A great many music rolls from different manufacturers were brought onto the market in the 88-note standard format. Among them, of course, above all the Aeolian Company and its German subsidiary, the Choralion Company in Berlin, QRS, S.M., Kastner, Meloto, Philag, Empeco, Triumphola, etc. – less often you find the rolls of the many other international manufacturers such as F.I.R.S.T., Victoria, Melographic, Eighty-Eight, Vocalstyle, Universal, Odeola, Pleyela, L’E.M.P., Chase & Baker, Rolla Artis, Artona, Play-Rite, Artistyle, Perfecta, Angelus and many more. The quality and workmanship of the music rolls vary considerably. Some rolls are short-lived due to poor workmanship and inferior paper quality. Not all rolls are a musical treat, since the quality of the musical arrangement and perforation was sometimes poor. The paper is 28.6 cm (11¼ in) wide.
One of the largest manufacturers, which was still producing in large quantities until the early 2000s, is QRS. QRS began producing music rolls in 1900. By its own account, 1927 was the year with the highest roll sales, at 10 million! The name QRS supposedly derives from “Quality Real Service” – another story says the name derives from the alphabetical mailbox compartments “Q”, “R”, “S” that the company used internally. Today, QRS rolls are recognizable above all by their red boxes with the striking lettering. The rolls are simply but robustly made and run reliably. Very interesting is the huge repertoire, with titles extending to more modern pop music. Special editions such as the “Christmas rolls” issued every year since the beginning of the 20th century (green Christmas boxes) as well as artist rolls, “Celebrity Rolls” (gold boxes), and other offers are worth mentioning here. Besides the used market, these rolls can also be ordered new from stock directly from QRS in the USA.