Roll Scanning

Optical roll scanning is the salvation for our paper music

heritage, whether the rolls are disintegrating or in original

like-new condition.  Conversion to midi format means the vital

information stored in warehouse sized rooms of rolls can today

be stored on a single DVD disk. 

Roll scanning takes time - and none of us lives forever.  With

the limited number of optical scanners in continuous use

throughout the world, many of us choose to make a value judgment

as to what material is at the greatest risk of being lost within

the near future.  Most turn-of-the-century rolls which were

originally wound upon wooden cores are quickly being eroded by

the acidic degradation of the wood rosin.  Even the hearty manila

stock used by the Aeolian Company is after 100 years starting

to crack in horizontal layers from the center core outwards. 

Rolls punched on lesser grade papers have frequently deteriorated

to the point of worthlessness (the paper used by Standard Music

Roll Co. during the 1905-15 period, frequently under the

"Electra" brand is a good example). 

A perusal of this listing of rolls which we have already copied

and offered for sale will quickly give you an idea of our

personal focus - ragtime, blues (particularly Capitol), and

whatever we may locate of the earliest nickelodeon rolls,

particularly the rare formats. Many may not realize that

nickelodeon music even as mainstream as the A-roll format

is extremely scarce prior to ca. 1912-15.  From roll flyer

information we know that thousands of such rolls were

made back then; but they very rarely turn up today. Each

passing generation has taken its toll on the stashed away

hordes of the previous; regarded as worthless and

discarded. The earliest material,in endless roll format

is particularly scarce simply because of the wear early

transport mechanisms placed upon the paper. 

There is much good music which HAS survived and which needs

our attention. At VFM we maintain two optical scanners and

offer scanning as a service to those who have material they

personally wish to preserve.  We're trained musicians and

correct for errors resulting from a roll's poor condition;

such as water erosion, shrinkage, edge tears and holes, etc.

Pricing And Terms:

1. Roll scanning to midi format and subsequent editing, if

required, is provided at the rate of $35./hr.

2. A minimum of $35. will be charged for scanning the first

roll, or for scanning a single roll.  Multiple rolls will

be scanned/edited at a flat group rate of $35./hr.

3. Our scanners operate at approx. player tempo 50 - or 5

feet per minute.  As a rough guide, nickelodeon A-rolls

range in length from ca. 180 to about 220 feet. 

4. Set up time is minimal in the case of most roll formats.

For endless rolls, a great deal of careful handling and

prep work is needed, especially with fragile rolls,

and this adds to the overall scanning time. Request

quotations beforehand on this type of material.

5. Customer bears expense of shipment both ways, which will

be either insured USPS media mail-delivery confirmed;

or insured UPS-delivery confirmed.

6. No one could possibly treasure original roll material more

than we do.  However, we will not be held responsible for

any loss or damage incurred during a transaction involving

original material on loan.  I (Frank Himpsl) have been

involved in most every phase of roll collecting for some

35 years, dealing with a large number of fellow collectors,

and am proud of an unblemished reputation for honesty.

I'll gladly provide references to those requesting same.

7. Product delivered to customer (along with return of loaned

rolls) will be midi files which may be used for both listening

purposes, recutting purposes, or playing upon the many different

makes of digital pianos available today.  These files can

be either emailed to the customer or copied to a disk and

mailed, at the option of the customer.