Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1919 Vol. 68 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
JANUARY 4, 1919
MUSIC
TRADE
39
REVIEW
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DRYING
COMBINING FOR FOREIGN TRADE
Unless the Wood Used In the Making of Pianos
Is Absolutely Dry, Trouble Will Result
Copper Producers Banding Together Under the
Webb Law for Export Business
Not at all surprising is it to find the copper
In the whole wood-working industry there is
no one thing of greater importance than the producers of the country combining to take ad-
drying of lumber preparatory to manufacture. vantage of the Webb export law. Many seem
Drying, in reality, is the initial process of man- to have had the notion that the main supporters
ufacture, and an important one, too, inasmuch of the movement to permit combinations in
as the success of all subsequent operations and export trade were the small producers or ex-
the quality of the finished product itself depend porters. But, from the outset, the copper men
were stanch advocates of it. Their reason for
upon it.
Lumber drying has received more than ordi- doing this was stated by them long ago. Ger-
nary attention in many quarters of late, and the man interests concerned in copper were in a
correct principles of artificial drying are com- combination, and made their purchases collec-
ing to be better understood as the necessity of tively. They were thus enabled to play off
drying stock rapidly, thoroughly and with the one set of producers in this country against an-
smallest percentage of waste becomes more and other, and so were able to get the metal for
more pressing. In fact, today, in many lines less even than users in this country. This gave
of woodworking, the period of air-seasoning them a great advantage which they were not
that was once considered so essential is being slow to avail themselves of. It was one of the
dispensed with altogether. It is now quite the many ways in which the Germans succeeded in
common thing to charge drykilns with lumber virtually controlling the nonferrous metals.
that has never been on sticks in the yards. If Hereafter, whenever the Germans are again per-
this stock enters a properly-designed and prop- mitted to buy copper in this country, they will
erly-operated kiln all is well, otherwise it is bump up against a combination from which they
cannot get lower prices than can their com-
likely to be ruined.
There are a number of different drykilns on petitors. It is worthy of note, also, that the
the market, and undoubtedly every prominent copper producers are not alone among the big
drykiln manufacturer can point out several of interests in seeking to make use of the Webb
his own installations that are giving entire sat- Act. A number of the large concerns in the
isfaction. If he could not point out success- iron and steel trade have formed an export
ful installations and satisfied customers he corporation 'similar to that of the copper men.
would certainly not be in line for future busi- This combination will ultimately represent all
ness. Still, there is a choice in kilns. For best the important steel-producing interests outside
results a drykiln should be laid out and de- of the United States Steel Corp.
signed for the particular class of work required
of it. A successful drykiln must be something
THE CONSERVATION OF VARNISH
more than a steam-heated compartment with
tracks extending through it to accommodate Piano Manufacturers Will Dd Well to Give
lumber cars.
Thought to This Important Subject
First of all, the kiln should be of fire-
The fashion in finish has considerable to do
proof construction and built of such material
and in such a manner that it will retain its heat with the quantity of varnish used in the furni-
to the best advantage and resist all outside ture and piano industries, and if those who set
elements that may tend to lower the inside the fashions will have conservation writ large
temperature. Otherwise it will always be a in their minds when bringing out a new finish,
costly proposition to maintain, and the drying they will be doing a worthy and patriotic thing.
results will fall short of what they should be. Wherever possible the finish should be dull; not
The successful drykiln must be designed and merely a coat of shellac and waxed, but var-
constructed in such manner that the tempera- nished and rubbed dull, or rubbed to a satin fin-
ture and humidity of the air can be regulated ish or egg-shell gloss. It requires a much
and controlled independently at all times, as heavier body of varnish to make a highly-pol-
desired. The means by which a continuous cir- ished finish than a satin finish, and the latter is
culation of air can be maintained is also a preferable to the former because it is more dur-
necessary feature, inasmuch as it is the flow able. And not only is the satin finish conser-
of air through the pile of stock that carries vation of material, but it is also conservation
away the moisture and consequently dries the of time, as there is at least one less coat of var-
lumber. Cases have come to my notice in which nish to apply and it requires less time to rub.
it was impossible, apparently, to keep the air The conservation of time and material is of
in a state of high or even moderate humidity, interest and value chiefly to the manufacturer,
and at the same time keep up a free circula- but in this instance there is a side that is of
tion of air. It was necessary to sacrifice one interest to the ultimate consumer, i. e., the dura-
condition for the other, whereas both are ab- bility of the finish. A piece of goods with a
solutely essential to rapid and successful drying. varnish body sufficiently heavy to take a high
Poor design or improper piping is usually at polish will not withstand atmospheric changes
so well as will a lighter-varnished piece. High-
the bottom of all trouble of this kind.
ly-polished pianos frequently have the finish
crack when passing from the factory or store
DEATH OF SHERMAN BECKWITH
to the buyer in cold weather; at least they are
Sherman Beckwith, father of the Beckwith found to be cracked in the finish soon after be-
Bros., piano leg manufacturers of Westfield, ing placed in a warm room. The cold outside
Mass., recently died at his home in that city expands the whole structure, and when placed
after a long illness. He was eighty-seven years in the warm room the heavy finish on the out-
side begins to contract by coming first in con-
old.
