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27
The Music Trade Review
AUGUST 27, 1927
The Technical and Supply Department—(Continued from page 25)
many years during which we have been able tiresome and tonally bad on spun strings. Or
New Piano Patents
to study the best methods of loading bass again, anything that could be done to avoid
strings, the system of spinning which is uni-
versally in use should for so long have remained
without improvement. I do not mean to say
that bass string making, as now practiced, is
not ingenious and commonly satisfactory. What
1 do mean to say is that bass strings, covered
strings, give more trouble than strings not
covered, and that part at least of the defects
which are to be found in them may be traced
to current methods of spinning. Whether a
better practical method can be evolved need
hardly be a matter of question. What is far
more to the point is how much the industry
itself may be really interested in anything bet-
ter, especially if it should cost a little more.
Changes to Come
Yet sooner or later we must come to changes
because the conditions of piano making are
rapidly changing and are calling for improve-
ment in this as in other features. The short
stiff bass strings of small pianos are not sat-
isfactory in their tone-making function, and
it is certain that some change in the method
of making them will be thought out. Several
possibilities present themselves. Readers of
Siegfried Hansing will remember that in his
treatise on the acoustic relations of the piano
this eminent German piano maker spoke of a
so-called "compound" wire patented by one
Subers, which was heard of some thirty years
ago. The strings made by this process com-
prised three strands of wire plaited together,
and the inventor claimed for them various vir-
tues, which, however, did not appeal to Mr.
Hansing. I have never been fortunate enough
to see, hear or study wire made by the Subers
process, which apparently failed to capture the
imagination of the piano trade, but have often
thought that something might be done by com-
bining two or more core wires in such a fashion.
Such wires would, of course, vibrate as one, if
all were of the same length. If, however, the
plaiting process merely wrapped two wires
around a third, the third would be the vibrator
and the others merely loads, with the disad-
vantage of being themselves highly vibratory.
On the other hand, a careful plaiting of three
wires of equal diameter would give three times
the weight of one wire, while each would, or
should, vibrate as one wire, not in frequency but
in pattern. Thus, three No. 13 wires plaited
together would weigh in grains per inch a
very little more than one strand of No. 23^2
and a very little less than one strand of No.
24 wire. And if combinations of wires of dif-
ferent diameters could be made, various ar-
rangements of loading might be worked out.
An Alternative
I am not suggesting that here is an imme-
diately practical improvement, or even that it
really is an improvement. I merely point out
that an alternative to the present method does
exist and that doubtless still others can be
brought into view. Thus, it would probably
be possible to shrink upon a core wire a tube
of copper or soft steel so that there should
be no danger of that slippage which is so
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Piano Tuning, Pipe and Reed
Organ and Player Piano
YEAR BOOK FREE
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
Tuners
and Repairers
Our new illustrated catalogue of Piano and
Plaver Hardware Felts and Tools is now
ready.
If you haven't received your copy
please let us know.
OTTO R. TREFZ, JR.
1305-7-9 No. 27th St.
Phila., Pa.
the present irritating and uncertain practice of
swagmg the core wire at each end in order to
clamp the covering wires would certainly come
as a boon and a blessing to every maker of
brass strings. Perhaps not everyone is aware
that it is necessary to treat the core wire used
for bass strings somewhat specially in order
that it may stand the swaging and also the
severe twisting which it undergoes when the
eye is put on it for the hitch pin.
A Fine Adaptation
Bass string practice indeed represents one of
the best adaptations, even as it stands, of means
to an end, when we consider how very little
encouragement the makers of either the wire
or the finished strings have had from the
manufacturers of pianos. Some day the piano
industry will come to realize this, and I for
one should be the last to bring facile and
superficial charges or to make aimless criticisms
of a difficult piece of work which on the whole
has fulfilled its purpose very well. On the
other hand, the time is ripe for the study and
analysis of this, as of other matters, and I
am violating no secrets when I say that others
besides myself are to be provided, within the
near future, with facilities for entering into
very detailed studies along these and related
lines. And of all that much more is likely to
come out in these columns.
Correspondence
Synchronizing Mechanism. Albert D. Trenor,
Gloucester, Mass., assignor to John Hays Ham-
mond, Jr., same place. Patent No. 1,636,020.
