HI All,  Paul Ward's posting about using lasers to cut music rolls
brought back a very fond memory.

In 1981 I took my folks to see the QRS factory in Buffalo.  My dad,
an engineer, had recently completed installing the laser equipment
for 'burning' the BAR codes onto the labels of all the products at
the Planter's Peanut factory near Fort Smith, Arkansas.  He took one
look at the pneumatic roll cutter and immediately said: "Why aren't
these people using lasers?  It would be so much cleaner, more accurate,
and so quiet!"

Like Paul, the idea stuck in my head. I've mentioned it to a few people
over the years, including the folks at QRS.  My dad also said that the
words could be put onto the rolls at the same time by using a lower
power setting that would only discolor the paper instead of burning
all the way through.

I'm actually quite surprised that Paul's posting was the first time
I've ever heard anyone else mention the possibilities of such a
process, since the idea has been around for almost 20 years!

What could be the possible downfalls of such a process?  (Come on,
engineers!)

Musically,

John A. Tuttle