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MUSIC TMDE
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, MAY 28, 1921
Both the Reproducing Player and the Foot-Pumped Instrument Have Their
Own Special Fields for Exploitation, and the Success of One Means the Suc-
cess of the Other—A Revival of Player-Pianism the Need of the Moment
The object of this Player Section of The Re-
view is to render to the player-piano industry of
this country practical services. These take the
shape of supplying correct information on tech-
nical and industrial affairs, and of interpreting
the same editorially in the light of our long
experience as observers of trade conditions.
When we perceive that a given state of affairs
is unfavorable, or when, in our judgment, it ap-
pears that a protest must be made or a warning
uttered, it is our duty to act accordingly with-
out regard to consequences.
During the sessions of the Merchants' Asso-
ciation in Chicago this month a general discus-
sion on the player-piano was precipitated. The
participants included a manufacturer of repro-
ducing player actions, a well-known public
demonstrator a-ttached to a Western house which
has devoted itself to developing the personal-
control player, and the writer. The discussion
itself centered around the first and third of these
parties, for the opinions of the second were
presented only indirectly through the medium of
a paper read for him by the chairman. Neverthe-
less, since his opinion is valuable and definite, it
is included in the present consideration.
The Question Involved
Briefly put, one may say that the question in-
volved was this: "Is it worth while to continue
to push, in retail circles, the idea of personal
control of the player-piano in face of the mani-
fest accomplishments of the automatic-expres-
sion player?" Or, the question might have been
put thus: "Is it necessary, or tven right, at this
day to talk about the future of the player-piano
in terms of foot-pumping and personal control?"
Now, it seems to the writer that this
is not merely an incidental question. It seems
to him that it is vital. He does not intend to
allow his own prepossessions to stand in the
way, well known as these prepossessions are
throughout our industry. If it should happen
that the best interests of the trade appeared to
require the death of the foot-pumped player and
its supersession by the automatic in whatever
form there would be no hesitation in advocating
such measures.
Wanted—The Truth
Now, the questions which were raised at the
sessions of the Merchants' Association are ex-
tremely important, for they touch the vitals
of the industry. They should, therefore, be ex-
amined in the light of candor and of an open
mind. No fact should be concealed or subjected
to diminution. The truth should be proclaimed,
no matter whose toes are trodden on in the
process. Here are a few considerations, then,
offered toward such impartial examination.
Without the least doubt, the opinions of any
man within the industry are, and ind«ed must be,
colored by his own individual position, by the
business interests with which he is identified
and, in short, by whatever personal prejudices
are inevitably aroused within him by his busi-
ness circumstances. It is impossible to get a
wholly impartial view, and we must, therefore,
be willing to balance the statements of oppos-
ing interests and* endeavor from the opposition
to discover which way the balance of probability
tends.
The Trend of Invention
Now, at the beginning, let it be said that the
achi<*vements of the inventors within the indus-
try have, during some five years now, been mainly
concerned with the production of devices to do
away with foot-pumping. These devices are not
all to be included within the category "repro-
ducing piano." On the contrary, it is just be-
cause there is a needless confusion as to what a
reproducing pia-no is, and is not, that much of
the present confusion in thinking exists. Mean-
while, however, let it be duly acknowledged that
the effort during five years or more has been
toward the electric-driven rather than toward
the foot-pumped player-piano.
WHITE, SON CO.
Yet it must at the same time be acknowledged
that the foot-pumped player-piano still com-
prises at least 90 per cent of the total number
of player-pianos, and in spite of all developments
and improvements in its rivals it shows no sign
of surrendering to them. Careful study among
factories and some knowledge of the classifi-
cation of their output will place this statement,
we believe, beyond serious question. If, then,
on the one hand, the foot-pumped player-piano
continues to be made and sold in large quanti-
ties, and, in fact, is still at least nine times as
much in demand as its rivals, why are attempts
Manufacturers of
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Ave., BOSTON, MASS.
being made to supplant it? If, on the other
hand, certain large houses (and there are several
which might be named) find it the best business
policy to promote the foot-pumped personally
controlled player-piano with all their powers,
where does the fault lie?
*
Where the Fault Lies
With all respect to every one, we cannot see
the fault lying anywhere save in the apathy of
the retail trade. It was urged at the meeting
mentioned above that the reproducing piano is
the logical player of the future, because it gives
better music. Granted it gives better music, but
that is no answer to the question involved. The
reproducing piano is an instrument for reproduc-
ing the interpretations of individual pianists.
The ordinary automatic expression player-piano
is an instrument for giving somewhat better
music (or much, much better if one wishes)
than can be obtained by some owners of player-
pianos with the ordinary foot-pumped instru-
ment. Very well, but what of it?
Listening vs. Helping
What does an average person buy when he
or she buys a player-piano? Music, of course.
But in what way? To listen to or to play? If it
is merely to listen to, then one has to be a
competitor with the phonograph. But if it is
to play, one stands on a different foundation and
has a power over the prospect's thought which
is quite unique. If that prospect can be
shown, even most crudely, what it means
to give even a little personal touch to
(Continued on page 4)
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