[ Ref. Jerry McBride in 190916 MMDigest ]

I'll tell you as much as I can remember with the caveat that my memory
of these details grows ever more hazy.  Sometime in the late 1970s or
early 1980s a portion, perhaps all, of Dr. Stein's collection came to
the International Piano Archives at Maryland (IPAM), newly housed at
the University of Maryland's Hornbake Library, College Park, Maryland.

If I remember correctly, the collection consisted of a Steinway upright
Duo-Art, a smallish Duo-Art grand, perhaps a Steck or Stroud, and a
smallish Ampico 'A' piano, perhaps a Knabe or Chickering.  There were
probably 1000 to 1500 music rolls of various persuasions, including
non-expression rolls and some Welte Deluxe/Licensee rolls, although
I don't recall there being a Welte piano.

I was "hired" by the late Neil Ratliff, then curator of the branch
of the music library in which the IPAM and the rest of the extensive
resource resided (not all of which was piano roll related), to
"maintain" the various pneumatic systems.  All of the mechanisms
worked after a fashion, but I never learned who may have restored
them initially.  Dr. Stein may have done some of the work himself.

Time passes, and interest in reproducing pianos falls precipitously.
Following Ratliff's death, the University took a decision to move
everything to a newly constructed performing arts center on a different
part of the campus.  Most of the pianos were deaccessed, and I have no
knowledge where they ended up.  They retained only a 5'4" or 5'8" Knabe
"B" which I had restored a few years earlier and had been donated to
the IPAM by its owner, and one of the first 9-1/2-feet Boesendorfer
SE (Stahnke Equipped) pianos.

In the move and down-sizing, they determined that a large number of
music rolls, (mostly Duo-Arts since they were not retaining a Duo-Art
piano) would also be deaccessed, and were mine for the hauling.

I willingly hauled them off before they changed their mind(s).  These
rolls are commingled with my other rolls; I made no attempt to document
their source, although I recall that a few have Stein's "ex libris"
markings.

The IPAM is currently headed by Donald Manildi who should be contacted
for further information.  MMDer Allen Ford may also have some knowledge
of the transactions.

John Grant
Maryland