Greetings -- I've been lurking here for quite some time, and I suppose
I should come out of the closet and introduce myself.

I'm a researcher of ragtime subjects and also Dick Zimmerman's signifi-
cant other.  Besides collecting sheet music, I also collect some
records and piano rolls.

I have been compiling a biography of the composer Egbert Van Alstyne
for a number of years and have amassed quite a collection of his music,
including sheets and mechanicals.  Among his best known compositions
are "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree," "Memories" and "Pretty Baby."
I'm really hoping there is some collector who can help me put together
some of the missing pieces.

He recorded a number of piano rolls for QRS and one for Rythmodik
during the period 1912-1918.  Most of them are scarce and a number of
them have not shown up yet, to my knowledge.  Below is a list of the
rolls I'm searching for on QRS Autograph with their serial numbers.  An
asterisk denotes rolls which I haven't yet located:

 Cheese and Crackers        100261  (was recut, looking for original)
 Come On Along              100260  (I have a tape of this)
 Dance Of The Kewpies *      80586*
 Dance Of The WhipPoorWill   80535  (have tape)
 Evening Reverie             80592  (have tape)
 Every Heart Must Have Its Sorrow *   200178*
 Havana, Argentine *        100104* (I'm really desperate for this one!)
 Holdup Rag, The            100038  (have tape)
 Humming Bird, The           69350  (Recordo roll; I have Autograph
    and Rythmodik issues)
 Jamaica Jinjer             100036  (We have misplaced our recut! Help!)
 Just A Moment - Waltz *    100105*
 Love Comes A-Stealing *    200401*
 Oh My (One Step) *         100098*
 Oh That Navajo Rag *           ? *
 On The Trail To Santa Fe*  200402*
 Piccolo *                   80448*
 Sunshine and Roses *       200274*
 Way Down On Tampa Bay *    200274* (Oops... one of these two is wrong.)

Please, if any of you roll collectors out there have any of these
rolls, I beg you to contact me.  I will be happy to consider purchasing
any of these, or if you don't want to sell them, I would appreciate
MIDI files, tapes, or the opportunity to have it recut -- even photo-
copies -- anything!

I have to think that "Havana, Argentine" is far from scarce.  It was
probably recorded in 1914 or 15, and it was still in the QRS catalog
in 1919.  He may also have recorded "Tangomania" in that same time
frame, but I'm not certain.

I'm also compiling a rollography of all of his tunes, so if you run
across "Van Alstyne" or "Alstyne" as composer on any of your rolls,
I would appreciate your dropping me a line with the title, label,
serial number and artist.  I will compile all types of rolls, including
A-, O- and Nickelodeons, etc.

Thanks to all for your time and your consideration.

Regards,

Tracy Doyle

 [ Good to hear from you, Tracy, and welcome to MMD.  I've enjoyed
 [ reading your articles in "The Rag Times" about Egbert and other
 [ composers; hope you have some responses now!  I'm sure I've heard
 [ "That Navajo Rag" on a Clark or Automatic A-roll.  -- Robbie