Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > August 2009 > 2009.08.23 > 01Prev  Next


Meaning of QRS (Q-R-S)
By Mike Walter

Hi all,  To add to the legends and lore of the origination of the QRS
name, I submit the following --

A couple of years ago, while working at QRS, I received an interesting
phone call from a gentleman who had worked for a utilities company on
the southern East Coast of the USA during the 1950s.  It was his
practice to stop into "antiques" and other shops during his lunch break
to see what exciting things could be found.

One day he stopped into a shop and was looking around when he found
a collection of old piano rolls.  He got into a conversation with the
owner of the shop, an elderly black man, about piano rolls and music
from the good old days.  The elderly owner related to him the story of
a friend of his who had started a piano roll company to record black
music at the very beginning of the 1900s.  Black artists were willing
to record songs, but the general population was not inclined to
purchase such music.

In a very short time this would-be entrepreneur realized that his
business may not flourish.  After a period of time he was contacted by
a roll manufacturing company in the upper mid-west about selling his
fledgling company.  After some deliberation, he sold his company to this
up and coming business that became known as QRS.  And what was the name
of this gentleman who sold the rights to his wonderful black music to
another roll company?  Quentin Rastus Snowden.

There's some food for thought!

Best wishes,
Mike Walter


(Message sent Sun 23 Aug 2009, 15:22:23 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Meaning, QRS, Q-R-S

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page