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How a Player Piano Works

This one is very basic and mechanical, although quite a good piano, and gives a fairly full explanation of the mechanism:



Reproducing Pianos

At the top end of the player piano scale, however, mechanical "reproducing" pianos like this beautifully restored Ampico grand are capable of astonishingly expressive playing. You will probably recognise the tune as Joseph Ascher's "Alice, Where Art Thou", used as the theme Music for TV's "Open All Hours":