The Duo-Art Pianola was introduced to the world in 1913. It would eventually become known as the Duo-Art Reproducing Piano, and it would be a worldwide sensation. The technology of the Duo-Art could be installed into any type of piano - from Steinway to Weber. As a division of the Aeolian Company, it is most common to find the two names together, as they are in the example displayed at the American Treasure Tour.

Recording studios for these machines were established in New York and London. Famous musicians could actually record music on and for these machines, which would replicate the expressions of the artist, allowing for varied accents and more subdued expression. 

Easily, one of the most famous men to record his music on the Duo-Art was George Gershwin. In fact, he worked with a number of different paper roll companies during a span of about ten years, starting in 1915, when he was only seventeen years old. In 1916 alone, he created forty rolls!

In 1932, Aeolian merged with the American Piano Company (makers of the Ampico) in an effort to survive the challenges of the Great Depression. The Aeolian American Corporation did, in fact, make it through the economic collapse and continued to produce fine pianos and other musical instruments until their declaration of bankruptcy in 1985.