Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
35
The Music Trade Review
JUNE 25, 1927
The Technical and Supply Department (Continued from page 34)
Spruce is therefore a suitable wood for
sound board purposes, but its advantages in one
way are offset by disadvantages in other ways.
For instance, the ribs which are placed on the
remote side of the sound board are needed more
as distributors of vibratory impulse across the
grain of the wood than as girders to sustain
again the crushing power of the strings. Yet
we know that by placing two sheets of wood
against each other, with the grain running- at
right angles the one to the other, the ribs
can be altogether eliminated, showing that this
use of two sheets takes the place both of the
resisting and of the transmitting powers of the
ribs. Such a construction is not better, bnt
apparently it is quite as good.
Research
This knowledge we have of the structure of
the wood will enable us to find out something
fundamental about sound board construction
only when we can apply to it a method of
research showing the actual vibration forms as
the board works them out. This can now be
done. With the assistance of the American
Steel & Wire Co. I am now going to be able
to make the necessary researches and obtain
actual records which will show (1) the vibration
forms of the strings alone and (2) the vibra-
tion forms of strings and sound board com-
bined. These two sets of records can then
be separated the one from the other and the
acoustic differences graphically represented.
When this has been done we shall know what
are the components of the motions of the
sound board, how these are related to the
components of the motion of the string alone,
and how they differ in amplitude as well as in
form.
The apparatus and the methods whereby these
facts are to be brought out are by no means
mysterious, although they are sufficiently com-
plex. In due course it will be possible to
describe them somewhat in detail. It is even
possible that at the tuners' convention in New
York next August some glimpse of the methods
of research now being inaugurated can be given.
At any rate the research is to be carried for-
ward, and although the results expected need
not be looked for immediately, they will in
due time be available for the benefit of all con-
cerned.
Ultimately we must solve the problem, for
upon its solution rests the answer to nearly
every other puzzling acoustic question in piano
construction. It really begins to look now as
if a solution were in sight. But remember,
when I say "in sight" I am thinking rather of
the first sight of the mastheads of a great ship
low down on the horizon, with many miles of
seaway between them and the eye of the ob-
server on the cliff. The journey home will
be long, but the point is that it will be made
and made aright. The day of research is about
to dawn.
Mason & H ami in
It would, however, be wholly ungrateful to
close these remarks upon the scientific method
without paying a tribute to the work now being
done by Paul Taylor, vice-president of the
company, and Stephen Woodbury, research
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Piano Tuning, Pipe and Reed
Organ and Player Piano
YEAR BOOK FREE
director, at the Mason & Hamlin shops in
Boston. To visit the Mason & Hamlin labora-
tory is to realize what the possibilities of
research in our industry really are. Truly,
they also have only just begun, as it were,
and are as yet hardly more than feeling their
way to a defined program; but with the equip-
ment they now have and the great abilities
of the two men 1 have mentioned devoted to
realizing its possibilities from that equipment,
there is no doubt that wonderful things will
be coming out from behind the doors of those
rooms at Harrison avenue.
The Goble Key Mounting
Walter Goble, of Grand Rapids, Mich., has
invented a new form of key mounting for
grand and upright pianos which is extremely
interesting and which was seen by many tech-
nical men at the recent trade conventions.
The ordinary key mounting, as is well known,
consists of a pin passed through and projecting
upwards from the balance rail of the key frame.
This pin works in a hole drilled through the
body of the key, which is expanded gradually
into a mortise, so that the back-and-forth mo-
tion of the key may be easily made. The
mortise fits the pin just closely enough to pre-
vent excessive side-sway.
There are many difficulties and disadvantages
in this system of construction, and Mr. Goble's
invention is intended to do away with them.
He begins by taking away the balance rail pin
and substituting for it a small screw screwed
into the bottom of the key where the balance
rail pinhole commonly goes. This pin, of
course, is adjustable, i. e., it can be screwed
in and out of the key. The head of this screw
is left unthreaded and rounded off smooth. A
washer is fastened on it and a punching below
that. Then it is dropped into a suitable hole
in the balance rail, placed where the hole for
the ordinary balance rail pin would normally
be placed.
The key is now mounted to move backwards
and forwards. In order, however, to prevent
it from swaying from side to side, a pin is
driven into the key frame near to the side of
each key behind the balance screw. This pin
is carried above the top of the key, then bent
across the key and then again bent downwards,
so that now the key is held between the two
sides of it. Felt glued on the sides of the key
prevents noises from arising where the prop-
pin, as Mr. Goble calls it, works against the
wood.
It is evident that with this construction the
keys may be leveled at the balance rail without
the use of punching, merely by raising or lower-
ing the screw.
The construction looks simple and good. It
should save money in construction and be easier
to regulate. Mr. Goble says that some manu-
facturers are going to try out his system on
their pianos. I hope they will do so and that
the pianos so fitted will be carefully watched
and their behavior reported.
Correspondence
Is solicited and should be addressed to William
Braid White, 5149 Agatite avenue, Chicago.
G. Loucks' Wife Dies
DOLGEVIXLE, N. Y., June 18.—Mrs. Gertrude
Leavitt Loucks, wife of George Loucks, manu-
facturer of piano backs and legs, died recently
at the family home here after an illness of two
years. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks had planned to
celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary
on June 26. She is survived by her husband
and parents, who are also residents of Dolge-
ville.
W. G. Schaff Returns
William G. Schaff, of the Mapes Piano String
Co., has returned to his office after spending
a two months' pleasure trip in Europe.
Tuners Carrying Case
LIGHT—COMPACT—SERVICEABLE
Weighs Only 6 Pounds
Outside measurements 15^4 inches long, 7
inches wide, 8 inches high.
No. 150—Covered with seal grain imitation
leather. Each $13.00
No. 200—Covered with genuine black cow-
hide leather. Each $20.00 F.O.B. New York.
When closed the aluminum
trays nest together over the large
compartment, which measures
137/g" x 6" x 4". The two left hand
trays measure 137/a" x 2J4" x 1 ^ "
and the two right hand trays 137/6"
xZy^'xlYs".
The partitions in
right hand trays are adjustable or
may be removed. Case is fitted
with a very secure lock and solid
brass, highly nickel-plated hard-
ware.
We have a separate Department to take care of special requirements
of tuners and repairers. Mail orders for action parts, repair materials,
also tuning and regulating tools are given special attention.
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
Tuners and Repairers
Our new illustrated catalogue erf Piano and
Player Hardware Felts and Tools is now
ready. If you haven't received your copy
please let us know.
OTTO R. TREFZ, JR.
2110 Fairmount Ave.
Phila., Pa.
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co.
Piano and Player Hardware, Felts and Tools
New York Since 1848
4th Ave. at 13th St.