Old music machine goes up for sale

Cecil Paget has fond memories of family gatherings around this 1930s pianola.

Max Fleet

CECIL Paget and his brother Jeff have fond memories of standing around their father’s pianola and having family singalongs.

But Jeff said his father died late last year and none of the brothers had the room to store the 80-year-old music-maker.

So the family reluctantly decided to sell it, along with the paper rolls that create the tunes.

A pianola looks like a piano, but the music is created by feeding a perforated roll through it and pumping the pedals.

The pianola then plays the tune fed into it.

The paper rolls have the words of the song printed on them so the whole family can sing along.

Mr Paget said he remembered his father buying the pianola from Sydney about 40 years ago.

He said it was still in excellent condition.

“It wouldn’t be far off from when it was new,” he said.

Mr Paget said the pianola, offered for sale for $3000, also came with about 300 rolls of music in good condition.

“If we don’t sell it here I’ll send it to Sydney to sell,” he said.

Other items from his father’s much-loved collection of antiques and collectables are to be sold at auction in Sydney this week.