In response to comments from Marc Sachnoff concerning the piano playing
abilities of J. Lawrence "Piano Roll" Cook.

The report that he did not play or did not play very well is totally
not correct!  Also I can't picture Larry Givens suggesting such a
thing.  At that time in our history, Larry Givens was "The" expert in
mechanical music.

In the year 1974, I attended the convention of MBSI.  It was their
Silver Anniversary.  The guest of honour was J. Lawrence Cook.  He
was usually found in the hospitality area, playing up a storm on a
big grand piano, and talking to the members at the same time!

I am proud to have a wonderful colour photo of Lawrence and I
together at the banquet having our lunch.  Mr. Cook was kind enough
to sign my copy of the Silver Anniversary MBSI Book and dated it
9/28/74.

I have a ten-inch L.P. called "Lawrence Piano Roll Cook plays
Everybody's Favorites", that I purchased new for $3.15 !  The jacket
notes offer interesting highlights in the career of Lawrence (Piano
Roll) Cook:

  "While attending Boarding School at Haines Institute, Augusta GA.,
  Lawrence Cook enrolled for their 4 year Piano Course.  He tried to
  compose popular songs.  Then one day, he saw an add in Etude about
  a machine on which one could cut his own piano rolls, which was the
  rage of the day.  This idea fascinated him --- especially the thought
  of cutting his own compositions.

  He graduated from College Preparatory and Piano Courses in 1919, and
  upon completion, he went to Pittsburgh and worked a year to earn
  enough to pay his way to New York with the express purpose of making
  piano rolls.

  Cook arrived in New York, March 1920 -- bought a machine and learned
  how to cut rolls in a crude sort of fashion -- following the
  instructions that came with the machine.

  After tryouts with several companies, he was employed by the U.S.
  Player Rolls Co, to do piece work.  He cut a few rolls for Q.R.S.
  for a special blues bulletin.  Then, when his U.S. Rolls began to
  outsell Q.R.S. the latter company took him back under a contract in
  May 1923.

  He then enrolled for a five-year course in harmony, studied
  everybody's style from records and rolls; studied intensely all
  types of roll music as recorded by others with more experience.
  This included classical, ballads and foreign selections.

  When the depression struck the Piano Roll business and it was
  necessary to discharge all but indispensable help, he was retained
  to run the recording department.

  At one time, the Piano Roll industry employed thousands of people.
  When this industry hit its low peak, there were less than 25 people
  employed.  The recent popularity of Lawrence "Piano Roll" Cook on
  Abby Records in the United States and Quality Records in Canada has
  revived a lost art.  Piano manufacturers are once again taking an
  active interest in reviving the "Player Piano."

  Original recordings by Lawrence "Piano Roll" Cook are made by Abby
  Records in co-operation with Imperial Industries, the manufacturers
  of Q.R.S. Piano Rolls.  They are released exclusively in Canada by
  Quality Records.  We know you will enjoy this FIRST long-playing
  record featuring the most popular selections by this distinctive
  pianist."

After the jacket notes, for this first long-playing record, there is a
sales pitch, 'Enjoy these 78 r.p.m. records by Lawrence "Piano Roll"
Cook' and they list four, double sided recordings.

From my record library of 78"s and L.P's, I have selected several Cook
records and compared them to the same titles from my piano roll
selections.  I would have to conclude that the piano part sounds like
it was from a player roll, and has percussion AND vocals added.

Only the people at Imperial Industries can explain this process, but I
for one, do know that J. Lawrence Cook could play the piano because I
have been there, done that and bought the tee-shirt, in person.

Going down memory lane, I recall asking Lawrence if he had a copy of
the many rolls he had made.  His answer was NO.   He never had a player
piano.  The piano he did have at home was in fact the master roll
marking piano which he ended up with when the method for making master
rolls was changed to the step punch machine now on display at QRS in
Buffalo.  As the story goes, when it was decided to get back and
restore this old piano and put it back with the marking device, he was
provided with a restored player piano and rolls in exchange!

Sorry for the long submission, but I feel those "Piano Roll" Cook
records did a great deal to rekindle an interest in mechanical music.
They came on steam at a time most original player pianos were gasping
their last tune.  It made for a fresh interest in player piano rolls
which was the up side.  The down side was to present all in a honky-
tonk, ricky-tick style, which the non collecting public has come to
expect and accept all mechanical instruments to sound like.

Regards from Ken Vinen, Stratford, Ontario Canada.