Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1907 Vol. 45 N. 8

Page 9 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
It may as well be said right at this point that
there is no salvation to be found in a determina-
tion to ignore the physical facts of musical in
tonation. The man who has learned, through
mere rule-of-thumb practice and years of plod-
Conducted and Edited by Wm. U. White.
ding, to do work that is just "not bad," and very
an extraordinary position the tuner holds in the little else, is not the sort of a man who is ever
ON VACATIONS.
average retail piano house.
going to be able to do really artistic tuning.
This is the season of vacations, and one that
Particularly, however, to the independent man For he knows nothing of causes, and has but a
should be observed by every busy man. The call is the present preachment directed. It is not my very limited view of effects. Naturally, he can-
of nature is especially insistent just now, and I intention to suggest that the average Indepen- not be considered as a master of his art, for
suppose that every one feels about this time that dent tuner is unaware of the beauties of a holi- mastery of an art implies a thorough knowl-
disinclination to work and that passion for loaf- day, or that he would not take one when he edge of the science which underlies that art; at
ing and inviting one's soul that is always so could; but simply to say that there are many least to the extent to which the science directly
marked a feature of life during the hot summer country tuners covering long routes who cannot applies.
weather.
apparently see the necessity for dropping every-
On the other hand, of course, it is as well to
But 1 am also sure that a great many men in thing and getting next to a long lazy loaf for a understand that the various physical phenomena
our profession are not in the habit of taking few weeks. Do you know, O busy and hustling that become apparent to the observer of mu-
regular vacations. In some of the large cities brother, that the human machine is not so very sical science are capable of interpretations which
it is not the custom of piano houses to allow paid different from other machines at all? Do you may severally bear more than one practical re-
holidays to the tuners, although the salesmen realize that the brain needs a stop once in awhile sult. There is no question that, while the acous-
and office force, down to the office boy himself, for a general overhauling and repair? And, tical facts of musical intonation are constant,
are permitted one or two weeks of rest at the then, do you not know that this repair and over- the results which may be gained by observation
expense of the house. Just why this discrimina- hauling is best accomplished by treating the of them are subject to considerable variation,
tion should be made is something of a mystery, mind to a complete'holiday from the sights and this depending upon the accuracy of the observer
for it cannot be supposed that the tuners do not scenes that have become wearisome to it and as well as upon his ability to reason from cause
work hard enough during the rest of the year to from the worries and flurries of daily business? to effect. In other words, there is no one uniform,
entitle themselves to a vacation. On the other Take my word for it, no one ever suffered in certain and necessary body of inferences which
hand, it may be the idea that the tuner is so pocket or temper from a holiday, and no one alone can be drawn from observation of the phe-
differently constituted from all other men that ever failed so to suffer who relentlessly drove nomena of musical acoustics. The investiga-
he does not need a rest; an idea which is not so the mental and physical machine until it per- tor continually finds that he obtains results
ridiculous as it seems, when one considers what force broke down from overwork. And so, my quite different from his colleague who has had
brother, take the advice of ore who knows and equal opportunities for deduction from similar
who has tried both prescriptions. Get out in the facts.
woods, in a camp, or somewhere away from
What does this show, if not that there is
pianos, music and business. Do not go to a grave need for some standardization of that
noisy hotel, where a man's business follows him body of knowledge which we may term the sci-
from morning to night, and where the mail, ence of pianoforte tuning? Is it not high time
telegraph and telephone continually invite one that our tuners should be able as well as willing
to make one's holiday into a sham and a farce. to employ generally a system of work which
Get out away from the wiles of civilization. may be depended upon to bring about substan-
Forget that there was ever such a thing as a tially constant results? Is it not the case that
is manufactured
tuning hammer, a piano, or a player. Get near the trouble with tuners in general, and the root
by the
some water, if possible; fish, row, swim—and of their inability so often to obtain truly satis-
just loaf. Do all this for two or three weeks, fying results, lies wholly in the fact that they
and you will be surprised at the remarkable re- are not in possession of the knowledge that the
, suits which will follow. Your health will be science of pianoforte tuning is an exact science,
much better, you will have that snap and spring and that the effects springing from a perfect
CHICAGO
in you that was so sadly lacking before you familiarity therewith may be always and at all
knocked off work, and you will re-enter the times as constant as they ought to be? Is it not
conflict with ardor and keen joy. That is what true, then, that we are gravely in need of some
you aimed at when you took your vacation, and system of standardization which may help us
if you attain to such a mental and physical con- better to collate our practical methods, and more
dition, as you easily can, your winter's business easily to apply the facts revealed to us in the
this year will be the best you ever had.
