Vintage Player Piano Roll Tempo 80 Reproduction

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This antique music roll, designed for a player piano, is shown partially unrolled in the photo. The visible part shows a sheet of paper with an aged appearance, with visible signs of wear and stains, mainly on the left side. The paper is secured at each end by dark cylindrical caps, typical of music rolls for automatic pianos or pneumatic pianos from the early 20th century.

The roll bears the inscription "Tempo 80" at the top, indicating the intended playback speed for this piece. A printed insert specifies: "This roll is a correct reproduction of my performance", followed by a printed handwritten signature, difficult to decipher but typical of rolls reproducing a famous interpretation. The overall impression suggests vintage manufacturing, probably between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the golden age of the player piano.

The paper has a beige to yellowed tint, accentuating the vintage and antique appearance of the object. Halos, creases, and marks are visible, testifying to a long history and frequent use. The surface reveals a slightly rough texture, typical of the paper used for this type of medium.

The cylindrical shape of the roll and the arrangement of the inscriptions are characteristic of music rolls for player pianos, also known as perforated rolls or piano rolls. No perforations are visible on this section, but the typology is clearly identifiable.

This roll is a representative example of mechanical musical technology, designed to be inserted into a player piano to reproduce a recorded musical performance. It is a historical medium, sought after for the authenticity of its interpretations and the quality of its mechanical reproduction.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The roll shows stains, moisture marks, creases, and signs of wear visible on the exposed surface. The legibility of the inscriptions remains good. Please examine the photos carefully to judge the overall condition.

Did you know? Music rolls for player pianos, also known as "piano rolls," peaked between 1900 and 1930. They allowed for faithful reproduction of performances by great pianists through a system of perforations coding notes and tempo. Some rolls were signed and guaranteed the exact reproduction of a performance, like the one presented here.

Professional reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping with tracking. Professional experience in handling antique and fragile items.

Keywords: player piano roll, piano roll, antique music roll, perforated piano paper, vintage piano roll, Tempo 80, piano performance reproduction, antique music roll, automatic piano roll, mechanical music medium, paper piano roll, antique player piano