65,73 and 88 note rolls...
Hi There, I own two 65 note instruments a 'push-up' and a Gotha Steck pianola both fantastic well made instruments,the push-up it's a double valve the upright Steck it's single valve both with lots of Sensibility. I have restored many 73 note Phonolas,vorzetsers and not,and even Phonoliszts (electrical expression player) etc. And ofcourse i have restored also many 88 note instruments some very poor made some very good and well made.This to say that i think,and this is my opinion,far from the instruments,the 65 note rolls seem to me very mechanical,organ like,with a almost 'frosen' ritmo phrase,to take the ritmo out of the roll you have to to manage the TEMPO lever.Perhaps my old 65 rolls are no good....The 73 note are very good,very well made especialy the ones for the Phonoliszt. The 88 note ones,as you well know you have for all tastes. Am i too demanding? Best regards Miguel :?

Ah but Miguel - It is adjusting the tempo that is the great enjoyment of playing the pianola. Hupfeld rolls are indeed very fine, but you play them once, and then put them away - you can play an ordinary roll ( 65 or 88 ) ten times in a row - each time differently. I wish I could play the piano properly - but playing the pianola does occasionally come somewhere near. :) Do you come across many Victoria brand rolls? - the few that I have are nicely made - comparable with Aeolian. My favourite is a roll of Schuberts famous Marche Militaire - but unlike the usual Aeolian one is of the original piano 4 hand version. Was there a Portugese roll manufacturer? Cheers Neil

Hi Neil That's right,the tempo lever,i have to use it often to 'take' out more expression out of the roll.I have lots of Victoria Barcelona rolls,they are indeed very well made the 88 and 65.Very good paper and tags,baclite ends,very good.Yes we had a very big manufacturer in Porto call Abel da Fonseca i think i have rolls from them.They had a huge musical instrument factory,with lots of orchestrions,pianos,player pianos,pianolas,vorzetsers rolls of every kind....But i think that Mr.Abel had some kind of agreement with Aeolian and Mr.Hupfeld,because the Portuguese vorzetsers are no more then the 73 note Phonolas with diferent cases,the Orquestrao it's the Aeolian Orchestrelle,even the pianos are very well made but Bluthners,the big organs were made here and still are as the same for the reed organs.The rolls are very well made among every thing with lots of Fado and other Portuguese folk songs,good paper,good cut,good tags,wood ends (like Aeolian) perhaps made by Aeolian with diferent tag...who knows...I know that Mr.Abel the owner was a very interesting and smart guy... Cheers Miguel