1920s Seeburg Nickelodeon

The J.P. Seeburg Piano Company was one of the largest and most successful makers of coin pianos, nickelodeons and orchestrions of the early 20th Century. Established in Chicago in about 1907, the firm quickly became renowned for building extremely durable, attractive instruments. Today, their instruments are highly sought after by collectors all over the world. Seeburg also manufactured a line of pianos under the “Marshall” brand name during the 1920’s era. After the coin piano market declined in the early 1930’s, Seeburg went into building jukeboxes and arcade machines well into the later part of the 20th Century.

This late style L, made from 1925 through the end of coin piano production in 1928, has four doors: two with art glass panels above the small shelf, and two with wooden panels below. This style has conventional, although small, piano toes glued to the inside of the cabinet sides to support the front casters. The column beside each door has a pressed wood capital on top. Minor art glass variations exist, including clear or sky-colored pieces in front of the music roll, and a clear rectangular piece at the lower right for displaying a tune card.
To find one in this condition is becoming extremely difficult. This would make a great addition to any collection.