeolian Company. (c. 1901). Pianola piano player (with patent list). (Accession no. 57301. Viewed 5 July 2020. J00486). c. 1903 - piano playerAeolian Company. (c. 1903). Piano player (serial no. 44385). [Object no. 2006/151/10. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00276(b)]. c. 1903 - piano player and 25 player rollsAeolian Company. (c. 1903). "Metro-Style" pedal-operated "push-up" piano player. [Object no. H7494. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00278(b)]. 1903-06 - Aeolian pianolaAeolian Company. (1903-06). Aeolian pianola (serial no. 42225). [Object no. 2006/151/9. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00277(b)]. c. 1905 - Aeolian OrchestrelleAeolian Company. (c. 1905). Aeolian Orchestrelle player reed organ (serial no. 86309). (Object no. 85/202. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00280). c. 1905 - pianolaAeolian Company. (c. 1905). Pianola model piano player (Themodist-Metrostyle player). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 29 April 2020. J00282). c. 1907 - piano player, metrostyle pianolaAeolian Company (c. 1907). Piano player, metrostyle pianola. (Artifact no. 1977.0002.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00249). |
| 1910s | c. 1910 - pianolaAeolian Company. (c. 1910). Aeolian Pianola player piano. (Object no. 1998.07.01. Viewed 28 April 2020. J00275). 1915-17 - pipe organ and consoleAeolian Company. (1915-17). Aeolian Pipe Organ and Console. (Object no. 1922.6.1. Viewed 28 Aprl 2020. H01264; J00272). 1917 - reproducing pianoAeolian Company. (1917). Reproducing piano. (Artifact no. 1978.1038.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00250). |
| 1920s | c. 1924 - Pipe organ, Opus 1559Aeolian Company. (c. 1924). Aeolian pipe organ, Opus 1559. (Object no. SN1062. Viewed 28 April 2020. J00273). |
| n. d. | n. d. - pianolaAeolian Company. (undated). Pianola. (Viewed 4 May 2002. J00292). n. d. - cupboardAeolian Company. (undated). Cupboard. (NT 1227377.2. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00386). With Design Meriden’s area focus, and the Meriden factory dismantled in 1930, our focus on overall Aeolian production and activities stops at 1932. |
B. Aeolian Company piano rolls in collections (at this juncture, presumably 1887-1932)
| 1890s | 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music Roll: "Nanon Waltz" - Genée (#621). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 15 May 2020. J00394). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music roll: "Watch on the Rhine"; "Deutschland über alles"; "Das Zerbrochene Ringlein"; "Die Drei Reiter"; "Die Gute Kamerad"; "Der Tannenbaum" (#702). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 15 May 2020. J00395). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music roll: "We’ve both been there before, many a time (3 verses)" (#4067). (Accession no. 301352; cat no. 73.02a.18 . (Viewed 29 June 2021. J01377). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music Roll: "Rock a bye Baby" / "Rustic Bridge by the Mill" (roll #4020). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01302). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music Roll: "We’ve both been there before, many a time (3 verses)" (roll #4067). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01303). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music Roll: "Down went McGinty" - Flynn (roll #4087). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01304). 1895-1900 - music rollAeolian Organ and Music Company. (1895-1900). Celestina or Mandolina Music Roll: "Little Annie Rooney (2 verses)" - Nolan (roll #4098). (Accession no. 301352. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01305). |
| 1900s | 1900-1930 - pianola rollAeolian Company. (1900-1930). Pianola roll: "T16472 B Roses of Picardy, Song arr. for Pianoforte Solo. Wood". (NT 1319311.2.31. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00388). 1900-1930 - pianola rollAeolian Company. (1900-1930). Pianola roll: "T17388A Whispering, arranged as a Pianoforte Solo, J. Schonberger". (NT 1319311.2.4. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00387). 1900-30 - pianola rollAeolian Company. (1900-30). Pianola roll: "T73771C Gondoliers Potpourri. Sullivan". (NT 1319311.2.2. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00385). 1901 - pianola rollAeolian Company. (1901). Pianola roll: "Metrostyle 2531 (P) Melodious Memories... Herman Finck". (NT 1319311.2.22. Viewed 14 May 2020. F00962). 1909 - music rollAeolian Company. (1909). Music roll: (1) "gay Hussars"; (2) "Misfit Soldier"; (3) "Sex Delicious"; (4) "My Friend Lebel" ... (Identifier: 191676. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00382). |
| 1920s | early 20th c. - player-piano rollAeolian Company. (early 20th century). Player-piano roll. (Full Scale 26294. When Song is Sweet by G. Sans Souci, played by C. Blackmore.) (E.1772-1990. Viewed 28 April 2020. J00274). after 1920 - player piano rollAeolian Company. (after 1920). Player piano roll ("200236, Amaryllis, Valse Lente, Seger, played by Felix Arndt"). (Artifact no. 1981.0642.001. Viewed 29 September 2018. J00252). after 1920 - player piano rollAeolian Company. (after 1920). Player piano roll ("80253, Whispering Wind, Mazurka, Wollenhaupt"). (Artifact no. 1981.0642.002. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00253). 1920-29 - player piano roll, model: Girofle-Girofla Potpourri-LecocqAeolian Company . Player piano roll, model: Girofle-Girofla Potpourri-Lecocq. (Artifact no. 1980.0607.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00251). |
