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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
already pointed out the relative advantages and
other salient features of the open and closed
construction as applied to the plate and wrest-
plank. If, then, our correspondent refers to the
entirely closed plate when he speaks of the 'full
Conducted and Edited by Wm. B. White.
iron frame," we are bound to tell him that by no
means all high-grade instruments are so con-
structed. The two styles of building are about
From our weekly sheaf of inquiries, we select thing else than the wrest-plank itself. We see evenly distributed and there seems to be very
the following. The author is G. A. Stanton, of then that to build the iron plate across the plank little reason for preferring the one to the other.
Mountain Grove, Mo., and his remarks seem es- does not appear to have any positive advantages
3. We have already informed our correspon-
pecially worthy of extended notice:
at all, while there is no question that the con- dent of the main points that should be consid-
"Editor Technical Department:—I desire to struction is complicated by this means, and the ered essential to a proper understanding of the
ask a few questions in regard to the pin-block of chances of trouble around the tuning-pins great- questions involved in the present inquiry. If he
asks us to give reasons against the use of an
ly increased.
different grades of pianos.
open wrest-plank, we can only say that no good
"1. Can the highest quality of tone and dura-
bility be attained with the open pin-block?
Regarding tone-quality, there is no question reasons exist, or rather none that are not sus-
"2. Is a full iron frame used in all high-grade that the substitution of an open for a closed ceptible of two interpretations. Therefore we
pianos?
wrest-plank involves a saving in metal that is refer him again to our answer to his first ques-
"3. Can you give a few of the best reasons for always advantageous. In our various articles, tion. He will find there all the available infor-
and against the open pin-block?
pamphlets, etc., we have been consistent advo- mation on the matter.
4. We are not in the real estate business, nor
"4. I have 80 acres of land to trade for a stock cates of saving, as regards metallic construction.
of pianos and organs. Where could I advertise It must be remembered that there are special ir a position 1o judge of the availability of our
it to the best advantage?
acoustical reasons why the metal plate of a correspondent's acres as the equivalent of a stock
"A short answer to the above questions will be pianoforte should never be any heavier than ab- of pianos and organs. We therefore respect-
appreciated, as I have been questioned beyond solutely necessary. Particularly is this so fully suggest that he communicate with the busi-
my ability to answer. Although I have had 28 around the bearing-bridge and in the region of ness department of The Review, and he will
years of experience in the piano business, I can the wrest-plank, for the placing of an excessive doubtless be able to obtain all information neces-
weight of metal in these parts of the structure sary. .
still learn. Yours sincerely,
involves most certainly a general roughening of
"G. A. STANTON."
tone-quality, induced by the necessary promi-
We feel that it is proper to call attention here
Our correspondent cannot be accused of a lack nence of dissonant upper partials, to which latter to the spirit which has evidently guided our cor-
of comprehensiveness when seeking information. the enormously elastic metal gives the greatest respondent in addressing these inquiries. He
The reader is asked to note the ease with which freedom. From these premises we therefore de- says: "Although I have had 28 years' experience
he makes transition from points of constructional duce very different conclusions from any sug- in the piano business, I can still learn." We
interest to others which involve real estate and gested by our correspondent. For, whereas his have preached continually the necessity of a
business. Answers to the questions submitted question was put in a form that showed him thorough awakening of this spirit among piano
cannot fail, however, to possess something of to be doubtful whether the open wrest-plank con- men in general. There is nothing more needed
struction could be depended upon to produce in the industry to-day than a general realization
general interest.
