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Re: Winter Aeolian Rolls
By Bruce Clark

In regard to Daniel Wilson's enthusiastic letter about AEolian
"American" piano rolls: AEolian American, by the nineteen-sixties,
had been purchased by Winter & Co. who kept the AEolian name.

They either purchased a roll manufacturer, in Oregon, Illinois, or
started a new factory.  I do not recall.  I do know that they attempted
to use old Ampico masters on perforators in the Illinois factory, to make
new 88 note "AEolian" rolls.  This turned out to be a disaster.  The
rolls produced while attempting to use the Ampico masters were so bad,
they did not even resemble an Ampico roll minus expression.  That idea
was scrapped.  Later, AEolian rolls were made under a sub-contract by
QRS.

Later J. Lawrence Cook was lured away from QRS, and made a few rolls for
"AEolian."  Profits were slim, and finally the rolls were discontinued.



(Message sent Thu, 23 Jan 1997 08:58:14 EST , from time zone -0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Aeolian, Rolls, Winter