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MMD > Archives > February 2008 > 2008.02.20 > 04Prev  Next


Player Piano Rolls Accompany the Phonograph
By Jeffrey R. Wood

I'm just wondering if, perchance, anyone out there has an original
listing of QRS rolls specially arranged to be played in conjunction
with a certain Victor record as mentioned on the roll label.  These
rolls are so rare that few collectors even know they were, in fact,
produced.

Although the potential market included anyone having both a player
piano and a Victrola, I'm sure the main reason behind their production
was to promote the Melville Clark Apollophone player piano with
built-in phonograph.  (QRS started out as a division of the Melville
Clark Piano Co.)

Unfortunately, the need to manually synchronize record and roll
distracted so much from enjoyment of the music that the whole concept
failed to gain a significant following and was likely soon abandoned
as impractical.

Many years ago I had some of these rolls and sent them along to Larry
Givens who at the time had a working Apollophone.  I no longer recall
the roll titles.  I'm not seeking to buy such a listing, but would
simply like to see the information shared with anyone interested in
this nearly forgotten part of player piano history.

Jeffrey R. Wood

 [ A list was published in
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/199702/1997.02.26.10.html
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Wed 20 Feb 2008, 16:13:20 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Accompany, Phonograph, Piano, Player, Rolls

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