Link Piano Company, Inc. (Binghamton, New York)

The Link 2-E is a quintessential American "nickelodeon" playing lively music arrangements that are among many collectors' favorites. Instead of the usual music roll, it plays from a long continuous loop of paper, always ready to play the next tune without rewinding, and is fascinating to watch as the roll mechanism constantly pulls paper out of one end of the bin and feeds more loops into the other. Many of these instruments were sold to candy stores, ice cream shops, saloons and other public places.

The maker was the Link Piano Company of Binghamton, New York, successor to the Automatic Musical Company of the same city. Ed Link, a principal of the company, was interviewed in the 1960s by Q. David Bowers. His fascinating narrative, illustrated by a 2-E in his own home, is found in the 1968 book Put Another Nickel In.

Formerly in the Haughawout Collection, it was professionally restored in 1997. This instrument includes a piano with expression, mandolin attachment and reiterating Deagan xylophone playing from Link RX endless rolls. It is in excellent overall condition. 48x66x24 inches.