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MMD > Archives > October 2006 > 2006.10.13 > 02Prev  Next


Player Organ Rolls for Electronic Organs
By Daniel D. Tenerowicz

The following article in the October 1996 MMD by Wayne Stahnke best
describes the music rolls for the Aeolian-Hammond player organ.  A
regular 88-note piano roll will not play on an Aeolian-Hammond
instrument:

  "In 1938, the Skinner organ company began production of rolls intended
  for use with the Hammond organ.  These rolls are 10-1/8 inches wide
  with 120 ports, spaced 1/12 inch apart, and in line (i.e., not
  staggered).  The leftmost port is  used for rewind.  According to Eu-
  gene Rogers, the next two ports are unused.  The test roll shows that
  the remaining ports control the pedalboard and the Great and Swell
  manuals.  These rolls are labeled "Duo-Art Music" across the top.
  Immediately beneath this legend are the words "Semi-Automatic."  There
  is no reference to the Hammond organ on the labels and in fact the
  name "Hammond" does not appear anywhere on the rolls.  Thus, I believe
  these rolls should properly be called "Aeolian-Skinner Semi-
  Automatic" rolls or "Semi-Automatic" rolls, not "Aeolian-Hammond"
  rolls.  The music was derived from the library of Skinner organ
  rolls, which predated the acquisition of the Aeolian assets.  Thus,
  there is no overlap between the music in the "Aeolian-Skinner" wide
  rolls (actually Aeolian rolls manufactured by Skinner) and the
  Aeolian-Skinner Semi-Automatic rolls intended for use with the Hammond
  Organ."

Daniel D. Tenerowicz,
Derby, N.Y.


(Message sent Fri 13 Oct 2006, 02:43:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Electronic, Organ, Organs, Player, Rolls

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