Abstract: A mechanical keyboard according to the present invention has a main sostenuto pedal mechanism for holding off a damper associated with a key depressed and an auxiliary sostenuto pedal mechanism provided for keys of a bass range for holding off the associated damper or dampers, and the auxiliary pedal is provided in the vicinity of a soft pedal for easy depression.

Abstract: Improvements in player piano devices. Repetitive striking of a piano wire by a hammer head associated with a depressed piano key is accomplished by means of a rotating paddle that strikes a projecting portion of the hammer head attendant each revolution of the paddle.A foot pedal means activates and de-activates a power source that effects rotation of the paddles, there being as many paddles as there are hammer heads.The means for de-activating the power source also serves to stop the rotation of the paddles and positions the non-rotating paddles in non-interfering relationship with the projecting portion of the hammer heads so that the piano can be played conventionally when desired.