An automatic musical instrument comprising
player actions for controlling portions of the
instrument simultaneously, a common drive
therefor, a friction clutch operatively inter-
posed between the drive and each of the actions
and normally connecting the drive to the re-
spective action, an electro-magnet for declutch-
ing each of the clutches, and a control device
periodically controlled by each of the actions
and arranged to actuate the respective clutch
provided that at least one other control device
is inactive.
Modifying Device for Modulation Control.
John Hayes Hammond, Jr. Patent No. 1,635,-
993. In a musical instrument, the combination
of means for reducing the volume of sound
effectively produced by the instrument, a man-
ual control therefor, means operatively inter-
connecting said sound-reducing means and said
control arranged so that movement of said
control in one direction reduces and in the
opposite direction increases the effective vol-
ume of sound, and a manual device acting on
said interconnecting means to interchange the
direction of movement of said sound-reducing
means with respect to said first-named manual
control.
Piano Modulator Control Device. John Hayes
Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Patent No.
1,635,994. In a musical instrument having
hammer control mechanism and a pedal for
controlling said mechanism, a plurality of shut-
ters for varying the volume of sound emitted
WASHINGTON, D. C, August 22.—Imports of
from said piano, and means interconnecting
cabinet woods in lumber form showed a gain said shutters and said pedal for actuating said
during the first six months of 1927 over im- shutters independently of, or simultaneously
ports for last year in both quantity and value, with, said hammer control mechanism selec-
according to the Lumber Division of the De- tively.
partment of Commerce. Imports from the
Philippine Islands were 16,546 M feet valued at
Successively Operated Tone Controls. John
$871,921 this year, compared with 11,937 F feet
at $509,728 in 1926, while cabinet wood lumber Hayes Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Patent
from other sources was 3,341 M feet in quantity No. 1,635,995. In a musical instrument having
valued at $193,999, compared with 2,142 M feet a percussive action for producing sound, a
valued at $179,280 last year, for the six months' pianissimo mechanism for controlling said per-
cussive action to vary the amplitude of sound
periods.
produced thereby, a pedal for controlling said
pianissimo mechanism, a tone modulator for
varying the volume of sound emitted from the
instrument, and means interconnecting said
The visual tone-reproducing device, which modulator and said pedal for actuating said
was demonstrated in the exhibit rooms of the modulator and said pianissimo action succes-
American Steel & Wire Co. in the Hotel Com- sively.
modore recently during the tuners' convention,
has been purchased by this company from the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
The device will be shipped shortly to Chicago
and will be installed there in the experimental
PHILADELPHIA, PA., August 20.—Otto R. Trefz,
laboratory of the American Steel & Wire Co., Jr., manufacturer of piano base strings, and who
to be used for extensive experimental work dur- conducts a fully equipped department for
ing the coming season. The company is par- tuners' supplies, has announced that owing to
ticularly interested in determining the tonal
increased volume of business his factory has
quality of its new rustless piano wire, which it
moved into its new building at 1305-07-09 North
is perfecting.
Twenty-seventh street, this city. These larger
quarters were secured in time for the heavy
business attendant upon the Fall season.
is solicited, and should be addressed to William
Braid White, 5149 Agatite avenue, Chicago.
Cabinet Wood Imports
Buys Visual Device
Otto R. Trefz Moves
New Flange-Pin Clip
WASHINGTON, D.. C,
August
22.—Harry
C.
Buser, piano technician, of Newburgh, N. Y.,
has begun the manufacture of a patented flange- f
pin retaining clip, for use in piano actions. Mr.
Buser made application for his patent on July
31, 1925, and it was granted December 14, 1926.
A special feature of the invention is the pro-
vision of side wings embracing the side edges of
the flange, which reinforce it and prevent
flange-pins from working out of the flanges.
Mr. Buser is manager of the Acme Music Co.,
133 Johnston street, Newburgh, N. Y., which
was established in 1906.
4
Ivory Imports*
4
"
WASHINGTON, D. C, August 22.—The Depart-
ment of Commerce reports that in the first four
months of the present year the United States
imported ivory tusks valued at $214,185, while
in the corresponding four months of 1926 the
total imports were $553,723.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inse-ted
free of charge for men who desire pos'tions.