Joyce Brite suggests that a Gulbransen Melody Indicator is totally
useless.  Well, I admit that it isn't the most essential piece of
equipment on the instrument but I believe it did have a purpose.  (What
follows is my own deduction; I haven't read this anywhere.)

When it is swung down in front of the tracker bar it obscures all the
ports that correspond to the treble half of the split hammer rest
rail.  If you are trying to pedal a roll expressively and can pick out
the melody perforations, the Melody Indicator enables you to see
whether the next few notes will be in the treble or the bass.  Then you
can decide whether or not you want to use either of the soft pedal
levers in the keyslip, to accentuate the melody over the
accompaniment.

Actually, if you had purchased only Gulbransen music rolls, you
wouldn't need the Indicator, unless you were of an independent turn of
mind, because these rolls come with printed instructions that say
"Release Treble Soft Pedal Lever, Engage Bass Soft Pedal Lever" and so
on.

How often do I use my Melody Indicator?  About once a year, but my
Gulbransen is an electric Recordo.  It does have a foot pedal option,
but noone with a ordinary pedal player available too would bother to
use it.

I wouldn't remove my Melody Indicator, even if it does sit horrifyingly
close to one of the terminals of the spoolbox lamp.  I must get out my
voltmeter and remind myself whether it's the active or the grounded
terminal!

John Phillips.