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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
14
OuTTECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITE.
A QUESTION OF VOICING.
.1 am in receipt of the following letter from
Charles B. Congdon, of Woonsocket, R. I., which
is highly suggestive and deserves a careful answer:
"Editor, Technical Department. Dear Sir: Is
there any scientific way to treat hammers to im-
prove their tone, in a low-priced piano? In the
case I refer to there are a few notes in the middle
section that are of a different quality from the
rest; sort of metallic. Would filing a new surface
help, or is the trouble in the scale? If voicing
will improve such a case, I would be pleased to
know the right way to go about it."
It is, of course, impossible to say what effect, if
any, may be traced to defects in the scale of this
particular piano. Generally speaking, it is pretty
safe to assume that cheap pianos have defective
scales, nor does experience show bad tones to exist
without usually some corresponding scale trouble.
In any case, however, it is plain that one cannot
alter the scale, and so, if anything is to be done,
it will have to be by treatment of the hammers.
There are certain facts to be observed in con-
nection with a matter of this sort which must be
taken into account before anything else.
Modifications of tone quality, when traceable to
hammers, are due to changes in their positions
with reference to their points of contact with the
strings, hardness or softness of the material, and
shape of the crowns. Now, it should be noted that
a.s the place of contact between hammer and string
is shifted, the tone quality will change, becoming
harder as the point approaches the upper end of
the string, and conversely. So that, if the hammer
strikes too high, the tone quality evoked from the
string will tend to be too hard. Of course, the
position would have to be shifted quite markedly
higher to make a perceptible difference. However,
this is one point to be considered. Hence it will
do no harm to look at the level of the hammers in
question and see that they are not striking too
high.
If it is necessary to look further, begin by ascer-
taining the hardness or softness of the felt. Very
often in pianos of low grade the felt is not of
uniform quality throughout a set of hammers, and
consequently one finds differences of tone quality
cropping out in most unexpected places. There
are several ways to get at such a condition. In
the case referred to by Mr. Congdon we have
a metallic sound in some hammers at the center
of the piano. Examine these hammers first and
see whether the felt is too much hardened at the
crown. If this is so, refile the hammers and try
to get them back into the same shape as they
should originally have had, ironing them, if neces-
sary. Then, of course, the tone will be still harder
at first. Then take the needles and needle up the
felt until the hardness is destroyed. Test con-
tinually to see how the tone quality is being
modified.
Roughly speaking, that is all there is to do, and
this also is the way to do it. But I suspect that
most tuners are seldom sorry for some hints as to
the fine work of tone regulating, and I shall there-
fore take the present opportunity of giving some
suggestions on the finer points of the game.
The object of tone regulation or voicing is to
produce an agreeable quality of tone equally
throughout the entire scale. When once the piano
ir. built, nothing can be done to improve its tone
FAUST SCHOOL OF TUNING
P H M , Fkyw-Piaao, Kpc u4 Kttd Orfu Tmiag u d Re-
p*fcfac, I I M Rcrdatkf, Voidng, Varmting u d Poluhing
Tfcia formerly waa the tuning department of the New Eng-
land CMMerr»t0f7 of Mmic, and Oliver C Faust was head
•f that department for 90 yeart previous to ita discontinu-
ance.
Ctranem ia mathematical piano scale construction and
drafting of amott aav* W«a added.
PupUa haw 4afly practice in Chickering ft Sons' factory.
Y « r Baah asjat m e «p*o request.
17-29 GAIfflBOKOUGH ST., BOSTON, MASS.
Although no one of the arts which go to make
quality as then settled except'to modify the shape,
hardness or position of the hammers. Position is up piano building is more important than the art
of tone regulating, it is a lamentable fact that none
something that hardly ever needs attention except
at the extreme treble end, nor can it even then is more generally neglected. If the sum of $5
be altered to any great extent. Shape and hard- could be spent upon the voicing of every cheap
ness, however, are matters easily modified, and of piano in the United States during the process of
great importance. Generally speaking, a pointed building, even if this extra cost could be saved
somewhere else, the result would be of lasting
hammer means a hard tone and a rounded hammer
a soft tone. Likewise, softened felt means soft benefit to the whole trade. As things are, how-
ever, voicing is neglected and the average piano,
tone and hardened felt means hard tone.
Shape may be changed by the use of the sand- in consequence, never develops the tonal possibili-
ties that are nearly always concealed in it. Nothing
paper file. But it is well to he on one's guard
constantly when handling this tool. It is very improves a moderate-priced piano or cheap piano
easy to file a hammer crown quite flat, and then so much as good voicing. Nothing, therefore, will
very likely one cannot get it back again into shape. make a cheap piano more attractive. Perhaps
some day some sensible manufacturer will wake up
In tiling one should always work from the back of
the hammer towards the crown on each side, and see the light.
