Here's an invite to all you piano roll researchers out there.  I recently
obtained a grotty job-lot of rolls, and in it was a roll made by SABBAEM
of Milan.  Looking in Ord-Hume, this must be 'Soc. an. brevetti barbieri
per applicazione elettro-musicale' of 26 via S. Vincenzo, Milano, Italy
(although he doesn't mention their use of the acronym SABBAEM).  Does
anybody have more information?

The roll is unusual and interesting throughout.  It is in a one-piece box
hinged down one side, unusual in itself.  On one end of the box is a
hand-written label 'Pastorale di Mozart' (the label having a thin black
border and a pale yellow background with a white logo).  On the other end
of the box is a triangular label, 4 cm each side, blue with a white
border.

There is a lyre in the middle (in yellow), with lightning flashes (in
black) down each side, merging into the word 'Sabbaem' written along the
bottom in angular lettering matching the lightning flashes, a very
distinctive and attractive label.  The same label is stuck on the
underside of the lid.  The logo is also in the background of box and roll
labels.

The roll label is typed, saying 'PASTORALE di MOZART -- Eseguito dalla
Prof. Signorina RUELLA =' (meaning recorded by?).  Just before the music
starts there is a hand-written notice 'Prova di studio - Copia non in
commercio' (translating as 'Studio proof - not for sale' perhaps?).
The handwriting is the same as the label, and is a beautiful piece of
calligraphy, obviously meant to look really nice.  Perhaps the roll was
a presentation to the artist?

The roll is certainly hand-played.  The performance is fairly good but
still has a few rough edges.  The roll is themed in an unusual way, using
ordinary note holes -- but singly, not paired in 'snakebites'.  The
perforations are slotted with no bridges.

The spool ends are moulded with the inscription 'S.A.B.B.A.E.M. Milano'
-- the only clue to its origins.

The roll collection this came from had no other rolls anything like this,
so there is no further clue to the origin of the roll and how it made its
way to north London.  All I know is that the rolls were the dreg ends of
a large instrument collection from an unknown collector/hoarder.  They
were lightly peppered with bird droppings and some were really mouldy!  No
wonder they didn't sell in three auctions.  My brother offered a derisory
sum to take them away.  You do get lucky sometimes (it's not always a
rich man's hobby).

I always buy and research unusual roll labels when I see them, and most
are fairly easy to look up or place.  This one really has got me
intrigued!  I would welcome any contributions as to the company, the
artist, the proper translation of the inscriptions and the company name,
whatever.

Julian Dyer