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10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW/
lastly, the tuner will familiarize himself with the
playing of the instrument, especially by studying
"The Player-Pianist," published from this office, he
further fact that very few men in the piano busi-
will gain a great deal more command over the con-
ness throughout this country are as yet well in-
fidence of his customers and a great increase in
formed on the regulation, repair, playing and care
his own general expertness.
of the player-piano, it follows that the mainte-
We repeat that the piano tuner is the logica'
nance of these instruments in a satisfactory condi-
man to select when one undertakes to develop a
tion is rendered doubly difficult, and therefore pro-
player-man for outside work. And any piano
portionately expensive. Or, to put the matter in
merchant who has the interests of his business a 1
another way, it is doubly disadvantageous to at-
heart will make it one of his first concerns to do
tempt the care- of instruments systematically when
this. Player factories are always glad to receive
a large proportion of the complaints are ill-founded,
tuners as guests for the purpose of acquainting
and while all of them must be looked after by
them with the mechanism and care of the player.
men who often are ill-fitted for their work.
But the merchant should not imagine that he can
Now, if we come to analyze the nature of the
do this sort of thing successfully unless he al'r
(COPYRIGHT)
complaints which the owners of player-pianos com-
uses a little judgment. If a man is going to do
monly make, we shall find that one large class, as
the work of both tuner and player-man, he should
indicated above, may be sought and found in ig-
be compensated accordingly when he has become
norance; and in nothing else. This is not to say,
expert. It is true that, taking the general run
or even suggest, that ill-founded complaints in the
of employed tuners by and large, they receive
piano business are confined to player-pianos. But
about all they earn. But when a tuner has become
it is to say that in the case of straight pianos the
an expert player-man, whether through the initia-
army of tuners is, as a general thing, pretty well
tive of the employer or not, he should be encour-
[HE above is the title of a book which will
informed as to the conditions that will be encoun-
aged by material appreciation, and then he will
interest every owner of a player-piano.
tered, and the methods to be used for remedying
be all the more valuable.
them, while in the case of the player-piano, no such
It is carefully compiled and is a mine
This problem of ours, then, comes down to sys-
familiarity can be said to exist.
of information for the student.
tematic care of the player-piano in the customer's
That, then, is the first big difficulty; unfamiliar-
home. First, this is to be done through educat-
ity with the points of the mechanism, both on the It is the only volume ever put forth which deals ing the customer, and second by seeing to it that
exhaustively
with
the
many
problems
which
the
part of the public and of the trade.
expert care is given to the instrument for as long
The second big difficulty lies in the nature of the player-pianist and student have to overcome.
anyway as would be the case in free tuning of an
mechanism itself. With all the understanding and It is designed to afford a complete guide to music ordinary piano. In order that such care may be
sympathy in the world, one cannot prevent a play- appreciation, player technic, music roll reading, given properly, it is desirable that the same man
er mechanism from becoming clogged with dust etc.
who anyway will have to keep the piano part of
and dirt, or from requiring oil on its motor, o
It contains many useful suggestions which will be the instrument in tune should be educated to an
from squeaking, or from losing its air-tightness. made apparent to every observer.
understanding of the player mechanism also. In
These things are inevitable, and must necessarily
other words, upkeep expense cannot be reduced to
Specially
drawn
illustrations
add
to
its
attractive-
be developed as the instrument goes through the
what it should be if two men must always be reck-
stress and strain of use. And since the public, ness and dealers will find they can handle it to oned with as necessary for the due care of the
advantage to dispose of among their customers,
as a general thing, knows less than nothing about
for, it is of direct use to everyone who owns a player-piano. Tuners must be taught to be player-
these matters, it follows that the piano merchant
player-piano or who contemplates the purchase of men. And not until every piano merchant insists
must make up his mind to train men in the art r
on this will he be able to put his player department
one.
caring for the player mechanism on the one hand,
in proper shape to take care of the maintenance
while he must equally be resigned to public com- It is original in make-up, splendidly bound in problem economically and well. Moreover, be it
cloth, gilt top, and contains nearly one hundred
plaint, on the other hand.
remembered that the effect on the customer of hav-
In fact, the whole problem comes to this: the and fifty pages.
ing the bother and annoyance of special men call-
public will always complain; without good reason Single copies will be sent to any address in the ing all the while to look after little matters of
very often, and with good reason quite often. Up- United States upon receipt of $1.00.
repair or regulation is very bad.
keep, therefore, becomes a matter of systematically
Player factories and schools of piano tuning are
Foreign subscriptions 15c. additional.
dealing with these complaints. And this in turn,
recognizing the necessity of dealing with this prob-
resolves itself into the methodical treatment of all Special discounts will be made in quantity lots.
lem of creating player experts. The piano mei •
player-pianos, at regular intervals, by experts.