I have wandered somewhat far aiield during the
and leave the shaping off of the latter to the last.
The hammer should be filed so as to leave the course of the present argument, but Mr. Congdon
crown a well-defined oval shape, somewhat pointed, will, I am sure, be willing to wade through this
according as the tone is to be more or less bright. whole page for the sake of the information which
In using the needles, too, one must use great he will find scattered along its columns. If I did
caution and care. It is a great though common not feel sure that all my readers are always inter-
mistake to "pick up" the felt with the needles. ested in whatever pertains to this particular topic,
This means practically digging up the felt by using perhaps I should not have run on so. But then I
the needles like a spade. Common sense ought am quite sure.
to tell anyone that felt will be spoiled by such a
Communications for this department should be
procedure. But timers often do this very thing,
addressed
to the Editor, Technical Department,
nevertheless. Of course, the proper thing is to
The Music Trade Review.
stab inward on either side of the crown without
touching the latter, making the strokes towards
GERMAN PATENT CHANGES.
the center of the underfelt as if the needles were
Important
Alterations in the Patent and Trade-
the spol« s of a wheel and the outer surface the
mark Laws That Are of General Interest.
tire.
The crown of the hammer should never be
Attention is being called by German consuls and
touched. No. 6 needles, three to a handle, pro- commercial agents to a new German law of March
jecting not more than half an inch from the wood, 31, J913, making alterations in the patent and
are the best for regular work. If it is necessary trade-mark laws and providing that citizens of the
to dig in very deeply after the rough work has German Empire may now claim the benefit of the
been done, u finer needle should be used, an inch
laws for the protection of utility models and trade-
long and one or two to the handle.
marks under the law of unfair competition, even
The crown should never be touched with though such German citizens may not have a resi-
needles, as I said before, during the first work; dence or establishment in Germany. A feature
but sometimes it is necessary, when the hammer of the new law, which feature is a distinct innova-
has been treated in the ordinary way, to go a little tion, provides for the registration of trade-marks
further and give a dig or two through the crown by associations, the new form of trade-mark being
in order to remove the last vestige of hardness.
called an "association trade-mark," which may be
registered by associations of manufacturers or mer-
Above all things, discretion, care and watchful-
chants for exclusive use in connection with the
ness are necessary to the man who would be a
real tone regulator. To this must be added ex- goods of the members of the association. These
perience, patience and a good ear for detecting marks are said to lie of considerable importance
in Austria-Hungary and some other countries.
tone quality. Much of this may be acquired, but
I really think that great tone regulators are born, Heretofore there has been no provision for them in
the German laws. These trade-marks may be en-
not made.
tered, according to the new law, by associations
having a legal existence and interested in trade,
Piano Trade School
even if they are not producers or purveyors of
Established 1901
goods. The new law, says the Scientific American,
Piano, Flayer-Piano and Organ tuning, repairing,
regulating, and voicing. Most thoroughly equipped
should be of interest to citizens of Germany resid-
piano trade school in U. S. 600 erarluates; private
ing in this country and needing the protection of
instruction; diplomas awarded. Endorsed by lead-
ing piano manufacturers and dealers. School en-
their trade-marks under the German law.
tire year. Positions secured- Free illustrated cata-
logue. Address
Polk's School of Tuning
Box 293
Valparaiso, Ind.
Manufacturers! Dealers! Tuners!
Yellow Ivory Keys Made While As Snow
"Of course, I want my daughter to have some
kind of artistic education. I think I'll let her study
singing."
"Why not art or literature?"
"Art spoils canvas and literature wastes reams
of paper. Singing merely produces a temporary
disturbance of the atmosphere."
"Caplan's Patent Ivory Polish" will do i t
Samples 50 cts. and $1 (dollar size wil]
whiten four sets of piano Iceya). For
further particulars write to
HENRY CAPL AN, 49 Sherman Ave., Jersey City, N. J.
The
OLDFST PIATEMAKERS
IN AMERICA
Tuners' Magazine
A Monthly Journal, Devoted to the Joint Interests of
the Manufacturers and Tuners of
Musicai Instruments.
SWMNER L. BALES, Editor and Proprietor
N o . 1 San Rafael, Cincinnati, Ohio
Issued the First of the Month.
Terms, $1.00 per Year.
Joha Davenport Co.
fiford,
PIANO PLATE
ESTABLISHED 1*68
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