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THE
JANUARY 17, 1925
MUSIC TRADE
37
REVIEW
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Move to Reduce Number of Thicknesses
Into Which Veneers Are Gut for Use
Piano Superintendent Points Out That One-tenth Inch Thickness Is Sufficient for Veneers
Purchased for Crossbanding Purposes—Other Standard Sizes for Use in Piano-making
F"\ 1SCUSSION is continuing in the veneer in-
*-^ dustry relative to co-operation with the
Division of Simplified Practice of the Depart-
ment of Commerce in its program to reduce the
number of thicknesses into which veneer is cut.
The general opinion of the trade seems to favor
the proposed simplification scheme, since it is
generally admitted that a limitation of the
variety of stock manufactured will effect a
lowered production cost, with a benefit to both
manufacturers and users of veneer.
"Discussing the matter recently with the
superintendent of a piano factory," writes S. Y.
Thorne, in Veneers, "he gave it as his opinion
that where veneer is bought purely for cross-
banding jnirposes, and laid prior to laying the
face veneer, there is no reason why 1/20 inch
could not be made standard. If cut smoothly,
this thickness affords plenty of wood for clean-
ing up for the face veneer. Of course there
arc times when crossbanding is used for build-
ing up the thickness of the panel, and to do
this a heavier stock is used. But unless the
panel is built up entirely of veneer there is
seldom any good reason why the core could
not be made to supply the additional thickness
instead of the crossbanding doing it, and quite
frequently this could be done economically.
"When crossbanding is laid in advance of the
face veneer, and made perfectly level before the
latter is laid," the superintendent said, "there
is no good reason for using a heavy veneer."
He does not favor an extremely thin veneer,
but he expressed the opinion that 1/28-inch is
thick enough for all practical purposes, except
in the case of sawn oak veneer, which, he said,
ought to be at least 1/20-inch thick.
"Where plywood is built up in one operation,
a slightly heavier face veneer is required than is
the case where the work is done in two opera-
tions, because of the additional scraping re-
quired to prepare it for the finish, but for this
1/20-inch ought to be thick enough, and it is
doubtful if a good surface can be made on a
thinner veneer without danger of cutting
through. If we can reduce the number of thick-
nesses used in making pianos and furniture to
1/20-inch and 1/24-inch in crossbanding, and
1/28-inch and 1/20-inch in face veneer, we have
taken a considerable step in the direction of
simplifying matters. Of late years buyers of
crossbanding have been more critical and veneer
cutters have been more careful, with the result
that some wonderfully smooth crossbanding is
being made, and making possible the use of
thinner face veneer. There are a few concerns
still using 1/16-inch veneer, and others have
their favorite thickness anywhere between that
and 1/30-inch, so that there is considerable edu-
cating to be done before the minimum number
of thicknesses practicable can be standardized.
No doubt the matter will correctly adjust itself
in time."
Prices at Wool Auctions
WASHINCTON, D. C, January 12.—The recent
London auctions of raw wool, which closed this
week, included a number of large transactions
of high-grade Australian stock, some of which
may find its way to the domestic piano hammer
trade. A cable received here this week states
that the closing prices at the auctions were the
STANDARD
(CAM BRIDGE)
!
Piano Actions
Write for a sample can of Behlen's
Varnish Crack Eradicator and try it.
Once you learn how much it means to
you in the saving of time on your refin-
ishing jobs by eliminating the necessity
of scraping off old varnish and shellac,
and how much more satisfactory are
the results, because of the better sur-
face it gives to work on, you, like
others, will continue to use it.
3hz Standard Action Company
Write to-day.
same as at the opening.
T h e r e were 75,500
bales of A u s t r a l i a n wool offered, with 9,300
w i t h d r a w n ; N e w Zealand offered 40,000 a n d
South Africa 5,900. A b o u t 12,600 bales of South
American wools were offered, the m a j o r i t y of
which were sold.
Heavy Piano Hardware
Demand During Past Year
General Results for 1924 Very Satisfactory
From the Supply Man's Point of View—
Hand-to-mouth Buying Practice Changing
1'iano hardware houses in the New York dis-
trict have completed their inventory taking this
week and have reported a heavy volume of busi-
ness for the past year. John Schadlcr, general
sales manager of the piano supply department
of Hammacher, Schlcinmer & Co., New York,
stated that the sales records of 1924 were very
gratifying in that they indicated a healthy con-
dition of trade in the piano manufacturing in-
dustry during the year.
Frank Hess, of the American Piano Supply
Co., New York, was equally optimistic over the
results of the year and stated that, although
buying of piano hardware materials was sea-
sonal in 1924, there were several periods of very
heavy buying. It seemed to be generally agreed
by the executives of both houses that the prac-
tice of hand-to-mouth buying of supplies was
tending to disappear, and may be overcome
completely in 1925. This will, of course, facil-
itate shipments, they say, by eliminating un-
necessary rush orders in the boom periods, and
will also reduce buying costs for the piano
manufacturer by making possible more quota-
tions on quantity lots.
Patents New Tool as
Hammer Spring Replacer
New Device Invented by W. J. Tiffany, of
Brockton, Mass., Designed to Simplify Work
of Installing Hammer Springs
BROCKTON, MASS., January 12. -W. J. Tiffany,
an experienced piano mechanic of this city, has
just patented a new tool to serve as a hammer
spring replacer. This instrument, it is said, will
supplant the old cumbersome methods of
putting hammer springs in upright pianos, as it
accomplishes in a few minutes what used to
require a half an hour. It will be manufac-
tured and distributed by the Tuners Supply Co.,
Boston, Mass., and will be for sale late in Jan-
uary.
WHITE, SON CO.
Manufacturers of
Cambridge, ^Massachusetts
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
THE
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
Piaivo
BeixeKes
and
Mvisie
Cabinets
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Are., and 8th St.
ART NOVELTY Co.
Cxclusive manufacturers of
Stains
Fillers
2
WrH& for catalog and details
GOSHEN
INDIANA
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Ave., BOSTON, MASS.
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N. J.