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Are UK Duo-Art Rolls Better Than USA Rolls?
By Spencer Chase

Hello,  There are some differences in the way UK and USA Duo-Art
mechanisms were made and some believe that the coding was different
on the rolls for each market even those rolls that came from the same
note masters.  Therefore the rolls made for the UK market may play
better on a UK built piano and vice versa for U.S. rolls.  There were
some UK rolls that were coded in a way that makes them play badly on
all machines that were not regulated exactly like the one they were
originally coded for.  This coding practice was abandoned at some
point.

Another issue is the condition of rolls that have survived to the
present.  British rolls have a few advantages that allow them to
survive in better condition.  First, the paper is generally better,
in many cases it is as good as the U.S. Audiographic rolls.  The spool
flanges were rarely (never maybe) made of metal so they do not bend or
rust, both of which are can cause major damage to the paper as it hits
the rusted or warped flange.

Another contributing factor is the climate of the UK.  Some people
believe that uniform and relatively high humidity, short of condensing
extremes causes less damage to paper.  Others disagree.

In summary, my experience is that British rolls are generally in better
condition than US rolls but that some have dynamic coding that make
them play rather unpredictably on a U.S.-built Duo-Art.

Best regards,
Spencer Chase


(Message sent Tue 23 Aug 2005, 19:08:47 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Are, Better, Duo-Art, Rolls, Than, UK, USA

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