Jody & Wayne,
    
       Going off the top of my head about these rolls the other day has
caught me unstuck.  I have just done a check on what I said the other
day, and realised that these rolls  actually have 7 holes per inch and
not 6 like I said previously.  I think I am getting mixed up with the 65
note rolls.

     The exact roll width is 11 and 5/8 of an inch, the rolls do
themodize in the middle of the roll as I said, although there is a
little confusion here even for me.  There is actually 5 holes in the
middle of the tracker that aren't connected to any playing notes.

   I will try to explain.

       In the bass the first playing note is an F#, there is then 34
notes up to a D# then we find the first gap in the tracker with one
spare hole (I don't know what for!!) then the note E and another blank
which is the bass expression hole as indicated by the holes in some
rolls (not all 73 note rolls I have seen, have themodist coding).

     Next we have F then the centre of the tracker bar (which is
another blank hole).  Then it's E and the treble expression hole.  We
move along then to F# and then the last blank, and unexplained Gap in
the tracker.  From there its another 34 notes to the last note which is
an F. The pushup I have only plays to D# but the tracker bar goes to an F.

   So in all there is 5 non playing holes in the centre of the tracker
bar, of which only two are expression holes that I know of, but the
other three I am afraid I don't know.  Maybe someone one the list could
shed a little more light on the reason for their existence.

     The rolls themselves are beautifully made with wooden flanges and
metal pins.  Most rolls are are called "Solodant" (usually indicating
they are themodist, but not always) these particular ones are mostly
German and printed that way ("cause I can't read the titles).  Their
also know as "Claviola" and "Phonola" rolls and these  usually have
their titles written in English.

   Its the Phonola rolls that have the water marks in them showing the
year of production and the name Phonola imprinted at various intervals
throughout the length of the roll.

     The "Solodant" rolls usually have a photo of the pianist on the
leader giving you a real lasting impression of the artist!!!!

   They all must have been made out of very good quality paper as they
have lasted remarkably well considering they are all around 1910 and
earlier.

   By the way there is no hole for automatic sustain, this is a manual
feature by means of a button to push.  Your supposed to use it when
indicated on the roll, as with the squiggly line for expression your to
follow as well...Ha! Ha!...sure  takes some practice.

   I have about 100 of these rolls and know of about another 300.  The
music on them is superb to say the least, and they brilliant great when
played on my 6'6" Knabe, I to would like to know how you go with your
transcription Wayne as I have a couple of rolls here that sound great
but are to damaged to play right through.  Would be good to have them
re-cut.

     Hope this is of some help in your project Wayne.

Regards

Michael

I just recieved Waynes response prior to sending this:

> (These 5 ports alternate with speaking notes near the center of the
> roll, so the speaking notes do not appear chromatically in the roll.)

   What do you know that I don't Wayne?, what else can you tell me regarding
these ports.

Michael