In MMDigest 001008 Pat Wangerin asked about a roll with pins in
the ends.

The humble 65-note roll, which originated circa 1892 for playing
organs, was first used for piano-playing by Melville Clark in a
prototype "inner player" in 1895, and standardized for use in his
Apollo player pianos and the Aeolian Company's "Pianola" "cabinet
player" (keyboard player or "pushup") in 1899.

The "Metrostyle" facility (artist's interpretation tempo line on
the roll, with matching pointer on the instrument) was introduced by
Aeolian in 1906.  The 65-note roll, then, was the industry standard
1899-1906.

Decline in favour of the 88-note roll started about then, and the
65-note roll was discontinued by US manufacturers between 1910 and 1920
(QRS 1918).  It remained in production in Great Britain until outbreak
of WW2 in 1939, thanks to huge numbers of 65-note players sold there
between 1899 and 1914.

Large numbers of classic and salon-music 65-note rolls still circulate
in the UK.  Thanks to limited market, the auctions prefer to offer them
in sets or lots by musical genre.  More modern music was recut in the
65-note format, using 88-note rolls as masters, by Laguna Rolls
1978-82, who ended up successfully making an all-plastic spool end.
The perforator was sold for making 58-note organ rolls and is still in
existence.

Value:  Alas, lower than the appearance would suggest.  $2.50?  Send
the roll to me and I'll tape a performance off it for you, using my
65/88-note pushup !  Moszkowski was a respectable composer in his day.

Dan Wilson, London