Automatophone

Automatophone an instr. which goeth by itself, to use a 16th-c. definition. Automatophones do not form a separate organological category, but are classed as flutes, virginals, carillons, or whatever the instr. may be that is played automatically. Such instrs. have been pop. since antiquity: Heron of Alexandria describes an organ actuated by a windmill; the forces of sun, water, clockwork, and cranks have been used to set instrs. playing. Pinned cylinders carrying musical notation were invented…