Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
known manufacturers were asked for their
opinions. They are practical piano-makers,
IN THE HEIGHT AND WIDTH OF KEYBOARDS IN
and two of the three quoted have been con-
PIANOS ? WHILE ORGAN MANUFACTURERS
spicuously successful in scale designing and
HAVE A SYSTEM IN THIS MATTER
construction.
••
WHY SHOULDN'T PIANO MAKERS
Asked if there existed any hard-and-fast
FOLLOW SUIT ?
rule on the subject, one scale maker said that
An important matter was brought to the at- there is a recognized rule to the effect that
tention of The Review this week by a member the variation in height of keyboard must not
of the trade, namely, the absence of uniform- exceed half an inch, and, in width of keys, a
ity in the height of keyboards in many pianos quarter of an inch. In his opinion, the vari-
now turned out. Manufacturers making a ations are caused by differences in scale ad-
four foot two, six, eight or ten inch style justments.
usually agree in the height of pianos but
A second practical piano and scale maker,
they do not agree in the exact height of the when asked for his views, said that a variation
keyboard bed.
of an inch in height of keyboard and a quarter
This lack of uniformity is not quite under- of an inch in aggregate width occupied by
standable. As is well known, pipe organ manu- keys was allowable, but that all such varia-
facturers have a rule of keyboard height from tions were entirely independent of scale ar-
which they would not dream of departing.
rangement and had nothing whatever to do
Another complaint has been made in regard with it.
to the exact space occupied by the keys in
A third said that no rule existed. It is
the width of keyboard. In many pianos purely a matter of fancy on the part of the
there is a variation of half an inch, caused manufacturer, according to his idea. He
apparently by the fact that key manufacturers remarked that he had known instances where
all do not turn out the keys exactly the same a scale-drawer had made no calculations what-
size, or the fact that some manufacturers al- ever as to height of keyboard " o r any other
fow more space between each key when plac- matter of mere construction."
ing them in the piano. Thus the artist using
Each of these men are well and favorably
a Steinway for study with a fixed height of known in the piano trade. It can readily be
keyboard and a fixed width of key space who seen that there is a wide divergence of
makes a change to another instrument where opinion. The question is, "Which is right?"
the keyboard height and width differs is Is there a rule—if so, why was it made ?
usually disconcerted.
Again—why should there be a deviation in
Experts do not agree as to the causes for height of keyboard and width of key range?
deviation in height of keyboard and width of The Review will be glad to learn the opinion
key range. During the week, several well- of experts on this subject.
Why Not Uniformity
A "Nice" Man Gone Wrong.
Mr. Van Nice, who was employed in the
Diltz music house at Tipton, la., proved him-
self a thorough rascal. The first break he
made was to get the Bennett State bank to
cash a $15 draft on Mr. Diltz, when there was
nothing due him. Payment was refused and
officers started after him, when Mr. Diltz, in
response to his urgent plea for help, took up
the draft and saved him in this deal. On an-
other day he took an organ out for sale and
used it for collateral on a $10 loan, and took
the money and spent it for bad whiskey and
getting drunk. This man borrowed money
right and left. He first wanted $5, and if he
could not work his man for five, h*e would be
satisfied with $1. He worked Tipton pretty
well. He is gone now to conquer other
towns, and his numerous creditors sit here
and mourn. He was anything and in every-
thing all for money. He loved to make love
with wealthy girls, but this was not profitable
here.—Burlington, la., Hawk-eye.
A Clever Young Violinist.
The following clipping refers to the ten
year old son of F. A. Winter, the well-known
musician and dealer of Altoona, Pa. It is
taken from the "Broad Avenue Presbyterian,"
and certainly demonstrates the force of he-
redity:
"A feature of the sociable in the church on
March 4, worthy of very special mention, was
the beautiful playing on the violin by Master
Paul Winter. He was compelled to come
back and play a second piece. His masterly
touch of the chords leads us to predict a great
future for him as a musician."
HA GEN
Are manufacturers of Strictly High Grade Pianos.
AND
Which they sell at only a living profit.
RUEFER
Consequently dealers handling them make money, and customers are pleased.
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TERRITORY GUARANTEED.
Factory and Office:
Peterboro, New Hampshire.