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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
APRIL 29,
1922
JACK NORWORTH'S
B i g g e s t S o n g Hit!
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PALESTR1NA PLAYER ACTION
Some of the New and Exclusive Features Contained in the New Player Action Now Being Put
on the Market by the J. P. Eustis Mfg. Co. Are Herewith Explained in Detail
The development of the player-piano from its
first crude form to the present-day instrument
represents a period of distinct mechanical achieve-
ment, musical possibilities and marked personal
enthusiasm of both the artist and the artisan and
consequently the announcement of still further im-
provement is of intense interest to the industry.
In presenting the Palestrina player action to
the trade the J. P. Eustis Mfg. Co., of Cam-
bridge, Mass., claims a definite forward step in
player action development and backs its claims
with the reputation of its house for genuine ac-
complishments in its field of endeavor during a
business career of approximately a quarter-cen-
tury, each year of which has witnessed a steady
increase in the volume of business transacted. It
is this reputation for a strict adherence to quality
ideals that the J. P. Eustis Mfg. Co. had in mind
in the development of the Palestrina action to a
point where it can be offered with confidence to
the industry.
The Palestrina action, like the Liberty motor
and other mechanical achievements, is not the
product of the mind of one man, but rather the
result of the combined and co-ordinated experi-
ence and efforts of men of wide knowledge in
their respective lines. One of the four has had
thirty-five years' experience in the principles of
pneumatics; another forty years in the fabrica-
tion of metal; the man responsible for the mak-
ing of dies has devoted forty years of his life to
this particular work. A technically trained man
of natural philosophy and physics completes the
creators of the Palestrina action.
To technically describe the action in detail
would involve a maze of words, all of which
could not adequately convey the distinct purpose
of its creation—the perfect reproduction of music.
In order, however, that those interested may have
the opportunity of seeing, hearing and believing,
the J. P. Eustis Mfg. Co. is arranging a series of
demonstrations of the instrument. An interesting
booklet describing the entire mechanical details
has also been prepared by the company. In
demonstrating this action its tempo control and
dynamic force have elicited much praise. The im-
mediate "come back" of the action to a slight
touch on the pedals is a surprise to those first
using it, and particularly pleasing to the one play-
ing it is the facility with which he is able to
interpret his thought in the playing of the roll.
Many exclusive features are to be found. The
theme control is remarkably efficient, allowing
the aria or melody of the composition to be
properly accented irrespective of whether the roll
is specially cut for accent or not.
Mr. Tuner:
No doubt you are frequently called upon to regulate and tune player-
pianos of ancient construction and with very unsatisfactory results.
We believe you could, in many cases, interest the owner in a new player
action to be installed by you in his piano and at a very moderate expense.
We can make an action that will fit any scale of piano, if you supply
the measurements on a printed form we could send you, and it would come
to you in such shape that it would be easy for you to install it in the piano,
probably in two or three hours at most.
The price for the actions and the profit you could make on the work
would be very attractive to you.
If you are interested, we should be glad to give you further information,
with prices and terms.
SIMPLEX PLAYER ACTION CO.
Worcester, Mass.
The transposing device, operated by a lever,
allows a variance of five keys. It is built upon
the principles of a bar within a bar, the speak-
ing tubes and tempo scale remaining stationary
and the rest of the tracker box sliding. Thus
transposing is accomplished without throwing out
other controlling devices. This is one of the ex-
clusive features of the Palestrina. Another is the
automatic tracking device, which is independent
of the valve control and is almost human in its
action, correcting immediately the slightest vari-
ance of the roll.
An even pull of the roll (differing from the old
condition of light tension at the beginning to the
heavy tension at the end) has been made possible
and absolutely sure through the use of a com-
pensating brake acting directly upon the roll.
While wood is only used in the bellows and
pneumatics the Palestrina is not marketed on the
basis of its being a metal action. First and fore-
most it is a playing device and in the accom-
plishment of this purpose the best materials for
each specific purpose are used. After thoroughly
and exhaustively studying the subject the creators
of this action have decided that, with the excep-
tion of the two places before mentioned, metal
is the most desirable. In its construction, there-
fore, seven distinct metals are used and it is
pointed out there is not an inch of lead, rubber or
fabric tubing in its construction. It is further
claimed that it is impossible for any of its parts
to swell, shrink, absorb moisture or leak and in
its construction is found the master workmanship
of the metal artisan. The joining of every metal
part has been given the utmost thought and con-
sideration and is either silver soldered, welded,
brazed or sweated together.
The valves, easily accessible, are complete in
themselves and the construction is so standard-
ized throughout that every part is interchange-
able. The action is produced in three units and
installed with the utmost simplicity. It is also so
designed that it does not blanket or obstruct the
tone of the piano and allows the tuning of the
piano itself and repairing of piano strings to be
accomplished without the removal of the action.
In a visit to the immense plant of the J. P.
Eustis Mfg. Co., of Cambridge, Mass., it is pos-
sible to better appreciate the perfection of its
production and the exacting care with which
each part, both major and minor, of the Palestrina
is made. Under this one capacious roof the action
is constructed in its entirety. Not only is the
plant efficiently laid out from the basement to the
roof-, but each department is equipped with the
most modern machinery for the purpose. While
expert workmen are employed in all processes
the machines are so simple and efficient and the
tools and dies are so exact that the production
of the instrument does not rely on the often un-
certain human equation.
The Palestrina has been many years in devel-
opment before its initial offering and, in view of
the business stability and standing of the house
back of the product, the prospects for that action
becoming a permanent factor in the trade are most
assuring.