Although a bit off topic this is in reply to John McClelland's
question about roll scanners and roll readers.

For a number of years I thought it would be fun to be able to play
some of my MIDI instruments from a 31-note organ roll.  To be able
to play a physical roll I believe adds to people understanding what
mechanical music is all about.  Playing a roll on a piano is quite
different than just playing a MIDI file.  In spite of a posting on
MMD and Google I was unable to find any ready-made system available
to do this.

Since I could not find anything ready-made I decided to try and do
something myself.  I built a couple of prototypes -- one using tiny
pressure switches and one using phototransistors.  Both systems could
be made to work although neither was very elegant or neat.

About a month ago, almost by accident, I discovered this web site:
http://www.orgautomatech.com/  Christian Blanchard in France can supply
a compete optical reader-encoder.  It is simplicity itself.  It is very
reasonably priced and can be customized to read any roll or cardboard
music.

The encoder has latency adjustment so that bridging on notes can
be catered for.  I have no desire to make archival copies but in real
time I will be able to play organ rolls and feed the MIDI output to my
instruments.  It is a plug-and-play electronic system; you just have
to install it in your own roll mechanism.

I will receive the reader this week.  As a refinement I will add a
wireless MIDI system  and a small battery pack to power it all.  Then
I will be able to sit anywhere in my room and play MIDI instruments
from organ rolls.

I hope to bring the reader to the AMICA convention in July and use it
to play a bottle organ that will be on display.

Phil Dayson