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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
A Piano Tuner's Story.
HOW HE FOUND THE "RATTI.K."
O
NE of the many worries which the
piano salesman or dealer has to bear
with are the complaints which come in
from purchasers or renters of new pianos
about the "rattles," the "jars" and other
ills that pianos are heir to. Some piano
tuners can relate a number of experiences
in this connection that are as amusing as
they are instructive to the "benighted,"
who imagine that their piano is rapidly
disintegrating when it gets out of condi-
tion. A well-known tuner related the fol-
lowing story a few evenings ago. He said:
" I had occasion to tune an upright piano
at the house of a popular music teacher
early last fall, and it seemed to give a great
deal of satisfaction to the owners. About
a week later, however, a long drawn out
complaint was sent to the warerooms by his
wife to the effect that "the tuner you sent
to tune our piano has ruined it. He must
have broken the sounding board, because
when certain keys are struck there is a
buzzing, cracked tone.''
The manager of the warerooms came to
me with a very serious face, and handing
me the letter, said: "Here is a pretty seri-
ous matter, young man; how do you ac-
count for this?"
I was perfectly unable to account for it,
and told him so, and suggested that the
salesman who sold the piano and myself
call and investigate.
We visited the house, and did find a dis-
agreeable "rattle" in the piano, but after
a thorough examination, could not place its
origin. So far, I was clear of "breaking
the sounding board," or otherwise damag-
ing the instrument; but, what was the
trouble ?
We examined the paintings on the wall,
the ornaments on the mantel and stands,
found that the piano was squarely set on
the floor, and that the casters were not
The Highest Type."
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RUSSELL
(Successors to STARK & STRACK.)
PIANOS
MANUFACTURED BY
Hos. 171 and 173 South Canal Street,
CHICAGO.
HAMILTON S. GORDON, 139 Fifth avenue,
has just completed his first baby grand
piano.
THE
HUGO SOHMKR, of Sohmer & Co., visited
Sterling Company,
BOURNE
Just make a minute right heie to w.iie
to 215 Tremont Street, Boston, and iind
out about it.
Boston and Worcester, Mass., the closing
days of last week.
KOHLKR & CHASK, of San Francisco, have
taken the agency for the Mason & Risch
vocalian organs.
THK Estey Piano Co. are building an ad-
dition to their factorv in Harlem.
Maximum
Tone Effects
Of Course...
A high-grade piano costs more
than an instrument which is in
that class known as "medium,"
but what a satisfaction to sell a
high-grade piano, and how pleasant
to meet the customer and friends af-
ter the sale is made, particularly if it is a
loose. We even examined the g?s fixtures
and lamps, which in many cases catch the
wave vibration, but we were foiled; the
"rattle" still remained.
However, the longer the search the more
determined we were to locate the trouble,
and, directing my friend, the salesman, to
drum on the piano, I got down on my
hands and knees, and, Indian style, looked
out for the enemy, and as I drew near to
the stove, which had been placed in the
room a few clays before, and which was
blazing away, I no.t only felt warmer, but
realized that I was arriving at the solution of
the trouble—in fact, I was satisfied that
that stove had everything to do with my
reputation and the "rattle" in the piano.
Sure enough, after a thorough examination
I found the "root of the evil," which was
a loose piece of isinglass. Taking off the
door of the stove I took out the isinglass,
turned and dusted it, and then replaced it
firmly in the door.
Eureka!
There wasn't the least trouble with the
piano after that. I advised the lady of the
house that it was not always wise to form
conclusions about broken sounding boards,
etc., and took some time to explain that a
piano is a pretty delicate piece }f mechan-
ism, and most sensitive to its environment.
We parted good friends, notwithstanding."
Minimum
Cost
MANUFACTURERS OF
Pianos and Organs,
FACTORY:
DERBY, CONN.
Pipe Organ Results
Reed Organ Prices
In the Estey Phonorium
It is admitted by all that no piano ever put upon the
market has met with such success as THE STERLING,
and thou ands will testify to their superiority of work-
manship and durability. Why ? Because they are made
just as perfect as a piano can be made.
THE STERLING ORGAN has always taken the lead, and
the improvements made this year puts it far ahead of
all others. 5t^**Send for Catalogue.
Hallet £ Davis Pianos
ESTEY
ORGAN CO.
Brattleboro, Vt.
GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT.
Indorsed by Liszt, Gottschalk, Wehli, Bendel, Straus, Soro, Abt,
Paulus, Titiens, Heilbron and Germany's Greatest Masters.
Established over Half a Century.
BOSTON, MASS.