As early as 1860 a patent was taken out in the United States for a keyboard piano player and the first pneumatic keyboard was made in France in 1863. With its many ignenious contrivances for bring out the melody of a piece, regulating the time and expression and accentuating any notes desired, the modern player piano can be made to exactly reproduce the playing of a master, even though the operator himself be entirely ignorant of piano technique.
1915/USA