Hello MMD.  For a long time, I shied away from rubber bands around rolls
after a nasty experience some years ago.  I had come across a 65-note
roll which I knew was very unusual and, not having a functioning player
at that stage, I put a rubber band round it, found a box for it and put
it away.  About three years ago I got it out again, and guess what --
the rubber had perished and stuck to the paper.  When I removed it some
of the print on the leader came with it.  So I don't use bare rubber
bands at all now.

However, I have been using the cloth-covered bands that girls (mostly)
use around their pony tails, for small size rolls.  Even if the rubber
perishes, which I expect it will, there will be a layer of cloth between
the rubber and the paper.  One disadvantage is that my granddaughters
know I have a store of these and beg a couple every time they visit.

For medium and large rolls I use 6 mm cloth tape (that's about one
quarter of an inch wide) from a haberdashery shop, cutting a length off
the tape roll sufficient to tie a bow around the pianola roll.  I use
black tape simply because I think it looks classier than white.

English readers will know that most Aeolian classical rolls had
a string tie attached to the D-ring, which was intended to be wound
'round a paper fastener that was let into the tag.  This system works
well unless the roll is kept in damp conditions.   Then moisture wicks
up the string, rusts the tag and that rots the string.  (Julian Dyer,
I think, told me that the original was waxed twine.)  I haven't found
a source of replacement string so, after de-rusting the D-ring (I use
Feronite) I replace the old string with green embroidery thread, chosen
to look as close a possible to the original.

A hint: the persons attaching the original string put a half-hitch at
the end of their string before attaching it to the D-ring.  Then they
had only to put a second half-hitch around the D-ring and pull it
tight.  Knowing this makes it easier to pry one of the original knots
apart.

John Phillips in Hobart, Tasmania