I am surprised at the paucity of writing about the Duo-Art test rolls.
If you look in the MMD archives there is not even one solitary listing
under Test Roll!  Perhaps the dearth of writing is because many people
do not even know they exist! Let me briefly describe them, moving in
reverse order.

- Test Roll #3-Issued in 1927, and printed like an Audiographic Roll.
This is the only test roll that I know of to be recut.

- 1921 Electric Duo-Art Tester #2.  This came with a blue cloth leader.
The chord tests are different from Roll #3.  In addition, the minimum
playing level is thoroughly tested, unlike #3.  Perhaps the best part
is that you don't have to listen to Indian Love Call.  I noticed that
Wayne Stahnke mentions in an article that he has scanned a copy.

- Test Roll #1.  I have only seen one copy, owned by a friend of mine.
It must have come out around 1914 when the Duo-Art was introduced.  It
has different chord tests from the other rolls.  The most memorable
thing happens during a full scale rising chromatic run: A rubber
stamped announcement saying something like "Steinway Uprights Play
After This Point Only".  I noticed that Douglas Henderson mentioned
this in one of his articles.

- Combination Tester -- Pianola and Duo-Art.  This must certainly
be the original test roll.  It is surely the most bizarre roll of all.
It starts off, and for one entire minute you are looking at blank paper
going by (except for note #44 is punched in seven times, at one foot
intervals).  Then comes a repetition test of all 88 notes.  Suddenly,
a Metro-Art label that has been glued to the center of the roll tells
us we are about to hear Felix Arndt playing "Dainty Daffodils".
Hmmm ... Maybe Indian Love Call wasn't so bad, after all.

I'm sure all of you can guess what happens next: A chromatic run in
*six-to-the-inch format* appears, so you can make sure your 65-Note
rolls will play all right.  Without any warning, we go back to
nine-to-the-inch format and some other tests are made.

Finally, we get to the Duo-Art section.  Several chords at different
levels are played, but nothing is printed on the roll, and I never
found a booklet with this roll.  It's anyone's guess as to what all
this means.  Suddenly a Duo-Art label that has been glued to the roll
tells us that Leopold Godowsky is performing "La Gondola" by Henselt.
I believe the entire selection was included.

If there is sufficient interest in recutting any of these rolls, send
me an email and perhaps something can be arranged.

As long as I have been talking about test rolls, let me add one final
thing.  I have been quite fortunate over the years to get autographs
by original artists on their piano rolls.  Among the names are Richard
Rodgers, Aaron Copland, Shura Cherkassky, Robert Goldsand, and Nadia
Reisenberg.  Vladimir Horowitz was the only one to refuse.

Clarence Hickman lived only a couple of miles from my house, and I was
lucky to have the honor of visiting him several times.  Obviously, he
never played any rolls that I could have him autograph, but I did the
next best thing -- I had him autograph my original Model B test roll!

Randolph Herr