I recently came across what appeared to be a standard player piano
roll.  I put it on my piano to see what it was since it lacking the
original leader and I had no idea what kind of tunes were one it.
It turned out to be a fantastic roll of classic American marches.
However, I was getting a lot of "rumble" on the low end during play.
(Yes, my Duo-Art system was turned off!)

I noticed that there were a lot of miscellaneous holes punched in
the lower (bass) section.  Upon closer inspection, approximately the
bottom (left most) 10 holes appear to be for some sort of percussion
or registration, as they have nothing to do with the music.

In the pictures I've sent with this article, you can see in the first
what I'm talking about: short, single holes like you would see for
percussion.  Then longer ones for some sort of sustained action.  There
appears to be only 1 "random" punching on the treble end about 4 holes
in.  It is long in length.

At the end of the tune you will see in the third picture a group of
punched holes followed by one, which I assume is an "Off" signal.  Then
at the beginning of the next tune (the last picture), there will once
again be that same pattern of holes, followed in this case by 3 slots.
It looks almost like a registration set and cancel [release].

With the bottom 10 holes taped over I can play it, but it seems that it
ought to go with whatever instrument it was originally intended.  The
leader is missing, there was no box, and I haven't played it to the end
to see if something is written there.  Anyone out there have a clue?

The first response I got was perhaps a Soloelle, but the holes are all
wrong.  By the way, if you can use the roll it's yours.

Jim Quashnock 

 [   Overall picture of roll
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/09/28/180928_162030_Unknown%20Roll.jpg 
 [   Close up of bass end holes
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/09/28/180928_162030_Holes%20during%20play.jpg 
 [   Holes at end of tune
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/09/28/180928_162030_Holes%20at%20end%20of%20tune.jpg 
 [   Holes at beginning of tune
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/09/28/180928_162030_Hole%20at%20begin%20of%20tune.jpg 

 [ It looks like an early experiment punched by Play-Rite or Klavier --
 [ maybe a scrambled "O" roll?  -- Robbie