Zoli, thanks for the prompt reply from Europe, and I shall send for
the book by Peter Hagmann.

Could you and Janos Macsai please examine your data, or the original
roll at the National Museum, and provide answers for these questions
concerning the Monteur-Rolle:

1.  The initial playing velocity of the Red Welte roll is assumed to
be 48 mm/sec (9.45 feet/minute, or "Tempo 94.5").  Can you confirm
this?

2.  Is there a handwritten pencil notation near the first perforation
of the roll, giving the operator's name and date?  Example:
"Dieter 24.09.12".

3.  What are the diameters of the larger and smaller holes of the
Forzando-forte Rate Test?  We have observed 2.0 mm and 1.7 mm
respectively in existant copies in America, which are all from the
middle 1920's.

4.  The Forzando-forte Rate Test is repeated 3 times in both treble
and bass, for a total of six occurences.  It appears that, in all
cases, the "Forzando-forte" command is intended to be issued
simultaneously with the "Crescendo On" command.  What variation do
you observe when the six occurences are compared with each other?
How close to simultaneous do they occur?  What are the durations
(slot lengths, in mm)?   What is the desired end-value of this test?
How is the end-value measured?  I presume that the Monteur-Technician
made adjustments upon the mechanism in order to bring it into
conformance with a desired standard.

-- Robbie Rhodes < rhodes@foxtail.com >  15 July 1995