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10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PNEUMATICS
(Continued front page 9)
The method by mechanical motion, that is to
say, by observing the amplitude of a rebound,
could be arranged without complicated electrical
apparatus, but would have the disadvantage of
interfering, probably, with the touch of the ac-
tion. Apart from these mechanical features, how-
ever, there is no essential difference between the
two suggested principles. In each case the inten-
tion is to obtain a record by chronographic or
kinetic measurement, whereby to determine the
value of any given hammer-velocity, as that value
may later be expressed in some determinate me-
chanical way.
The Object of the Research
What, then, is the object of this procedure?
Plainly, to enable us to know how to design (1)
pneumatics best adapted to move the weights
they are called upon to move and (2) expres-
sion mechanism best adapted to apply the needed
and determined powers requisite to reproduce
hammer-velocities. If by a series of experiments
we find that the entire range of hammer-veloci-
ties can be confined between a certain pair of ex-
tremes, and if, further, by continually platting
curves of which the ordinates are lines which
denote the relative values of these velocities as
geometrically expressed we can discover a law
of averages it is obvious that a flood of light
will be thrown upon the whole problem of de-
signing the pneumatics and the expression mech-
anism. It is almost certain that one result of
such a search would be to show the necessity for
graduating the sizes of the pneumatics from bass
to treble. It is quite certain that the present pow-
er limits of the expression mechanisms generally
in use would have to be extended and the means
for applying the various graduations much modi-
fied.
Results of Research
It is, however, still more certain that one of
tlie very greatest of the advantages which would
flow from such a research would be found in a
determination of the number of power levels ac-
tually needed in practice and of the manner in
which, on the average, the transition from one to
The Keynote of Player Salesmanship Is
Demonstration
The player-piano that wins out against competition on the basis
of a demonstration of its mechanical and musical merits is the
player-piano that wins in sales.
Supreme among instruments that stand in this small but super-
lative class is the wonderful
M. Schulz Co. Player-Piano
Its Mechanical Features are
d e m o n s t r a b l y superior in
respect of mechanical
Its Musical Powers appeal to
every lover of every kind of
music, for it excels in
IT
Simplicity
Durability
Maintenance
Ease of Playing
Responsiveness
Power
MARCH 25, 1922
the other is actually made. It is quite certain
that by such determination the most exacting
of all the problems of reproducing piano design
could be put upon a scientific basis of certainty
from which it could not well be dislodged.
Exposing the Pianist
As a matter of fact, the reproducing piano, in
dealing faithfully and scientifically with the pian-
ist, is doing a very great deal of good to the art
of piano playing. It is gradually laying bare
the secrets of that art and exposing the preten-
sions to scientific method of men whose grasp
of fundamentals has, in fact, never been scientific
at all. Piano playing by hand can never become
an art based entirely and rigidly upon determined
rules. Nor can pneumatic playing, for that mat-
ter. But each can be reduced to a level where
investigation of its physical nature becomes pos-
sible for the first time. When this shall happen
the problem of the reproducing piano will at
once be immensely simplified.
Of course, it is too much to say that any amount
of investigation or of recording velocities of ham-
mer-motion can ever be made to work auto-
matically. The work of the editor will always
be essential. But the point is that at present we
are working in the dark. We ought not to be
compelled to work in this way. It should be pos-
sible and, in iact, is possible, to measure ham-
mer-velocities, which is simply another way of
saying that it is possible to measure the strength
of the blow of a hammer delivered against a string.
If it can be done in one instance by any valid
method whereby it can be evaluated in graphic
form, then it can be done in a multitude of in-
stances. And that means that the strength of
every hammer-blow delivered during the entire
performance of piano playing can be measured.
The mechanism must be worked out, but surely it
can be worked out. And by one of the two meth-
ods mentioned worked out it surely will be.
DU0=ART PIANO TO BE FEATURED
Will Occupy a Prominent Place in the Program
to Be Given at Albemarle Theatre, Brooklyn,
for the Benefit of the Flatbush Boys' Club
At a concert to be given at the Albemarle The-
atre, Brooklyn, N. Y., on March 28, for the benefit
of the Flatbush Boys' Club and Community Cen-
ter, the Duo-Art piano will have a prominent
place in the program. The entertainment will
open with the playing of Paderewski's interpreta-
tion of the "Military Polonaise" by the Duo-Art
and that instrument will also provide the accom-
paniment for the two festival dancers, the music
being Bauer's playing of the "Minuet" and Grain-
ger's playing of his "Country Gardens." A Duo-
Art piano will also play in the lobby of the thea-
tre before the performance and during intermis-
sions. The general program will be a lengthy
one, and in addition to motion picture features
will include numbers by the LaForge Quartet
and the University Glee Club. The theatre has
already been practically sold out for the affair
and Flatbush society will be well represented.
AMPICO CONCERTS^ROUSE INTEREST
A Dealer who takes up seriously the selling
of the S C H U L Z system in player-pianos
finds himself immune to competitive attack.
Full details on all pertinent points, for the asking, from
M. SCHULZ
Founded 1869
General Offices
Schulz Building
711 Milwaukee Ave.
CHICAGO
CO.
Southern Wholesale Branch
1530 Candler Bldg.
ATLANTA, GA.
NKWARK, N. J., March 20.—The Armstrong
Piano Co., Broad street, this city, has attracted
considerable attention to the Knabc reproducing
pianos which it handles through the series of
noon-day concerts held in the First Presbyterian
Church. A Knabe with the Ampico is used at
these concerts, which are held each Friday.
TONK REPRODUCING FOR P. A. TONK
Among the recent shipments made by William
Tonk & Bro., Thirty-sixth street and Tenth aver
nue, New York, was one of a Tonk reproducing
grand to Percy A. Tonk, president of the Tonk
Mfg. Co., Chicago, which will be used in Mr.
Tonk's palatial home in Evanston, Til.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.