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1960s Aeolian Perforators & Piano Rolls
By Richard Groman

I read the listings of the past two days about the 1960's Aeolian
perforators and Clyde Ridge piano rolls.  The Aeolian perforators
and the master roll stencils, word stencils, marked sheet music and
arrangements, for _all_ of the Aeolian output from 1960 through the
mid-1970's, are stored here at Keystone Music Roll Company.

I know many of us really enjoy the arrangements and sounds of the
1920s and 1930s but there are many fine "musical" sounding piano
rolls made by Aeolian during the 1960s and 1970s.  Now that they are
nearing 50 years old (Yikes!) they too should be studied and preserved
as part of the player piano heritage, just like the pre-WW2 rolls
made during the "Golden Years" of the mechanical piano.

One more note -- Aeolian did _not_ use pre-trimmed paper to make these
rolls.  The perforators have edge trimmers on them.  I will say that
during the 1960s Aeolian had these machines running much too fast
("Time is Money").  Along with using small holes, and if they had dull
punch heads, some of their output was not up to exacting standards.
When the machine is slowed down and everything is freshly sharpened and
adjusted the rolls are capable of coming out beautifully.

Richard Groman - Keystone Music Roll Company
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania


(Message sent Sat 16 May 2009, 18:02:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  1960s, Aeolian, Perforators, Piano, Rolls

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