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MMD > Archives > March 1998 > 1998.03.25 > 12Prev  Next


Roesler-Hunholz Artistouch Organ Player
By Ed Gaida

Yes, Marc, I am sure that the player I had came from a Kilgen Organ.
It could have been a "one off" thing, but in those days most organ
companies would built you whatever you liked.  The reason that I am so
sure is the fact that only standard 88-note rolls were found "on site,"
and I traced out every wire when I hooked the player up to an organ in
later years.  There was no fancy control mechanism in it.

Now, what you have is probably the Roesler-Hunholz Artistouch player
system, which Kilgen re-named the "Dual Control Player."  I have one of
those Kilgen rolls in front of me now, and examination reveals that it
indeed is the 98 hole version as there are perfs all the way out to the
margin.  The roll, by the way is Kilgen No. KR-407, "Unfinished
Symphony" 1st movement, recorded by G. L. Scott & C. A. Scholin.

I checked two original Roesler-Hunholz catalogs that I have, expecting
to find the identical roll number in their catalogs.  Not so.  Kilgen
must have had their own numbering system.  The roll is in the catalog,
played by the same people, but it is Roesler-Hunholz roll number S-151.

Roesler-Hunholz made what they called "Two Console Recordings" all
recorded by George L. Scott and G. A. Scholin, (the C. A. typed on the
Kilgen roll label is probably an error).  These "two console" numbers
take up most of the catalog.

In the front of the catalog are various notes, too long to reproduce
here, but one is worth repeating;

  "Special attention is called to the fact that any number of single
  rolls totaling not more than a half hour of playing time may, upon
  request, be joined together to make a continuous roll, and that such
  roll may be obtained at the cost of the individual selections."

Roesler-Hunholz made a player unit that mounted under the lower manual
of the organ console, not unlike an Ampico drawer.  I have never seen
one in person, but the factory photos I have of their products show one
installed on a console.

I have about (please do not hold me to this) six or seven of the Kilgen
Dual Control-Player rolls, all in good condition except for the spools
which have cracked.  Yes, I will be willing to sell them to you.  Let
me find all of them first, and then I will email you.

They came from a residence organ here in San Antonio.  The player was
removed in the forties when I was a mere child.  I got the rolls when I
"grew up."

Ed Gaida


(Message sent Wed 25 Mar 1998, 18:25:09 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Artistouch, Organ, Player, Roesler-Hunholz

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