I am curious as to how "standardized" the speed setting are from
piano to piano.  I ask because I have some rolls where the tempo
marking is so _far_ off from what I would think it should be that
it makes me wonder if "Tempo 80" does not mean the same thing on all
pianos.  I am making the assumption, of course, that the pianos are
all adjusted properly.

You can listen to an example of what I mean by going to
http://www.pianorollstuff.com/tempos/ .  There, you will find two
recordings I made of a roll; one at the marked tempo and one at the
approximate tempo I think it should be played at.  The marked tempo
is so far off from what it should be, thus my conclusion and question.

This particular roll is Schubert's "Military March", Pianolist's
Library 88-note roll #7708.  At Tempo 55, it is obviously _way_ too
slow.  However, in the same sitting, I listened to another roll
marked 55 and the tempo was absolutely perfect.  Perhaps one could
also arrive at the conclusion that it was an "editorial mistake" to
mark it at 55.  Mistakes do happen.  Sometimes I'm amazed at how many
rolls will have one particular hole blocked out due to the fact that
it was a wrong note!

Regards,
John Miller
Saint Paul, Minnesota
http://www.PianoRollStuff.com/