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JANUARY 18, 1919
THE MUSIC TRADE
15
REVIEW
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITE
and the next thirteen. Eighty makes were rep- compare favorably with the opportunities of the
resented by one piano apiece. The leading piano ordinary professional man.
A YEAR'S RECORD
Now, please, brothers, won't some of you get
is of a good make, with a good reputation and
My good friend and colleague, Mr. Price
sold at a good price. The second is more popu- to work some evening, go over the old books
Kiker, of Fort Worth, Texas, who has already
lar but is well and honestly made, and is dis- of 1918 and dig up the facts of your year's work?
achieved immortality through the medium of the
tributed largely by direct-mail advertising. The
celebrated Academy founded by B. L. T., is
third is a western make, well made and ex-
APPRECIATION FROM SPAIN
good enough to furnish me once more with a
tremely well known in the trade through the
record of his year's work. I say "good enough,"
1 offer no apology for reproducing in extenso
great personal popularity of the gentleman who
because when Brother Kiker does this he takes
heads the company which manufactures it. the most interesting letter which appears below:
a lot of trouble for the sole purpose of furnish-
"Bilbao, Spain, November 1, 1918.
Perhaps twenty of the remaining makes might
ing some very useful information to his
"Mr. William Braid White. Dear Sir:—It
fairly be described as good to middling. The
brethren. These records are of very grea't
will give you satisfaction to know that in this
remainder are middling to cheap.
value indeed, for they enable me, for instance,
distant country there are persons who read your
Statistics of Player Work
to observe and compare the progress of the
The number of player-pianos tuned was sixty, interesting technical articles in The Music Trade
piayer-piano in various parts of the country and
Review, with regular assiduity, finding in them
to note how the small grand is coming along. divided among thirty-five makes, and the great-
a lot of information and highly spirited ideas.
est
number
tuned
of
any
one
make
was
eight.
The more such records, from various parts of
"I being a recently formed tuner (for I have
the country, my readers choose to send me, the The second largest number of any one make
practiced during three years at the leading house
was
five
and
the
third
four.
Number
one
in
the
better I am pleased. Wherefore, many thanks
of Barcelona) am avid to find some scientific
to Brother Kiker [who is not half so formidable player list does not appear in the upright list
and practical theories, especially on piano tun-
at
all,
as
this
popular
make,
at
a
popular
price,
as his name], and may many others be willing
ing.
soon to follow his good example and enlighten is made in player-piano form only. Three
"In the letters of your friends and pupils I
guesses
will
be
allowed
as
to
its
identity.
the readers of this department in the same way.
have
read many praises about your book Modern
Number
two
in
the
player
list
is
the
same
as
Mr. Kiker's record shows that during the year
Piano
Tuning and Allied Arts, which I think
number
one
in
the
uprights,
while
number
three
1918 he tuned 547 instruments, as against 702
is
well
worthy of them and which will surely
among
the
players
is
identical
with
number
two
in 1917; but that owing to a change in rates
and other causes his gross takings were greater. among the uprights. Only two of the players be of grand utility to me.
"Will you be so kind as to inform me how I
can be described as thoroughly high-class and
The distribution was as follows:
can send you the money it costs? It will con-
only one of them as really artistic.
Type of Instrument
1918 1917
gratulate me if I can diffuse in this country the
Grands
Square pianos
3
3
There were forty-seven grands, distributed ideas which give you so high a reputation. Cor-
Organs
10
2
among eleven different inakes. These were dially yours, Esteban de Gauregen."
Grand pianos
47
46
Which is very handsome, don't you think?
mainly of really high grade, the popular priced
Upright pianos
.. 427 600
makes being only three in number; but of them Scnor de Gauregen's kindness is only sharpened
Player-pianos
60
51
one, made for a famous southwestern piano mer- by his quaint and Latinistic English, which,
chandising house, leads all the rest, with the however, is very creditable for a young Spanish
547 702
large number of fifteen to its credit. It will do piano tuner. It is most interesting to know
The figures shown are very interesting and in
no harm to say that Baldwin, Chickeriug & Sons, that the Review goes so far afield, and, indeed,
a way very disappointing. I had hoped that
Knabe, Mehlin, Steinway were the artistic the circulation department tells me they have a
Mr. Kiker's territory would show some greater
large number of subscribers in Spain. The com-
makes.
increase in the number of grands and players.
pany in Bilbao, on whose letter-head Senor de
The Territory Covered
But in fact there has been no change worth
Gauregen writes, are the Aeolian representatives
Mr.
Kiker
spread
his
work
over
some
twenty-
mentioning during the past year, in the relative
in that flourishing commercial city and have
five
different
points
throughout
his
Texan
ter-
number of grands and players. Of course, we
sold many Pianola-pianos there.
ritory,
making
perhaps
more
than
one-third
of
all know that the last year's output of players,
The world is very small after all, is it not?
even allowing for the extraordinary war condi- his income in Fort Worth, and the next largest
fraction
at
a
town
some
175
miles
distant.
He
t'ons, will be found without doubt to approach
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
closely to the figures of 1917. Now these players travels over quite a large section of the State.
arc being sold and distributed just now as rap- His total takings exceeded $3,100 for the year
A gentleman with whom I have had cor-
idly as they can be made; but where are they in cash and he spent in advertising, etc., about
respondence in the past writes me from a
$500.
In
addition
to
the
tuning,
Mr.
Kiker
tells
going? They are not going to Texas, evidently.
me that he repaired in his shop quite a number Minnesota town asking if I can give him some
Statistics of Upright Work
lessons in grand piano regulating, tuning and
of pianos. In this connection he says:
The total number of uprights tuned was 427.
"Those who are engaged in the tuning pro- general fine work. He candidly and ingenuously
This figure is distributed amongst 143 different
fession know that we have lucky days; also says "I have been tuning for about ten years
makes, which means that the average number of
days we do not tell about. The successful tuner and working hard to better myself. I am just
each make was about three. But the largest
takes due consideration of this and knows that beginning to find out that I know very little. I
number of tunings of one make was sixty-five,
he should keep a few repair jobs on hand in his am in a town where there is a lot of very fine
the next largest twenty-seven, the next twenty
work to be done, especially on grands, and if
shop, to work on when other work is slack.
"This is a suggestion meant only for those I cannot do the work, I am afraid this wonder-
ful field will slip away from me."
who are not already putting it into practice.
Now, I should like to give this gentleman the
"I have rebuilt several pianos during 1918 by
lessons he wants, but the work I did establish
filling in spare time.
"I feel closely drawn to every tuner in the two years ago had to be closed down on account
Individual pneumatic stacks, roll
whole United States who is trying to better of the peculiar conditions then existing through-
boxes, bellows, pedal actions,
his own condition. I want to help all I can and out the country on account of the war. I was
expression boxes.
feel greatly indebted to many for having helped sorry to give up a very good little workshop,
and have always had the hope of reopening it
me along."
Manufacturers, dealers, tuners
Mr. Kiker's remarks are much appreciated, some time; but there are other things to be
and repair men supplied with
and I am glad to see evidence of the remarkable done just now which cannot be postponed.
player actions for straight pianos.
progress he is making. It is plain that piano Still the question will not down. There is the
tuning
offers opportunities for money-making strongest need for a technical school devoted to
JENKINSON PLAYER ACTION CO., Inc.
(Continued on page 16)
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URN YOUR STRAIGHT
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This formerly was the tuning department of the New
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head of the department for 20 years previous to its dis-
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Courses in mathematical piano scale construction an.l
drafting of same have been added.
Pupils have daily practise in Chickering & Sons' factory.
Year Book sent free upon request.
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