What is a "Musical Switch?"  At the Phonograph/Music Show in Delaware
this past weekend, I picked up a curious British piano roll, titled
"The Lightning Switch" (for $1, it sounded interesting enough to
try).  I'm hoping some of the experts can tell me exactly what I found!

It has a heavy gray paper decorated leader, with a large "A C" crest.
The label reads as follows:

  "Full-scale Themodist  'The Lightning Switch' (New Musical Switch)
   Arranged by K.J. Alford   The Aeolian Company"

The roll begins with a chime effect, which then becomes "The Bells of
St.  Mary's."  This segues into Handel's Halleluia Chorus, then, in
quick succession (these are the tunes I can identify; there are a
number of others that are familiar, but I can't think of titles):
"Little Brown Jug," "The Girl I Left Behind Me," "Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star," "Sweet Betsy from Pike," "In the Evening By the
Moonlight," "Swanee," "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," "Pop Goes the
Weasel," and a number of others!!!

I'm sure it's not a sample roll; the tunes blend into each other in
a continuous medley.  Is a "Musical Switch" the early 20th century
version of "Name That Tune?"  Whatever it is, this is one wild, fun
roll, switching in "lightning" succession from march to rag to
classical styles, and the crazy thing is, it works!

Jim Canavan
cybrflash@aol.com