Aluminum spool ends were indeed made by, or for Ampico in the early
1930's.  These aluminum ends for long playing rolls, were perhaps
experimental for Ampico, as very few of them are seen.  They are
usually painted black.  The majority of spool ends for original long
play Ampico rolls were made of brown pressed material that were meant
to be unbreakable.

In regard to the label, Ampico 100775, Concerto E-Flat, Liszt, Played
by Marguerite Volavy, This was a number assigned to the Long Play
version of the three roll set, and placed in the large #5 box.  The
roll was intended for use on the model B Ampico piano only.

For those who had a model A Ampico piano with a smaller spool box,
the same musical selection was available as three separate sections
Ampico: 70973 1st movement; 70983 2nd mvt, and 70993 3rd mvt.  The
number '3' [as the last digit] equates to box size, as you will note
that the long-play box label number ends in a '5', which equates to
the 4"x 4.75" box.

In the early days of Ampico several sizes and colors of boxes were
made.  Later, about 1925, it became standardized and was narrowed down
to just three sizes of black boxes with the gold Ampico logo.  The size
of the box equates to the last digit of the roll number.

The #1 box was the black familiar gold-lettered top-hat style box, with
the false bottom, that is no longer available.  (This is what I am
seeking for Ampico roll collectors as a collective project.)  During the
last years of Ampico these top-hat style of boxes were dropped, and the
much cheaper smaller boxes, similar to the standard music roll box size,
was used.  Ampico still kept the logo on pseudo-black-lizard-skin boxes,
with gold letters on each box.

For larger rolls, the second size is the #3, which is familiar to
all Ampico roll collectors.  It is similar to above, and had no false
bottom in the boxes.  The next and largest size Ampico box was the
Jumbo, 4" x 4.75", and was used only for the model "B" long playing
rolls.  These were the 100XX5, numbers and you will note all the
numbers for these special large rolls ended in a '5'.  Ampico called
them:

    "Program recordings for use only on the Ampico
     with the large spool box".

Harold Powell did produce Ampico Music rolls at one time.  The letter
"B" was added by him, not by Ampico, to differentiate the format of
recording style.  Early rolls were recorded as "A" and later recordings
which were suited for the model "B" and were somewhat different.

It sounds to me that Karl Ellison has a copy of the roll 100775, and
since the roll was a Klavier copy, the leaders at that time had no
imprint on the roll leader, and for economy measures a smaller box
label was attached to the roll leader for identification.  Now years
later, we find it confusing.  "Do we have only 'Part One'?"

I believe it is all there, but at the time no one thought anyone
would look up the roll number on the roll leader, since the selection
and artist were clearly noted.

It is interesting to note that modern re-cuts are made on thinner
paper.  A roll ending in a number 3 will now fit into a #1 box, and can
be wound on a #1 spool.  This causes major headaches to the purists who
have roll libraries, and try to seek a roll by number.  Oh yes, it is
in a #3 box according to the index file, but as we search, we find it
is has been changed to a #1 box.  Oops!

One thing that remains a mystery is the Capital "D" that is found on
many late Ampico roll labels.  Does anyone know what this "D" stands
for?  It is also interesting to note that on some late Ampico roll
recordings there is a statement: "For home use only!"  Again, there
must have been some problems playing these rolls in public places!

Bruce Clark