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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAKING PIANO HAMMERS.
A Branch of the Industry That Calls for Particular
Work by Particular People—Some Views on
This Interesting and Pertinent Topic.
"Great stress is laid on the hammer by the
piano manufacturer, and properly so," ob-
served an experienced coverer to The Review
the other day. "First and foremost in mak-
ing a hammer the greatest care must be taken
in regards to the material, for the best quality
of felt should be used, the moulding of prop-
erly seasoned wood, and to these essentials
the most improved method of covering, press-
ing arid finish. The hammer is certainly the
most important part of the piano, for with it
the manufacturer produces that quality of
tone he thinks will meet the approval of the
musician or artist.
"Now, the best hammer felt is made of the
finest long staple wool, well felted, being of a
certain thickness and hardness in the bass,
and gradually becoming smaller or thinner,
as well as firmer, in the treble. In the pro-
cess of manufacturing care must be taken that
the life of the wool, which should be cured
in live steam, is not destroyed, as the felt
must retain its elasticity and softness no mat-
ter how hard the hammer is made, otherwise
it will produce a harsh metallic or tingling
sound when it strikes the strings. For this
reason superior felts are selected by ham-
mer manufacturers for the highest grade
goods. Cheaper felt answers for certain
lines, but as yet it does not have the 'life'
color of the expensive material.
"With the best of felt as a foundation, it
is essential that there should be nothing lack-
ing in workmanship, as a poor covering will
spoil the material. Of course, size and shape
are requisites of prime importance, and these
must be adapted to the scale; and when in the
pressing a uniform pressure should be pre-
served, else the hammer will prove unsatisfac-
tory. The glue must be just right, or else
there will be 'breakers ahead' also. I hold a
hammer cannot be too hard, because then bet-
ter results can be attained in picking to suit
the tone than when they are soft or even med-
ium. The individuality of the piano is devel-
oped when the hammer is picked and adjust-
ed. In the cheap piano the hammers are
never touched, just attached and then let go
at that. Under such circumstances, while the
tone may be brilliant, it is also 'tinny.'
"Hammers made of the best felts are the
smallest, for these are the kind used on
grands. Big hammers, made of coarser
goods, will retain their size, as the felt cannot
be compressed. For instance, a piano manu-
facturer who recently ordered hammers from
15-pound felt, vowed and declared they were
only 12 pounds when delivered, and simply
on account of the size, consequently he was
disappointed, and I had the greatest trouble
in making him understand the cause of the
so-called shrinkage. Then again piano men
have fads about their hammers; for example,
in the color of the underfelts. Some actually
believe it affects the tone, when not the slight-
est difference is made. The mouldings, which
are usually made of red or white birch, the
best for the purpose, are occasionally specified
to be of walnut, while a few call for ma-
hogany. Freaks are also encountered when
the customer wants to alter, if not improve,
his scale. We are called upon to do a lot of
experimenting with hammers, at our cost,
to be sure, which is where we get sore. It is
passing strange also how a piano manufac-
turer will stand on price when it comes to
hammers. Five cents will sometimes shift
the order elsewhere, though he will pay, with-
out grumbling, $10 a thousand for nickel
head pins, while equally good ones of steel
may be had at a fifth of the price; and this
because the heads show. I suppose if we
could fix up hammers in a style to look showy
we would get a fancy price also. In this re-
spect the customer makes the mistake of his
life, for nothing will blast the good name of
a piano so quickly as cheap hammers."
I have arranged my full mail course on tuning, regu-
lating, general defects, and remedies, in one complete
book. Mailed to any address on receipt of $1.10;
former price, $10.
PROF. W. N. KINSLOW,
3 0 7 N. CHESTNUT STREET,
Piano
PRESSLEY'S PATENT HAMMER.
An Ingenious Device Which Is Winning Its Way Into
a Large Degree of Popularity—Tuners and Re-
pairers Generally Are Enthusiastic About This
Hammer.
While Pressley's patent hammer and
sleeve was considered a device of superlative
merit by Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., New
York, and would sell from the first, their ex-
pectations of the demand materializing since
its introduction have been greatly exceeded.
Tuners all over the United States and in for-
eign countries have inquired about it and the
sales are remarkable. For rehammering a
piano on short notice the Pressley appliance
is recommended as an indispensable requisite
TO IMPROVE VARNISH.
in every tuner's outfit, and one possessing
merit
of a high order.
Premiums Offered for Improved Methods in Manu-
facturing by the Association of German Var-
nish Manufacturers.
At the third general meeting of the Asso-
ciation of German Varnish Manufacturers
recently held at Berlin, the board of directors
was empowered to offer premiums or prizes
of several thousand marks for methods of
manufacturing varnishes which involve note-
worthy improvements. As an important sub-
ject for consideration, a method for the deo-
dorization of oil of turpentine is mentioned.
The jury for awarding prizes consists of the
board of directors and four other members.
Communications are to be addressed to Mr.
Louis Mann, commercial judge, Berlin, W.
Meinecke Strasse 4.
CHOICE VENEER DISPLAY
GEO. F. ABENDSCHEIN RETURNS.
Geo. F. Abendschein, Jr., secretary of
the Staib-Abendschein Co., Brook avenue
and 134th street, returned on Monday from
an extended trip. He made several valu-
able new connections and received a num-
ber of substantial orders.
The Davenport & Treacy business in all
its branches is prospering. The demand
for the Davenport & Treacy plates is such
that the plant at Stamford is now worked
to its limit to fill orders.
The Standard of America
THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
Simple, Durable and Absolutely Noiseless.
NOT AFFECTED BY CLIMATE.
At the Leading Veneer Establishments Whose Cards
Are Found Elsewhere in The Review Columns.
ORRIS n AT ENT
BELOIT, KANSAS.
PIANO STRING CO.
MANUFACTURERS OF
Bass Strings
312, 316 East 95th Street,
NEW YORK.
41
The veneer stocks of the several veneer
houses mentioned elsewhere in The Review
were never larger and choicer than at pres-
ent. This is eoually true of the Boothe,
Cole, Gordon, Jones, and Marshall estab-
lishments, there being at each place excel-
lent exhibits of rare figurine in several
woods. There is a heavy call for rare fig-
urings in mahogany and walnut. Some of
the logs recently received are of great
value, the first cost in some instances run-
ning into four figures.
OISELESSpQALiCTIOII
Annoyance and Expense
Saved Dealer and Purchaser.
Manufactured and told only by
Nirris Noiseless Peiil lotion Ge.
ALBERT F. NORMS.
a i l TON H. NORMS.
3|Appleton Street, Boston, Mass.
BOTHNER-SCHMIDT ACTION CO.
1941-1945 PARK AVE., COR. I3I S T ST.
NEW YORK