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The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as The Saint Louis World's Fair and the St. Louis Exposition, was a World's
Fair held in the U.S. city of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. The Fair celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase (delayed
one year).
The Exposition was important to mechanical music and many of the leading manufacturers produced special instruments for
their exhibits. One such instrument is our very own Themodist-Metrostyle Expression Pianola. The instrument, featured on
this website, was especially produced for the Exposition by AEolian and was displayed and demonstrated there from April 30th,
1904 to December 1st, 1904.
This is the only Themodist style push-up that was made for the Exposition, and only one of eight especially made for display
there. The other seven push-ups especially constructed for display at the exposition were non-expression type units. The
whereabouts of the other seven are unknown and they are presumed to not exist. No expense to quality or workmanship was spared.
It served as the very proto-type for the later Duo-Art line of Reproducing pianos.
The serial number of this very scarce Exposition Pianola is #38852 EX W; the "EX" referring to it's use at the
Exposition and the "W" referring to it's cabinet design.
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