The following article in the October 1996 MMD by Wayne Stahnke best
describes the music rolls for the Aeolian-Hammond player organ. A
regular 88-note piano roll will not play on an Aeolian-Hammond
instrument:
"In 1938, the Skinner organ company began production of rolls intended
for use with the Hammond organ. These rolls are 10-1/8 inches wide
with 120 ports, spaced 1/12 inch apart, and in line (i.e., not
staggered). The leftmost port is used for rewind. According to Eu-
gene Rogers, the next two ports are unused. The test roll shows that
the remaining ports control the pedalboard and the Great and Swell
manuals. These rolls are labeled "Duo-Art Music" across the top.
Immediately beneath this legend are the words "Semi-Automatic." There
is no reference to the Hammond organ on the labels and in fact the
name "Hammond" does not appear anywhere on the rolls. Thus, I believe
these rolls should properly be called "Aeolian-Skinner Semi-
Automatic" rolls or "Semi-Automatic" rolls, not "Aeolian-Hammond"
rolls. The music was derived from the library of Skinner organ
rolls, which predated the acquisition of the Aeolian assets. Thus,
there is no overlap between the music in the "Aeolian-Skinner" wide
rolls (actually Aeolian rolls manufactured by Skinner) and the
Aeolian-Skinner Semi-Automatic rolls intended for use with the Hammond
Organ."
Daniel D. Tenerowicz,
Derby, N.Y.
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