course of our daily «work? Pianoforte tuning,
as science and art, then, needs more than any-
Some Thoughts on Tuning as Science and Art. thing else a new analysis and a new synthesis.
What a remarkable thing it is, that 'although
And if such work as this is going to be done,
the practical results which are produced by good why should it not be brought forward in the
tuners all over the world are always essentially columns of this department? I confess that 1
similar, the premises whereon they base the am quite unable to see where such a work can
practice which leads to these results are often es- have a bett'er hearing.
sentially different, particularly as to the method
T h e above device on the fall-
I wish, then, to announce that beginning with
statement. It is a fact that all good tuning next week the science and art of pianoforte
board is the evidence of genuine- _ of
is substantially identical in form. It is also a tuning will again be taken up in a series of
ness and the guarantee of quality.
fact that hardly any two tuners can be found to articles of considerable comprehensiveness.
agree, either as to the scientific foundation of Every phase of the subject will be treated in a
T h e H* P . Nelson line is prov-
their art or the actual specific practice thereof. minute and careful manner that was impossible
ing itself a big factor in the business
We read continually letter after letter in the col- in the book, "Theory and Practice of Pianoforte
of some of the most progressive
umns of this and other papers, wherein the most Building." The general intention is to provide
diverse positions are desperately assaulted and a series which shall be equally valuable to the
dealers in the country.
tenaciously clung to. One man tells us that his practical tuner and the beginner; which shall
There is still some desirable
ear is the sole guide to his work; that he de- lay down the known and ascertained facts of
pends upon aural estimation of the agreeability musical acoustics, as far as these apply to the
territory open to first class dealers.
of intervals and chords, and that he has no use subject; which shall make a comprehensive at-
Write for new illustrated catalog.
or time for scientific disquisitions as to the tempt so to classify and collate these facts as to
acoustical phenomena that pertain to the ex- present a working theory of the science which
pression of musical tempered sounds. Another will be of immediate and practical value to the
with equal fervor announces the results of his student as well as to the seasoned tuner; and
observations of the physical foundations of equal finally to add such practical hints concerning
temperament, and proceeds to confound us with the practical and routine work of tuning as have
a display of learning more impressive than prac- been suggested in the course of a long experience.
tical. As a matter of fact both extrem-
ists are almost, if not quite, equally at fault.
Makers of H. P. Nelson Pianos
DEPARTMENT OF
Neither the presumptuous ignorance of the so-
called
"practical
man,"
nor
the
blatant
arrogance
Marianna and Herndon Sts. Factory Phone, North, 1069
of the soi-disant scientist, will avail to help the
University School of Music
man who wishes to obtain a rational, accurate
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
and useful statement of the true inwardness of
O P E N S S E P T E M B E R 23, 1907
the art of pianoforte tuning.
THE GENUINE
NELSON PIANO
H. P. NELSON Company
R R Nelson Co.
Piano and Organ Tuning
CHICAGO

Page 10 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
Some years ago I had the honor of making a
similar attempt to collate the laws of the sci-
ence and art into a practical, clear and compre-
hensive body. The riper experience of later
times, however, has shown that faults existed
in various places, and it is one of the aims of
the present synthesis to eliminate these as far
as possible.
And now in connection with this, let me say
that I shall be very glad to hear from time to
time, as the work progresses, such comments
and criticisms as appear to readers to be justi-
fied. I am strongly of the opinion that this de-
partment can find no better duty than that of
acting as a public meeting place where any and
every phase of the work of practical piano mak-
ing can be discussed pro and con.
