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Player Organ Rolls for Electronic Organs
By Daniel D. Tenerowicz

The following article in the October 1996 MMD by Wayne Stahnke best
describes the music rolls for the Aeolian-Hammond player organ.  A
regular 88-note piano roll will not play on an Aeolian-Hammond
instrument:

  "In 1938, the Skinner organ company began production of rolls intended
  for use with the Hammond organ.  These rolls are 10-1/8 inches wide
  with 120 ports, spaced 1/12 inch apart, and in line (i.e., not
  staggered).  The leftmost port is  used for rewind.  According to Eu-
  gene Rogers, the next two ports are unused.  The test roll shows that
  the remaining ports control the pedalboard and the Great and Swell
  manuals.  These rolls are labeled "Duo-Art Music" across the top.
  Immediately beneath this legend are the words "Semi-Automatic."  There
  is no reference to the Hammond organ on the labels and in fact the
  name "Hammond" does not appear anywhere on the rolls.  Thus, I believe
  these rolls should properly be called "Aeolian-Skinner Semi-
  Automatic" rolls or "Semi-Automatic" rolls, not "Aeolian-Hammond"
  rolls.  The music was derived from the library of Skinner organ
  rolls, which predated the acquisition of the Aeolian assets.  Thus,
  there is no overlap between the music in the "Aeolian-Skinner" wide
  rolls (actually Aeolian rolls manufactured by Skinner) and the
  Aeolian-Skinner Semi-Automatic rolls intended for use with the Hammond
  Organ."

Daniel D. Tenerowicz,
Derby, N.Y.


(Message sent Fri 13 Oct 2006, 02:43:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Electronic, Organ, Organs, Player, Rolls
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