QRS artist names on boxes

The more I handle QRS piano rolls, the more curious I get about
their practices in identifying the artist. In the beginning I assumed
that roll makers would be similar to publishers of phonograph records
and sheet music, who usually identify artists clearly (with the
exceptions of budget labels formerly sold in drug stores). The
situation with piano rolls, particularly from QRS, perplexes me.

A forward to the 1985 QRS catalog states that J. Lawrence Cook
"is responsible for virtually every roll numbered from 4000 to 9800,
under a variety of names including Ted Baxter, Harold Scott, Jeff
Watters, Pep Doyle, Sid Laney and several others."

Why then am I finding so many in that range attributed to Frank
Milne? I understood he was a real piano-roll celebrity, so could
it be that Cook ghosted for him as well?

One of my favorites is "At Sundown," labeled as Max Kortlander (QRS
3851). I have read that Kortlander became wrapped up in the business
and did not arrange past a certain point, although his name still was
used to give the stock a greater appearance of variety. That number
is quite close to 4000 -- do we have a way of knowing the real author
of this roll?

I have two copies of "White Christmas" -- same catalog number and,
as far as I can tell, the same arrangement. One box says Frank Milne,
and the other says Max Kortlander.

If I was compiling of scholarly rollographer I would be tearing my
hair out. If the box can't be trusted, how do you compile an
accurate list? Do the authors of these works dig deeply enough to
give a confidence level on authorship for each roll, or list variants
of labeling that have turned up?

I would be grateful for comments for more seasoned collectors than
myself.

Jim Neher
Pennsylvania

 [ Many different artists made phonograph recordings but very few
 [ pianists made piano rolls. Phonograph artists demanded recognition
 [ but piano roll artists simply wanted to be paid.
 [
 [ Neither the printed QRS box label nor the (frequently stamped)
 [ label on the roll can be trusted. The periodic catalog that lists
 [ the first appearance of the tune is the best authority, and even so
 [ it can only give the artist's name displayed on the first edition
 [ of the tune.
 [
 [ Note that the tune arrangement (and maybe also the arranger) is
 [ likely to change in later editions whereas the label data remains
 [ the same. Confusing? Yes!
 [
 [ To my ears, QRS 3851 "At Sundown" is arranged by J. Lawrence Cook.
 [ Ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZkbDNpKCxw and
 [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiecUUIkuMU 
 [
 [ This 1945 edition of "White Christmas" certainly sounds like a
 [ Frank Milne arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0mtGceWX8 
 [
 [ MMD articles about artist pseudonyms are indexed at
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/P/pseudonyms.html 
 [ -- Robbie