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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
VANADIUM AIDS_PLATE STRENGTH.
Important Factor Which Goes Into the Con-
struction of the Matawan Plate Discussed by
S. B. Eggleston, of the Matawan Steel &
Iron Co.—Quick Service of This House.
In the production of piano plates it is interesting
to know that there is only one exclusive plate foun-
dry in the East, this being known as the Matawan
In fact, Matawan plates are said to be the nearest
to steel plates at a cost that is decidedly nominal.
"In the matter of deliveries we are close to New
York and surrounding territory, and except in oc-
casional instances it takes but a short time to make
rapid deliveries. It is of common occurrence to
ship a car at night and have these plates delivered
in New York the next morning."
HOW FELT SHORTAGE WAS ANTICIPATED.
David H. Schmidt Has Been Supplying Customers with German Felt in Spite of the Lack of
Fresh Importations—Service to the Trade Appreciated.
When the importations of German felt ceased it
did not greatly trouble the David H. Schmidt Co.,
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for one of the policies of
David' H. Schmidt, president, was always to have a
sufficient stock of felt on hand to last for months.
Now, this statement is not to imply that this com-
pany has all the German felt it wants, for this isn't
true, because they have been offered thousands of
dollars' worth of orders and could not fill them.
Rut one fact is positive, the regular customers of
the company will secure this felt as long as it lasts.
Tt stands to the credit of any concern to stand by
its regular customers, and the writer of this has
seen evidence whereby the Schmidt Co. could profit
to the extent of thousands of dollars were it to
dispose of its supply of German felt at the greatly
increased prices that have been offered for the felt.
And it turns aside these profits so that the Schmidt
customers can say that their service was of the
highest order. Judging from the reports coming
from manufacturers in other lines, who have sac-
rificed their regular customers for the sake of
making additional profits with the goods on hand,
the policy of the Schmidt Co. shows the faith of
the head of the business in its customers and holds
S. B. Eggleston.
Steel & Iron Co., Matawan, N. J., of .which S. B.
Eggleston is the head. In a chat with Mr. Eg-
gleston two things stand out predominant in his
idea of service to the piano manufacturer and
dealer—one to make the Matawan plate in the
best way, and the other is to see that these plates
are delivered with the greatest efficiency.
"In the construction of every Matawan plate,"
said Mr. Eggleston, "we use vanadium, which gives
a strength unequaled. When it is considered that
thousands of pounds of pressure are constantly
against every plate, it stands to reason that the
slightest bend will handicap every plan of the man-
ufacturer. Vanadium is a peculiar substance, and
when added to iron makes practically a steel plate.
65
up the reputation enjoyed by this company for
many years, which is not only in evidence with the
piano manufacturers but which is recognized by
the retail trade of this country.
And in the retail trade, dealers who have been
customers for years can continue to send in their
orders and have "new sets made from old ones"
for the same prices, at least until further notice.
\v. other words, as Mr. Schmidt explained it, the
company has no desire to charge more for felt and
hammers, even though the goods are worth more,
until such time as they are obliged to pay more for
the felt. "Workmen are getting more pay now
than ever and all materials are up in price, but
until we absolutely have to do so, we will not
change our schedules," he said, in explaining his
policy on this question.
There was no request made for the publication
of this stand of the Schmidt Co., but in view of
the history of this concern and its reputation for
fair dealing, it is deserving of wide publicity.
Everyone admires fair-minded methods, and they
also appreciate the man who is in a position to do
otherwise but prefers to follow a "thumbs-up"
policy at the expense of his own pocketbook.
has affected the price of hinges and pedals, and, in
fact, everything in pianos made of that metal. The
Shows How Prices on Wire, Felt, and Brass
copper wire used to wind around the bass strings
Have Increased Cost of Piano Manufacture.
has also gone up in price. The strings themselves
were largely imported from Germany, where con-
(Special to The Keview.)
PHILADELPHIA, PA., January 24.—Some interest- siderable attention was given to the manufacture of
ing comments on the effect of the war on the cost wire, but the big steel wire concerns in the United
of raw materials used in the manufacture of pianos States have now fully realized what an opening
were made by F. J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe & Son, there is in the piano manufacturing business
in a recent interview. Speaking of existing con- for a very high-grade steel wire, and they are
making it now just as good as the European
ditions, Mr. Heppe said:
"Last year was our banner year, and this year product.
"Then take the matter of fine wool felt used for
gives as good promise. There are certain parts of
pianos which have increased in price owing to war the hammers. Germany excelled in the manufac-
conditions. The great increase in the price of brass ture of that commodity. Since the German supply
has been cut off, wool felt manufacturers in the
United States are producing a first-class article.
As the hammers and strings are the vitals of a
piano, you can see how important these two items
are.
"We have never gone into the export business,
although T recognize there is a big field opening up
in South America, but their tastes and requirements
are so entirely different from ours that it would
require a separate department in both manufactur-
ing and sales. South Americans look more at the
appearance and ornamentation than the quality,
and their ideas of ornamentation are radically dif-
ferent from ours. With the educational campaign
now going on conditions will undoubtedly change."
HEPPE COMMENTSJ)N WAR PRICES.
TELL US YOUR SANDPAPER TROUBLES
AND WE WILL SEND SAMPLE SHEETS OF
TROY BRAND
F L I N T AND GARNET PAPER
WE OFFER THE TROY BRAND PRODUCTS WITH
OUR FULL GUARANTEE OF THEIR QUALITY
AND ENDURANCE. SEND FOR OUR 16-PAGE
CATALOG No. 43
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire posit : ons
of any kind.
Richardson Piano Case Co.
Manufacturer* of
HAMMACHER,SCHLEMMER & CO.
I
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PIANO M A T E R I A L S , TOOLS, FELTS, CLOTHS, CASTERS, HINGES
LOCKS, BOLTS, SCREW5, PUNCHINGS, SWINGS, CATCHES, ETC., ETC.
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. & 13th St.
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