Re: Nix on that "one-lunger" terminology

It does not surprise me that Douglas Henderson and others find some of
the modern terms such as "Cobs" rather than the traditional "Rollers"
to be inaccurate, and perhaps even detrimental to the hobby, when
describing the music source of a Roller Organ.  And, since I am not an
expert on Duo-Art, or any type of piano, for that matter, I won't even
comment on terms used in those venues.

But since Roller Organs and Rollers have become my passion in recent
years, I will comment on these terms.  First, let it be said that I
commonly first refer to Rollers as "Rollers", finding it as a term that
the manufacturer used in literature and in the instructions found on
the bottom of the Gem models.  But those who have read all the
instruction labels in other organs may be surprised to find that the
company also referred to them as "Cylinders".  Check the instruction
label on your Chautauqua or Concert Roller Organ -- both of mine refer
to "Cylinders".

So perhaps there's a little room for thought.  Were they attempting
to clarify what those Rollers were called, giving a sales pitch to
associate themselves toward/away from cylinder music boxes or away
from/toward cylinder phonographs, distinguishing between models, or
simply unconcerned about the matter at all? My guess is that they
didn't really care, since they were often imprecise in other print,
such as the names of tunes.  But I'll stick to "Rollers".

On the other hand, I don't find "Cob" to be particularly offensive.
After all, I'm a farm kid, and if it helps those referring to them
to think of a (corn)cob, that's okay with me.  Webster's dictionary
defines "corncob" as "the elongated woody core in which the grains of
an ear of corn are embedded."  So if I have an instrument which plays
an "elongated wood[y] core in which the" pins "are embedded," I'll
certainly understand when someone refers to it as a "Cob".  Perhaps
they're rebelling against "Cylinder" which is rarely thought of as
wood, and "Roller" which sounds like it should unroll one of those
player piano thingamajigs.

If you want to read the text of the actual instructions, it's
available on my Roller Organ web site on the Mechanical Details page
http://www.bright.net/~allmax/Roller_Organ_Details.htm .  Click the
line that says "Read the original "Directions".

Todd Augsburger
allmax@bright.net
http://www.bright.net/~allmax/