Antique Mechanical Aids for Pianists - The James Parrott Collection

Mechanical Aids for Pianists
1836 - 1925

The Parrott / Pensaert Collection

Gallery of the Collection

This gallery presents selected information on the Collection. To see finer detail in the photographs, click on an image for a pdf file that can be expanded as desired.

1836

Dactylion
Invented by Henri Herz of France. A finger strenghtener.
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with photos of the *1836 Dactylion of Henri Herz* in the collection of the Musée de la Musique, Philharmonie de Paris. The exemplar in their collection seems to lack the bottom feet.

1846

Assouplisseur de Doigts
Invented by Felix Levacher d'Urclé of France. A finger splayer (with blue velvet padding).
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS A folder containing documents relating to the biography of Felix Levacher d'Urclé. A folder containing a copy of the original 1845 patent specification, and also a copy of the 1846 supplement thereto.
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with a photo of the *1846 Assouplisseur de Doigts of Felix Levacher d'Urclé* in the collection of the Musée de la Musique, Philharmonie de Paris.

1866

Digitorium
Myer Marks invented this finger strengthener - mfgr Metzler & Co., London – 23 November, 1866 - No. 3076 – finger strengthener (2 exemplars, both missing the original mushroom-shaped hand-rest button)
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with a photo of the *1866 Marks Digitorium* in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1873

Transpositeur
Auguste Wolff invented this keyboard transposer - marketed by Pleyel, Wolff et C^ie. A date of 1873 is given in the following article from *Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians* entitled Transposing Instruments. Dimensions of carrying case: 130 cm (L) X 21 cm (D) X 13 cm (H)
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with photos of their *1874 Transpositeur* in the collection of the Musée de la Musique, Philharmonie de Paris.

1886, 1888, 1892, 1896

Virgil Practice Clavier
Invented by Almon Kincaid Virgil Dimensions: 136.5 cm (L) X 47 cm (D) X 83 cm (H)
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with a photo of the *1896 Virgil Practice Clavier* in the collection of the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution.

1915

Techniquer Finger Spreading Device
Richard J. Pitcher – US patent 1,174,275 – 1915 – finger splayer
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with photos of the *1915 Pitcher Techniquer Finger Spreading Device* is found on the website of an antiques dealer who is interested in acquiring an exemplar; see The Antikey Chop. This dealer also included a copy of the manual for sale at Techniquer Finger Spreader Instruction Manual. It is unclear where he obtained the photographs. There is a photograph of the device and of the Manual on Pinterest.

1925, etc.

Assouplisseur Ochydactyl
Georges Retif - France - 2 models - one with a lever, the other with a heavy wheel) - finger splayer with rotary movement
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE A webpage with a photo of a *Retif Ochydactyl* in the collection of the Historisches Museum Basel. This is the version with a lever and no heavy wheel. A webpage by antiques dealer Rudolphe Delcroix with information on an *Ochydactyl with the heavy wheel that was already sold. A webpage with information on the Ochydactyl* primarily on the version with the model with the heavy wheel.

Date not known

Chappell's Dumb Keyboard
Invented by not known
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
EXEMPLARS ELSEWHERE Difficulty finding this model and manufacturer.

Modified 2025, April 13
James Parrott