I have followed this discussion with interest because I have always
had a keen interest in knowing the background and composers of the
selections on my piano rolls (including those that form parts of
medleys).  My collection currently consists of over 9,000 rolls with
about 7,000 different titles, mostly from before 1945.  As a result
of this interest, I have spent considerable time locating the composer
information and entering it into a data base.

To my pleasant surprise, I now have located the composer information
for 99.5% of the titles that appeared on regular piano rolls in my
collection.  My success rate is much lower for the coin roll selections
that were transcribed to 88-note rolls.  There I am missing the credits
for 30% of the titles.  I will be happy to provide anyone with a credit
they are seeking, if it is part of my collection.

Using QRS as the lead example, composer credits originally appeared on
the paste-on labels that were used on both the roll leaders and boxes.
Credits disappeared from the leaders when QRS switched to printing
leader titles in 1919 (around word roll number 900).  Complete credits
on box labels changed to hyphenated last names in 1924.  Even those
disappeared the following year, leaving only the name of the publisher
for later rolls.

Equally as frustrating as the lack of composer credits, in my opinion,
is the practice of some roll manufacturers, mainly US Music, to give
pianist credit only on the roll boxes, many of which are now long gone.

Some of the sources for locating composer credits include piano roll
catalogs, sheet music, the Internet, copyright records, 78 RPM record
labels, record catalogs, and books dealing with composers, films,
Broadway shows and the music industry.

If anyone wants to share information on this subject, please let me
know.

Regards,
Gary Watkins