Hi all,

We all try to find out "the mystery of the holes" When it comes to producing
new piano rolls. What is often overlooked however is a way to put lyrics on
the rolls. this problem is always present for the small roll producer. If a
low cost way could be found, the rolls would look more professional. It seems
to me if the problem of making a roll in the first place is solved, the next
step should be a method of adding lyrics. I have developed a method, but is
is painfully slow. I have modified an old dot matrix printer, complete with a
takeup spool connected to the paper advance roller via a player piano
sprocket and chain. now the problem remains in what information to feed the
printer, spacing ect. You just cant stick a end of a roll in a old printer
either. Printers don't like 11 1/4 inch paper. it is wider than most printers
can deal with. there must be a better way! the modified printer makes a
handsome  roll leader, and is handy for putting the original autograph on a
recut. and any other information like tempo, ect on the roll. If the roll is
a recut, I feel it should look like the original. with all the little PP & FF
doodads. QRS has a long belt Of fiberglass(I think) and the letters are
pressed on the belt with what I would call a reverse letter stencil. The
letters are pressed onto the belt. the belt is mounted on rollers. There is
an ink wheel that is mounted next to the belt in such a way to put ink on the
raised letters but not on the flat part of the belt. The  unspooled roll is
actually shot between the ink wheel and belt at high speed, And the roll ends
up in a long plywood box. Like most QRS machines, it is not something you can
go down to any store and buy. I think computers could make this task easier.
They can do most anything you can think of so I wonder if a workable system
could be developed.

                                                               Andy Taylor