1807 France

1815 France

Signor Rivolta worked as a one-person-band for at least 16 years from January 1809 to November 1925.
Although primarily based in London he went on extensive tours over England, Scotland and Ireland.
At one point (1818) he got into financial difficulties, but afterwards carried on with his act. At first he
is advertised as playing on 4 or 5 instruments at the same time. By the end he was playing 8 instruments
together. More details of Signor Rivolta's career here.

1828 Inverness Courier - Wednesday 03 September 1828

“Uncle George Wiley, 90 year old hermit
of Sutton, N.H. who plays his old organ, harmonica, bass drum and phonograph
all at the same time and his services are
in great demand when snap dance
music is wanted on a Saturday night.”

Sketches of London Life and Character, by Albert Smith et. al., [1849] - Music in the Streets

1850's - 60's "...Another street performer was a foreigner who played, or made a noise on,
five or six instruments at once, drum on his back struck by a stick tied to the elbow; cymbals
on the knee played by a string from the foot; bells on the head jangling when it was shaken;
mouth-organ; accordion, and so on. …”

London and Londoners in the Eighteen-Fifties and Sixties, by Alfred Rosling Bennett, 1924 - Chapter 6 - Street Entertainers