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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
APRIL 7, 1923
13
The Bases of Piano Standardization
S. Wm. Osthagen, General Superintendent of the Kohler Industries, New York, Points Out the Way by
Which These May Be Established—Standardization Presents an Essentially Technical Problem
Which Must be Solved by Technical Men, the Best in the Industry
That the question of standardization in the
manufacture of pianos is receiving widespread
discussion in the piano industry at the present
lime is indicated by the comment which The
Review has received on the interview with Jus-
tus Hattemer, vice-president of the Premier
Grand Piano Corp., which recently appeared in
its columns. Those who are intimately con-
cerned with the manufacturing problems of the
industry have come to the conclusion that the
slight divergencies in dimensions which are
characteristic of each individual manufacturer's
product, and which in no way are essential to
the individual character of his instrument, are
but a drag on speed in production and an im-
portant factor in raising the manufacturing
overhead, a condition that is reflected in the
ultimate prices of the product. That the solu-
tion of this problem lies in concerted action on
the part of manufacturers working through the
various associations also is the general opinion,
and the coming convention in June is looked
forward to as an opportunity for action that
will mark progress towards the ultimate solu-
tion of this problem.
Calls for Concerted Action
Typical of this opinion is the following letter
from S. Wm. Osthagen, general superintendent
of the Kohler Industries, New York:
New York, March 28, 1923.
Editor Music Trade Review:
I must say Mr. Hattemer has struck the key-
note of standardization in the piano industry
and I believe that the piano manufacturers
throughout the country should take steps to
eliminate a lot of unnecessary construction
which can be saved providing they standardize
the various backs, plates, actions and keys. You
take, for instance, a piano manufacturer who
handles three Or four scales. He would not
have to handle this number, as he could take,
for instance, a scale of four feet six inches and
use it for a four feet seven inches or four feet
seven and one-half inches by adding a well-
designed panel to be put on the top of a piano.
This would, if anything, make a better finished
product than a piano with a cut top.
I also agree with Mr. Hattemer's suggestion
on standardization of the back. This can be
standardized all through the industry in regard
to width, height and thickness.
I believe it would be a very good idea to get
together a standardization committee, or, in
other words, a committee of piano engineers
such as now exists in the automobile trade,
where certain things could be standardized for
each factory and not in any way jeopardize the
true intent of the individual makes of pianos.
Take, for instance, the piano case. It should
be of individual design, but the piano actions,
k'evs and backs could be of standardized manu-
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facture. The design of the plate, of course,
could be optional with the manufacturer. I
firmly believe that a lot of money could be
saved by getting down to some basic form of
handling piano construction. I would suggest
that this vital question be taken up at the next
piano convention and there organize a piano
engineers' club and take steps to standardize
the subjects which Mr. Hattemer has outlined
in your issue of March 24.
Yours very truly,
S. WM. OSTHAGEN,
General Superintendent, Kohler Industries.
Purely a Technical Question
Standardization is purely a technical question
and its solution must come from technical men.
Nor will that be found by general discussion of
the problem nor by efforts to standardize cer-
tain isolated parts of the instrument. At the
present time the New York Piano Manufactur-
ers' Association has a committee on standardiza-
tion and the Superintendents' Club in New York
a similar body. It is stated that plans are under
way for joint meetings of these two bodies and
it is to be hoped that from those meetings will
come a plan which can be placed before the con-
vention for discussion and eventual endorse-
ment.
It would appear that the primary aim in the
entire question of standardization is to present
something tangible to the manufacturers and
their superintendents in order to centralize dis-
cussion. Lack of such a plan would appear to
have been the weakness in the past in all at-
tempts to develop such work. Men directly in
charge of manufacturing must be enlisted and
they must have the support of the executive
branch of the manufacturing organizations.
Standardization is one of those things of
which every one realizes the advantages. What
stands in its way at the present time is largely
the fact that many manufacturers cling stub-
bornly to an extra quarter, half or three-quarters
of an inch in their product, a difference having
no effect on the character of instrument itself.
This adherence to tradition is largely due to
the fact that the industry has never possessed
a forum for the discussion of technical prob-
lems, and each manufacturer has worked out
those confronting him isolated from what the
rest of the industry is doing. Hence these slight
differences have been magnified far beyond their
true importance and the industry has paid the
price of that false position in money, time and
labor. It should be the work of the associa-
tions to provide such a forum so that a true
adjustment of attitude towards these conditions
might be brought about.
No Effect on Individuality
In all discussion of standardization one point
must always be stressed. Those who are in-
terested in it have no desire to diminish the
individuality of each manufacturers' instrument
nor in any way to create a standardized product
in tonal character or case styles. Some manu-
facturers raise that objection at once when they
are approached on this question. Style in cases,
from the standpoint of the case-maker, is a
minor matter compared to slight differences in
over-all dimensions. Let the design of each
case be as individual as the manufacturer may
desire and still the over-all dimensions of the
cases could be standardized and the advantages
of speed in delivery and economy in manufac-
turing overhead could be achieved. So far as
the tonal character of the instrument is con-
cerned, standardization does not touch it—the
scale remains individual and the musical quality
of the instrument the same.
There is no valid reason why all the parts of
a piano which do not affect these two character-
istics could not be standardized to the advan-
tage of every member of the trade, whether he
be manufacturer or dealer, for the direct benefit
will be participated in by both. As this problem is so
important and so far-reaching in its effect The
Review would be glad to hear from other manufac^
turers and superintendents as to their ideas upon
standardization, for it believes that an open
discussion of this topic at this time would go
far towards bringing it prominently before the
convention in June.
NEW JORDAN PIANO CO. MANAGER
Frank H. Kimmel Takes Over Management of
Arthur Jordan Piano Co., Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON, D. C, April 2.—Frank H. Kimmel,
a well-known figure in the trade in Washington,
has returned to this city, after an absence of
several years to take over the management of
the Arthur Jordan Piano Co., 1329 G street,
Northwest. Mr. Kimmel's varied experience in
the music trade ably fits him for his new posi-
tion. Originally connected with the Arthur Jor-
dan Piano Co. as sales and advertising manager,
he left this firm four years ago to join the sell-
ing force of the American Piano Co., where
his work carried him first into the New England
States and later to the Middle West. He re-
cently left the employ of that concern and re-
turned to Washington on March 19 to assume
the position of manager of the Arthur Jordan
Piano Co.
NEW STORE IN BEND, ORE.
BEND, ORE., March 29.—Orlow and Ocla White,
for several months identified with the music
business in this city, have announced that they
have closed a deal which includes a lease on one
of the store rooms in the Mutzig Building which
is to be erected here. They will fit the room
out as a music store. While waiting for the
new quarters they are temporarily located at
824 Wall street. The firm will be known as
the White Bros. Music Store. Orlow White has
been store manager for the E. M. Thompson
Music Co. for several months up to the time
when Corsen the Music Man purchased the busi-
ness, and has also been a traveling man for the
Bush & Lane Piano Co.
Success in piano selling depends directly upon
clean financing.
•THE LEADING LINE
WEAVERPIANOS
Grands, Uprights
and Player*
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line go after it at once
Weaver Piano Co.. Inc.
FACTORY
EatablUhmd 1870
YORK, PA.