Music Trade Review

Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 10

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
M A R C H 11,
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OUR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
(Continued
from
page 1 1 )
Meanwhile, here is another good technical of-
fering:
i ADVICE ON MANIFOLD MATTERS
To Brother Clemens, the Pitch-raisers and
Others, by Earl H. Webb, Mt. Carmel, 111.
"Dear Mr. White: I read your Technical De-
partment every week with much interest and
nearly always there is something in it that 1
should like to answer. Now, I will break loose
and write a few lines that may be helpful to
some weary brothers:
"In regard to the inquiry of Brother Clemens 1
should say that I think the key-bed on the piano
he refers to had settled, thus lowering the strik-
ing line of the hammer enough to cause the bass
section to strike 'one string down."
"A settling of the key-bed to the extent of
one-eighth of an inch would bring that result
on many pianos. Also I think that Brother
Clemens will find his piano has wood flanges, in
which case the flange screws may be loosened
and the hammers pushed over to the right, which
will partly remedy the trouble.
"I have had such cases and where the flanges
will not allow enough adjustment I have raised
the bass end of the action enough to correct the
trouble, meanwhile regulating the capstan
screws accordingly. 1 do not think that the
most exacting ear could have detected in any
instance the slightest injury to the tonal result
from the raising of the striking point. If any
brother has a better solution 1 should be glad
to hear of it.
Those Schomacker Strings
"I see that Brother Burton Shaw tells in the
January 21 number about those Schomacker
pianos with the 'gold' strings. I believe the
strings are made of tempered brass. The piano
has a very sweet tone, but it is not so powerful
as that of other pianos. I have found the Scho-
mackers very pleasant to work with, for they
tune well and stand in tune. But when you
have to put in a steel string the difference in tone
can readily be noticed.
Pitch vs. Tone Quality
t "I hear a great deal lately about pitch raising,
though I hear still more from my own tuning
hammer. For several years past I have been
raising in pitch almost all upright pianos that
I find to need it. Occasionally I find one that
•is old and will stand it or, again, sometimes
a singer wants a piano at low pitch. But by far
the greater number of those who ask for a 'low
tone' refer to voicing and not to pitch.
j "The piano-owning public is a joke, when it
(comes to understanding pitch and voicing. If
the tone is mellow and the wish is to have it
harder then the tuner is told to 'tune it higher."
If the tone is already metallic one will be told
to 'tune it lower.' It strikes me that the brothers
ought to awake soon to the need for doing pio-
neer educational work among the people in this
respect.
;
"As to the question of pitch in general, with
relation to the tone and efficiency of pianos, it
seems to me that brother tuners ought to learn
for themselves why piano makers design pianos
to be tuned at a certain pitch. Those who know
why this is done can tell their customers why it
is so and that will be good for everybody.
"I do not think that it is necessary to do a
lot of extra tuning work for nothing, for nine
out of every ten people you meet are willing and
anxious to have their pianos put up to proper
pitch when once they understand why this ought
to be done.
"To raise the pitch of a piano by a half-tone
involves considerable work, which should be paid
for extra. I charge $4 for tuning straight pianos
and $5 for players or grands. For raising pitch
I charge $7.50; players, $8.50 and for grands,
$10. Grands are more sensitive and require more
time. Hence the higher price for them.
"A job of pitch-raising must be carefully done
and no reasonable person will object to paying
the proper price when once a sufficient reason
has been given. Moreover, the tuner's feelings
are of some account and he ought to be able to
feel satisfied with his own work.
"The owner entrusts the piano to the tuner
because he knows that something is wrong. The
tuner is expected to know his own business (that
is, to know the piano's 'needs'). I feel that I
have not been honest with my client unless I
leave the piano in the best possible condition.
"I know a large hardware house which has a
motto reading: 'The recollection of quality per-
sists long after the price is forgotten,' and that
will apply to piano work equally well. He who,
properly talented and schooled in his art, prac-
tices always to do his best need not fear to
charge a fair price."
Thank you muchly, Brother Webb. Please
come again. You have given us some good ideas.
NEW DEVICE IN SCHUBERT PIANOS
Letter Sent to Trade by Schubert Piano Co. Ex-
plains Merits ox the Virzi Tone Producer—
Head of Schubert on Plate of Each Piano
The Schubert Piano Co., 1 West 139th street,
New York, has recently sent out some interest-
ing data pertaining to the Virzi Tone Producer
in the Schubert piano, a new device which pro-
duces a great power of softness, mellowness and
clearness, as well as a great volume of tone. Re-
garding the new Schubert piano which is equipped
with this device, the company states: "This is
the newest and most extraordinary invention in
the art of tone production. The results obtained
by this simple device are marvelous; it has
merited the applause and received the indorse-
ment of many of the world's famous artists, some
oi whom have already had it installed in the in-
struments they use in concert work.
"We are glad to say that we have obtained the
right to use it in the Schubert piano and it can
be obtained only from us."
In the same letter the company draws attention
to the fact that all Schubert pianos now bear
the trade-mark, the head of Schubert, on the
plate, and that none will be genuine Schubert
pianos without it. Another unique feature is a
new guarantee which is tied to the top frame of
each piano.
BUSINESS SHOWS^STEADY GAIN
Industrial Survey Made by the Department of
Commerce Shows Steady Improvement
EVEN WITH THESE
fine contributions your editor's thirst for assist-
ance from the brethren continues unabated. You
are requested to remember this and, when the
spirit moves you, to send in the results to Wil-
liam Braid White, care The Music Trade Review,
373 Fourth avenue, New York, N. Y.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions
of any kind.
THE
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—Business condi-
tions of the country continue to show slow and
steady improvement and nearly every industry
reports returning confidence, according to a new
survey of the business situation, it was announced
to-day by the Department of Commerce. The
figures received as a result of the survey, it was
said, emphasize the progress which business has
made in returning to a better foundation, as com-
pared with the confusion existing six months and
a year ago.
CELEBRATED
F&G
(FELTEN & GUILLEAUME)
"*X S"^ GAR
* „
AUS VOPZUG
IMPORTED
)I F ! G J •
FELTEN I G U I L L E A U M E V » 2

