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The Music Trade Review
NOVEMBER 19, 1927
35
The Technical and Supply Department — (Continued from page 33)
even with the light-touch pianos of his day. reduced, however, after the accumulation of
Pratt Read Issues
The "portamento" effect on the violin, which cases had been cleared up, but it developed that
is obtained by sliding the fingers down or up the regular personnel was not adequate, and
Book on "Art-Supreme"
the string, has always been something which there has recently been much complaint that too
the pianist would like to be able to get but
which has been beyond his power. With the
Starr glissando keyboard, a close approach to a
portamento becomes possible on the piano. In
llie passage from the Waldstein sonata referred
to it is easy to understand how much the in-
tention of the composer may be intensified and
brought out by the application of this novel
and simple arrangement.
Artistic music aside, moreover, 1 should think
that the clever pianists who play in dance
orchestras would welcome this modified key-
board, which gives them the ability to produce
effects always wanted but hitherto unattain-
able. Anyone who plays the piano can see at
once how the chromatic glissando may be used
for all sorts of trick effects. I do not say that
this is exactly the sort of thing I myself
should like; but that the pianists in dance
orchestras will like it I have no doubt at all.
As I said before, the construction is per-
fectly simple. Each roller is pivoted on a
bushed metal pin, which in turn is fastened to
tlie key by means of a metal flange. The white
keys have white rollers and the black keys
black ones, of course.
Mr. Gennett says that when application was
made for a patent on the glissando keyboard
the examiners did not find any anticipation
on any point. This is really rather remarkable,
showing once more that extraordinary con-
servatism of which mention was made above.
There can hardly be any doubt that the present
form of keyboard is immovable, nor does there
seem to be the slightest chance of musicians
ever taking up a radically different system,
unless this be something like the Moor double
clavier, which involves no change of technic.
The Starr keyboard, on the contrary, involves
no alteration at all, even in the appearance of
the piano, while it does add a playing feature
which has long been missing. I think, there-
fore, that it ought to become a permanent
feature of the modern keyboard, and it will
be very interesting to observe the attitude the
pianists assume towards it.
Correspondence
is solicited and should be addressed to William
Braid White, 5149 Agatite avenue, Chicago.
increased Funds Asked
for Patent Office Work
WASHINGTON, D. C, November
14/—increased
funds for the Patent Office will be included in
the budget to be submitted to Congress next
month, in an effort again to bring up to date the
work of that branch of the Commerce Depart-
ment, which is seriously falling behind.
Expansion of the personnel of the Patent
Office was provided for several years ago, when
it was badly behind in its work. The force was
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Piano Tuning, Pipe and Reed
Organ and Player Piano
TEAR BOOr FRSE
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
Tuners
and Repairers
Our new illustrated catalogue of Piane and
Piarer Hardware Felts and Tools is now
reaar- H you haren't received your copy
please let us know.
OTTO R. TREFZ, JR.
1305-7-9 No. 27th St.
PhUa., P*.
long a time elapses in the handling of cases.
Declares Lumber Men
Misquoted Statements
New Publication Fully Describes Electric Re-
producing Action Made by That Company
for Grands
The "Arl-Suprcuic Reproducer" is the title
of an attractive booklet just issued by the Pratl
Read Player Action Co., Deep River, Conn.,
Chief of Forest Service, Department of Com-
merce, Alleges Lumber Manufacturers Erred describing its electric reproducing action for
grand pianos. The book is nicely illustrated
in Statement
and explains in detail the various outstanding
features of the action as to performance, con-
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 12.—The Na-
tional Lumber Manufacturers' Association has struction and ease of installation. A list of
been scored recently by Col. W. B. Greeley, the eminent pianists, whose recordings art-
available for these players, is also given in the
Chief of the Forest Service of the Department
pamphlet. This book has been distributed gen-
of Commerce, with reference to the associa-
erally during the past few weeks to piano
tion's misquoting him on the matter of the
manufacturers and dealers and may be secured
necessity for timber conservation in certain
trade-extension literature released by the lum- by writing to the Pratt Read Player Action
Co., Deep River, Conn., requesting a copy.
ber body. The Chief Forester asserted that
the association used his name and that of the
Forest Service to support an optimistic por-
trayal as tn timber supply and regrowth, which
he could not accept as accurate.
Col. Greeley took exception chiefly to the
Sessions Opened November 12 and Will Con-
association's statement that one-fifth of the
tinue to November 26—School Completes
entire area of the United States will continue
Cleveland Course
to grow trees indefinitely. He answered this
point as follows: "Although one-fifth of the
ST. LOUIS, MO., November 12.—Piano tuners
United States is actual or potential forest land,
the investigations and reports of the Forest and repairmen in St. Louis and vicinity are
Service have repeatedly stressed that our timber preparing to welcome the Aeolian Service
School, which will conduct technical classes
supply is being used up much faster than it is
here from November 14 to 26, giving free in-
being replaced, that most of our lumber still
comes from the diminishing virgin forests, and struction to the trade relative to servicing the-
Duo-Art. It is expected that the registration
that the gravest evil in the present forest
situation is the large and increasing areas will be large, as the local repairmen are anxious
to learn as much as possible about the Duo-Art
which, after lumbering, have ceased to grow
timber and indefinitely will not grow timber The sessions are to be conducted by W. If.
unless aggressively reforested. The United Schrade, Jr.
States will certainly have to face a period
The Aeolian Service School is coining here
of diminished domestic supply of timber, from Cleveland, O., where a successful session
at least of grade and quality equal to that
closed recently. Previous to that the school
abundantly available in the past. How serious
was in Washington, D. C. After the local
this shortage or its consequences will prove, sessions have been completed the Aeolian
I do not pretend to forecast. They will depend >chool will go to Minneapolis.
upon many factors, and primarily upon the
speed at which we extend and intensify the
growing of new timber crops."
In its letter answering Col. Greeley, the asso-
ciation made the following statement: "We
cordially concur in the statement which you Convention of National Association Members
have made in behalf of the United States For-
From Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo and Vicinity
est Service and in your view that the right
Planned for That Date
rule is 'to use wood and replace the forests.'
For, as you say, 'the more wood is used the
TOLKDO, O., November 12.—Representatives of
greater will be the incentive to grow wood.' the Detroit and Toledo divisions of the National
Otherwise, indeed, there will be substantially
Piano Tuners' Association, Tnc, met recently in
no incentive.
Grinnell Bros.' auditorium to plan a regional
"The interest of the forest and wood-using convention to be held here some time in Feb-
industries in forestry practice is fast increasing. ruary. The district includes Cleveland, Detroit,
Progress in that direction, already marked, will
Toledo and vicinity. A. V. Minific, second vice-
be encouraged and expedited by continued con-
president of the national association, who at-
ference and co-operation- between the timber
tended the meeting, promulgated the idea of
industries and the agencies of the public."
district conventions independent of the national
Aeolian Service School
Giving Courses in St. Louis
Regional Tuners' Meet
Planned for February
meetings each August.
Seek Funds for Industrial
and Commodity Censuses
WASHINGTON, 1). C, November 14.—The Bureau
of the Budget in the nea r future will be asked
by Secretary of Commerce Hoover for an ap-
propriation with which the Census Bureau may
carry out a national census of distribution, in-
eluding that of musical instruments and allied
products.
The decision to undertake the new census was
reached following the making of test surveys in
seventeen cities throughout the country, results
of which have proved to be of great value to busi-
ness men. There has been a steady demand for
surveys of other cities which were not included
in the original list.
Badger Brand Plates
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