MMD > Archives > July 1997 > 1997.07.08 > 02Prev  Next


Are Old Music Rolls Worth Preserving?
By Bill Chapman

I'm sure I'm not the only one with lots of old tattered rolls tucked
away.  But I'm pretty sure I'm the only one moving 800 miles at this
moment.  I feel these rolls are a bit of history and find it hard to
toss out rolls even when the last playing indicated they weren't anything
special.

I would be interested in knowing what other people think about the rolls
that are not particularly interesting (eye of the beholder, of course).
Should these be saved even though the arrangements are uninteresting,
predictable and dull?  Does the mere fact rolls have survived the better
part of a century justify preservation?

If the tune were one that had many copies made, the loss is minimal.
Because a song might be quite rare, but dull justify keeping and
someday(?) repairing it?  Just wondering what others are doing with
these paper albatrosses.

Bill Chapman, Seattle
"California or Bust"



(Message sent Mon, 07 Jul 1997 22:37:23 -0700 , from time zone -0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Are, Music, Old, Preserving, Rolls, Worth

Related by Subject:
1997.07.08.02 (This article) - Are Old Music Rolls Worth Preserving?
2025.06.25.03 - B.A.B. Organ Company 87-hole Roll Formats
from Craig Williams
2025.06.11.01 - Ampico 'A' Re-Roll vs. Ampico System Off-On
from Douglas Heckrotte
2025.05.25.01 - Ampico 'A' Re-Roll vs. Ampico System Off-On
from Douglas Heckrotte
2024.06.10.02 - "Happy Days Are Here Again" Atlas 3975 Phil Lynch
from Piotr Barcz
2024.06.09.04 - "Happy Days Are Here Again" Atlas 3975 Phil Lynch
from Samuel Stroud
2024.06.06.01 - "Happy Days Are Here Again" Atlas 3975 Phil Lynch
from Piotr Barcz
2024.02.18.01 - "Happy Days Are Here Again" Atlas 3975
from Piotr Barcz
2022.09.19.01 - Where Are These Amazing Player Pianos Now?
from Piotr Barcz
2021.02.15.01 - Ampico A Re-Roll Problem
from Kevin Mayes
2020.09.15.02 - Olympia 15-3/4" Discs Are Spoken For
from David Sharpe
2020.08.29.01 - Designing a Piano Roll Perforator System
from Piotr Barcz