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6
THE
RENEW
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue. New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage) United States and
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $8.50; all other coun-
tries, $4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 5982 and 5983 Madison Sq.
Connecting all Departments
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 22,1913
The Editor-in-Chief of The Review has recently
been calling timely attention to the big problem
presented to the player trade in the matter of the
trade-in. There is no doubt whatever that the
whole proposition is one of considerable serious-
ness, nor can we disguise from ourselves the fact
that hitherto it has not been handled very syste-
matically. At the same time, however, we must
not conceal from ourselves the equally obvious fact
that this is one of those matters easier to discuss
than to analyze or remedy. Plainly enough, so long
as the player-piano is what it is, the majority of
people who buy will have old pianos to give in.
Something must be done with these relics. What
can be done? Obviously, one solution is to turn
them into player-pianos by fitting them with some
suitable player mechanism. But, unfortunately, the
manufacturers of player mechanisms—not without
justice—do not want to associate themselves too
strongly with a proposition that bears the stigma
of the second-hand, lest their business be thereby
damaged. Especially acute is this phase of the
subject, when one considers that the number of
player mechanisms capable of transforming any
piano into a player is compartively small. Another
solution has been proposed. We are invited to im-
itate the automobile dealers and turn all second-
hand and traded-in pianos over to a certain lim-
ited number of recognizea second-hand merchants,
who will agree to take the whole turnover among
chemselves and who will further agree not to slash
prices in too competitive a manner. This latter
may not be an ideal solution, but it has worked
well in the automobile trade and might work
equally well with us.
After a period of decline during which it almost
disappeared from sight, the music-roll circulating
library is again coming into prominence. There
is much to be said in a practical business way for
this plan. If a circulating library is well and sys-
tematically handled, it can be made a producer of
roll sales all the time. Not only so, but the kind
of sales likely to be thus promoted is in every way
superior. Many people will simply buy nothing
outright in the way of music except that which is
recommended by some one else or that which is
entirely within their own personal knowledge.
Many people would be glad to improve their
musical taste if they were not afraid to buy music
of a superior kind. They are only too often afraid
of just this, because they believe that they may be
unable to do justice to it, and may have to throw
it aside. Now, a circulating library is the very
thing to overcome this difficulty. When people
can try out a piece for a couple of weeks and
then return it if they like, they are much more
likely to experiment. And when people begin to
experiment they begin to improve. Incidentally, it
might as well be noted that music roll manufac-
turers will welcome anything which promises to
expand the normal sales of standard music, for it
is the standard music that pays best. You don't
have to rearrange it every month. The whole sub-
ject is worthy careful study, and some space has
been devoted to it in the present number.
Every one will rejoice that the Board of Educa-
tion of the City of New York, under the protect-
ing eye of the New York Piano Manufacturers'
Association, has definitely established a course of
instruction in piano-player mechanism for the use
of tuners, piano mechanics and workers in the same
field. Together with the similar activity displayed
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
by the New York Y. M. C. A., this new move
marks a positive recognition of the importance
which must be attached to the player-piano as a
commodity and as a feature of modern social life.
No doubt the reasons which moved the Board of
Education to take this decisive step were prac-
tically the same as influenced them when they first
began to broaden the scope of their evening school
work—namely, the idea of putting the facilities of
the city at the call of any considerable social need.
The spirit thus indicated is in every way admirable.
The personnel of the instructors appear to as-
sure that whatever they undertake to teach will
be well and thoroughly taught. It remains, how-
ever, for the trade to realize that their part in
the matter is of no little importance and that their
interest is essential to the continued life of the
movement.
It is not enough to voice approval of the scheme,
or even to assist it by loaning apparatus. It is
equally necessary to take a living and continued
interest in the work, to give it continual and prac-
tical support, to keep a watchful eye on what is
done, and to attempt the formation of some ra-
tional judgment, at the end of the first season, as
to what the results have been, and are likely in
the future to be.
It is plain that any work of this sort can be
judged only by its results, while improvements can
be made, or the necessity for them ascertained,
only by comparison of experience and careful ex-
amination of the conditions in teaching as these
develop. The matter is of the utmost importance.
The continued interest of the Board of Education
and of the piano manufacturers is necessary to the
permanent success of the cause.
NEW FEATURES EMBODIED IN LATEST ELECTRELLE MODEL.
Much Interest Manifested in "1913 Model" Which Is on Exhibition in the American Piano Co.
