Mandolin Rail

A device employed in a piano to achieve a “honky tonk” or “ragtime” sound. The rail is made up of of a wooden rod that spanned the strings of an upright piano, with 88 leather fringes hanging from it. Brass or steel buttons are attached to the string side of the leather. When played, the piano hammer would strike the fringe, causing the button to strike the strings for a metallic timbre. Many mandolin rails were hinged so they could pivot out of the hammers’ path when the effect was not desired.