CARLSWERK
W
1922
--
;
1

HAMMACHER.SCHlEMMER&C
MUSIC WIRE
IN BLACK, RED and GREEN
LABEL BRANDS
IS UNEXCELLED
The " F & G " Blue Label Brand is again being
used by Rudolph C. Koch in the manufacture
off the Reinwarth Covered Bass Strings
For TUNERS and REPAIRERS we have the
convenient one quarter pound clamps
HAMMACHER, SCHLEMMER& CO.
PIANO AND PLAYER HARDWARE, FELTS AND TOOLS
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 11, 1922
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
13
for Hardman, which has now been with Bucking-
ham & Moak and their successors for thirty
Dutton Family Identified With the Music Industry Since 1821—Became Nationally Prominent in years.
William Dalliba Dutton, who at the time of
Connection With Hardman, Peck & Co., of Which Louis Dutton Is Assistant Secretary
his death was treasurer of Hardman, Peck & Co.,
The official celebration of the eightieth anni- becoming Buckingham & Moak, and, while both was one of the notable figures in the piano in-
versary of the establishment of Hardman, Peck partners are long since dead, the business con- dustry of his day. It was he who, banded with
several others who also had the best interests
&• Co. has served to bring to the front the fact tinues as Buckingham & Moak Co.
From Utica William H. Dutton went to Phila-
that the Dutton family, which has been asso
delphia to establish in 1865 a piano business
which was later conducted under the name of
Dutton & Son, the son being the late William
Dalliba Dutton and father of the present Louis
Dutton.
At the outset William H. Dutton handled the
Chickering piano exclusively, but, as previously
mentioned, in 1876 Dutton & Son, as the con-
cern was then styled, took the Hardman agency,
and since that time the Hardman and Dutton
names have become more and more closely inter-
twined.
A further step in this direction was made in
1892, when the late Leopold Peck induced Louis
Dutton's father to come to New York, and in
1896 the business of Dutton & Son in Philadel-
FOUR GENERATIONS IN THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WORLD
George Dutton
ciated with that house for a number of years,
is just about commencing its second century of
service in the selling of pianos.
So rare are the cases in the piano industry
when generation after generation of one family
becomes affiliated with the trade that the record
held by the Dutton family is of particular inter-
est and is fittingly associated with the story of
Hardman, Peck & Co., for during the past forty-
six years, from the tune when Dutton & Son.
of Philadelphia, took the agency for the Hardman
piano, in 1876, and up to a year ago, when Louis
Dutton was elected assistant treasurer of Hard-
man, Peck & Co., the names of Dutton and
Hardman have been closely allied.
It was in 1821 when George Dutton, great-
grandfather of L,ouis Dutton and a son of Amasa
William Dalliba Dutton
Dutton, the latter a captain in the Continental
Army of Revolutionary days, founded in Utica, phia, the name of which had since been changed
N. Y., what was probably the first retail piano to William D. Dutton & Co., was sold out.
An interesting incident in this connection,
business in this country. When George Dut-
growing out of the success of Dutton & Son and
William D. Dutton & Co. with the Hardman,
was when Mr. Buckingham, who had bought out
the Dutton interests in Utica, secured the agency
Louis Dutton
of the piano industry at heart, formed in the late
nineties the National Piano Manufacturers' As-
sociation, which has since grown to be one of
