QRS Snow White Piano Rolls

I came across this Snow White player piano roll on ebay awhile back, and at first, it seemed like this could be quite the vintage find. After all, they don't make these things anymore, right? Wrong! According to their website, "QRS has been manufacturing piano rolls since 1900 and is the only manufacturer of piano rolls still in business today."

This particular roll, catalog no. XP-146-B, features a medley of six Snow White songs, though it's not indicated which titles are included. They were performed by Doug Roe, a now-deceased recording artist and arranger for QRS.

XP-146-B pics via way*cute.

Doug Roe with the piano roll machine. Image via AMICA.













Searching the QRS website today, we find that a very similar roll to the one above is still available (catalog no. XP-146; retail $25). It features a medley of seven Snow White songs: 1. Whistle While You Work; 2. Heigh-Ho; 3. Someday My Prince Will Come; 4. One Song; 5. With A Smile and A Song;. 6. I’m Wishing; 7. Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum.

There's also a solo roll that plays Someday My Prince Will Come (catalog no. 6826; retail $15).

And one more quick search on ebay revealed an older roll, also produced by QRS, but performed by Lawrence Cook. "Heigh-Ho" (The Dwarf's Marching Song). Catalog #6814.

Image via rdgoulaz.

Lawrence Cook was "the most prolific piano roll artist in history," producing an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 different roll recordings. He passed away in 1976.