I am really surprised that nobody is doing any kind of major recutting
for Duo Art in the states.  Between Precision Music Rolls and Keystone,
plus a few other people recutting, a new Ampico piano owner can build
a nice library of quality rolls that will last for several generations
if they are cared for properly.

It seems as if the 1930's library on Duo-Art which shows up on eBay
typically fetch very good prices, as do the standard classical pieces.
I do not know which company had the higher production numbers between
Ampico and Duo Art but the easy availability to build a good library is
important in terms of these instruments surviving, being maintained and
restored.

As we have all discussed many times in this forum, the originals are
deteriorating and have become delicate.  We have all had favorites that
were toasted when the chain perforations started "giving up the ghost."
Nobody will get rich but there needs to be a catalog for Duo-Art as
with the Precision Music Rolls catalog for the Ampico.  The only other
choice for someone who wishes to build a good Duo-Art library of music
that is in decent, reliable, condition is to install an e-roll system.
It really is a shame to have a nice Duo-Art and then being relegated to
playing 88-note rolls.

On another note, did Aeolian use cheaper paper on Duo-Art rolls than
did American on Ampico?  I am sure that after the merger, the paper was
the same.  It seems as if the Duo-Art originals that I own are
typically more fragile than my Ampico originals, although some of them
are also "on the edge."

Randy Hammond