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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
Without underrating the mechanical problems
involved, neither suggestion seems exactly vis-
ionary.
Conducted and Edited
It is an interesting fact to me at least that ex-
perience of the piano situation in different loca-
tions continually impresses me with a growing
realization of the extraordinary opportunities af-
forded to first-class tuners throughout the coun-
try. I am the more strongly moved again to call
attention to this fact through certain experiences
that have recently occurred to me.
It has lately been necessary for me to travel
.through a busy part of an Eastern State. Dur-
ing this journey it has been possible to observe
quite closely the general condition of pianos
and the situation which continually confronts the
country dealer.
I would particularly call attention to the fol-
lowing case: There is a city of 20,000 inhabitants,
wherein three enterprising dealers are located.
There are only two or three tuners in this town,
one of whom is a dissipated man, quite unrelia-
ble, while another is an utter incompetent. I
have had occasion to pass on work done by all of
these worthies, and can say with confidence that
there is positively not a good tuner in that city.
Every one of the dealers is most anxious to
deal with a first-class tuner. Besides the actual
population there, the immediate vicinity contains
a further 30,000 people, all busy and prosperous.
THE INSIGNIA OF QUALITY
THE
R P. NELSON
PIANO
A Thoroughly good piano in a
thoroughly artistic case.
Let us tell you what some of
our dealers are doing and why
they are able to do it.
Desirable territory at a premium.
Better write at once.
H. P. Nelson Co,
Mariana and Herndon Sts.
CHICAGO
by Win. B. White.
1 have seldom seen any field more tempting for a
good man.
The application of the above remarks is simply
this: The great manufacturing centers are just
full of good experienced tuners, working in fac-
tories and warerooms at small salaries, while the
smaller cities and towns, East and West, offer
opportunities to make twice as much money in
independent practice. The tuner who succeeds
in building up a good practice is as independent
a man as one can find anywhere. If his per-
sonality is agreeable, and his work meritorious,
he will soon have a hold on his patrons that
nothing can break. He is not always in a state
of panic over the possibility of losing his job,
nor need he always submit to the badgering of
supercilious salesmen. His business seeks him,
and if he knows how to take care of it, he should
always have every reason to be contented.
Now these facts are familiar to many people.
I am not the only one who has called attention
to them. Yet we see that overproduction in the
cities continues, while the country districts con-
tinue to cry in vain for good work and good
men. What is the reason for this peculiar state
of affairs?
To a certain extent, doubtless, a reason is to
be found in the irrational prejudice against, a
small town so usually held by the city wage-
earner. Dozens of New York piano workers have
told me that they would rather starve in New
York than be rich elsewhere. Of course, this
sort of talk is the veriest nonsense, but it is
none the less generally sincere.
It must be confessed that a complete explana-
tion of this peculiar situation is difficult to find.
Possibly a partial reason is to be seen in the
mistaken but prevalent idea that life outside of a
great city is necessarily monotonous and barren.
That this notion is wildly distorted needs no
proof for the millions of intelligent, contented
and prosperous inhabitants of the country dis-
tricts. But the city wage earner needs to be con-
vinced of this fundamental fallacy. The fact that
a large city offers a multitude of recreative at-
tractions does not necessarily imply the absence
of such attraction elsewhere. If a considerable
experience of life both in New York and various
small towns, has any value, I can testify that
the objection is decidedly not well founded. Of
course it is not worse than the opposite notion,
so widely held by country dwellers, that city life
is necessarily a dream of delight.
Let me say this: The capable, conscientious
tuner, who desires independence and a good in-
come, can find these desirable additions to his
life, if he will get out next to nature.
The intelligent tuner often finds much food for
reflection on the ways of piano manufacturers in
the course of his professional work. I wonder to
how many colleagues it has occurred that certain
simple modifications in the construction of up-
right actions would enormously simplify the
work of regulation and repair. For example, is
there any reason why the action could not be
made with the main rail divided, so that the
dampers might be left in position while the ham-
mers were withdrawn? Consider the numerous
advantages that such a form of construction
would present. Think for a moment of the sim-
plification which this would entail in the work
of regulation. Or again, why is it not possible to
build the grand damper head and wire so that
they might be readily taken apart? It often hap-
pens that the gradual accumulation of dust in
the damper felt and the consequent hardening of
the latter, causes a most unpleasant noise in play
ing. If the dampers could be readily cleaned it
would be a great advantage. As things are now,
one cannot remove the damper except by loosen-
ing the wire in the damper block. Then there is
much labor and trouble required to regulate
things back into proper condition,
A short time ago one of the prominent New
York supply houses referred to the department a
letter from a customer. The gentleman desired
to know how to wedge up the high treble strings
on an upright piano, stating that the wedges sold
him by the supply house were too wide. Natur-
ally, I advised the house to tell their correspond-
ent to use the wooden stick wedge, of which he
had evidently never heard. This is a sample of
the curious questions so often brought to the at-
tention of this department.
While on this subject, let me ask whether any
reader has ever bought, or made for himself, a
practical continuous felt mute which may be used
for the temperament tuning? Likewise, who
knows of a practical grand wedge, which will go
between strings in any position, and which is
both rigid and secure?
Answers will be greatly appreciated.
Communications for the department should be
addressed to the editor Technical Department,
The Music Trade Review.
LATEST PATENTS ANALYZED
And Edited for the Benefit of Review Readers
—Piano and Organ
Playing
Mechanisms
Predominate in This Week's Batch.
PIANO PLAYER MECHANISM. Issued to John D.
Pease, of New York, May 21, 1907. Patent No.
854,307.
The invention consists of an improved falling
bellows pedal set for player-pianos, whereby the
former may readily be folded away inside the in-
strument. The upper ends of the pedals carry a
roller, which bears against a cam. When a cross-
bar in front of the pedals is pushed down with
the feet the pedals swing around and fold up,
without the necessity of bending down and using
the hands.
PIANO ACTION. Issued to Carl Sauter, of Balti-
more, Md., May 21, 1907. Patent No. 854,058.
The invention consists of a modification of the
upright action. The bridle tape is abolished. A
lever is pivoted to the front of the jack, hanging
downward and swinging. A pin projects for-
ward from the front of the jack, and passes
through and beyond the lower end of this lever.
A spring is bedded into the front end of the
lever and is connected with the hammer-butt.
The back stop is slightly lengthened so that its
extended end bears against a shoulder on the
lever. Repetition is secured through the tension
of the spring which enables the inventor to do
away with the hammer butt spring and the
coiled spring under the jack.
SCALE AND CHORD CHARTS. Abbie R. Fitch, of
Denver, Col., May 21, 1907. Patent No. 854,572.
The invention is best described in the invent-
or's claim, No. 3, as follows:
"A musical chart embodying a back provided
with characters representing the chromatic scale
The Standard of America
THE BEST IN THE WORLD
Simple, Durable and Absolutely Noiseless
NOT AFFECTED BY CLIMATE
T
#MORRIS PATENT
I O I S E L E S S F E D A L ACTION
Annoyance and Expense
Saved Dealer and Purchaser
Manufactured and aold only by
Morris Noiseless Pedal Action Go.
ALBERT F. NORRIS
3 Appleton Street,
CLIFTON H. NORRIS
Boston, Mass.