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578
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
SO(T)E
himself in, it suddenly dawned upon his under-
standing that this particular B could not be the columns of your paper you will merit~and
win the esteem and approbation of all music
wrong, and all the others correct, so he grace-
loving but fraud hating people.
fully withdrew the charge.
D. J.
This brings me to some remarks that were
Port Jervis, N. Y., July 27, 1892.
made by a prominent Brooklyn musician before
the N. Y. S. M. T. Association, when in session
at Utica, which bear directly upon this subject
BY AN EMINENT AUTHORITY.
U/apts a Sit? for a piapo piapt.
and prove conclusively, if evidence were lack-
ing,
that
even
acknowledged
leaders
in
musical
MR. KDITOR :—Please allow me to offer my
V. LKWISTON, a piano manufacturer of
testimony in the case, " Piano Tuners, Good and circles are unacquainted with the principles of
Westborough, Mass., has written to the
Bad," which was so ably presented in the col- piano tuning, which being the case laymen may
be excused. '' Some tuners sharpen the sharps Board of Trade of Washington, D. C , inquir-
umns of your last issue.
This question is far reaching in its interests, too much and the flats too little." To the face ing : '' Do you know of a suitable location for
and is of great importance to the musical world, of a tuner having a method which he strictly a piano plant in the suburbs of Washington
from the fact that no profession nor branch of adheres to in his work this remark brings a where the land owners would give a helping
trade offers such inducements in the way of re- smile, knowing as he does, that in setting a hand ? Would not locate south of the Potomac
numeration, nor affords such opportunities for temperament all notes are treated in the same under any circumstances. Would employ about
downright fraud and swindling, as are given in manner, be they sharps, flats or naturals, their twenty-five men, doing a business of 150,000 a
tones being adjusted by the beat, and not ac- year, under certain circumstances. I shall be
the tuning and repairing of pianos.
cording to the rule of guess, which so largely in Washington soon and should like a reply to
Another condition that exists and which tends
prevails with some pretenders.
this before leaving this place."
only toward the complication of matters, is the
No tuner can be guilty of such an error, and
fact that as a body there is no one class of pro-
fessional musicans who are as unfamiliar with the man who does commit such an offense be-
the mechanism of the instruments upon which longs to a class whose services can be di.spensed
puppy pd\j
they perform, and in numberless cases are pro- with, against whose incompetency and fraudu-
ficient upon, as piano players. Excepting the lent practices reputable tuners, aided and abetted
HE following queer advertisements have ap-
piano and cabinet organ, we venture the asser- by a long suffering public, are endeavoring to
peared in English papers:
interpose
restrictions
by
the
formation
of
an
tion that there is no other musical instrument
that is not comparatively well understood by association, not only for their own protection but
For sale, a handsome piano, the property of a
those who make it their specialty, and which is for that of piano owners as well.
lady who is leaving Scotland in a walnut case
The rapidly increasing numbers of incompe- with turned legs.
not tuned at will with almost absolute exactness
tent tuners, and the boldness of their operations,
by the performer.
Wants a place.—As footman, butler, coach-
But with the piano the case is vastly different, call for immediate action and make such a so- man, gardener, or parish clerk, a young man,
when we realize that outside of the strictly pro- ciety an absolute national necessity. Not only aged 20; would be highly serviceable to any
fessional pianist, not more than one in twenty- would it benefit every tuner of repute to be en- gentleman who made his own clothes ; has had
five players—and this assertion is made from an rolled among its members, but owing to the a university education at the well-known acad-
experience of nearly seventeen years in tuning rigid examinations required of all applicants for emy, kept by Mr. Treacher, in Soho Square,
and repairing—can tell when their instruments membership, together with the exactions of its where he acted as shoe-black. Would teach the
by-laws that such members shall be sober men
are correctly tuned and in good harmony.
and
of good moral character, all tramps and im- young ladies the piano, if required, or would
To prove my statement let me give one of the
make a fourth in a quadrille. Apply to E. A.
many instances which can be related in substan- posters would be shut out. The tendency would Z., No. 93 Oxford street.
tiation of my claim, with which nearly every be to elevate the profession to a plane upon
first-class tuner has had more or less experi- which it properly belongs, making it no longer
necessary, as is now the case in many instances,
ence.
