Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 3, 1923
THE MUSIC TRADE
9
REVIEW
THE NEW REGULATIONS FOR LOADING UNBOXED PIANOS
Chicago Piano Manufacturers' Traffic Director Outlines New Specifications in Detail—Carload
Rating on Pianos Shipped Unboxed Contingent on the Observance of These Specifications
contact with cross braces blocks must be at-
tached to cross braces each side of cleats on
pianos, the whole forming a framework extend-
ing full length and width of car and securely
braced in doorway to prevent any side motion.
All blocks, cleats and bracing to be of hard-
wood lumber, except that soft wood of dimen-
sions not less than 2x4 inches may be used for
cleats and bracing, if fastened with screws 3^4.
inches or more in length, or with nails not less
than 2()d, and blocks or shoes may be of soft
wood of sufficient thickness to prevent casters
touching floor of car.
A sufficient space must be left between pianos
to prevent rubbing or chafing.
The adoption of new specifications by the less than 2 l / 2 inches long or with nails not less
railroads of the country in the matter of loading than 20d.
pianos into cars unboxed marks an improvement
Each cross row of pianos to be secured by
in shipping methods and is a thing with which two cross braces not less than one inch thick
not only manufacturers but retailers should fa- and six inches wide, or two inches thick and
miliarize themselves. A thorough study of the four inches wide, extending across car from side
entire situation has been made by E. A. Leveille, to side and securely fastened to top and bottom
traffic director, for the Chicago Piano Manufac- cleats on pianos, succeeding rows to be loaded
turers' Association, and an effort has been made in same manner, except that where cleats on
to secure specifications which will not only meet
center row of pianos lengthwise of car come in
every criticism of the Inspection Bureau, but
put forward something of a constructive and
helpful nature that will remove all cause for
criticism and inharmonious relations between E. A. Kieselhorst Considering Using Bonus System in Organization—Alex. McDonald Visits
the railway carriers and their patrons.
Trade—J. J. McDonough Joins Local Wurlitzer Forces—G. P. Benjamin Leaves Kieselhorst
The carload rating on pianos shipped unboxed
is contingent upon their being loaded in accord-
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 26.—February has done ments as in their own, thus bringing about a
ance with these specifications. In the past year its worst and is about to go hence. Its going co-ordination of effort in the organization.
or two many shippers have been penalized be- will not be mourned, for it has not been a very
Fred Lehman, who sold the Lehman Music
cause of failure to understand and observe the good month for the piano business. All the bad
House, East St. Louis, to the Wurlitzers last
classification rules in preparing shipments for weather of the Winter was concentrated within week, is trying to get used to doing nothing,
transportation.
its short dimensions. If it was not one kind of
after working hard for twenty-two years. As
These specifications become effective March bad weather it was another, and one kind served soon as Mrs. Lehman recovers from an illness
22.
as well as another to hold business back. But which has confined her to her home at Signal
"A comparison with the existing specifica- people can get used to anything and they have Hill for the past few days they will go to Hot
tions," says Mr. Leveille, "will disclose many become measurably accustomed to disagreeable Springs for a couple of weeks. When school is
respects in which the new specifications are conditions and there was an improvement last
out the family will go to California for an in-
improvements upon and clarification of the ex- week. Not a very big improvement, but enough definite slay. Mr. Lehman has no present inten-
isting rules.
to encourage merchants who did not expect too tion of re-engaging in business, but is not mak-
"The present rules require the use of hard- much. And the month ends with better weather ing any promises. It all depends upon how
wood exclusively, and this provision has" led to apparently in prospect. The piano man, in well he likes doing nothing.
many complications. The new rules will admit whom hope springs eternal, is looking forward
G. P. Benjamin has resigned from the Kiesel-
of the use of the so-called soft woods, including to a fine and happy March. There is some im- horst Piano Co. and has gone back to New
hemlock, tamarack, yellow pine and others, pro- provement in the demand for grands and me-
York.
viding these are not less than 2x4 inches, which dium-priced players.
Earl H. Holland, Western sales manager for
is a standard dimension, and easily obtainable.
E. A. Kieselhorst, president of the Kieselhorst
the Q R S Music Co., Chicago, was here during
"Where the present rules require the use of Piano Co., who is always trying something new, the past week.
screws exclusively the new rules will admit us- is formulating a plan for putting his whole or-
W. P. Chrisler, of the Aeolian Co., was in
ing either screws or 20d nails, alternatively. The ganization on a community bonus plan. His Chicago on business the latter part of the week.
present specifications require use of shoes, idea is that team work w r ould be improved if
Alex. McDonald, of Sohmer & Co., New
screwed to floor of car, and shaped to fit bot- every employe were to share in a monthly bonus York, passed through here last week on his
tom of piano—the new rules provide for the distribution in place of the usual commission to way to the Western coast.
alternative use of blocks or shoes, and they may the sales people. He is working out the details
M. I. Mayer, who left here a few months ago
be fastened to the floor of the car with either with the expectation of giving the plan a try. A
to take the management of the wholesale de-
screws or nails.
fund of, say, 2 per cent of the month's sales partment of the Haddorff Piano Co., Rockford,
"The cleats on the back of the piano must ex- would be set aside and each employe would re-
111., has resigned that position and will again
tend beyond each end of piano three or more ceive a share based on the ratio of his salary to enter the retail piano field in St. Louis.
inches, instead of four.
the total. Mr. Kieselhorst thinks that this plan
J. J. McDonough has transferred his alle-
"These new specifications were formulated would cause all members of the sales organiza- giance from the Shattinger Music Co. to the
and proposed after a most painstaking investi- tion to work as hard for sales in other depart- Wurlitzer Co.
gation, and meet every criticism that had been
suggested by our members and the railroad in-
spection service, and, in my opinion, they are a
long step forward and should promote harmoni-
ous relations between our shippers and the rail-
roads."
Here is Supplement No. 6 to Consolidated
Freight Classification No. 3 I. C. C. 16:
Musical Instruments
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Upright pianos, not in boxes or crates, may
be accepted for shipment in carload quantities,
"The valve unit that made the player famous"
provided the following requirements are com-
plied with:
Each piano must be completely covered (ex-
cept bottom) with a paper hood and tarpaulin
or rubber cover.
Pianos to be loaded end to end in three rows
lengthwise of car, as follows:
Each piano must be placed on two wooden
blocks or shoes, securely nailed or screwed in
two places to floor of car, one at each end of
piano, and of sufficient thickness to prevent cas-
ters touching floor of car.
The new "Amphion Accessible Action" is the last word \n scientific player
To the back of each piano must be attached
achievement. It has the complete valve action assembled in a "Demountable
two cleats, not less than one inch thick and six 000
Unit'' giving instant accessibility.
inches wide, extending not less than three inches
beyond each end of piano, one each at top and
bottom, each fastened with screws not less than
2 l / 2 inches long, or with nails that are not less
than 20d.
In loading in end of car blocks must be nailed
SYRACUSE f
—Your Guarantee ) NEW YORK
or screwed against end of car, leaving space for
^i.
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cleats on back of pianos to be inserted, cleats
on pianos loaded against side of cars to be
screwed at each end to car side with screws not i
ST. LOUIS DEALERS NOTE END OF MONTH IMPROVEMENT
The highest class player
actions in the world
AMPHIONff\CTIONS