What were jukeboxes originally known as in the 1890s?

Jukeboxes were originally known as Nickelodeons in the 1890s. The term Nickelodeon referred to a type of coin-operated machine that played a selection of music, typically powered by a mechanism that allowed a user to insert a nickel in exchange for a song. This form of entertainment was popular in amusement parks, arcades, and other venues where people gathered, offering easy access to music for a small fee.

The name Nickelodeon itself reflects the concept of a "nickel" for the coin used and "odeon," which is of Greek origin and means "a place for singing." This made them the precursors to the jukeboxes we recognize today, which further evolved over the years with improved technology and greater musical selections.

In contrast, the other options refer to different technologies and devices. Coin-operated pianos, for example, were mechanical instruments that played music without a performer but did not have the same identity as the Nickelodeons. Phonographs were devices created by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century for recording and reproducing sound, but they did not serve the same function as the early jukeboxes. Phonos is not a widely recognized term in relation to early music-playing