Although I've run across (US made) piano rolls in a variety of
languages, it seems that by far the most common language is Italian.
Not only are there a lot of Italian word rolls by the 'common'
manufacturers of the time, there seem to be quite a number of
'independent' companies specializing in Italian rolls.

Does anyone know why this might be?  Did the Italian immigrants have
some special fondness for piano rolls that other groups did not?  Is
it that at the time, the Italian immigrants, as a group, had reached
a financial position where they could afford player pianos?  Was there
something in the Italian culture where it was more common for Italian
families to want to sit around a player piano and sing songs together?

This question has intrigued me for some time and I'd like to hear any
ideas y'all may have.

John W Miller
Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
http://www.pianorollstuff.com