Offices—Operated on New Principle in Which Pneumatic System Plays an Important Part,
A new and greatly improved "1913 Model" Elec- and without the slightest sacrifice of mechanical
trelle, operated on a new principle in which the
or musical quality.
pneumatic system plays an important part, is now
The new Electrelle is, of course, equipped with
on exhibition in the offices of the American Piano
the Flexitone and a particularly sensitive tempo
Co., New York, and the first of the new players is device for those who desire to do their own inter-
expected to be ready for the market some time in
preting. Through the use of the Rythmodik music
July, or probably before that time. The feature of
rolls the mechanism may be started and left to
the improved mechanism that most attracts is its itself without further attention while those in the
high degree of sensitiveness and its ready response
room dance or sit at a distance and enjoy the
to every demand of the music roll and the con-
music. All the operating is done through the
trolling device. It also contains a new transposing medium of an electric motor, and there are no foot
device.
pedals attached. For manual playing, the tracker
In the latest Electrelle the connection between bar and attendant mechanism may be folded back
under the keybed of the piano out of the way and
the pneumatic and electrical units is brought about
through the medium of finely balanced diaphragms out of sight.
which respond readily in making contacts under
When the new Electrelles are ready for the mar-
the faintest pressure. The diaphragms are ar- ket in the spring a special feature of the selling
ranged as units, and in the event of any adjust- campaign carried on in connection with it will
ment being required one may be removed or re- be the emphasizing of the readiness with which
placed without disturbing the remainder.
the mechanism may be installed in straight pianos
Moreover, the contact mechanism is so attached
already in use, without moving the pianos from
to the tracker bar that the old bar may be removed
the homes of their owners.
and replaced with a new one containing a new set
The absence of complicated mechanism, the re-
of diaphragms without necessitating the readjust-
duction to a minimum of the liability of the Elec-
ment of any part of the mechanism proper. In
trelle to get out of order, even when used care-
short, according to W. B. Armstrong, vice-presi- lessly, and the fact that standard music rolls may
dent of the American Piano Co., the new model
be used, should all serve to add to the interest
Electrelle has been made practically fool-proof, shown in the new player.
TO OCCUPY LARGER QUARTERS.
AUTOMATIC JMANO PLAYER.
Gulbransen-Dickinson Co. Finds Present New
York Quarters Crowded—To Remove in April
—Business Is Active with This Company.
Details of a Patent Relating to Pneumatic
Mechanism for Pianos Was Recently Granted
to Michael Verstraelen, of California.
The Gulbransen-Dickinson Co., 442 West Forty-
second street, New York, will remove its present
quarters some time in April. The future location
of its plant has not been definitely decided, as the
company wishes to be certain of having sufficient
floor space in its new headquarters before signing
a lease. The demand for Gulbransen-Dickinson
player actions in the East has steadily increased
each year, and the plant is at present working
to full capacity in order to fill the orders on hand.
They have been handicapped the past season by
the lack of sufficient room, but this condition will
be much improved when the company moves into
its new quarters.
Some idea of the prosperous condition of the
company's business may be gleaned from the fact
that A. M. Mansfield, road ambassador in the East,
has not been able to start a trip since the first of
the year owing to the numerous orders being re-
ceived from their New York clients. The total
business in the first two months of this year is far
in excess of the business closed last January and
February, and the orders in hand justify the belief
that the entire spring season will be far ahead of
1912.
The first meeting of the creditors of the Krell
Auto-Grand Piano Co., bankrupts, is scheduled to
be held on Friday next, February 28, at which time
the creditors may attend, prove their claims, ex-
amine the bankrupt, appoint a trustee and transact
such other business as may be necessary.
(Special to The Review.)
|
Washington, D. C , Feb. 18, 1913.
Patent No. 1,051,468 for an automatic piano-
player was granted last week to Michael Verstrae-
len, of Near Inglewood, Cal., and one-half of which
he has assigned to J. H. Burton, Ocean Park, Cal.
This invention relates primarily to pneumatic
mechanism for installation in any standard upright
piano with a Boston fall, whereby the same may
be played automatically and more particularly to
certain details of construction, whereby improved
execution is obtained; and to the arrangement of
the small pneumatics which operate the hammers;
and to the construction of the valves controlling
these pneumatics, whereby a greater range of action
is obtained than is possible without a case espe-
cially constructed for the piano to house the play-
ing attachment; and also to the arrangement and
construction of the mechanism for controlling or
giving expression to the music played on the in-
strument, whereby a greater and more effective
control and better expression is obtained than in
the ordinary piano-players; and also in other de-
tails of construction hereinafter set forth; and the
object thereof is to provide mechanism adapted
to be built into any upright piano without chang-
ing the external case thereof, and which will not
interfere with the ordinary use thereof, and which
will enable an operator to automatically play such
piano with as fine expression as can be obtained by
a skilled musician from such instruwsn,t, by thft
ordinary use of the keys thereof.