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 > June 2002 > 2002.06.12 > 06Prev  Next


Autotypist Rolls
By Ed Gaida

The post in yesterdays MMD about the "unusual" player piano rolls
brought back a few memories.  Autotypist was a pneumatic paper roll
operated machine that typed form letters long before the days of the
personal computer.  It used a standard typewriter custom fitted to
each machine.  There were "interfaces' for almost any brand of
typewriter.

The rolls come in two forms... one is on a regular sized player piano
flange, the other on a large cardboard core the same as an "O" roll.
Years ago an unsuspecting person bought some of these large rolls in
the belief that they were "A" rolls.  They were not.  Turned out
they were form letters.

Unroll these vintage "computer" controllers and you will see single
punches... one for each key (note) on a typewriter keyboard.  There
will be a long rewind perforation at the beginning of the roll which
dupes people.

I believe that there are 58 holes in the Autotypist tracker bar.  Next
time I am in the warehouse I will look at one of the beasts I have had
in storage for years.  The size of the hole punched in the paper
is .098 inches which is just about the size of a 65 note nickelodeon
roll.

Ed Gaida
Sweltering 22 Blocks north of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas
egaida@txdirect.net.geentroep [ drop .geentroep to reply ]


(Message sent Wed 12 Jun 2002, 21:25:07 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Autotypist, 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