The Play-A-Sax is a fascinating combination of a wind instrument—which requires blowing (hence its elegant saxophone-like design)—and a musical mechanism based on a perforated paper roll. The roll’s movement was controlled by the player through a gear system operated manually with a crank.
This saxophone-harmonica, featuring a 16-tone mechanism, was invented and patented in 1930 by Henry O. Drotning of New York. It was manufactured by the QRS-Devry Corporation.
Ingeniously crafted, the Play-A-Sax allows anyone to create harmonious melodies without needing to learn musical notes, fingerings, or other “complications.” Truly a revolutionary instrument in its time!