Barrel piano

They never found their way into homes in any significant quantity, instead being favored by street musicians and other entertainers and as background music in commercial premises.

It is believed that in circa 1805 the famous cabinet making family of Hicks in Bristol, England turned their attention to the building of musical instruments and are credited with inventing and building the very first street barrel piano in Bristol around this date.

So by 1816 the firm of Joseph Hicks was well established as a leading supplier of barrel street pianos and organs.

It was in the shape of an oversized trunk that could be carried on the player's back with straps and would be propped up on foldable wooden legs.

Some manufacturers, such as Favienta of Barcelona, Spain, produced barrel pianos with advanced accessories, such as: