Please do NOT start just emailing each other about these rather obscure little rollers. I for one, truly enjoy reading about them and the interesting details of their somewhat convoluted history. I may never own one myself, but learning about them is rewarding in its own right, so please, please, PLEASE keep posting your findings right here!!!
BTW, I think some of their interest and attraction are just because they are "sort of ugly and toy-like", and strike a simple chord at the depths of our collector souls.