THE CELEBRATED WICKHAM
QUALITY FIRST
PIANO PLATES
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.FGOEPEL*C0
137 E A I T I3 T ^
NKW
ST.
YORK
tact with the warmer air and before the wood
has been affected by it, hence the cracks. The
same thing occurs if the house becomes cold at
night or during any part of the time. The room
is heated quickly and the heavy varnish shrinks
before the heat penetrates to the wood. A thin
film of varnish does not act that way,-as it will
expand and contract without cracking.
But the above is not the only advantage which
a thin coat of varnish has over the highly-pol-
ished finish. Every one knows how easily a
high polish is injured. The mere act of wiping
oft dust mars it, and in a short time its beauty
is gone, as its highly-burnished appearance fades
away, and it soon becomes neither polished nor
dull—and it cannot be said to be a joy forever.
Not so with the dull-rubbed finish, for wiping off
dust does not injure it, and it can be kept al-
ways as fresh as new by wiping it off with a
little paraffine oil diluted with gasoline or kero-
sene oil.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
There is both profit and satisfaction in
the use of Behlen's Varnish Crack
Eradicator on your refinishing jobs.
Profit because it eliminates the trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var-
nish and shellac. Satisfaction because
the finished job is better, because you
have had a better surface to work on.
Write for sample can today and try it.
M
Behlen & Bro.
Anilines .<£N^ -Stains
Shellacs < >^> Fillers
3 7 1 P E A R L ST., NEW YORK
THE WICKHAM PIANO PLATE COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
Manufacturers of
PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, NEW YORK
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
40
THE
NEW COLUMBIA ARTIST ANNOUNCED
Miss Rosa Ponselle, Dramatic Soprano of Met-
ropolitan Opera Co., Will Record Exclusively
for the Columbia Record Library
The Columbia Graphophone Co., New York,
announced this week that arrangements have
been consummated whereby Miss Rosa Pon-
selle, dramatic soprano of the Metropolitan
Opera Co., who made a sensational debut recent-
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
l*rie New York Times said: "What a promis-
ing debut! Added to her personal attractive-
ness, she possesses a voice of natural beauty that
may prove a gold mine. It is vocal gold any-
how, with its luscious lower and middle tones,
dark, rich and ductile; brilliant and flexible in
the upper register."
The New York Herald said: "The debut of
Rosa Ponselle was a definite and pleasurable
surprise, amounting 1 to a sensation. For a girl
fresh from vaudeville to come on the classic
stage of the Metropolitan and sing with the
poise, authority and ease of a veteran with a
beautiful luscious and wonderful even voice of
two octaves compass, with a tone production
smooth and efficient, struck me as little short
of marvelous, and I am sure the audience
thought so too."
IMPORTANT VICTOR CO. STATEMENT
Reasons for Scarcity of Victor Products Ex-
plained in Statement Just Issued to Trade
Miss Rosa Ponselle
ly at the Metropolitan Opera House, will record
exclusively for the Columbia library. Miss Pon-
selle's records will be announced in the very
near future.
The rise of Rosa Ponselle in the musical
world is meteoric, to say the least, as less than
a year ago she was a member of the vaudeville
team of Ponselle Sisters, which was then play-
ing in the leading vaudeville houses. While
this act was appearing in New York, Wm.
Thorner, well-known singing teacher, chanced
to hear it, and was so impressed with Miss
Rosa Ponselle's voice that he arranged to give
her a course of lessons in operatic singing. She
made wonderful progress under Mr. Thorner's
able teaching and was coached in the prepa-
ration of difficult operatic roles by Romano
Romani, operatic conductor for the Columbia
Graphophone Co. As soon as Miss Ponselle
had completed her course of training, the
Metropolitan Opera Co.'s musical critics as-
sembled to hear her, and she was engaged for
this famous organization after her first trial.
She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera Co.
this season, making her debut in "La Forza
del Destino," and newspaper critics proclaimed
her as one of the musical "finds" of this gen-
eration. Her position in the operatic world
has been strengthened since her debut by her
successful appearances in several difficult roles.
The Columbia Graphophone Co. is to be con-
gratulated upon the acquisition of Miss Pon-
selle to its recording libraries, and full credit
for the consummation of this arrangement
should be given to Theodore Bauer, director of
the Columbia Co.'s concert and operatic de-
partment, who has been responsible for the
addition of many famous artists to the Columbia
recording staff.
The following newspaper comments regard-
ing Miss Ponselle will give some idea of the
remarkable- beauty of her voice. The New
York World said: "Seldom does a Metropoli-
tan audience respond as warmly as this one did
last night to the new singer, Rosa Ponselle.
After her first act aria the people applauded
in a way that showed their feelings and this
happened again after the splendidly sung duet
with Caruso. Miss Ponselle's voice is a dra-
matic soprano of more genuinely beautiful qual-
ity than has been heard at the Metropolitan in
many a season."