1. There is absolutely no reason why an open good tonal results, we, on the contrary, have of the fact that future progress depends entirely
pin-block should have any adverse effect upon seen that the doubt should be on the other side. upon present study and application. The younger
either durability or tone. In order to understand In fact, we personally are very much in favor of members of the trade are often prone to forget
more thoroughly the actual relation of the wrest- the open construction, and have always believed this truth, and to imagine that after a year or
plank to the rest of the instrument, it is neces- that the best results, tonally, are to be had by two of experience they can claim to know it all.
sary to analyze its functions. As we all know, its adoption. The practice of many of the great- How deceptive this idea is can best be illustrated
the chief duty of the wrest-plank is to support est manufacturers bears out the correctness of by the statement of Mr. Ahlstrom, the distin-
the tuning pins. This duty necessitates a pecu- our assertion. It is true that there is great guished manufacturer of Jamestown, N. Y., who
liar form of building up of the plank, and also variation in the practice of manufacturers. Al- remarked to us a short time ago that his life-long
requires that great care be exercised in the fit- most as many use the open as the closed con- efforts seemed to leave him as far away from
ting of the plank to the framing. When the struction. But we can say without hesitation perfection as ever. It is only too true, in fact,
strings are coiled upon the pins, and pulled up that there is absolutely no good reason why that nothing but experience, guided by theoret-
into tune, there naturally comes a strain upon any one should be prejudiced against open wrest- ical study, can be depended upon to help in the
the pins, in certain definite directions. The prin- planks.
struggle for pianofoite perfection. Experience
cipal strain is in a direction parallel with the
2. The true answer to this question involves # takes time, both for its acquirement and its
minor axis of the tuning-pin, and therefore a definition of the term "full iron frame." We proper digestion, as it were. Study takes time,
downwards. There are also certain torsional naturally suspect, from the context, that the too. So that we begin to realize only after long
strains induced by the twisting of the string- meaning intended by our correspondent is that years in the industry how little we really can
wire around the pin to form the coil. The prin- of a frame extending from the very top of the approach to the putting of pianoforte design
cipal strain, however, is, as we have seen, almost instrument to its lower extremity. As a matter upon the basis of exact science. This depart-
directly downwards. Now, it is obvious that the of fact, there is no reason why we should re- ment has always asserted that a lack of theoret-
effect of this downward strain is felt principally gard with special favor the form of iron plate ical knowledge was responsible for the many ex-
at the lower side of the hole through which the that spreads all over the sound-board and wrest- isting failures among modern scales, but it must
pin is driven. Consequently, there must in time plank. The function of the plate is to support be remembered that great practical experience is
be a certain amount of crushing of the wood the strain of the strings. The actual form is needed to exert a correlative influence in true
when the wrest-plank is left open.
therefore of less importance than the manner in scale design. Neither can be of great and last-
which the duties of the structure are performed. ing use without the help of the other. It is
On the other hand, the so-called closed wrest- Judicious designing will often permit of lessen- proper that the need for this double knowledge
plank construction involves always a grinding ing the total mass of metal employed, without be continually preached to all who have to do
of the surface of the pin against the surface of affecting the strain-bearing efficiency. We have with the arcana of pianoforte construction. We
the iron plate, just as soon as the strain of the
strings has pulled the pin downwards ever so
slightly. The effect of this is disastrous to the
standing in tune of the instrument, and likewise
TV7E manufacture the best and
greatly increases the labor of tuning, often, in-
deed, making it impossible to do proper work.
most convenient tuners' kit on
In order to counteract the evil effects of this, it
the
market.
Nothing like it ever
has become customary to insert a collar of maple
in the aperture bored in the plate, in order that
shown before. We have a most
the pin may be supported. But this is only shut-
complete line of Tuners' Tools, Out-
ting the stable door after the horse is gone, for
fits and Supplies. Send for our il-
if the iron plate were simply eliminated at the
place where the pins intervene, there would be
lustrated
catalogue, which thorough-
A Specialty
no necessity for elaborate means to circumvent
ly explains our varied supplies of
the evil results of the plate's interference. Thus
it will be seep that the closed pin-block carries
every description.
with it much opportunity for trouble-making, es-
pecially after the instrument becomes a little
old. As for the question of durability, we have
already said enough to make it understood that
FRANKLIN SQUARE, - BOSTON, MASS.
the strain of the pins is not supported to any
effective degree by the iron plate, or by any-
THE REVIEW'S TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT.
Tuners'
Supplies
Tuners'Supply Company