Hello -- I enjoy operating my Pianolodeons and I suspect a number of
other player piano fans own them, too.  But starting a roll onto the
take-up spool can be frustrating -- you try to catch the leader in the
wide slot and it keeps slipping out.

I've solved the problem by cutting a section of plastic soda straw just
wide enough to fit between the two "bosses" in the center of the spool.
Then I feed just a short length of leader in the spool and secure it by
wedging the straw across the slot.  On rewind, the piece of straw
harmlessly falls out.

I had to experiment with different diameters of straw before success.
I asked my wife where she got the one that worked.  It seems straws
from Chick-fil-A fit just right!

Tom Sendall