Robbie Rhodes said:

 [ ... music rolls.  Every day our old rolls grow more fragile!

Interesting how the timing of a remark can be so appropriate.  Just last
night, I was updating my data base of piano rolls when I came across an
old roll that I had obtained with a group of others.  This unfortunate
roll had been repaired by some previous owner with fiber or filament
tape, the kind that is used to seal packages for shipping.  The tape
was old and had petrified, damaging the roll even more.  I kept thinking
what idiot would use this kind of tape on such brittle old paper?!

My question is:  Is there any way to remove this fiber tape without
causing further damage and still preserve the paper to which it is
adhered?  This same genius taped over the title and number of the roll,
which are now barely visible.  Any suggestions are welcome.

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/