Regarding Jack Breen's thoughtful comments about roll scanning,
particularly Violano rolls, and all the other excellent thoughts
shared by many MMD readers, I'd like to throw in a quick two-cents
worth.  I want to share my experiences to emphasize Jack's feeling
of frustration and to illustrate just how close-minded individuals
can be, and their irreverence for the musical and historical value
that is contained on vintage piano rolls.

I'm the fellow that Jack referred to in his note regarding the circa
500-roll Violano collection that is "closed for scanning."  The owner
of the collection shall remain nameless in respect for his privacy.

I was granted access to the collection because the owner and myself
share two mutual friends, both of whom I've known for over 30 years.
They put in "the good word" for me, and after several very promising
and enjoyable phone conversations with the gentleman we set a date
for my visit.

We spent the entire day together, which was great fun because we got
along wonderfully and never once ran out of coin-operated music topics
to discuss.  In addition to the Violano rolls, the collection contains
many hundreds of other rolls many of which have not previously come to
light.  A significant number of Wurlitzer APP, A-, G- and 4X-rolls are
in the collection.

I brought along an optical scanner and set it up on the gentleman's
dinner table for demonstration.  Fortunately I had also brought along
an original Violano roll (which turned out to be a jazz roll he didn't
have - haha!)   After scanning the roll I played back the results using
a Violano emulator which multi-tracks the individual violin parts and
piano, and through a lap-top's speakers gives a fairly decent
representation of the music.

The gentleman was extremely impressed by the technology, and
supportive (in words alone) that such archival scanning was a
worthwhile thing to do.  However, when it came to loaning rolls for
scanning, or even scanning rolls on the premises under direct
supervision, the answer was an extremely polite and courteous, but
unshakable "No."

We discussed the matter at length and always in the most courteous
manner.  I used every possible perk to engage the gentleman with the
scanning idea.  I offered money for permission to scan individual
rolls.  I also offered to recut copies of rolls that weren't in his
collection in return for scanning privileges.  Basically anything that
would conceivably sway the man's attitude.  All of this was to no
avail.

The only glimmer of hope is that the gentleman said he would be open
to "negotiations" at some point down the road, and that such matters
would be handled by his attorney.  He apparently was instructed by the
attorney that the material he owned was exclusively his property and
that he was entitled to royalties or other such payments for the usage
of it.

I totally agree that reimbursement of some sort, monetary or otherwise,
is a reasonable request.  I don't believe that all long-time collectors
must hand over to the world their life-long collecting efforts for
historical and moral obligations alone.  Those collectors who _do_ accept
the preservation of the music as a moral necessity are fortunately in
the majority.  It is out of their extreme generosity and fine character
as human beings that makes this possible.

Music is the highest form of art.  I like to quote the old saying,
"What we share with others we retain forever.  That which we keep to
ourselves is ultimately lost."  That might be paraphrasing a bit, but
it gets the general idea across.

I haven't given up (with rolls I seldom do), and plan to ultimately
play golf with the man on his own terms.  I have no problems with
attorneys being involved, and to the extent my own finances will allow
I'll continue to pursue the matter.

To my knowledge this gentleman has no living relatives, and is upward
in age.  His words to me were -- and I quote this as closely as possible,
just to convey the level of stubbornness at play here -- "Frank, if
I died tomorrow the rolls won't do me any good.  Since I won't be around
I could care less what happens to them.  I know there are collectors
out there who are after my rolls, and they won't get them."

He then went on to name a few collectors who had wanted to recut
several of his ragtime and blues APP rolls, some 20 or more years ago.
Keeping the music to himself and not sharing it with others was truly
a source of joy to the man.

On the Violano rolls which Jack mentions, the lot of them are on the
third floor of a very old home which has no air conditioning and which
is not heated during the winter.  In the summer (when I visited) it's
a regular inferno up there.

Hardly any of them are in boxes.  They're spread out on the floor
standing upright, arranged in serial number order.  I spent quite a bit
of time going through the collection.  There is all kinds of great
material there, including rolls where even the tune line-up is unknown
to collectors today.  I examined many of them and, as Jack mentioned,
they are as dry a batch of Violano rolls as I have ever seen.  There is
absolutely no way that these rolls could be played on a Violano machine
without damage ranging from edge scoring/fraying to catastrophic
destruction of the roll on rewind.

So, for what it's worth, there's a more detailed and personal portrait
of the mind of an individual who wants to "take it to his grave."
'Sad' doesn't begin to describe the situation.

As Ever,
Frank Himpsl
Valley Forge Music Roll Company
http://www.valleyforgemusicroll.com