Bob Stewart wrote "I have a Wurlitzer roll frame that has
a selector switch on it.  The positions from top to bottom are
SELECT, STOP, PLAY, SELECT.  Has anyone seen this configuration
before?  On what?  How does it work?"

"Big Bertha", formerly owned by Paul Eakins and now at Disney World,
uses a similar spool frame to play Wurlitzer 165 rolls.  Bob does not
mention what size roll his spool frame takes so I am assuming his is
the same size.

Paul also had a Wurlitzer Style O Photoplayer that used Wurlitzer APP
rolls which are the same size as 165 rolls.  He removed one spool frame
and replaced it with a spool frame that plays Coinola style O rolls so
that the photoplayer would play more percussion effects automatically.

Big Bertha used a North Tonawanda 82-key roll and was later changed
to play Wurlitzer 165 rolls.  I am guessing the change was made because
of the availability of 165 rolls.  I believe the spool frame currently
in Big Bertha is the spool frame that was removed from the photoplayer.

If Bob's spool frame is the same size as the one in Big Bertha then it
is quite possible he has a spool frame from a photoplayer.

The controls operate as follows, from top to bottom:

  Select - Fast forward to desired piece.
  Stop - Stop, no movement of roll.
  Play - Roll moves forward at play speed.
  Select - Fast reverse to desired piece.

There is additional gearing present on the Big Bertha spool frame that
allows for these actions to take place.

These controls would be needed in a photoplayer so the operator could
quickly get to the desired piece of music appropriate to the action on
the movie screen.

Bob Moore
Orlando, Florida