Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > October 2011 > 2011.10.10 > 06Prev  Next


Rarity of Hupfeld and Ampico Rolls
By Julian Dyer

An interesting question: how rare are particular rolls?  Thinking about
this, I wonder just how it might be answered.  Is it simply scarcity, or
is there something more wanted?  I suspect the latter -- normally folks
are interested in things that are desirable, as well as being scarce.
Almost by definition not too many will care much for "scarce but
undesirable" rolls!  For fun, let's have a go on these two rolls...

Hupfeld 50317 is Mozart's Sonata A Minor K310 played by Ludwig Wambold.
This is a relatively early 88-note serial number (they started at 50001,
and ran to just above 60000 in some chronological-ish manner) so would
have been on sale for longer than later titles: half of my Hupfeld
rolls are under 52000.

On the other hand, it's a lesser piece by a major composer so probably
sold in relatively small amounts and might attract a serious collector
who wants to fill a gap.  There's no Duo-Art or Ampico roll of it (they
both did K311, the Sonata in A major).  On both scarcity and desirability
[the rating is] perhaps 3 out of 5?  Probably significantly scarcer in
America than in Europe because of Hupfeld's sales distribution.

Ampico 54686 is Saint-Saens' own roll of the Finale to Samson et
Delilah.  The 'M' on the end of the number is a price code and can be
ignored.  The performance itself is taken from Hupfeld 51203, and has
had Ampico expression coding added.  I have no idea of rarity for
Ampico rolls, but on desirability a composer-played piece must rate
more desirable, especially by a major composer such as this.  On the
other hand, Ampico used a lower (poorer) punch step rate than Hupfeld,
so had to re-quantise these rolls, meaning that the performance will
suffer relative to the Hupfeld original.

There are, of course, many other ways which you could approach an
answer, so don't read too much into the above analysis.  Others'
conclusions may differ significantly!

Julian Dyer


(Message sent Tue 11 Oct 2011, 01:43:09 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Ampico, Hupfeld, Rarity, Rolls

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page