I have watched the piano roll industry go into decline in the last five
years, and certainly since Play-Rite ceased production.  I used to sell
Play-Rite rolls two to one over QRS except for the new issues which
Play-Rite was lax in producing.  All said, it's a very sad day for all
of us who have worked in the player industry and sold new QRS rolls.

I have often commented that there were many cost cutting procedures
that QRS could have instituted a long time ago, like revising their
catalog in a less expensive format and providing customers with only
one or two new catalogs per year.  There also could have been cost
savings provided to the customers by electing to ship via USPS Media
Mail as they used to do in years past.

This being said, it seems that an era has ended with the closing of
the longest operating roll manufacturer in the country.  Is the writing
on the wall for the rest of the player restorers like me?  I guess
we'll have to get by on lots of good used and old rolls while they
last, and the few small companies that are cranking out some good rolls
now and then.

Jim Jelinek