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MMD > Archives > April 2000 > 2000.04.28 > 01Prev  Next


Sources of 65-note Themodist Rolls
By Dan Wilson, London

Miguel de Mattos in Lisbon was looking for 65-note "Themodist" rolls.

These are now found mostly in Great Britain, where they were made for
the remarkably large number of 65-note Pianolas (both push-up keyboard
players and player pianos) sold fitted with the Themodist system
between 1908 and 1912.

"Full-scale" (88-note) instruments appeared on sale in London at the
end of 1908 but the older standard was not abandoned because, to start
with, 65-note instruments were cheaper to make and sold well, and
later, customers were reluctant to change their instruments.  So roll
manufacture continued until about 1938, although dealers stocked the
rolls until after the start of the 1939-45 war.  65-note Themodist
pushups were also made until 1912 and have survived rather better than
the pianos, so there is still a small demand for rolls here.

Most of the dealers listed in the MMD "Resources - Great Britain" will
have some of these rolls, but the best way of building a collection is
to join:

1. The (London) Player-Piano Group, whereupon details of their Post-Bid
postal roll auction will be sent to you automatically.  Details on their
web site, http://www.playerpianogroup.org.uk/   and/or

2. the Post-Bid Enterprise auction, whose address is:

  c/o Frances Broadway
  39 Sydner Road
  London  N16 7UF
  England

Both these auctions always have 65-note roll sections, and while all
the rolls will play on Miguel's instrument, the Themodist ones (whether
"Orchestrelle", "Themodist" or "Standard" in make) are distinguished by
having "T" in front of the number, e.g., T64122.  Not all these rolls
will have the Metrostyle line.  "Meloto" and "Regent" 65-note rolls
never have a Metrostyle line, but some have Themodist perforations.
In their case this is not indicated by a "T".

These rolls do appear elsewhere -- I have only recently bought a box
of them from an MMDer in the USA.

Dan Wilson, London


(Message sent Fri 28 Apr 2000, 21:25:00 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  65-note, Rolls, Sources, Themodist

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