I am reading the posts from the Sealed Carton Purists, and I am not
believing what I read!  I am positive I am in the majority when I say,
"Open the damn things and play them !"

It is absolutely asinine to deny yourself, your family, and others who
love music the pleasure of hearing new rolls, after they have already
sat in boxes for years and years.  Piano rolls or any other musical
product were meant to be _played!_  There is nothing intrinsically
worthwhile about a roll of punched paper sitting in a box: the boxes
are plain and unattractive, few people know what they are (look at
eBay) and they are probably not even worthwhile as an "investment"
collectible.

Why?  Because, look at the next generation coming along now --
that's right, the nose-ringed, multi-color haired, foul-mouthed,
rude ones.  Do you really think _they_ will value such things?

Not a chance!  Your precious Mint In Box rolls are just so much
recycling trash, to them.  If it's not a CD or videodisk or Sega
cartridge, they won't even know what they are; your pristine Mint
In Box paper rolls will be tossed in the dumpster along with all the
other "old junk" no one knows anything about or cares about but you.

So unless you are specifically willing them to a museum or collection
in your name (which is also a good idea but must be called out specifi-
cally in your will's bequests and codicils), personally I think the
best idea would be to lend it immediately to be copied, and then if you
want to keep the roll new, put it back in the box, and play the copy.
That way everyone gets to hear it, and the music, which is after all
the real heart of the issue, the point of the roll, stands a better
chance of surviving into the next generation or two, or longer.  Just
my opinion, of course, but I bet it's the normal one!

Tom Detweiler