I first met the Roehls at the 1976 MBSI Convention, Anaheim. We had
corresponded before this and they had been most helpful in my becoming
a MBSI member. I can say that we became friends immediately and
cooperated on many things -- usually it was Harvey giving advice freely
on my projects.
We met at several further conventions; at a party while they were our
house-guests here in New Zealand, Harvey played ragtime on our Wurlitzer
theatre organ, entertaining other guests who included Denis Condon and
Peter Phillips from Australia who were touring with the Percy Grainger
Vorsetzer and just happened to be in town.
I was their house-guest in Binghamton over a New Year and helped Harvey
shovel snow from the entrance to the Vestal Press. The wall beside my
bed in the guest-room was lined with shelved volumes of their
publications. And we drove through a blizzard to visit the Sanders'
Musical Museum in Deansboro, New York.
So many happy memories -- of their collection, yes, but mainly of two
very special friends, people whose dedication and enthusiasm were so
significant to our interest and to the history of mechanical music.
Michael Woolf
New Zealand
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