Dear Mr. Ward,
Aeolian Company produced several styles of organ roll; it would be helpful
to know which type you have.
1) 44 note; wine-colored box, punched 5 holes per inch, D-shaped
pin in the right end flange (very old, unlikely).
2) 58 note; wine-colored box, punched 6 holes per inch, 10-3/16" wide,
usually called "AEOLIAN GRAND" (the most common type, not very valuable).
3) 116 note; green fabric box; punched 12 holes per inch, 10-3/16" wide,
called "AEOLIAN PIPE ORGAN" (very collectable).
4) 176 note; wine or black box, punched 12 holes per inch, 15-1/4" wide,
called "DUO-ART PIPE ORGAN MUSIC" (unlikely, no work by Scharwenka
listed in the McElhone catalogue).
Aeolian did not put many player organs into churches, and given the secular
nature of the music cited, this seems more likely to be a case where a
well-to-do paritioner contributed a residence pipe organ to the church when
the mansion was torn down. The original ownership can be traced if the Opus
Number (serial no.) of the organ is known. Even if the console with the
nameplate has been replaced, this (usually four digit) number can be found
punched on the largest pipe of each metal rank.
Thanks and best regards
Richard Vance
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