In the period around 1900, neither Hupfeld nor Welte or any other manufacturer would have thought that their music rolls could still be played after more than 100 years. After two world wars, many crises and decades of difficult climatic conditions, an astonishing number of music rolls are still in good condition. In recent years, scientific interest in the production methods, materials, repertoire, etc. of the time has also increased. Important research results have been achieved in Bern/Seewen since 2000. The Global Piano Roll Meetings connects many experts around the world and provides a forum for gaining further important insights and making lost titles accessible.
Were Welte red papers always red?
No. Initially, Welte used available brown paper from orchestrion production, for example, and during the turbulent times around the First World War, the material available and permitted in the war economy was used, e.g. white, brown or green paper. Nevertheless, the name Welte 'red' became established, as the typical red paper was used for the majority of these music rolls. As Welte had to reorder paper several times over the years, apparently changing both suppliers and qualities, 'Welte red' rolls are available in different colors. The eponymous and typical red paper was mainly used in the heyday of the Welte Mignon (1907-1912). In World War I it was even redder, but of poorer quality, in the 1920s it was more pink and very thin, and in the 1930s it was more orange and thicker.
What is the oldest Welte Mignon red roll?
Unfortunately, this has not yet been clarified - and probably can no longer be clarified. As far as we know today, the production of rolls for sale began in 1905 and did not take on professional dimensions until 1907. The most important pianist for Welte in the early experimental phase in 1904 was Eugenie Adam-Bénard (1864-1956). The oldest surviving Welte Mignon red music rolls are probably the lined brown and red rolls without any date on the music roll - and still from internal use at Welte. These rolls have rather large holes and a rather rough and imprecise punching. So far, a music roll produced on 09.03.1934 is the last Welte red roll found.
How can a Welte Mignon red roll be dated?
From 1907 onwards, almost all Welte music rolls bear a handwritten production date at the very end of the music roll on the right. If this date is missing, the music roll can be roughly dated on the basis of the paper used. Before 1907 there is usually only a name. The earliest music rolls do not appear to have any notes.
Why are there so few rolls from 1905 and 1906?
This can probably be explained by the fact that the production and sale of the playing instruments (initially only the cabinet without keyboard) only started slowly. At that time, Feurich supplied the piano components to Welte in Freiburg. From their production books we can deduce that fewer than 30 Welte instruments were completed in 1905 and probably fewer than 100 in 1906. It is unclear how many of these were sold in 1905/1906. Accordingly, it is unlikely that many music rolls were sold in 1905 and 1906 - very few of which probably still exist today. It was not until 1906 that a sales catalog for the Welte Rot Rollen was issued to dealers, which already contained several hundred titles.
Do you have any music rolls or information for us?
Together with many experts around the world, we are continuing our research to gain a better understanding of how music roll production worked back then. We are also digitizing these rolls and offering new music rolls based on the original model. If you have information or music rolls for us to support these activities, please contact us!.
