The resident spy is reporting in.  You were all right on the meaning
behind Q-R-S.  Over the years it has meant many things, but no one
knows what the true meaning is.  If anyone ever comes to Buffalo and
takes our factory tour, the slide show given at the beginning of the
tour gives the most weight to the following three theories:

1. In the 20's the company used the slogan, Quality, Real, Service,
suggesting the meaning behind the name.

2.  There was a theory that the letters stood for the various locations
that Melville Clark lived, Quincy, IL, Rome, NY and Syracuse, NY.
This, in truth, was suggested by someone that worked here, and we could
find no proof for that theory.

3.  In the 1920's theory number 3 was a response used in one of the
trade journals to the question behind the meaning of the QRS Name.
Melville Clark, founder of the Melville Clark Piano Co., believed in
the future of automated pianos, and knew if he was to be successful in
the sale of the instruments, he had to have music available to play on
the pianos.  So they also sold piano rolls.

    Since the Q slot in the mail cabinet was rarely used, the roll
orders got put there.  As the number of orders grew, they moved to the
R slot, then the S slot, and were known in the company as QRS orders.
In 1918 Melville Clark's health was failing, and the piano division was
sold to the Wurlitzer Co., and the roll division was sold to Thomas
Pletcher, sales manager for the Melville Clark Piano Co.  The rest as
they say, is history.


In 1993 QRS purchased the assets of the Classic Player Piano Co., who
manufactured the Story & Clark line of pianos.  The Clark in Story &
Clark is none other than Melville Clark himself.  Bringing us to full
circle, although now we seem to be making and marketing roll players to
guarantee the future of the piano roll business.

You all probably now know more about the QRS name than you wanted to!

Ann Jones

 [ Melville would sigh and approve.  Thanks to Dick Dolan and Bob
 [ Berkman and all at QRS Inc. for your preservation efforts.
 [ -- Robbie