I have an old roll. I know it is old, because on the outside bottom of
the box, there are two dates stamped.  One date is Jun. 16, 1915, the
other is Jul. 15, 1915.  The roll is from QRS, Chicago; the tune is
"Gladiolus Rag"; no roll number at all; the paper is a light gray colour
and fairly well waxed (or shiny), about 0.0045" thick.  The roll is in
superb shape, just slightly tatty on the leader, with a later tab.
I estimate that the paper condition is as good now as when new.  There
is a possibility that the roll has been kept in favourable surroundings,
although I have owned it for twenty-nine years, and it has seen extreme
humidity changes.

Music roll paper, I understand, should be long-grain and dry-waxed.  The
waxing is to fight against moisture and too much dryness; the long grain
is to give strength to the paper.

QRS did use a very thin waxed paper about twenty-five years ago which I
did not like.  The holes weren't clean cut, and it "rattled" when you
handled the paper.  Play-Rite is using very good paper at around 0.0035"
thick.  New England Music Rolls uses a good paper, shiny on the side
that faces the tracker bar and dull on the other side.  What is
their source of supply?

Steve Bentley
Vancouver, BC, Canada