Your correspondent was engaged to tune and to fumigate the parlor, which the presence of
repair a square piano for a so-called fine player the last tuner has left redolent of beer, before its
and self-styled good musician. After complet- sacred precincts can be enjoyed by the members
ing the work of putting in several strings, mak- of the family.
When the public become fully convinced of
ing some minor repairs and regulating, the in-
strument was carefully tuned in accordance with the fact that the formation of such an associa-
the rules of the correct method, after which our tion means their protection from fraud, the
masculine Miss Nancy, owner of the same, sat guaranteeing of the best service at rates of pay
down to test it.
not in excess of the present charges of irrespons-
He adjusted his stool, placed his foot with ible and incompetent practitioners who hail from
Exercising keyboard, No. 479,339, A. K. Vir-
great care upon the loud pedal, lifted the dam- nowhere, and who, when judged in the light of gil-
pers, and after getting his bearings let himself services rendered, are entitled to no recompense
keyboard for musicians, No. 479,-
loose in that peculiar spread-eagle style so char- unless it be six months, twice a year, for their 340, Exercising
A. K. Virgil.
deceptive
and
questionable
transactions.
Those
acteristic of this grade of players. He made it
Piano action, No. 479,047, E. C. Baughan.
thunder and almost lighten. With great care who have reliable tuners not yet members will
and apparent premeditation he avoided produc- begin to ask their co-operation in helping to
Convertible cornet, No. 478,666, J. Vivien.
ing anything that might be termed a musical bring about, in the quickest possible manner,
Musical instrument, No. 478,933, J. E. Hen-
effect, and by turning harmony into chaos made this much desired reform. The tuner who fails
it practically impossible to detect a flaw in the to respect the demands of the public and fall ning.
temperament, had one existed, notwithstanding into line upon this question will lose cast re-
Musical instrument rack, No. 478,602, F. W.
which he discovered that B in the temperament gardless of his ability. As according to the old Hedgeland.
law, '' he that is not for must be against.'' No
was flat.
Organ tremolo, No. 478,552, I. Bassett.
man is passive upon such important matters.
In accordance with this decision it was care-
Stringing pianofortes, No. 478,912, D. I,. Bol-
The times are calling for more proficiency in
fully tested again and found to be in perfect
beat, there being no unpleasant waves or jars in all branches of trade and in all professions. Why lermann.
any of the several keys, of which he was in- should not tuners show some signs of life and
Piano string, No. 478,746, T. Gill.
formed, but he still insisted upon the truth of interest themselves in the elevation of their call-
Music Rack and Stand.—Henry W. Potter,
his assertion.
ing, which is so indispensibly requisite to one
Wellington,
New Zealand. This is a folding
After considerable parleying it was agreed of the most refining influences of modern society. rack with telescopic stand, the invention provid-
Mr.
Editor,
this
cause
demands
and
is
worthy
that B should be tuned to any pitch he desired,
ing an article which, when not in use as a stand,
upon one condition, viz., that he inform all of the co-operation and influence of all who are may be made to assume the shape of and be em-
players who might discover it that this particu- interested in the good and welfare of musical ployed as a walking cane, means being also pro-
lar key had not been tuned in conformity to matters.
vided whereby the rack may be quickly and
any method, but was adjusted to suit his indi-
It is without doubt the most important sub- conveniently spread for use and adjusted to the
vidual whim.
ject that has been laid before the public for their desired height. The device is simple, durable
When he realized the position he was placing consideration since the adjustment of the matter and light, and can be readily manipulated.—
of pitch, and by giving it a good word through Scientific American.
RELJJTIQG TO
A Clear Presentation,
f