Thomas Ford writes in 101029 MMDigest:

> Is it better to place a rubber band on a music roll when not in use?

Dear Mr. Ford and MMDers,

The biggest problem with rubber bands is that they will deteriorate,
especially the newer ones.  For a long time, I tore a strip of paper
and wrapped it around the roll and put the rubber band over it.  This
at least prevented a rotting rubber band from sticking to the roll.

Now I use a Velcro strip cut to about 7 inches of length to wrap around
the roll.  These strips are supplied on a spool 30 feet long and 1/2-inch
wide and are sold at garden supply stores (our local Ace Hardware has
them) as tie strips for plants.  This width has the added advantage of
eliminating any "puckering" of the paper if the roll is warped or loose.
I hope you like green as this is the only color in which I have found it
so far.

Should you use anything on the roll?  It probably depends on how you
store rolls.  If they are stored horizontally on a shelf, it may not be
too important.  If they are stored on end, as in a box or storage chest,
I think it is better to wrap them with something to prevent the paper
from skewing sideways on the roll.  It is probably also better to store
vertical rolls with the fixed spool downwards.  These techniques will
help reduce some types of warping.

Since this is a common problem for those of us who have music rolls,
I will be interested to hear other opinions and ideas on the subject.

Regards,
Bob Conant
Bradenton, Florida