Hello, everyone.

I'm Rob DeLand and I finally have some time to write my introduction to all of
you.  My primary interests in AMI are music roll collecting: ragtime & blues on
ANY roll format (I literally mean ANY); and all types of expression and
reproducing piano rolls.  In general I'm interested in all music rolls of all
types, from Rollmonica to Welte organ rolls.  I don't collect all these
formats, but I do collect literature for all of them, and I'm interested in
them all from a historical perspective.  I would like to have a representative
roll of every format ever used.  That's not a driving concern for me, but an
indication of my interest.  I started recutting ragtime & blues 88-note rolls
in 1987 under the "BluesTone" label.  Last year I expanded into recutting QRS
Automatic expression rolls; and Ampico/Duo-Art/Welte rolls. To date I've issued
260 rolls in addition to the expression / reproducing rolls.

I've been interested in AMI since a friend of my dad's restored a footpumper in
the early 1960's.  Every time we went over to Gerry's house, I'd make a beeline
to the footpumper and stay there until we had to go!  I started buying rolls in
jr. college, at which time I discovered & joined AMICA & MBSI.  I discovered
reproducing pianos and found a strong love for classical piano by close
listening to reproducing rolls, primarily in the collections of Chicago area
collectors like Jerry Biasella and (then "Chicago Bob", now "Columbia Bob") Bob
Taylor. Up to that point popular (particularly ragtime & blues) rolls were my
primary interest.

I compiled a complete list of QRS Autograph rolls in the late 1980's (QRS
Autograph rolls were introduced in 1912 and were the first hand-played rolls
issued by that firm).  Through this project I made the acquiantance of my music
roll mentors: Mike Schwimmer, Richard Riley, Ed Sprankle, Mike Montgomery,
Trebor Tichenor, and Dick Howe.  This is one of the finest group of friends I
could ever hope to meet.  This hobby wouldn't be nearly as interesting if it
weren't for such good friends as these and many others who share this interest.

I met Ed Sprankle during a business trip to San Francisco while working on the
QRS Autograph Rollography.  Ed had recut rolls for a few years previously on
his Echoes label, and he played some of his favorites for me - this was the
first time I had heard most of them.  I asked if any were available for sale,
and he said no, not any more.  I asked why he didn't make more recuts, and in
his typical clear, straightforward manner, he said "why don't YOU?!!"  And
believe it or not, that's when it dawned on me that, hey, what the hell,
there's no reason why I couldn't make my own recuts!  My first BluesTone list
came out in the spring of 1987.

I've always been interested in reproducing rolls, particularly historical
performances such as early Welte composer-played stuff.  Charles Davis Smith's
beautiful Welte roll book has certainly sparked my interest in that area!  I'll
save further discussion on this for future email-ings.  This pretty much brings
me up to the present.  If anyone is still reading at this point, thank you for
putting up with my rambling.  I also want to thank Terry Smythe and Jody
Kravitz for their efforts in getting this list started.  Nice job, fellas!  We
really appreciate it!  I look forward to many interesting discussions here, and
the ability to share interests in such an immediate, real-time format.  I have
already seen topics discussed that I want to know more about!  This should be
great...

Best wishes,¶
Rob DeLand