the most stable and formidable industrial bodies
in this country. William Dalliba Dutton was, in
turn, chairman of the executive committee, vice-
president and president of the organization which
he did so much to foster and father.
Louis Dutton, present assistant secretary of
Hardman, Peck & Co., commenced his appren-
ticeship in the piano business twenty-five years
ago with the house of M. Steinert & Sons Co.,
of Boston, for whom he became branch manager
for Maine, with headquarters in Portland.
Although Louis Dutton remained with M.
Sleinert & Sons Co. for the next eight years it
may be said that in his twenty-five years in the
piano business he has never been parted from
the Hardman, because he handled the latter as
well as the Steiimay during his connection with
M. Steiuert & Sons Co. During the first five
years of his connection with Hardman, Peck
& Co. the present assistant secretary of the com-
pany served as retail manager.
OLD OHIO FIRM ELECTS OFFICERS
WESER BROS. EXPLOIT STYLE 20
Annual Meeting Marks the Seventy-second
Birthday of the H. D. Munson & Son Co.
Series of Blotters Being Sent Out by This Well-
known Manufacturer
Weser Bros., Inc., 424 West Forty-third street,
New York, are sending out a series of blotters,
one of which features the Weser Bros, player-
piano, Style 20, while under the caption "A Pres-
tige Builder" the text reads: "Every piano mer-
chant should exhibit Weser Player No. 20. It is
the last word in mechanical efficiency and artistic
case construction. Each one sold helps to sell
another. Wonderful profit possibilities."
Regarding this instrument, J. Rossner, secre-
tary of the company, stated this week to a repre-
sentative of The Review: "This is an instrument
every feature of which conforms to present-day
NEW FIRM LOCATES IN SEATTLE artistic preference in case construction and also
William H. Dutton
embodies many mechanical features of our own
SEATTLE, WASH., March 6.—The Simmons Mfg. creation."
ton's son reached an age at which he was able
r
to take an active part in the business the name Co., a concern w ith a capitalization of $50,000,
formed
for
the
purpose
of manufacturing the
of the concern became Dutton & Son. George
Kurtzmann and Starf pianos and player-pianos
Dutton retired from the business in 1850, and Simmons phonograph, has made its headquarters and the Sonora, Puritan and other makes of
after he died, in 1856, the business was carried ii: the Arcade Building, this city. According to phonographs are handled by a new music house
on by his son, William H. Dutton, until 1862, a recent announcement the company is planning which recently opened at Hodgenville, Ky. The
when he sold it to E. D. Buckingham. Mr. Buck- to make Seattle its manufacturing and distribut- store is under the management of Oreville
ingham was joined by Huson Moak, the business ing headquarters.
Wilson.
ZANESVILLE, O., March 6.—The annual meeting of
the H. D. Munson & Son Music Co. here re-
cently marked the seventy-second year of the
existence of the business, and the passing of its
fiftieth milestone in its present location. Charles
Munson was re-elected president.
The following officers were also re-elected:
vice-president and general manager, J. T. Miller;
secretary, Elizabeth A. Oldhum, and Joseph M.
Brelsford, treasurer. Those named above, with
the addition of Mrs. Helen Munson Frys, com-
pose the directorate.
IFOR TONE, BEAUTY
AND LASTING
A
ACCOMPLISHMENT
The WERNER INDUSTRIES CO. Cincinnati

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