Clearly the post from Jay Merrill (100910 MMDigest) has been
mislabeled ("116-note Aeolian Test Roll") as Aeolian 116-note rolls
contain only perforations for notes.  There are no control perforations
since the tracker bar has only note holes.  The Aeolian test roll is
nothing more than chromatic scales played on two manuals of 58 notes.

The fact that the roll has labels for "pilot" holes strongly suggests
some other system such as Skinner.

In general, most test rolls on eBay are grossly overpriced.  The
true value of many test rolls is not as a technician's tool, but
rather, it confirms to us how the system was intended to work.  Once
that knowledge is gleaned and published, the test roll is only
a novelty.  In the case of the original Aeolian 116-note test roll,
its only function is to check that every note plays, nothing more.

Some test rolls do trigger multiplexed functions that aid in
technical analysis.  The knowledgeable technician usually has other
less structured means to check the mechanism for correct operation.
The tracker bar covered with masking tape can be quickly perforated
in the correct channels to make a speedy analysis of control functions,
thus bypassing the need to rewind or fast forward lengthy test rolls.

In the case of the roll mentioned by Jay Merrill, the perforations and
markings should be compared to the scales published in "Treasures of
Mechanical Music" by Art Reblitz and Dave Bowers, or other sources.
That comparison then will verify if his roll scale has already been
published.  If the roll is unique with new scale information, it should
be noted in the auction listing.

I realize that most collectors also enjoy owning a test roll or two for
the machines within their collection, even if those rolls are never used.
I would like to hear more about this roll and the information on it.

Bob Taylor