In Digest 980709 Matthew Caulfield wrote:

> You may end up cutting the words into the belt as a stencil,
> just as they [QRS] do.  That would involve getting an alphabet of
> steel punches made.

Exactly!  But where?  Do they even exist?  I have spent the past four
days searching the web for "punches", "linotype", "stenciling", etc.
My search has turned up empty.  Maybe someone in the MMD can guide me
to a source for these alphabet punches.

Robbie sparked my imagination again when he said:

>[ John Malone adapted a commercial stencil-punching machine for
>[ continuous-feed stencil cardboard.  Maybe it survived the fire
>[ at Play-Rite.  -- Robbie

I have been unsuccessful contacting Play-Rite but it has given me an
idea for a another way of doing this.

Please indulge me for a moment:

This idea might be more practical for a short roll run than a belt.
Also it would be easier to store the stencils, and the roll could be
stenciled after spooling.  (Mine come from the Tonnesen's already
spooled.)

Build a table as long as a average roll and about three time as wide.
On one of the ends of the table, mount a player piano roll chuck in
such a manner that the roll can be pulled out flat along the table.

One of the first production rolls would have to be marked for lyrics;
this roll would then be put on the table and laid flat upon it.  The
lyric spacing can clearly be seen this way.

Next, you would lay the stencil cardboard beside the marked roll,
using the punches to punch the letters in the cardboard.  Ideally,
the cardboard should be a little wider than the roll.  This would be
the most time consuming part.

Once the stencil is laid out in the cardboard, the operator would then
put a new roll on the table, pull it out, and secure it.  The cardboard
would be laid over the roll and aligned.

The cardboard stencil covers the roll completely, to prevent getting
ink all over the roll.  Using a small airbrush (with ink or something
suitable for paper) just spray the stencil area.  Not much would be
needed here, nor would you want the ink to "puddle up" inside the
stencil letters.

Ideally, the ink in the airbrush should be rather fast drying.
If not, it would slow down the operation.  Once the stencil is made,
rolls could be stenciled fairly quickly.

But, once again, this depends upon obtaining a set of punches.  They
are needed for either method.   If anyone has a source for these,
please contact me!

I have always felt that a player roll is never quite complete without
lyrics.  Hopefully, with a little luck, we can supply a complete product.

Best Regards
Andy & Chris Taylor, "The Lone Arranger"
Tempola Music Rolls -- "Taylor Made" just for you

http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.htm