German rolls in Oz
By Darrell Clarke
G'day all,
Dan Wilson asked if anyone had information about Empeco rolls and maybe I can offer a little help here. Where I live, Adelaide, South Australia, there is a recognisable German influence dating back 150 years when many Lutherans fled persecution in "Germany" (Silesia) and settled in a number of areas including the now famous Barossa Valley wine growing region. Until the World Wars almost eliminated it, they retained strong cultural links with their homeland, reflected in their homes, furniture and language. In more recent years, this has had a revival for the benefit of the tourists.
Amongst the many German "relics" to be found, it is not unusual to come across old piano rolls, often with the name of the supplier on the box, such as Schrapel's Emporium in the Barossa Valley. I have collected a few, almost always accented rolls of high quality and usually with wooden ends.
I have a very colourful one from Schroder, Smidt & Co of Bremen which has a bright blue leader featuring pianist at a grand piano with the words " Original-Kunstler-Notenrolle nach dem Handspiel erster Meister. (Artists' roll, hand played by the Master). Other makes include Standard (S M below a crown) and Hupfeld. The latter usually have watermarks with the year on it.
I have a 1907 Hupfeld roll with solodant accenting and a small attached photograph of the artist or maybe Hupfeld himself. Now to EMPECO. I have only one (1923?), an accented, non expression roll (L. v. Beethoven, Leonora overture III), and with the name M P Co on it.
According to the book "Restoring Pianolas", this was made by Michael Preuss and Co, Berlin. I could not find any reference to any pianos by that name.
I would be intersted to hear from anyone else who has interesting information on German or other early European roll makers. I had a look at my Metro-Art rolls, but none are from the U.K., although I have many (earlier?) green label British Aeolian Orchestrelle rolls. I can't find any dates on the U.S. Metro-Art rolls.
Cheers, Darrell
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(Message sent Wed 18 Sep 1996, 15:45:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
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