I was absolutely thrilled to hear of Tom Jansen's operation in the
last edition of MMD.  However, some of Jurgen Goering's editorializing
struck me as a little harsh.  I've been collecting Duo-Art rolls for
over 10 years and coveted them for at least 10 years before that.
I was in the business of selling/recutting rolls for about two years
with Play-Rite as my supplier.  I know a little about what's involved
both as a consumer and a supplier.

My question to Jurgen is what's wrong with dreaming of a day when
technology can make it possible to get a simple roll of custom-punched
paper produced quickly and economically?  I have no expectations, just
aspirations.  How is it is possible that someone as "wired" into the
hobby as I could not have hear of Tom's work earlier?  Like Jurgen,
I'm at a loss to know why more people don't know of Tom.

What's wrong with this picture?  Is this a hobby of information
hoarders (we all know collectors are pack-rats) who are not interested
in sharing the joy this hobby brings?  I'm waiting to hear that it's
all my fault for not renewing my AMICA membership!  I'm not expecting
to get rolls from Wal-Mart, but geez.

Finally, I'm totally stunned by the fact that Tom has over 500 titles
for Red Welte available.  Red Welte, for God's sake -- I've never even
seen one!  How big can the market be for those rolls?  Why is there
no one offering a catalog of 500 titles for Ampico or Duo-Art?  The
mind boggles!  I'm not criticizing Tom because he clearly is a man with
a mission.  I'm saying we need more like him!

How is it that someone as singularly obsessed by player pianos as
I am finds it hard to learn about operations like Tom's?  If it's this
difficult for a "hardcore" like myself, imagine how this must appear to
someone who is flirting with their first roll-playing machine purchase?
What does this say about the future of our hobby?

Ed Chaban