This is a concert model of roller organ produced by Autophone Company. Its range consists of 20 tones—hence, we see 20 reeds behind the hinged glass front cover.

These roller organs “read” their recordings from a wooden cylinder studded with metal pins, commonly referred to as a “kernel.”

By turning the crank, a vacuum bellows is activated, and at the same time, the cylinder rotates through a series of gears. When a pin on the cylinder makes contact with the hinged end of one of the organ valves, it lifts the valve, allowing air to enter the reed chamber and produce the desired tone.