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THE MUSIC TRADE
FEBRUARY 21, 1925
41
REVIEW
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Thirty-five Years of Progress in the
Manufacturing of the Piano Action
George F. Abendschein, of the Staib-Abendschein Co., Inc., Tells of the Policies Which Have Al-
ways Guided This Firm in the Production of Its Product
it
Tf
OR thirty-five years we have been mak-
ing piano actions—thirty-five years of
specializing on one thing, the making of what
we believe is the most important element in
the piano. Yet we devote just as much study
to improvement when improvement is possible
that the tuner or repairer in after years is not
called on to supply deficiencies in design or re-
pair the constant troubles that always arise
from the use of inferior materials.
"One great advantage of a lifetime of ex-
perience in making piano actions, such as we
in our new grand action for reproducing pianos
a mechanism that has won the commendation
of the manufacturers and factory men who have
installed it. The future will, undoubtedly,
evolve types of piano, either with talking ma-
chine, radio or motion picture elements, but in
any event, it will call for a piano action and we
intend to maintain our one standard of building
a piano action of the best quality.
"We think that is the way to progress, for it
is the way to build up a permanent and in-
creasing business with the reputation and sat-
isfaction obtainable from putting out only a
product that gives lasting satisfaction, which
is no small job on such an intricate mechanism
as a piano action of any type/'
Lumber Used in the
Production of Veneers
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I I I
Staib-Abendschein Action for
as when we started business," said George F.
Abendschein, of the Staib-Abendschein Co., Inc.,
to a Review representative last week.
"From the square to the upright, to the play-
er, and to the modern grand, public taste has
changed, but the action maker's responsibilities
have increased. The reason is simple. The
public demands more and more from the piano
and its action is to the piano what the nervous
system is to the human being. Some have
called it the stomach of the piano, but, call it
what you will, if the action isn't perfect the
piano's performance is poor or worse.
"This is so evident, so undeniable, that it is
equally undeniable that the important thing
about a piano action is not its first cost, but
how it stands up. Making piano actions of the
first quality demands infinite care, constant ad-
herence to the highest standard of construction
and a rigid patience in putting it together so
The man who uses Behlen's Varnish
Crack Eradicator can afford to figure
lower, yet makes more profit on a re-
finishing job, than the man who does
not use it.
The reason-—he saves the time, trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var-
nish and shellac and the finished job is
just as satisfactory, too—if not more so.
Send for a sample can today and
try it.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
Reproducing Grand Pianos
have had, is that we long ago found out what
is good material and what is poor. You can
cheapen your action by using poor material
or by speeding up the workmen to a point where
they haven't time to do their work accurately,
but then the troubles of the maker, dealer or
the tuner begin. The action 'doesn't work,'
that's about all the average pianist knows about
it, but he or she knows that thoroughly, and
isn't happy nor able to use the piano with sat-
isfaction until the action is repaired.
"Often this is a troublesome and expensive
business if the action is not of good quality,
both in material and workmanship. Our con-
stant thought is not alone how perfect is our
action when it leaves the factory but how it
will stand up; in other words, how complete
satisfaction it will give to the pianist twenty
or twenty-five years later as well as how little
trouble it gives the factorvman in originally
installing it.
m
"This is also an important point because if
it is properly adjusted when it leaves the fac-
tory the piano itself is not delayed in process
of manufacture and the increase in output as
well as the decrease in the labor cost per year
is not an imaginary but a very substantial item,
as many manufacturers have found out by ex-
periment with both kinds of actions, those made
to last, such as the Staib-Abendschein, and those
made for a price.
"We have kept pace with all the changes in
piano construction; in fact, have anticipated
some. When the player-piano in upright form
won public appreciation, we introduced the Mas-
tertouch action, which saved space useful in
player-pianos, for the reducing the depth of the
case or gave proper room for the piping of
the player mechanism.
"Now the reproducing player mechanism has
made a great hit with the public and we have
THE
Piaivo Bervekes
and Musie Cabinets
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near «tb AT*., and 8th St.
ARJNOVELTYCO.
exclusive manufacturers
Stains
Fillers
GOSHEN
Writ* for catalog and. details
INDIANA
American Walnut Represented 3.7 Per Cent of
Total, Imported Mahogany 2 Per Cent and
Circassian Walnut .3 Per Cent
Records showing the quantity of wood used
in the manufacture of veneers in the United
States during 1923 have recently been made pub-
lic and contain some interesting data relative to
the trend of the veneer industry since the war.
Veneer consumption in 1923 was 682,172,000
feet, log scale, showing an increase of 70.4 per
cent over 1921. Because of the business depres-
sion in 1921 a comparison with the consumption
in 1919, 576,581,000 feet, brings out more clearly
the actual trend in this industry. The rate of
increase from 1919 to 1923 was 18.3 per cent.
The leading State in the industry in both 1921
and 1923 was Arkansas, with a consumption of
9.4 per cent of the total quantity in 1923 and
13.1 per cent in 1921. Washington showed the
greatest increase, advancing from fourteenth
place in 1921 to second in 1923.
Of the total for 1923, red gum continues to
be the most important wood, supplying 32.4 per
cent of the total consumption, with yellow pine
second with 9.5 per cent. Percentages of the
principal veneering woods used by the piano,
phonograph and radio (cabinet) industries are
considerably smaller in the national consump-
tion table.
For example, the consumption of American
walnut for veneers in 1923 is 3.7 per cent of the
total; white oak, 2 per cent; red oak, 1.8 per
cent; imported mahogany, 2 per cent; Circas-
sian walnut, .3 per cent, and other rare im-
ported woods less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
These woods would naturally take a higher
place in a table of relative values than many
woods of wider usage.
Tattersill Opens Branch
CAMDK.N, N. J , February 16.—A branch of the
Tattersill Music House has been opened here
at 2629 Westfield avenue. John Tattersill has
been appointed manager of the new store, which
will handle a complete line of pianos.
WHITE, SON CO.
Manufacturers of
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Arc, BOSTON, MASS.