Highlights From Our Collection - October 2008

Laffargue Player Piano, New York City, NY, 1921

This Laffargue Player Piano was donated to the Boulder History Museum by Joan Andrews Robinson of Boulder in early 2008. It was originally purchased in Denver, Colorado in 1921 by her grandfather, Giacomo (James) Fiori. The piano was used by the family for many years in their home in Frederick, Colorado. The Player Piano was later moved to Firestone, Colorado where Giacomo's son, Frank, owned the Fiori Mercantile Store. It then returned to Frederick when Frank sold his store and passed the piano down to his niece, Joan Robinson, in 1992. Joan fondly remembers enjoying many happy hours spent around the Laffargue Player Piano in her grandparents home. Hoping to continue the pastime, Joan moved the piano to the home of her daughter, Linda Bombard, in Boulder, Colorado. As a result, Linda's four sons all took piano lessons on the Piano growing up.

The Fad of the Player Piano

Before and during the development of the phonograph, player pianos were very popular with middle class families. Everyone could gather around the piano in the parlor and create beautiful music to sing-a-long with, without having to be an accomplished musician. The experience was similar to the more recent Karaoke phenomenon of sing-a-long machines. All the popular tunes along with numerous traditional songs were transcribed to piano rolls. The words to the songs often were printed on the rolls so anyone could easily follow along. This particular donation was accompanied by over 100 rolls, everything from Christmas carols to “Top of the Pops” numbers. The roll boxes are seen in the above photo resting on top of the Piano.

Company History

The Laffargue Piano Company was based in New York City and existed from 1896 to 1932. The company stopped making player pianos in 1923 just two years after this Piano was manufactured. The company was finally driven out of business by the effects of stock market crash in 1929 and the Great Depression which followed. Today, second-hand piano sellers consider Laffargue Pianos to be of very good quality and they draw a good price especially when well restored. This Piano is in excellent condition and was use up until the time of its donation.

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