Western Electric A-Roll Piano (#1) (The original "Nickelodeon")

[max9046]

I have to admit I like the slower version. This is the tempo that John Farrell apparently liked - if they punched the roll at the original speed.

Thanks,

Max9046

[max9046]

Thanks so much! I just did some additional work and it should last a long time. New Roll arrangements deserve a lot of the credit for the wonderful sound. .

[HESOYAM442]

This is so great!

[supersonicdrawer]

its like synthesia

[anglerfly]

You like music machines!

[KawhackitaRag]

While, as far as I can tell, "Carolina Shout" is Farrell's own arrangement, I know for sure that this version of "Rattlesnake Rag" is transcribed from the 1950s Joe "Fingers" Carr recording. Thanks!

[KawhackitaRag]

John Farrell really knew how to create a tasty arrangement of Carolina Shout! THANKS for posting this!!!

[max9046]

Thank You.

[bartonorgan]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful collection!

[max9046]

Thanks for the comment. I just received a new Roll of John Farrell's Ragtime music. I plan to post new videos this weekend.

[Toudreyte6501]

enorme

[Rigilkentarus974]

J'en veux un !!!

Trop géniale!!!

[max9046]

Merci!

[Matthaeus42]

ah i love it! feels like being put into old western times....

[AAErikCO]

@Matthaeus42

These weren't around in the old west sorry! Hollywood reinforces the notion that ragtime was old west somehow. Nickelodeons werent really popular until around 1910 or later. The old west was gone and done with long before 1910. Only meaning to educate here :)

[AAErikCO]

One commentor's post was if this roll could be played on a regular piano.. Well, it depends on what you mean by "regular" player piano. I believe these A-rolls will play on a 65 note player or 65/88 machine if they are spliced onto single 88 note roll cores, two songs at a time.  Think these come in sets of 10 songs, so it'd take 5 cores. You will need to tape 2 holes on each end of the tracker bar to avoid the instrument coding and PLEASE don't try this with an original nickelodeon roll.

[AAErikCO]

A-rolls themselves are in a 6 to the inch scale, & therefore will "fit" on the 65 note player pianos (taping off a few coding holes on the tracker). Of course if you're playing regular 88 note rolls on 88 note players, no need to worry about cutting & splicing at all. Putting A-roll tunes on 88 note flanges/cores is a suitable alternative to hear the tunes if you don't have a Nickelodeon. I've just acquired a few inexpensive Nickelodeon recuts through eBay & they play great on my 65 note player.

[lazaryjczyk]

awesome!!!!!!!

[JamesPriceJohnson]

can this roll be played on a reg. player piano

[max9046]

No. It's playable only on an "A-roll" piano. They were originally coin-operated and were used in Bars and Restaurants in the 20's, 30's, and 40's.

[AAErikCO]

@JamesPJ

These A-rolls can be played on a 65/88 note "regular" player piano if you're able to find one of these players. The tracker bar will have 2 rows of holes, one ontop of the other, one wider than the other. Taping off a few coding holes on each edge of the 65note scale allows these to be played on the 65 note setting. You'll have to splice the songs onto 88 note flanges & roll cores, but it works like a charm instead of having to special order 88 note roll conversion sets of A-rolls.

[JamesPriceJohnson]

its carolina shout, not stomp. also, who made this roll

[max9046]

You are correct, James. My Mistake in reading the label. Bob Billings cut these and many other John Farrell songs into 7 or 8 rolls.

[melissawood1967]

How fun to listen to and it looks beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[max9046]

I originally thought John had composed at least some of these tunes, but I don't know which ones. So I have corrected my description to the fact that he arranged and played them on these rolls.

[Yaledmot]

As I just learned from "KawhackitaRag", Ethwell Eddie Hanson composed Rattlesnake Rag. I had no idea. Eddie was a theatre organist in the Chicago and Milwaukee region during the 1920s.

I have several 88n rolls recorded by him on the Supertone label. Eddie passed on in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He was an active member in both AMICA and ATOS during his later years.

I continue to be amazed by these Farrell recordings. Gads the guy was great!

[joe22twentytoo]

super ! ! ! !

[dmswartz]

Max, thanks so much for posting this wonderful Western Electric piano! It's a delight to listen too! How many nickelodeons do you have in your collection? Thanks again!

Dave