Q: How much are my original rolls worth?

A: There are many different types of rolls of different values to different people. Usually collectors are looking for music of a certain type or played by certain favorite artists. Classical music on regular player rolls is not generally very collectible, and ethnic rolls are usually not very collectible either. But there are always exceptions and you may either have an unusual roll or you may find a collector who is looking for this type of music.

Rolls must be in good, playable condition; otherwise they are probably of very little value. If I had a box of 100 average rolls I would typically expect to sell them all in one lot for $3-5 each, or $6-8 each for specific rolls if someone were to pick through them. Again, this is just a very general statement and there could be a title in there that's worth more. If a roll is damaged but playable, I would expect to get less, perhaps $1-3 for it. All of these guesses are only typical, and would vary greatly depending on your specifics.

Q: Can you tell me something about my player piano?

A: Please check my recommended reading page. Two books in particular will give you a great start on player pianos. The first is Player Piano Treasury (Harvey N. Roehl), and it is still the best general information book you will find on player pianos. Unfortunately it is out of print, so I'd suggest you check with your public library and borrow a copy.

My second recommendation is Player Piano Servicing & Rebuilding (Art Reblitz) which not only has service information, but lots of details about individual instruments. Finally, The Piano Book (Larry Fine) has excellent general information about everything you might want to know regarding all types of pianos, including recommendations of new pianos.

Q: Can piano rolls be made from audio recordings?

A: There are 2 ways to make piano rolls from audio recordings, but the second is not practical. The first is to find someone who can listen to the recording and cut the roll by hand. The only person I know with this talent is John Farrell in England (Iona, Main St. / Tingewick / Buckingham / MK18 4NN). The second way is to use a computer to retrieve the information from the recording, then most likely convert it to MIDI which can then be processed into a piano roll. But in reality the technology for extracting real information from an audio recording is just in its infancy, and the bottom line is it is not worth the effort. Of course, that's my opinion. If someone wants to take on the project, God bless them!

Q: Why should I use rubber bands on my rolls, and what makes rubber bands break in the box?

A: I strongly recommend using rubber bands on rolls. It protects them, it looks nice and it's cheap insurance. #14 rubber bands work best for most rolls - I keep a box of them in my piano bench. Rubber bands keep the paper tight on the spool when not in use. This helps preserve the paper by minimizing exposure to air which can dry out the paper over time, and it prevents the loose paper from unwinding in the box and potentially getting damaged when the roll is removed or transported.

Make sure the rubber band does not touch the metal ring on the tab! The rubber reacts with the metal and breaks down. You'll find most broken rubber bands broke where they touched metal. I always move the rubber band to the center, then back it off slightly so it can't touch the metal. This doesn't look quite as nice as a centered rubber band, but it looks better than a broken rubber band!