[ Ref. Kel Geiger in 180918 MMDigest ]

As a long time fan of the Kimball Player Organs (I own a 702 and 1201),
I have amassed a fair collection of about 110 original rolls: Blue Box,
Brown Box/Gold Label and QRS 'KM' series.  I don't include the QRS
rolls that have a red 'Electramatic' label stuck over top because those
are merely re-labelled piano rolls.  There is only one other collector
I'm aware of that has a similar size library.

I've noticed over the years that the interest in these machines and
their rolls is curious, at best.  These organs weren't well received,
and their musical arrangements have not garnered much praise.  That's
always been a little shocking for me to hear, since the only other
organ performance rolls are from the 'teens and 1920s era of player
pipe organs, such as Wurlitzer RJ, Aeolian Duo-Art, Welte, et cetera.
The Electramatic offered a contemporary update to the notion of player
home organs.  Unfortunately, by that time, home organs were mostly
relegated to a mere decorative element or accent piece.

I haven't heard of an effort to scan/recut/compile the rolls for
these machines.  Those interested in the smooth stylings of Jim McGill
or Betty Patch (who/where are these artists?) are few and far between.
I have contact with some folks associated with QRS (my Kimball 701 came
from the QRS lunchroom, along with a few 'test-copy' rolls with pencil
marks and written lyrics), but either nothing (e.g., documentation)
remains at the factory or nobody cares enough to talk about it.

I know no information about the Aeolian (Rochester, New York) side of
the roll production (Blue Box).  It has always been my presumption that
QRS punched the KM series of non-reproducing (loose definition) rolls
for the 500-700 series instruments, and Aeolian punched the Blue Box
and Brown Box-Gold label series of rolls for the 1200 (with expression
and tempo controls).  Many have stated that QRS did both, but the proof
is in the punches.  The two rolls were clearly created on different
perforators.

At any rate, scans can be made of any rolls, if desired.  Whether or
not anybody would use them?  I doubt there are MIDI-fied Kimball organs
out there, much less collectors fearing the wear-and-tear on their
prized Electramatic roll collection.  I'd be very happy to collaborate
on any efforts to preserve what remains, while it remains.  I have but
one roll 'catalogue' from the Kimball side of things (not QRS), and
it's nothing more than a fold-out brochure of roll titles.  Perhaps
that's the extent of it.  It's the only thing I've ever seen though.

I understand my reach and experiences are very limited.  If there are
more people out there that can add to this topic, please do, by all
means.  Let's network!

Caring for the forgotten Kimballs,
Jason Klinger

 [ MMD articles about the Kimball Electramatic Organ are indexed at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/E/electramatic.html 
 [
 [ A good overview article by Mike Carey is at
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/200503/2005.03.19.02.html 
 [
 [ Mark Reinhart wrote about the Electramatic Organ music rolls at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/201304/2013.04.23.02.html 
 [
 [ -- Robbie