JANUARY 4,
1919
GIVES CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
Otto Heineman, President of Otto Heineman
Phonograph Supply Co., Entertains His Staff
at Luncheon at Delmonico's—Members of
Fair Sex Entertained at Churchill's
Otto Heineman, president of the Otto Heine-
man Phonograph Supply Co., was the host on
Christmas Eve at a luncheon given to the mem-
bers of his staff at Delmonico's. For the past
few years Mr. Heineman has entertained
the heads of his various departments on Christ-
mas Eve, and this year's pdrty was the most
enjoyable that has yet been held. Among those
who were Mr. Heineman's guests were Adolf
Heineman, A. F. Meisselbach, W. G. Pilgrim,
John Cromelin, Jacob Schechter, John Lotsch,
C. T. Pott, C. W. Neumeister, W. C. Strong,
R. C. Ackerman, Paul L. Baerwald, and M. S.
Schechter.
In order that the fair sex in his employ might
not feel slighted at not being included in this
luncheon party, Mr. Heineman made ar-
rangements whereby all of the girls assembled
at Churchill's for a Christmas Eve luncheon.
Miss F. Aufrichtig, cashier for the Otto Heine-
man Co., was the hostess at this luncheon,
which was thoroughly enjoyed by all of the
girls.
Several of the Heineman branch managers
are visiting New York this week, conferring
with Mr. Heineman regarding plans for the
new year. S. A. Ribolla, manager of the Middle
West branch, with headquarters in Chicago,
arrived on Monday, and- gave Mr. Heineman
an encouraging report anent the outlook for
1919 in his territory. C. T. Pott, Canadian
manager, also spoke enthusiastically of the busi-
ness situation in Canada, and judging from all
indications the Heineman Co. will enjoy next
year record-breaking sales totals in all its di-
visions.
The Victor Talking Machine Co. under date
of December 18 sent out the following com-
munication to the trade:
"To attempt to capitalize our efforts in the
performance of our patriotic duty would have
been decidedly unpatriotic from our viewpoint,
and accordingly we repeatedly refrained from
publicity of this type throughout the entire
period during which we were participating in
war work for our Government.
"Now that we are definitely out of the war
we feel some explanation is due the public con-
cerning the unprecedented shortage of Victor
products, and to assist in alleviating in a meas-
ure the conditions confronting Victor dealers we
have designed a special card for use in your
store. Two are enclosed and additional cards
are now going forward to Victor wholesalers for
use in demonstrating rooms where needed.
"The war has been brought to a successful
termination simply because of the sacrifices that
COLUMBIA DEALERS TO MEET
ali of us have freely made, and those of us who
have made such sacrifices can once again turn Regular Monthly Meeting of Dealers in Metro-
to our peaceful pursuits with a full knowledge
politan Territory to Be Held at the McAlpin
and clear conscience of a great duty well done.
on January 8—G. W. Hopkins to Speak
The popularity of Victor products is greater to-
day than ever before, and consequently your
Lambert Friedl, manager of the local whole-
share in our future prosperity is definitely as- sale branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co.,
sured."
announced this week that the regular monthly
The card referred to reads as follows:
meeting of Columbia dealers in metropolitan
To the public:
territory will be held on January 8 in the
Feeling that some explanation is due to the ballroom of the Hotel McAlpin. Mr. Friedl
public concerning the unprecedented scarcity of has prepared for this meeting a most interesting
Victrolas and Victor records, we desire to make program and according to his present plans
the following statement:
the artists who will appear will include Rosa
The above condition is due, as all such condi- Ponselle, the popular dramatic soprano of the
tions must primarily be due, to the unques- Metropolitan Co.; Oscar Seagle, baritone of
tioned popularity of Victor products. It is also 'the Metropolitan Opera Co., and several well-
due to the fact that so long as the United States known terpsichorean artists from Hepburn
was at war we believed our paramount duty lay Wilson's studios, who will interpret some of
in assisting the Government in the prosecution the new modern dances.
of the war to the fullest extent of our abilities;
George W. Hopkins, general sales manager
our facilities had been freely offered and ac- of the Columbia Co., will be the principal
cepted.
speaker at this meeting, and this gathering of
Immediately upon the signing of the armis- dealers will assume extraordinary importance
tice and our release from Government obliga- in view of the fact that all of the out-of-town
tions, we took all necessary steps to insure the Columbia branch managers will also be pres-
earliest possible return to an increased output ent as Mr. Friedl's guests. This meeting
of Victor products, but in the interim we would is being given at an opportune time, in view of
bespeak for Victor dealers and for ourselves the fact that the Columbia branch managers
some measure of consideration which we believe from coast to coast will be assembled in New
will be accorded by every patriotic American.
York the week of January 6 for their annual
VICTOR TALKING MACHINE CO.
convention.
On Christmas Eve Mr. Friedl was visited in
The War Trade Board announce that item 58 his private office by K. Mills, assistant man-
of list of restricted imports No. 1 has been ager of the New York branch, who in behalf
amended so as to permit the importation of old of the members of the New York wholesale
disc records for phonographs, and that applica- staff presented Mr. Friedl with a beautiful solid
tions for import licenses therefor will now be gold watch as a mark of their esteem and af-
considered.
fection.

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