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The Music Trade Review
36
For Unisons
1 to 20
21 to 52
53 to 72
7.) to 8H
FEBRUARY 19, 1927
The Technical and Supply Department—(Continued from page 35)
becomes imperative if design is ever to be really
Hardness Resiliency
American Plate Bowling
scientific.
60
100
And perhaps there is no department of piano-
100
100
Team in National Event
forte construction where the need for just such
120
50
100
100
These figures are based upon my own experi-
ments, and, of course, are to be taken only as
tentative. Nevertheless they do suggest a basis
from which specifications might be built up and
on which hammer-maker and tone regulator
could agree.
Obviously, of course, any such ratios derive
their value from previously obtained values for
hardness and resiliency. These, however, will
vary considerably according to the tone quality
at which the piano maker is aiming. Generally
speaking, increase of resiliency is equivalent to
less brilliant tone quality, owing to the less
rapid rebound of the hammer, and, contrariwise,
increase of hardness will be equivalent to more
brilliant tone quality, owing to the more rapid
rebound of the hammer. So that, even if the
:-bove ratios are maintained, the hammer may be
constructed according to the exact tonal aim of
the piano maker within a wide range of quanti-
tative measurements, corresponding to a wide
range of tonal values.
Plainly then the first requirement is to apply
to the hammer employed with any scale care-
ful measurements of their hardness and resil-
iency percentages. h'roiu the figures so ob-
tained it will then be possible to discover where
the ratios agree or disagree with the table given
above. For it will be found, 1 think, that what-
ever the figures on which the ratios apply, they
themselves represent something very closely ap-
proaching to the optimum condition.
Individual Application of Ascertainable Values
For the particular tonal values which I be-
lieve to be most characteristic of the pianoforte
at its best, it is probable that the practice of the
best hammer-making comes to-day very close
to perfection. What, however, is needed is that
each piano maker, considering his own scales
and the tonal values Ire attempts to get out of
them, should make his own tests for percentages
of hardness and resiliency, and should then at-
tempt to specify his future requirements always
upon this quantitative basis. More than one
form of testing mechanism can be adapted to
the purpose. The Widney machine, which came
into use during the war, that is, some ten years
ago, has apparently not been heard of since
that time, but there are several other mecha-
nisms quite well adapted to register both resist-
ance to penetration and ability to recover after
compression.
Hammer-making will never become what it
might be until the piano maker himself is able
to visualize the relation of his hammers to tone
production in quantitative terms.
For many
years the development of the pianoforte and of
its tonal values has been resting mainly upon
a qualitative foundation. From the aesthetic
point of view, such valuation is, of course, in-
evitable, and the only one possible, but if it is
to be realized in mechanism it must be trans-
lated into quantitative terms. Such translation
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Piaae Tauu. Rpt aaJ R«J On«i
tui PUr«r riaaa. Trar Bk«k Fr»«.
27-29 Gainaboro Str**t
BOSTON, MASS.
Tuners and Repairers
Our new illustrated catalogue of Piano and
Player Hardware Feltt and Tools is n*w
ready.
If you haren't receired your copy
please let us know.
OTTO R. TREFZ, JR.
2110 Fairmount AT*.
Pkila., Pa.
revaluation as I have discussed here is so great
as this one which is concerned with the part
played by the hammer in tone production.
Correspondence
s solicited and should be addressed to William
liraid White, 5149 Agatite avenue, Chicago.
Plate Foundry Team Noted for Skill With Pins
—Challenges Any Team in Music Industries
RACINE, \\ IS., February 12.—The plant of the
American Piano Plate Co., at Twenty-third and
Racine streets, here, has a record for producing
something besides good piano plates. Besides
making plates for a large number of piano
"Keep Your Piano in Tune"
Proves a Popular Subject
More than 100,000 reprints of an article by
S. C. Burton, entitled "Keep Your Piano in
Tune," have been distributed among tuners and
piano dealers recently by the Standard Pneu-
matic Action Co., New York. The first printing
was completed last Fall and in view of the large
demand for the articTe another run of several
thousand copies is contemplated. The item ap-
peared in an issue of The Etude some time ago.
Lumber Production Lower
WASHINGTON, D. C, February 12.—A slight de-
crease in the production of logs, veneers and
other timber products is shown in the biennial
census of manufactures just compiled by the
Bureau of the Census, Department of Conr-
merce, to cover records for 1925. According
to the data collected, the establishments en-
gaged primarily in the production of logs and
other timber products reported for 1925 a total
output valued at $1,421,161,836. This represents
a decrease of 4.9 per cent as compared with
$1,494,462,031 for 1923.
Consult the Universal Want
The Review.
Directory of
American Piano Plate Bowling Team
manufacturers here and in Canada, it also has
a bowling team of which it is proud.
In fact, the American Piano Plate team, or
the "Plates," as it is called in Racine, has a
more than local reputation and is so good that
it will represent this town at the National Bowl-
ing Tournament to be held in Peoria, 111., on
April 1, where it is expected to hang up some
new records.
All five "men are exceptionally good with the
(Continued mi piuir S7)
Tuners Carrying Case
LIGHT—COMPACT—SERVICEABLE
Weighs Only 6 Pounds
Outside measurements 1 5 ^ 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
W/s x 6" x 4". The two left hand
trays measure W/%" x Z 1 /^" x iy & "
and the two right hand trays 13^4"
x334"xl3/£". 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.
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Go.
Piano and Player Hardware, Felts and Tools
New York Since 1848
4th Ave. at 13th St.