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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
OuTTECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
the pin with a smaller one, force the pin out with
one of the same size, but of full length. When
The oil question simply will not down. All this has been done, and the new pin has been
things considered, I am rather glad of it. It seems pushed fully through, hold the extending end for
to me that one might do far worse than give the a moment in the flame of an alcohol lamp, hold-
opportunity to have this whole matter so thoroughly ing a finger to the opposite end of the pin to judge
threshed out that it will not need to be taken up of the heat. When as hot as can be borne to the
again for quite a long time. The opinions have touch, remove it from the flame a moment and
been many and varied. Some have verged on allow it to cool. Then try it to see if it is working
the angry. But all have been very much to the freely.
point and very definite. I confess to holding pre-
"You will at once see the principle involved.
cisely the same views now as I did before the many
and if the work is done carefully, it can also be
correspondents who have opposed me had deliv-
done quickly, safely and with a positive assurance
ered their arguments. The court has been unable
of success.
to change its mind.
"However, I see no objection to the use of gaso-
However, it is eminently proper that reasons line or ether which method I have found to be
should be given for such persistence in an opinion, without a fault. Of course, I have a special prepa-
and this I shall proceed to do in an article to ap- ration of my own—all tuners get that way over
pear later, in which I shall make it my business to something, polish or some other dope—but this
sum up all the arguments pro and con. Mean- one has never failed me, and will relieve the most
while, I take the present occasion of publishing two obstinate action in ten minutes without injury, and
letters on the same subject. One of these is without oil, grease or hot water.
strongly in agreement with my own views, while
"By the way, the water treatment is O. K. for
the other is of a less positive nature. The first is
some cases, but ought to be watched very care-
distinctly satirical in its nature. It emanates from
fully. I refer to placing water in a receptacle on
the trenchant pen of our old friend, J. C. Miller,
the bottom of the piano. The application of hot
fellow-townsman of the Peerless One. And here
or cold water to the section in any way is some-
is what Brother Miller saith:
thing I have not tried, and never expect to try.
"Spermaceti mania."
"By the way, will you explain why a piano some-
" 'Here comes the man with the oil can. Shall I times works sharp after being tuned? Within the
let him in ?' 'Not in the parlor. Send him around last two years I have had three or four pianos
to the back yard. I will advise "him.' 'This way, which act like this. In one case the pitch worked
Gijeaser!' 'First try some on the dog. He is up so much that it was necessary to lower it in
mangy and it may help him. Then go to the hen- order to accommodate a clarinet. The same piano
house and anoint each fowl under the wings and had been used by an orchestra six or eight time?
about the gills. Oil is said to be death to lice. before running so high that they could not use it.
Then rub the cow with it from stem to stern; also Of course, it has been creeping up all the time."
behind the ears. Put a few drops on the hinges
The only unsatisfactory thing about a letter like
of the barn door and the garden gate. Then Dad's
this is that we are left in a state of terrific anxiety
boots are on the back porch: give them all they
as to the nature of the marvelous preparation
can stand from the outside. Put some on the
which can be squirted onto or applied to piano
cook (this at your own risk), and spread the rest
actions and which cure all the troubles of sluggish-
of the stuff around outside till the whole planta-
ness without the use of oil, hot water or anything
tion looks like the tail-end of a Swift-Armour
else of the kind. One cannot help feeling that the
rendering plant and smells accordingly. Yes, Mis-
world would be the gainer for a full disclosure of
ter, do all this that you like. Put your oil any-
this secret. But perhaps friend Russell figures
where and everywhere; but keep if and yourself
that he cannot afford to give away anything so
out of my piano!!!'
precious.
"All of which is painfully, pitifully and prayer-
As for the old problem of pianos sharping, and
fully put to the grease spot brigade. May their
the reasons therefor, there are many things that
tribe decrease and their shadow grow less. Amen,
might be said. First of all, the construction of
and again Amen."
the piano may be such that the tuner is unable to
It would almost appear from the above that equalize the tension of the strings throughout their
Brother Miller is somewhat against the use of oil
full length, and this may happen in such a way that
in pianos. Of course, I may be wrong, but that is the general result of the gradual equalization which
my general impression.
will take place after tuning will be to increase
I might add that Brother Miller was a little un- rather than decrease this, with a natural conse-
certain as to whether he wanted his name published quent sharping. Other things being equal, a piano
or not, but I really could not resist the temptation will sharp if, after tuning, it be exposed to a low-
of giving due and full credit.
