I need some help.  I have heard many varying and conflicting reports
of the paper travel speeds of original A and O roll machines, not
modern buildups with modern spool frames.

So what I need is for volunteers with access to originals to do the
following:

1.  Place a roll on the spool frame.  You'll probably want to use a
new recut.

2.  Mark, with a pencil, a point on the roll; back it up, then start up
the machine.  When that mark crosses the tracker bar, start a stopwatch.

3.  After exactly one minute, make another pencil mark and stop the
roll.  Measure the distance between the two marks, and please send me
that distance.

For 'A'-roll machines, adjust the wheels to the tempo that seems to be
the one used most.  For 'O'-roll machines, please place the spool frame
drive belt first on the smaller spool frame drive pulley, then on the
larger; do the test for both and tell me the results for both.

Now, why do I need this?   Because the Christmas roll paper travel
speed requirement (the tempo) is apparently faster than that available
on original machines.  I thought I had it right, but apparently I did
not, so some customers are not hearing it at the correct tempo (making
it sound dull as dishwater).

The "Theory-of-what-SHOULD-be-the-right-speed-because-the-manual-says-so"
notwithstanding, the only way I can be sure of the correct tempo is by
some kind soul doing the steps mentioned above.  I want some real live
empirical evidence, measured on real live original machines.

Thanks in advance, and I'll post whatever results come back, if any.

George Bogatko
http://www.inluxeditions.com/