The Good Old Days?  During the 1920's my Aunt Marjorie was presented
with a reproducing grand piano.  It was a wedding gift from her
husband.  (From what I can piece together it was a Welte.)

Their first home was an apartment in the Buffalo area.  Aunt Marjorie
loved Chopin, and had a roll on her piano.  The repeat lever was on,
the roll was playing and suddenly the power went off.  At the same time
she was departing for a vacation, never thinking of the player.  After
the apartment was locked and she was well on her way, the power was
restored and the roll played on!

Over and over, and it played so many times that the edges of the roll
became worn, and the roll would not always track properly.  It got
worse and worse!  The neighbors in the next apartment were frantic,
and about the 800th play, they contacted the superintendent, and got
into the apartment and disconnected the piano.  They never wanted to
hear that Chopin selection again!

When Aunt Marjorie returned, she found her favorite roll quite
tattered, and was somewhat amused, yet embarrassed at what had
happened.

True story by my Aunt Marjorie.

Bruce Clark