Dear all,  For the past few weeks, I have been working on
a rollography of all rolls made by the United States Music Co.  Though
I currently have only some 88-note rolls in the list, I would like to
add 65-note rolls, Auto-Art reproducing rolls (Recordo), and also coin
piano rolls, and whatever other kinds of rolls the company produced.

First of all, I hope someone can shed some light on their numbering
scheme.  I have information on some rolls in the 2000 through the
39,000 series, with a noticeable gap in information between the 12,000
series and the 23,000 series, and also between that and the 29,000
series.  I seem to have the most information on rolls in the 40,000
and 60,000 series respectively, with a major gap where the 50,000
series rolls should be.

I am curious what the numbers mean, since all that seems to make sense
are that rolls in the 60,000 series are all instrumentals, either
classical selections, light music, or ragtime.  The other series seem
to have word, instrumental, and foreign rolls mixed together without
rhyme or reason.  I would also appreciate knowing what the letters
after each roll number in the 60,000 series mean, for example:
61921 B, "Hearts and Flowers".

Pages 720 and 722 of Bowers' "Encyclopedia" have helped a little bit
in understanding this company's coin piano roll output.  However, it is
not enough.  Does anybody know where I can get copies of these catalogs
of "Electric Piano Music", such as the "Catalogue No. 2" illustrated on
page 722?

I personally own three original endless Peerless D rolls (in the 85,000
series) made by the United States Music Co.  They are in their original
boxes, but there is no tune list, just a number stamped on the roll.
These rolls need to be scanned, and though they are in alright shape,
I do not trust the postal service enough to ship them via mail to
someone to scan them, but would prefer it be done in person.  I know at
least one instance where 44-note endless rolls were cut and spooled in
order to scan them; I do not like this method and prefer someone who
can scan them as they are without modification (excepting roll repair,
of course).

So, I have an especial interest in U.S. coin piano rolls!  I would also
appreciate information on certain instruments mentioned on this catalog
page, namely the Peerless model M which apparently used the same roll
as the popular model 44; and an endless-roll piano variously sold by
Ackolin, Electrova, Ackerman, and Edison.  The mention of this piano
surprises me, since I did not previously know about any full-keyboard
piano sold by Electrova which used endless rolls; nor any Ackerman
piano except for the Pianotist with the mechanical power-roller
action.

As to the 88-note rolls, I would appreciate anyone with original
literature except for the "General Catalog, Volume 12" put out in
May, 1927 by QRS after they had bought U.S.  (I have a PDF image
file of this catalog courtesy of Terry Smythe's web site.)

I would appreciate information about the buy-out by QRS, and whether
or not QRS arrangements were used (like late Imperial rolls), or
whether the arrangements were separate.  Also, some profiles of
musicians who made the rolls would be nice, except for the "famous"
ones which I'm sure are real people (Lee Sims, Paul Pratt a.k.a.
Paul Parnell, etc).

Of course, anyone who helps me with this will all be given proper
credit in the finished rollography, which I hope can be posted on the
MMDigest site eventually.

Andrew Barrett