I remember reading in Time Magazine, back in the mid-1960s, an
article on the rediscovery of Welte's cache of piano rolls hidden
during World War Two.

The article commented on the fact that the performances were very
different from those heard today, and concluded that piano roll
performances were very much the artists individual interpretation
of a piece of music, whereas today every artist tries to imitate
other contemporary performances available on records, so that there
is no character to the performance.

I might add here that one must remember that reproducing mechanisms
have no way of knowing if the piano is well tuned and properly
regulated and voiced.  Most pianos out there are sorely lacking
the ability to obtain that level of performance.  "Hat's off" to
the individuals that take the time, money and effort to do that.
The rewards are remarkable.

Lester Wolff