Some 14+ years ago, I expressed serious concern about what appeared
to be widespread complacency about the life span of paper music rolls.
At the time I expressed hope that someday somebody would develop a way
to capture music roll content in some way that offers some hope of
longevity, certainly longer than the paper itself.

With the development of roll scanning technology by a number of clever,
dedicated people around the internet, I believe this objective is now
being satisfied.  Over the past year, since successfully building a
roll scanner, I have been happily scanning some 1200 rolls out of my
collection.

It is true that nobody knows for sure that electronic storage will last
longer than the rolls themselves.  What we do know is that the rolls
will self-destruct with the simple passage of time.  With the passage
of time, it is also known that clever people will find ways to maintain
roll scan files in contemporary computer storage media as that industry
evolves.  I'm comfortable with this situation, and have faith that
electronic storage of roll content will eventually outlast the original
paper rolls from which captured.

The nice thing about the master files emerging from the roll scanning
process is that perforation masters can already be created from them.
And from these perforation master files, new recuts of the old rolls
can be reproduced at will at some unknown time in the future.

Notwithstanding the legitimate views of many that original methods of
operating player pianos should not be tampered with, there is a growing
number of player piano owners wishing to operate their instruments by
some method other than paper rolls.

One such method is the non-destructive insertion of a set of electronic
relays that can be individually actuated under the control of MIDI
commands from a nearby computer.  Effectively, these relays do nothing
more profound than substitute for holes in a roll.  The tracker bar
need not be removed, just covered with blank paper with a tempo of
zero.

The vast bulk of roll manufacturing is occurring in the USA.  Player
piano owners in other countries are finding roll importation to be
very costly: effectively, crossing borders doubles the cost through
shipping and customs charges.  I, in Canada, simply can no longer
afford to buy new music rolls from the USA.  An option is the
movement of MIDI files worldwide as e-mail attachments, by-passing
shipping and customs issues.

I would like to equip my 1928 Fischer Ampico A with a set of relays.
Because of cruel exchange rates and Customs shark attacks, a commercial
package for such a modification is beyond my means.  I will have to go
it alone.  Others have done so, and for this reason I have added a new
section to my web site, "Rebirth of Player Pianos".  See
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm  Click on "e-Valves.."

As a starting point on this web page, I have included a link to Spencer
Chase's e-Valve system, and have posted a page illustrating the system
that Walter Tenten in Germany developed for his piano some seven years
ago.  Many thanks to Walter for making his documentation available.

There are also a few pictures of a modest upright Cable-Nelson pumper
player piano equipped with these relays and a simulated Ampico B
dynamics control system, all under electronic control by MIDI commands,
effectively turning this upright pumper into a reproducing piano.

I would appreciate it if others who have done something similar would
consider documenting their achievement and share it with us for a
similar display.  The objective being to see how others are doing it,
how contemporary electronics might be less costly and equally
effective.  Perhaps optional methods and equipment will emerge from
this adventure into new initiatives within this delightful avocation.

I would also appreciate suggestions on whether MMD is the best place
for these discussions, or perhaps a new "e-Valve discussion group" on
Yahoo might be useful.  Currently, we have Yahoo discussion groups for
Roll Scanning and for e-Rolls.  Perhaps the e-Rolls discussion group
may be appropriate.  I have no preconceived notions.  My objective is
to provoke and hopefully sustain discussions on this topic such that
many more people may eventually benefit from this initiative.

Thoughts of others?

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
http://www.mts.net/~smythe