The "A" roll described by Robbie Rhodes in the MMD dated 01.11.29 was
indeed originally produced here in San Antonio by Vicente Beltran.

I have spent years trying to find out more about this man, with little
luck.  I have researched city directories, old telephone books and even
searched the addresses that were stamped on the leaders of the rolls.
I have come up with very little information.  This enterprising man
operated in at least three locations.  Efforts to find relatives have
produced no results.

I have 88-note rolls by him and some of the labels are marked "con
letras" which means a word roll.  He did have a word stenciling
machine.  The labels of the rolls have a drawing of a bell with the
letters "tran" printed on the bottom lip of the bell.  He produced "A"
roll pianos in great quantity for the 'nickel pianos' in the Mexican
brothels on San Antonio's west side.

Until the onset of World War II, when the military forced closing of
the 'red light district', San Antonio had the dubious distinction of
having the largest 'zona' in the state. ('La Zona' is the name for the
red light districts in Mexico.  Every cab driver down there knows
exactly what you mean should you decide to go there.  Prostitution is
semi-legal in our neighbor south of the border.)   Every house had a
coin operated piano.  There was even a "blue book" published listing
the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the prostitutes.  I have
a copy of this book and needless to say it makes interesting reading.
There were three "classes" of woman listed.  Matamoros Street was the
center of this operation.

Beltran had, from the looks of the rolls in my collection, a Leabarjan
perforator, but the "A" rolls look like they might have been done on an
Acme or similar perforator.  The largest collection of his 88-note and
nickelodeon rolls was lost three years ago when the building in which
they were stored burned.

Should any MMD member come across one of Beltran's original rolls,
I would certainly appreciate a scan of the label for my collection of
info on this most elusive of artisans.

Ed Gaida
egaida@txdirect.net

 [ Thanks, Ed, I'll place the roll label image at MMD Pictures site,
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/  -- Robbie