Hello All -

I had aconversation with Dan Wilke, QRS's Auction Coordinator. This was
preciptated by a fax that I submitted to enter my bids for the QRS #44 roll
auction last weekend. In the fax, I made some comments to a recent letter I
received from Dan, wherein Dan stated that QRS indeed did not have all of
their masters to all of their works (notably for 'The Kings Horses', which I
specifically inquired as to it's status). I asked him why this was so, and
also why QRS did not have an internet address. Dan called me at work this
last Thursday!

It seems that when Max Kortlander died in 1961, the Kortlander family (who
owned QRS) made a business decision to rent a dumpster, and what ever was not
being used (or was seen as being usable in the near future) was trashed. It
was an unfurtunate 'business decision' at the time to house-clean.

Dan also made some comments on the upcoming increase in new roll prices. He
sed he almost dropped when he heard of it himself! It seems that in 1995, the
supplier of QRS's paper has raised the price of paper 60%. Either there are
no other suitable suppliers, or someone's got a brother-in-law in the paper
business (*just* a joke, Mr. Dolan!).

Dan also commented that Rudy Martin is hard a work making rolls for
"Poccahontis" (sp?). He agreed that the new music that is generated today
does not transcribe well to the piano ... that's why you will see more
re-issues in the catalog these days. Dan did reccomend some rolls that he
things are fabulous and will tear your piano apart (I think that means
they're neat ... The "Alladin" roll, and the "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer"
roll. Anyway, it does not pay QRS to re-issue a roll unless they can sell at
least 100. Sales are hopping at QRD ... he commented that it was like
Christmas there. They pulled a few production workers off the line to help
pick orders. The last mailing they did (announcing the rate increase) has
predictably increased sales. Another concern is that Rudy Martin is no
springt chicken, but, neither has he made any noises yet about retiring. I
asked Dan if there were plans to schlep in another arranger (plan in
prosperity ...), but non are in the works.

Dan gave me some frightening statistic:
In 1980, QRS sold (almost) 1,000,000 new rolls ... in 1994, they sold a
little over 90,000.
In 1980, 10,000 new (paper) player pianos were sold in this country ... in
1994, 275 were sold. This of course does not include rebuilds.

I commented to Dan that QRS really needs to get on the internet. He sed that
the president, Rich Dolan was a computer weenie and played with these things,
but as far as Dan went, it it didn't have a bellow or a crank, he didn't want
to know about it. Too bad. I thought that PIANOMATION and PIANORECORDER
customers would be somewhat computer literate, and it would only open
communications.

My 40 minutes talk with Dan was very enjoyable. Dan is an affable man that
will answer any questions you have. He asked me to give him a call before I
come up to visit QRS (and the Shea's Buffalo Theater!), and he'd give me a
personal tour if possible. He said that when he does a tour, he goes all out,
e.g. they have a room of players - He plays them *all* for his tours, where
the 'other' guides may play one if there's time. He's owned a player since he
was 13. He's also a band organ nut, so I faxed him the ad from the AMICA
bulletin on the said upcoming event.

If anyone want's to ask questions or make comments, he's at their auction
department (716/885-0250 - don't bother trying the 800# .. they make you pay
to talk to him), and has the time and the desire to increase your long
distance phone bill; but it's worth it!

- Karl