In MMD 2015.08.18 John Grant asked about Duo-Art 6716, Meditations
No. 1, arranged and played by Robert Armbruster.

> https://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/201508/2015.08.17.06.html 
> Seek Duo-Art 6716 "Meditations No. 1" Armbruster, by John Grant

Well, I recently obtained a copy of this. It's a London-made version
with the same copyright stamp stuck on it as shown in the original
post. Mine retains its original box and label.

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVlBSEFf42A
 ]

John's post asked what the stamp was. That's easy: it's a regular
French mechanical-rights copyright stamp saying (in French)
"reproduction rights paid". The way these stamps worked in Europe
is that the roll-maker would purchase stamps from the music publisher
and attach them to the roll -- at first just plain copyright stamps
cancelled with a signature or printed name, or later as here
specially-printed ones.

The stamp for this roll is for Ricordi & Co, so it covers the Puccini
used on the roll. Ricordi was publisher for all of Puccini's works.
(A curious bit of roll history is that Ricordi were part-owner of a
roll company: F.I.R.S.T. (Fabbrica Italiana Rulli Sonori Perforati),
of Milan. Their ownership arose because of money due to them for
making rolls.)

Anyway, I found that John's assessment about 'Meditations' is quite
right; the roll exploits the Duo-Art coding very well. So I'm going
to add it to my recut catalogue.

There are three Armbruster 'Meditations'. The other two were
Meditations No. 2 (Duo-Art S-3071) and Meditations No. 3 (Duo-Art
S-3077). All three were issued in 1924, one month apart. A copy of
No. 3 is in the Musical Museum in Brentford. Does anyone have No. 2?
It would be good to scan it.

The S prefix was used for 'Special' Duo-Arts. Some were made for
specific dealers, maybe featuring a pianist who worked for them.
Others, such as the Meditations rolls, were supplied to dealers for
demonstration purposes.

In general, the S-prefix Duo-Arts are not often seen and all should
be scanned and so preserved. Some appear in the UK with the prefix
removed, and it seems the Hayes, London factory received all the roll
stencils that were created in Meriden and chose to issue some of these
rolls generally. The only sign of their 'special' origin is the use
of a 3xxx serial number.

Julian Dyer
http://pianorolls.co.uk/