If the book is found unsatisfactory by any pur- chant need then have no fear in taking up the mat-
It is customary to agree, when selling ordinary chaser upon receipt, the payment made for it will ter of getting such men. And tuners themselves are
pianos, that the services of a tuner shall be free be cheerfully refunded upon the return of the book coming more and more to see the necessity for
for one year. That is to say, the piano merchant to the publisher.
acquiring player knowledge, and more and more
finds that it pays him to look after the well-being
There is no source of information in the world are availing themselves of every opportunity to
of the instrument for at least twelve months.
regarding the player-piano which compares with get this knowledge as quickly and thoroughly a-
And, in first-class houses, the practice is often
this volume and every player-piano that is sold possible. Everywhere the situation looks more
followed of sending a tuner at regular intervals
and more encouraging.
should be accompanied by one of these books.
during the first year, simply for the sake of the
Lastly, however, it must be said that much of
THE PLAYER PIANIST IS the newest, most
piano itself. Now, why should not the same very
the difficulty encountered in solving the upkeep
sensible idea be carried out with the player-piano? up-to-date and the most useful contribution to problem is to be found with the stupidity or in-
the music trade literature of our times. This in-
Why not have an expert player-man visit the in-
difference of the public. This is a condition, not
strument every three months, let us say, and look stitution has become the recognized authority for a theory. We must face it. It would be a very
• over the valve chest generally, see that the pneumat- trade and technical literature in the player line. good thing if every piano house were to make a
ics are engaging with the piano action without un- Therefore, when we make a statement regarding rule that each salesman who sells a player-piano
due lost motion, oil the motor, time and regulate matters of this kind it usually carries weight and must see to it that the instrument, within twenty-
it, see that every note speaks quickly and well, and
we say unqualifiedly that our experience in con- four hours of its installation in the home, is care-
so on. Moreover, he will be instructed to inquire nection with musico-industrial affairs covering a fully demonstrated to each member of the family
of the family whether any member thereof experi- long period of years teaches us that this volume which Is to use it. An hour or two of such dem-
ences trouble in playing, and will suggest better
should be in the hands of everyone interested in onstration, with an intelligent man to do the work,
methods of using the control devices, ways to con- the player-piano.
will save many a dollar in running after future
serve energy in pedalling, and so on.
Money back every time to those who desire it. complaints. This is a very important matter, and
Now, it is perfectly plain that what has been
one which should most carefully be considered.
suggested above. is a most desirable thing to be
Systematization of the demonstrating, education
done. The only difficulty is to get men who can
of the public and the f uners, these are the means
do it. And yet this is not so difficult, after all,
which must be utilized if the cost of maintenance
as might at first be supposed. The fact is that al-
in the player business is satisfactorily and econom-
most any intelligent piano tuner, if you catch him
ically to be solved.
young enough, and send him to a player factory
for a few weeks, can there get all the information
The Kratz Piano Co., Akron, O., have incor-
about player mechanism that he needs. If also
porated with capital stock of $10,000, by Marie C.
he will read up on the subject, using the works
Kratz and others.
published in the Review's Technical Library, he
PUBLISHER
will gain much additional information as to prin-
Do you zuish to make five dollars? Then send
ciples; information of the greatest value to him,
your ideas upon leading trade topics, embodied in
which, however, can very seldom be gained from •
two hundred and fifty words, to The Review. You
dealing exclusively with factory mechanics. If,
will find full particulars elsewhere in this issue.
SOMETHING OF THE UPKEEP PROBLEM.
(Continued from page 9.)
THE
PLAYER
PIANIST
The Last Word on
the Player of To-day
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