Mr. Stoddard, who held most of the Ampico patents, loved his patented
"note extensions" of vintage Ampico rolls.  Indeed, he made the editors
extend the notes while the damper pedal command was on, just in case the
roll was played on a piano with a non-functioning damper pedal.

The effect was never satisfactory, and in the late '20s Stoddard relented
and the practice was abandoned.  When the earlier recordings were re-
edited with "B" coding the bulk of the note extensions were removed.

A keytop player, unless equipped with an attachment to push the damper
pedal, has a characteristic "dry" sound.  Even its cousin, the Vorsetzer
(push-up player), usually has a "leg" to push the pedals.

Music rolls which are arranged for pianos without the damper pedal will
sound okay; many QRS rolls have no "Loud Pedal" holes in them.  But
"hand-played recordings" (however they're made!) are supposed to sound
like a real artist at the piano, and if the damper pedal doesn't operate
then you're missing a lot of the music!

Robbie Rhodes
Etiwanda  CA