Hi all,  John Grant submitted an article about the "How It's Made"
and the segment about piano roll production.  Yes, that was the QRS
factory that was visited by the "How It's made" crew.  I was the
Production Manager at that time.

The show was recorded in 2008 and when it was first shown the narrative
for the first segment was reversed with the second segment.  I'm happy
that they finally got everything straightened out.  It will be nice to
see the entire three-minute segment complete.

The crew of four were in the factory all day recording segments of roll
production, from recording (both methods), roll cutting, leader stamping
and end tab making and placement, stenciling the roll, spooling, boxing,
labeling, shrink wrapping the final rolls and placing them in cardboard
shippers.

To answer a couple of questions: Yes, that was Bob Berkman who was
at his keyboard and computer making a new roll (it's not that easy!).
The pianist at the original marking piano is Chris Sierzchula.  He has
made a number of rolls for QRS, but I'm uncertain as to how many are
still in the catalog.  The "ancient" Apple Computer is an Apple IIe and
it is still operating well and drives the perforator as it has for many
years.

The elder Rudy Martin, as far as I know, is still alive and living in
Buffalo.  He was always a very laid back person and, from what I have
heard, he's a little bit more laid back than before.

And, by the way, Bob Berkman is working on the 2014 QRS Christmas
roll.  Please check the QRS web site and click on "Music" for player
piano rolls:  http://www.qrsmusic.com/ 

Best wishes,
Mike Walter
Buffalo, New York