Heading:
Author: Reed, Walter C.
Title: Small archive of manuscript material by Walter C. Reed, an engineer and inventor, notably of an all-electric player piano system and related musical machines
Place Published: Pittsfield, Mass.
Publisher:
Date Published: c.1910-1924
Description:
Includes:

• 
  Diary and notebook kept from 1916 to 1920. Approx. 195 pp. 22x14 cm (8¾x5½"), flexible morocco, all edges gilt.


• 
  Diary and notebook kept from 1923 to 1924. Approx. 96 pp. 22x14 cm (8¾x5½"), flexible morocco, all edges gilt.


• 
  Copybook of drawings, sketches and notes, onionskin paper, with approximately 260 leaves used (out of 499). c.1910-1917. Label at front notes it as a "Japanese Letter Copying Book"; rubberstamps of Telelectric Company, Pittsfield, Mass on front endpapers, and ink notation "Special Sketches and Drawings for Shop and Experimental Departments." 30x25 cm (11¾x9½"), half leather & cloth.


• 
  File of loose sketches, notes, calculations, etc., on graph paper. Approx. 46 leaves. Dated 1914 to 1917. 31.3x21.5 cm (12¼x8½").

Fascinating little archive of material from an inventor extraordinaire with multiple patents relating to the music business and development of the Electric Piano Player and Automatic Pipe Organ. The Tel-Electric Company based in New York City and with a plant in nearby Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was the beneficiary of much of his work. The archive is compelling in its detail and thoroughness, with Reed's diaries chronicling his thoughts and ideas as they occurred. Numerous sketches along with entries related to business travel, patent applications, and the companies he dealt with including Tel-Electric, General Electric, Kiddy Car, etc. At one point he also invents a new washing machine design for which he includes sketches and additional information. Business and invention-related entries dominate, however there are also entries of a more personal nature in which author writes about various family members and family gatherings, vacations, etc.

Walter C. Reed had multiple patents to his credit (Patent US1112658 Circuit-controlling finger for electrically-operated music-playing apparatus, Patent US1165904 Electromagnet, Patent US1551217 Measuring device for dispensing tanks, Patent US1603640 Radio fixed condenser, et al.). He was especially involved in the music business. From 1907-1918 the Tel-Electric Company made two different all-electric piano player systems. The earlier 65-note system originally was called the "Tel-Electric Piano Player", but the system's brand name was later changed to "Telelectric". The 88-note system, introduced in 1913, was called the "Telektra." The music rolls for both systems were designed originally to play a note sheet of brass, 3 thousandths inch thick (.003"). The roll of perforated brass sheeting was enclosed in a sturdy brass cylinder: the 65-note rolls played by the Telelectric (aka Tel-Electric) system were encased in a cylinder 5-1/8 inch long, whereas the 88-note brass rolls for the Telektra system were in a case 7 inches long. The roll number is usually stamped on the first half-inch of the roll or on the end of the roll case. (Scroll to the bottom for links which show Tel-Electric's Pittsfield plant, Telektra label, and old Tel-Electric magazine ad. Also, if you Google "The Nickelodeon's VERY rare 1907 Tel-Electric piano playing device", you can pull up a YouTube video attesting to the rarity of surviving Tel-Electric devices).

The usual wear, but less than is often the case with such archives; very good.