Next week I hope to publish the list of titles
of the articles and also the introduction. Mean-
while, comment, criticism, advice and sugges-
tions are not only welcome but requested.
Communications for the department should be
addressed to the Editor Technical Department,
Music Trade Review.
DEPARTMENT OF PATENTS.
PIANO PLAYING MECHANISM.
Issued to David
R. Greene, of Chicago, 111., assignor of one-third
to George A. Baker, Jr., of Chicago, 111., Aug. 13,
1907. Application filed May 2, 1906. Patent
No. 863,167.
This invention is a new style of music roll
for pianolas and other similar piano players.
The object of the invention is to provide means
for adapting the wooden spool of the roll to the
expansions and contractions of the paper conse-
quent upon atmospheric and climatic changes.
The principal feature of the device is the pro-
vision of rotatable flanges at the ends of the
spool, which flanges may be made to rotate upon
threads cut in the ends of the wooden roller of
the spool, while they are held in any given
position by a spring, the strength of which is
sufficient to hold them against the pressure of
the paper but not enough to hold them against
the pressure of the hands when the same are
used to rotate the flanges.
E. H. COLELL'S QUEER EXPERIENCE.
steak and liver and bacon. In the latter it is
merely a question of figures on paper. So far as
his real material existence is concerned, a man
According to Published Reports He Is Carried
is just as well off with four hundred thousand
Out to Sea While Swimming, and Picked
dollars as with five hundred thousand dollars.
Up by Ship Bound for Charleston, S. C.
He doesn't have to cut down on his regular
Quite a sensation was created in New York smoking allowance, and the children's shoes
and vicinity last week by the wonderful deep-sea come along just as regularly as before.
In offsetting the twenty-nine million dollar
experiences of Edward H. Colell, well known to
the piano trade formerly of Chickering Hall, fine against the market value of the Standard
later Wissner manager for many years, and Oil Co. of New Jersey, it is possible that we are
prominent in musical affairs. Mr. Colell and legally wrong, because the fine was assessed
his family live near the beach, and it was his against the Standard Oil Co. of Indiana, and of
custom to bathe at night. He was a strong, course we all know that there is no connection
vigorous swimmer, and on Tuesday midnight put between them.
Nevertheless, way down deep in our collective
on his bathing suit and a bath robe and went
to the beach for a swim. Mrs. Colell is said to and individual bosoms, we know that there is
have objected to her husband's midnight swims, really only one "Original Cohen" in the oil busi-
ness, and that is he who is more or less affection-
but he persisted in them.
After he had been gone an hour Mrs. Colell ally known as "John D."
became alarmed and went in search of him. The
He may, as he asserts, be only nominally presi-
bath robe and a towel were found hanging to a dent of the company and know very little about
post to which the life line is attached, but noth- its transactions, but an oath in court involves
ing was seen of Mr. Colell.
only the holding up of the right hand, and, aa
Mrs. Colell went back to the house and alarmed Mr. Rockefeller is a very devout man, he doubt-
her family, including her son Charles, and the less obeys the scriptural injunction and does not
rest of the night was spent on the beach. A permit his right hand to know what his left has
heavy sea was running all night. The disap- been doing.
pearance was reported to the police on Wednes-
There isn't much question in anybody's mind
day and friends of the family established a patrol that the Standard Oil Co. has been guilty of vio-
of the beach in the hope that the body would be lating the law as to rebates—that in fact it has
washed ashore.
probably been the most flagrant violator of this
On Friday, however, Mrs. Colell received a law.
wireless message from her husband, stating that
If we do not allow ourselves to be blinded by
he had been picked up at sea by a ship bound the mere magnitude of the fine, we must admit
for South Carolina, which later proved to be that it is not disproportionate to the capital of
the Huron, of the Clyde line. There was con- or the volume of business transacted by the
siderable mystery about the affair, the stories Standard Oil Co.
of the principals varying in many details. Mr.
