Hi all.  I have several of the "Diana" rolls in my collection and what
I like most about them is the beautiful artwork both on the box itself
and the roll leader. I think they are some of the nicest.  The leaders
have a person playing a kettle drum and on the sides of the boxes, one
side has an angel playing a harp and on the other side the angel is
holding the harp and looking off into the distance.

The rolls were indeed made in Madrid Spain. They have revenue stamps on
both the boxes and on the roll leaders.  The rolls generally have the
snake bites ("") for the Themodist/Solodant player pianos.  I think
that most all that I have are probably arranged rolls and none of them
seems to be hand played.  The music ranges anywhere from classical to
popular music, and of course Spanish music.  They are a delight to play.
The roll I happened to bring up to write this piece on was roll number
1708, "Las Mujeres De Lacuesta, Schottishch", by Guerrero.

I acquired the collection many years ago, and at one time the
collection had been owned by a diplomatic family who brought them home
to the US.  There were several other different Spanish brands in the
collection and some of them had very fancy boxes and leaders.

Victoria was another Spanish roll company, probably located in Madrid.
The leaders were not as fancy and had the typical listing of classical
composers, such as Beethoven, Chopin, etc.  The box top reads "Victoria
Marca Registrada, V. DA de Jose Oliver Y C. 4 Victoria 4  Telefono
3849, Madrid". Several years ago I loaned one of the Victoria rolls
to AMICA and they published the roll leader on one of their covers.

Another company was named "Best", but I suspect that it may have been
part of Victoria, as the roll leaders are identical.  Looking at the
difference in the types of music, it may be that Victoria was the
classical music and Spanish, and that Best Company did the popular
music.  The roll I am listening to as I write this is labeled "Rollos
'BEST' 88 notas, roll number 5935, Starlight Jazz Fox Trot, by Dave
Stamper".  The label on top of the box, reads "Rollos 'BEST' 88 notas,
Ricardo Campos, Nicolas M. Rivero, 11 Madrid".

In the collection also was a company named "Rollos Princesa Musica",
Moya Hermanos. Sen Co., Barcelona.  So, I suspect that there was quite
a thriving roll industry back in the early 1900's.  On top of the box
is a label that says: "Pianola - Pianos Aeolian.  Stroud - Steck -
Weber - Y Steinway.  Pianos verticales Y de cola rollos, discos,
gramolas  "La vos de su amo"  agencia oficial.  The Aeolian Co. S.A.E.
Av. Conde Penalver, 24 - Madrid  Telefono 13128".  The roll label does
not list the company, but has just the roll number 4747, "Chiquita Vals",
Wayne.  I think everyone knows or has heard the tune, sometime in their
lifetime.  Very nice arrangement.

Perhaps some of our Spanish MMD's can enlighten us to more about the
roll industry.

Musically
Larry Norman - from the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.