| n. d. | n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Hiawatha, Op. 6". (Identifier: 191679. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00383). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "The last smile". (Identifier: 191677. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00384). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Violin Sonata in A, Op. 100" (presumably roll #141). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01296). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Polichinelle, Op. 3, No. 4" - S. Rachmaninoff (roll #1082). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01310). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Salut d’amour, Op. 12" - Edward Elgar (roll #4180). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01307). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Minuet, Op. 14, no. 1" - Paderewski (possibly roll #6100-8). (Accession no. 1982.0220. Viewed 3 March 2020. J01308). n. d. - rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Papillons, Op. 2 - Schumann (presumably roll #9136). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01309). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Midsummer night’s dream / Wedding march and Ellin chorus" - Mendelssohn (roll #9563). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01311). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Weber’s Last Waltz". (Identifier: 191675. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00381). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Autograph-Themodist", "80138", "La Lisonjera", "The Flatterer", "Chaminade" - presumably by Cecile Chaminade (possibly roll #80138). (Accession no. 2006.106.03. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01520). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: including "Autograph - Themodist", "80448", "Waltz, Op. 34, No.1" - presumably by Maurice Moszkowski (possibly roll #80448). (Accession no. 2005.012.38. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01519). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "When You and I were Young Maggie" and "Butterfields" "- Felix Arndt (no roll # indicated). (Accession no. 2003.022.01. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01518). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "A Tingler"; "One Step Medley" - presumably by Herman Avery Wade (roll # unknown). (Accession no. 2006.436.04. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01521). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", "Blaird" - by Georges Favier (with no music roll # indicated). (Accession no. 2006.436.14. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01522). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll: "Dreaming", "Valse" - presumably by Leo Feist (with no roll # indicated). (Accession no. 2006.436.20. Viewed 23 December 2021. J01523). n. d. - music rollAeolian Company. (undated). Music roll (song unidentified). (Accession no. 304324. Viewed 3 March 2021. J01306). |
C. Selected Aeolian Company designs at auction
| 1890s | c. 1890 - Celestina twenty-note hand-crank organetteAeolian Company. (c. 1890). Celestina twenty-note hand-crank organette. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01338).
1892 - exceptional style 1500 organAeolian Company. (1892). Exceptional style 1500 organ. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01340). late 19th c. - Celestina twenty note organetteAeolian Organ & Music Co. (late 19th c.). Celestina twenty note organette. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01337). |
| 1900s | early 20th c. - Vocalion gramophoneAeolian Company. (early 20th c.). Vocalion gramophone in mahogany cabinet. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01339).
early 20th c. - Orchestrelle player organAeolian Company. (early 20th c.). Orchestrelle player organ. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01342). |
| 1910s | c. 1910 - player-harmoniumAeolian Company. (c. 1910). Player-harmonium. (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01341). c. 1915-20 - mahogany grand pianoAeolian Company. (c. 1915-20). Mahogany grand piano (serial no. 50696, model RR). (Viewed 4 May 2020. H01336).
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| n. d. | n. d. - Aeolian Grand 58-note player organAeolian Company. (undated). An Aeolian Grand 58-note player organ. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01440). n. d. - Celestina organetteAeolian Organ and Music Co. (undated). Celestina organette. (Viewed 28 April 2020. H01265).
n. d. - upright piano and rollsAeolian Company. (undated). An Aeolian upright player piano, and approx. 218 music rolls. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01439). n. d. - pianolaAeolian Company. (undated). An Aeolian Duo-Art pianola. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01437).
n. d. - OrchestrelleAeolian Company. (undated). An Aeolian Orchestrelle. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01438).
early 20th c. - pianola and rollsAeolian Company. (early 20th century). "Pianola" piano, with approx. 77 rolls. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01441).
n. d. - piano, stool and rollsAeolian Company. (undated). An Aeolian Cabaret piano, stool and rolls. (Viewed 9 October 2020. F01442).
Click to see designs in collections and historical documentation about another musical instrument manufacturer in Meriden, the Wilcox & White Co. Plus check out other accomplished historical companies from the area on the Design Meriden micro-site homepage. |
D. Aeolian Company designs in exhibitions
| 1880s | 1889 - Exposition at Delavan Opera House, Meriden10 October 1889. Exposition at Delavan Opera House, Meriden, on the occasion of the visit of the International American Congress. > Exhibited by Aeolian Organ And Music Company, two Aeolian organs, one made of walnut and the other mahogany. Spanish music was played in honor of the visitors.
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| 1900s | 1906 - Hanover Park, Meriden exhibition11 - 16 June 1906. Manufacturers’ and Varied Art Exposition, Hanover Park, Meriden, CT. > The Aeolian Company exhibited "the pianola, a pianola piano, a Weber grand piano and the orchestrelle made by the company".
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| 1920s | 1923 - Better Homes Exposition, Hartford2 - 14 April 1923. Better Homes Exposition, Hartford, Connecticut. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Aeolian Co.
1926 - Better Homes Exhibition, Hartford20 - 27 March 1926. Better Homes Exhibition at the State Armory, Hartford, CT. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Aeolian Co. (New York, with Meriden operations).
See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area. |
DESIGN MERIDEN:
Aeolian Company - 1: designs in collections, etc. | 2: design catalogues, etc.