Hopefully this will add a few shreds of information about the
"Pianolist's Library" rolls Bryan Cather recently referred to. I have
one in my current roll auction so I was able to pull it off the shelf
for inspection. It has a burgundy box and is titled "Popular Edition,
The World's Music, Pianola, A New Aeolian Library of Audiographic
rolls". The tune is Mendelssohn's "Fingal's Cave Overture".
This copy says "Aeolian Company, Ltd., Made In Great Britain" on the
roll label. The roll also has a stamp on the leader that says "Methven
Simpson Limited, Musicsellers, Dundee, Perth, Forfar St. Andrews,
Edinburgh", further pointing to its British origin.
From an eyeball inspection, I would date the roll
around 1910, give or take a few years.
I've auctioned a few others off (maybe you were the one who bought
them). The only other color I've seen is a dark green. The black one
you refer to may just be one of the green versions that's aged over the
years.
Hope this helps.
Paul Johnson¶
The Piano Roll Shop
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