Following Robert Perry's find of an old Leabarjan in pieces, I e-mailed him
with details of my Reliance rolls and offered comments on handling the
perforator parts, that some of you knowledgeable subscribers might like
to add to.  As follows;

 - What are your mechanical/technical skills like? Don't be afraid to ask
for help.

 - Don't throw ANYTHING out, even if you THINK you have no use for a
strange item, or think it's too rusty (it might provide a template for a
new one)

 - Photograph everything, overall shots, and with a good close-up camera.
Lay the bits out on a neutral coloured surface, in daylight if possible
e.g. on a trestle table covered with blank newsprint.  Take from several
angles, use a fill-in flash to get dark corners lit up.

 - The motor has probably only got dried out bearings...  DON't try to
turn it by force, the bearings may be able to be soaked in penetrating
oil, and freed up without damage.

 - WARNING the motor may well be 110v, not our 230v, check for a makers
label.  Step-down transformers are easy to obtain, but also check if it
requires 60Hz mains frequency not our 50Hz - running at the wrong freq.
may overheat the windings, and/or run at the wrong speed; it depends on
the design of the motor.

 - Rusty parts, especially cast parts, can generally be tidied up by
experts, try contacting your local Vintage Car Club for contacts and
advice.  Remember tolerances can be important on sliding surfaces, which
may have to be built up and machined back again if they are pitted.

Now for the rolls.  I had a suspicion I had more, and went hunting.
Labels, etc., read as follows: (the "/" symbol is how I represent each
new line).

125 / The 'All Blacks' / (Fox Trot Song) / Words by / Elizabeth Chandler
/ Music by / Harry Hiscocks -- Both roll and box, not roll only as
previously stated.  Label is "Reliance Word Roll" black print with fancy
border on white paper, on a dark green imitation-linen-textured box.  The
roll leader has been repaired with two green ha'penny NZ stamps!

167 / "Thinking" / Waltz / Ohman - Morgans -- Box only, black letters and
plain red/black Reliance Word Roll logo on white paper, on dark grey
alligator-textured box.

171 / My Blue Heaven / Fox Trot / Donaldson - Whiting. -- Roll only, with
same style label as 167, but with words Made in N.Z.  printed at very
bottom.  Stamp on roll leader is; E&F Piano Agency Ltd. / W J Caddell Mgr
/ 191 Queen Street / Auckland 8d duty stamp attached.

35024 / Hawaiian Patrol / March / Brock -- Box only, black print on
Reliance Music Roll logo with fancy border on white paper (same style
label as 125)

One Goldentone box only!  I THOUGHT there was another NZ label someone
mentioned!  (Apparently this was another name on rolls produced by
Reliance at one stage)

3572 / "Charmaine!" / Waltz / Rapee - Pollack -- Box only, black print on
Goldentone Word Roll label (Blue & brown logo on white paper) on red-wine
coloured human-skin-textured box. Box also has a sales label on it, the
familiar "Everything Musical" / Lewis Eady / Limited / "The Box Office" /
Auckland

This last one is the real jewel, though:

<No Number> Romance / Wagner / Trans. by F.Liszt.  -- Roll and Box,
handwritten titles on Reliance Music Roll label (black logo with scribed
line border on white paper) in black (pigskin textured?) box.  The roll
leader has a tempo stamp of 40, the label, and no other printed markings
except a handwritten inscription as follows; Specially transcribed for
the pianola for Mrs M. Lees / August 1923

Most labels are in all upper-case text, the last line (artists names) in
lower case on 167, 171, and 3572

So there y'are.  Any other subscribers who can shed further light on the
New Zealand roll production scene (or who Mrs M Lees was?) would be much
appreciated.  Thanks to the NZers and others who have already posted here
or contacted Robert.

Best regards,

Dave Chisholm
P.O.Box 876 Palmerston North NEW ZEALAND
Voice Ph. +64-6-353 0050 Fax +64-6-353 0468