Vintage Universal Song Rolls – Early 20th Century Pianola Rolls in Original Harrods Boxes
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A wonderful pair of early 20th-century Universal Song Rolls, beautifully preserved in their original Harrods Ltd. London presentation boxes.
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These charming mechanical music rolls were designed for player pianos (Pianolas), a remarkable invention that allowed pianos to play themselves using perforated paper rolls. As the roll passes through the mechanism, air flowing through the tiny punched holes triggers the piano keys automatically, recreating the music exactly as arranged by the composer.
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During the Edwardian era and early 1920s, player pianos were hugely fashionable in middle-class homes. Music rolls like these were purchased from prestigious retailers such as Harrods, allowing families to enjoy popular songs and dance music without needing to play the piano themselves.
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This pair includes two rolls with their original decorative leader papers and printed musical instructions.
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Included Rolls
• The Love Nest – Fox-trot
Composer: L. A. Hirsch
Universal Roll No. S11778B
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• Some Day I’ll Make You Love Me (Bye and Bye)
Composer: N. D. Ayer
Lyric: C. Grey
Universal Roll No. 36101
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The rolls display lovely classical graphic decoration featuring musicians, scrollwork and ornate Edwardian typography. Musical instructions such as tempo markings, dynamics, and key signatures remain visible.
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Both rolls are housed in their original Harrods Ltd. London S.W. boxes, which bear the name of Woodman Burbidge, managing director of Harrods between 1891 and 1917, helping to date the boxes to the early 20th century.
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Condition
Good vintage condition overall.
Age-related wear consistent with early paper music rolls:
• Some creasing and surface wear to the paper
• Light marks and historic tape repairs visible
• Boxes show edge wear and small losses to corners
• Printing and decorative artwork remain clearly visible
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These rolls are sold as collectible historical items rather than guaranteed playable rolls.
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Dimensions
Boxes measure approximately:
Length: 32cm
Width: 6cm x 6cm
Standard player-piano roll size.
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Perfect for
• Mechanical music collectors
• Pianola enthusiasts
• Early 20th-century music memorabilia collectors
• Decorative display in music rooms or libraries
• Theatre or film set props
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The combination of Edwardian music technology and Harrods retail history makes this a particularly charming survival from the golden age of home entertainment.
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Disclaimer
Item described to the best of our knowledge and research.
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 Sold as a vintage collectible item.
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When Music Played Itself: The Golden Age of Pianola Rolls
Before streaming, radio, or even widespread gramophones, music lovers had another magical way to fill their homes with sound — the player piano.
In the early 20th century the Pianola became a marvel of domestic technology. By inserting a perforated paper music roll, the piano could play automatically, reproducing popular songs and classical pieces with surprising accuracy. The tiny holes punched into the paper controlled the flow of air through the instrument, triggering individual keys as the roll passed through the mechanism.
Music rolls were widely sold by publishers and prestigious retailers alike. Even luxury department stores such as Harrods in London stocked a wide selection of rolls so customers could expand their musical repertoire at home.
The beautifully illustrated leaders found on many early rolls are works of graphic art in their own right, often featuring Art Nouveau scrollwork, classical musicians, and decorative typography.
Today these rolls are fascinating relics of early musical technology — a reminder of a time when the latest innovation in home entertainment involved paper, air, and a piano that could play itself.