Re metal spools -- Nix the war idea, as we were not attacking anybody
around 1890.  I have several Wilcox & White 44-note and Aeolian 46-note
rolls, as well as some early Aeolian Grand 58-note rolls, with metal
spools.  Wood flanged rolls can break when dropped -- many Celestina
rolls have chipped flanges or are entirely missing!

One thing is certain, you will not find a chipped or missing metal
flange roll.  The big problem was cost and, as production rose, the
metal flange & spool idea was dropped.

Speaking of dropping: metal flanges bend and do not necessarily bend
back at exactly the same spot where they bent.  Now we have an entirely
new problem...  And they also rust!

Greg Filardo