From the beginning of the 20th century into the 1920s, the relation between music and machines showed a new face. Following the great progress in production technology of musical instruments since the 19th century, which enabled industrial fabrication of player pianos and other automatic musical instruments and an internationalization of trade, there was a world-wide boom in mechanical music. Automatic violins, automatic harps, even automatic banjos were developed and brought to the market. The reproducing piano, able to reproduce the playing of pianists recorded on paper rolls, was realized and played a pioneer role in music recording technology. The company Welte & Söhne headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, was one of the most important makers of this kind of instrument. In the new world of high technology and consumption, automatic musical instruments were welcomed as symbols of a new culture of listening.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　H. W.