Within a previous post I lamented the demise of roll production for
the Aeolian pipe organ.  My statements were in good faith, but were not
based on researched facts of when roll production ceased, but rather,
hearsay.  One astute MMD reader contacted me with strong evidence
refuting what I had said.  I am delighted to learn I was wrong.  Here
is what I said in MMD 130406:

> It is my understanding that the 116-note roll production ceased in the
> late 1920s.  The production of the Duo-Art 176-note rolls continued
> clear up until the 1940s.  I have heard that Aeolian-Skinner finally
> dumped all the masters and inventory in a paper drive during World War
> II.  What a shame.

How was this refuted?  Correspondence from the Aeolian-Skinner Organ
Co. has been recently found.  It is addressed to an owner of a residence
pipe organ and includes listings of rolls available for purchase and at
reduced prices.  The date of that correspondence is May 6, 1953.

Clearly, Aeolian-Skinner was maintaining and selling a roll inventory
well after the close of World War Two.  Also, the production of 116-note
rolls, according to Rollin Smith's book, did not cease until 1931.

While on the topic of pipe organ rolls, recent activity on eBay showed
great interest in a collection of 105 recut Aeolian Duo-Art organ
rolls.  Most rolls sold for over $35 and some much higher.  I was told
one roll fetched over $150.

My paltry bids were soon overcome by more enthusiastic bidders.  One
roll that I wanted to get was Andante Cantabile (from String Quartet
No. 1) by Tchaikovsky, number 3335.  I already own an original copy of
the roll which contains huge errors in setting the stops.  I was hoping
to study the recut version to see if those errors were present within
that roll, too.  If the winner of that roll reads MMD and finds the
roll sounds strange when played, they should contact me for the fix.
A discussion of the roll is on my web site at

   http://aeolianorgan.com/aeolian/Late_issue_roll.html 

Anyone who might have more information about Aeolian roll production is
urged to post it here or contact me off list.

Bob Taylor
Missouri