Hello all,

I haven't been here in Australia that long and I still know very little
of things here.  I have just learned that the Mastertouch Piano Roll
Company, which has been in existence since the early part of the last
century, will finally close its doors on June 30, 2005.  I have spoken
to the owner, and apparently sales have dropped from 20,000 rolls per
year some four years ago to under 5000 in the past year.

I inquired about the perforators and machines.  I have learned that the
four original ACME perforators are currently still in the factory, and
all are still in use.  There is also an original recording piano.

I asked about purchasing the perforators, but unfortunately they have
all been classified as national heritage and apparently they may not be
sold, converted, or anything.  They are all going to a museum.  That is
a real pity, because no museum needs four such large machines.  In my
opinion, they should be used to perforate music rolls, not sit rusting
and forgotten in some storage facility.

For many years, I have wanted to own a perforator and a player roll
factory, and now this.

Regards,
Bernt Damm
Sydney, Australia