The infliction of a fine or other punishment
Colell's friends, however, are inclined to believe on a corporation, or on an individual, is partly
his story remarkable, as they say he was a in payment for past transgressions and partly
strong swimmer and may have gone out so far a warning not to do it again.
that with the high sea rumrng he did not care
If Judge Landis had fined the Standard Oil
to attempt the return, and ' .ok advantage of an Co. two hundred fifty dollars, or two hundred
opportunity to board some passing craft in the fifty thousand dollars, the amount would have
hope of being landed in New York harbor or at been trifling and could have been taken out of
some near port. Mr. Colell has been for some the petty cash. It would have been neither a
time past a member of the real estate firm of
punishment nor an adequate warning.
Colell & Puchs.
STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. Issued to E. M. Wood,
of Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 13, 1907. Appli-
A $29,000,000 SPANKING.
cation filed March 15, 1905. Patent No. 863,246.
The invention consists of a novel form of fid- Great Lesson in Heavy Standard Oil Co. Fine.
dle, which is best described by the inventor in
his claim, as follows: A musical instrument
If a Grand Rapids chair manufacturer worth
consisting of a hollow body, a bridge and a nut
thereon, the body diminishing in breadth from twenty thousand dollars had been found guilty
the bridge to the nut, the bridge and nut being of violating the laws governing freight rebates
rounded on top, placed close to and inclined to- and had thereupon been fined one thousand
ward one side of the body, the bridge extending dollars, nobody but the man himself would have
through the top of the body without contact been particularly disturbed, but when the Stan-
therewith, and resting interiorly upon the bot- dard Oil Co., whose worth, estimated by the mar-
tom of the body, a fingerboard extending from ket value of its stock, is five hundred millions
the nut toward the bridge, a handle beneath the of dollars, is, to speak technically, "caught with
fingerboard and a set of strings strained be- the goods on," and fined a trifle over one-twenti-
tween and across the bridge and nut, the string eth of its wealth, there is, says Charles Austin
Bates in Money, great excitement from one end
of highest pitch being nearest the same side of
the body with the bridge and nut, all substan- of the country to the other, and the general stock
market sloughs off a couple of points.
tially as set forth.
Twenty-nine millions of dollars is not so great
a sum as it was a few years ago, and, after all,
A. M. WRIGHT ON VACATION.
a sum of money is only proportionately im-
A. M. Wright, vice-president of the Mason & portant.
As a matter of fact, if you separate one dollar
Hamlin Co., Boston, Mass., is spending a short
vacation at the Isle of Shoals. Owing to the from a man who has only five, you are pretty
great activity at the Mason & Hamlin factory surely doing him a greater injury than if you
Mr. Wright's stay will not be an extended one, al- take one hundred thousand dollars away from
though he deserves a good rest by reason of the the man who has half a million.
In the former instance, the one dollar may
splendid work he has beeii doing for the Mason
make all the difference between porterhouse
& Hamlin Co. during the past nine months.
THE
ERNEST A.
TONK
PIANO
PRAISE FOR THE STRICH & ZEIDLER.
After Twelve Years' Use Instrument Still Has
Qualities That Arouse Enthusiasm.
Letters like the following offer convincing
proof of quality and durability of the piano
mentioned. The old saying, "Time will tell,"
finds no better illustration than in the life of a
piano, and when after twelve years of constant
use in public a piano can influence the sale of
another of the same make, the good workman-
ship and construction of the instrument is be-
yond doubt. The letter reads:
KATONAH, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1907.
Messrs. Strich & Zeidler, New York:
Gentlemen—Somewhere about twelve years ago
you sold to our M. E. Church a piano of your
make; the piano has given such good satisfac-
tion I am now writing to say I was superinten-
dent of the Sunday school at the time we pur-
chased the piano, and now I have a daughter
married to go to Tappan to live. I have a mind
to buy her a piano, and if I could get as good
an instrument as the one in question at a right
price, I might order you to ship one to Tappan.
Please advise on receipt of this letter, and if
we think favorably, my daughter will go down
and try them. Truly,
E XTRAORDINARY
DURABILITY
A RTISTICDE S I G N
LIGHT AND
T OUCH
RESPONSIVE
LEWIS H. MILLER.
Correspondence with active
dealers solicited.
William Tonk & Bro.
INCORPORATED
452-456 Tinth Avi., Ntw York

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