ering of temperature. Definite advice can hardly
Now, just to show that we do not all agree on be given in the absence of opportunity for a direct
everything, I am going • to print here something diagnosis. But it may be said, generally speaking,
that a correspondent in Spartansburg, S. C, Mr. that when pianos show this sort of difficulty it is
John G. Russell, has to say on the- same •subject, best to tune them so that one is sure of pulling
and also some others. Mr. Russell does not seem the strings absolutely all through the bearings,
to be annoyed about anything, as some recent cor- equalizing the tension throughout. Further than
respondents have allowed themselves to become. this nothing can be definitely recommended, in the
Tant mieux. Here is what he says:
absence of opportunity, as v/e said above, for direct
"Editor Technical Department.
diagnosis.
"Dear Sir: Noticing your articles in The Re-
Player Articles.
view on how to relieve sticking center pins, I
"SPERMACETIMANIA" AND A SECRET.
should like to give you what in my experience has
proved to be the best method. Instead of replacing
FAUST SCHOOL OF TUNING
Piano, Player-Piano, Pipe and Reed Organ Tuning and Re-
pairing, also Regulating, Voicing, Varniiking and Pelishing.
This formerly was the tuning department of the New
England Conservatory of Music, and Oliver C. Faust was
head of that department for 20 years previous to its dis-
continuance.
Courses in mathematical piano scale construction and
drafting of tame have been added.
Pupils have daily practice in Chickering & Sons' factory.
Year Book sent free upon request.
17-29 GAINSBOROUGH ST., BOSTON, MASS.
I should be very glad if readers who are fol-
lowing the series of player articles now running
in this department on the last week of each month
(Player Section week) would let me know how
they like the arrangement, order and nature of
what I have already written. It is my desire to
make these articles of the utmost value to tuners,
for I well know how little good correct funda-
mental player knowledge there is among readers
of this department. Nobody exactly is to be blamed
for this condition. It simply exists, and it is my
business to do what I can to improve the state of
affairs that I find. In such a work readers can
make things easier for me by offering such sug-
gestions as seem proper to them. Criticism of the
direct, constructive, helpful kind is always useful
to a man in my position. If readers will tell me,
not merely that they do not like things, but rather
what it is that they do like, then everybody will be
benefited. In other words, if anything that I am
doing for readers in this department does not
please them, let them not rest content with kick-
ing, but let them deliberately say what it is they
do want. Do I make myself clear?
Communications for this department should bz
addressed to the Editor, Technical Department,
The Music Trade Review. W. B. W.
R. S. HOWARD CO. MOVING
To Its New Manufacturing Quarters at the
Bush Terminal, Brooklyn—Larger Plant, Bet-
ter Equipment and Shipping Facilities to Be
Enjoyed.
The R. S. Howard Co. is moving its factory,
which was located at 639 West 49th street, to the
inew factory which has been put in readiness for
the company at the Bush Terminal in Brooklyn.
Here, will be located one of the finest piano plants
in the country, with every up-to-date facility for
the manufacturing of the instruments and every
shipping advamtage which could be desired.
The moving into the new plant started late last
week, but General Manager E. M. Backus expects
to have everything out of the old factory by the
end of this week.
MUST STATE FULL VALUE.
Otherwise Those Losing Goods on Way to U. S.
Can't Recover.
Persons having goods shipped here from Europe
must state the full value of the goods if they
expect to recover more than $50 in case the goods
are lost under a ruling by the Appellate Division
of the Supreme Court this week. The court re-
versed a judgment for $870 obtained in the 'City
Court by Solomon L. Cohen, a retired merchant
of 60 West Tenth street, against Morris' Euro-
pean & American Express Co., Ltd.
CLEVELAND-MANNING CO. EXPANSION.
The Cleveland-Manning Co., of Atlanta, Ga.,
well-known retailer of the Henry & S. G. Linde-
rran pianos, states that within a year plans will be
developed for a great expansion of its business.
Recent visitors to the company's headquarters were
James S. Holmes and Harold S. Holmes, of Henry
&• S. G, Lindernan.
f
Every Packard owner is a
Packard booster — that's the
reason every Packard dealer de-
lights to sell Packard Pianos. We are
making plans to make the Packard the
best known piano as well as the best
piano in America. A few new dealers
in new territory—are going to help r«ip
the harvest. Write The Packard Com-
pany, Fort Wayne, Ind.—to-day.