MMDers,  Joyce Bright discusses my mentioning the use of rubber bands
in the repair of piano rolls and that I have used the small rubber
bands sold for hair styling.  [Ref. "Preventing Piano Roll Tearing",
050829 MMDigest. -- Robbie]

I wish to clarify that the use of these small rubber bands is only
for application to the insert portion of the left flange, the removable
flange, of the piano roll.  To reiterate, this keeps the left flange
from creeping in and tearing up the paper during reroll.  This gives
me an opportunity to bloviate on a pet theory of mine that placing
a rubber band on the roll after playing is important in the long term
care of the roll.

It doesn't take the examination of very many rolls to note that aging
damage is fairly well confined to the first foot or so of the roll.
In my opinion this is oxidative damage and is less of a factor further
on in the roll because the inner windings were not exposed to the air.
It is my considered opinion that after aligning the paper against the
right flange; the rolls should be tightened down fairly snuggly
basically till the paper begins to squeak.  This expresses the excess
air and has the secondary factor of allowing the paper to assume a
proper playing position.

To answer Joyce's question, I buy size 14 rubber bands for this purpose
from Office Depot.  They will fit for all but the smallest and the
largest rolls.  Hope this helps.

Tom Hutchinson