In Brian Thornton's posting in 090115 MMDigest [Supplies for Rebuilding
a Player Piano] he makes mention of a 1934 "Fortune Magazine" article:

> The article went on to mention QRS, how it had dwindled down from
> a giant to "one dingy factory in Buffalo ... managed by a black man."
> (I am assuming this is J.L. Cook.)

There are two things wrong with this:

1. In 1934 QRS was in the Bronx, not having yet been moved to Buffalo
around 1968 by Ramsi Tick.

2. J. Lawrence Cook was much in evidence back then but he was hardly
running things.  Max Kortlander was still very much in charge until
his sudden death in 1961.  It was then run by his brother, Herman,
until it was sold to Tick.  See
http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/maxkort.html 

A classic example of "Don't believe everything you read," especially
in "Fortune Magazine."

Felix Klempka
Buffalo, New York
Chief Engineer (1972-2005), QRS Music Rolls, Inc.