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Innovations in Piano Construction
Announced by Pratt Read & Co.
TOR many months the rumor mill has
been grinding out hearsay in re-
spect to what Pratt Read & Co., were
developing in their extensive plant in
Ivoryton, Conn. This month, however,
James A. Gould, president of the com-
pany is making an announcement which
will set at rest for all time the rumors
that his company was preparing to
make complete pianos for dealer con-
sumption as well as piano actions and
keys. They are not.
The fact is that under the supervis-
ion of Charles Frederick, Frederick
Stein expert piano builder and tech-
nical advisor at the Pratt Read Plant
months of research has been going on
to find ways and means of helping
piano manufacturers speed up produc-
tion and without impairing the quality
of any instrument, put the piano man-
ufacturing on a stream line basis in
keeping with other lines of manufactur-
ing so that piano manufacturers will be
able to meet the unprecedented de-
mand for pianos which exists at the
present time.
Combined Plate and Back Cuts
142 lbs. off Weight
The first innovation to be announced
is a light metal piano plate which elim-
inates the use of a four or five post
back completely thereby cutting down
the weight of the piano by at least
142 lbs. and saving at least 40 feet of
lumber.
Four scales have been de-
signed for pianos of 36", 38", 40" and
44". This does not mean, however, that
a manufacturer must confine himself
to these scales but can use his own
scales which will be incorporated in the
piano by Pratt Read & Co. on orders
of sufficient quantity. Provision is made
for a wrest plank or pin block of the
same depth as now used and the plate
has been thoroughly tested as to stand-
ing the strain of string tension hav-
ing been in use in pianos for testing
purposes for over a year. Patents on
this plate have been applied for. If
For the Better Used Pianos
GRANDS - UPRIGHTS
SPINETS
consult
S. L CURTIS, INC.
40 fears Selling Fine Pianos
240 WEST 55th STREET
NEW YORK 18, N. Y.
-: Phone COIumbus 5-7816 :-
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 1946
the piano is made the usual depth
the key will be lengthened by 2" or
er requires a certain case design and
has the inside of a piano in another
case design but wishes to change it for
a customer the manufacturer can ship
the dealer the case in a carton and
he can change the cases at his discre-
tion. Pratt, Read & Co. will not make
cases but are prepared to complete the
inside of the piano for any manufactu-
rer who may so desire and in accord-
ance with the latter's scale.
I\on-Oaekable Plywood Sounding Board
J. A. GOULD
pianos may be made 2" narrower for
regulation key length.
Changeable Case Development
The second innovation reverses the
method of manufacturing pianos. It
provides for installation of all the in-
side of the piano, for installing and
regulating the action, rough and fine
tuning etc., in fact completing the piano
before the case is put on. To do the
latter is a matter of fifteen minutes or
less. In fact the Review representa-
tive saw one case removed and another
put on in the matter of 20 minutes.
The usual method of finishing a piano
provides for side glueing the caso
first and placing the action in after-
wards, then regulating and tuning. By
reversing the process Pratt, Read &
Co. have devised a system whereby
a manufacturer, in less space than
heretofore, can have the insides of var-
ious models ready for shipment with-
out the case and if he receives an order
for certain models he can install the
cases within fifteen minutes and ship
the piano complete. In fact if a deal-
HARDMAIM,
PECK & CO.
Master piano craftsmen
for 103 years
The company has also developed a
plywood sounding board which they
claim will never split. It is made
with a permanent crown, plies being of
spruce, crossed grained, put together
with moisture resistant adhesive and
with vertical instead of diagonal ribs.
The permanent crown is based on the
principal that plywood crowned in the
glueing retains that crown because any
radical flattening would be impossible
without a lateral movement of the plies
in their relative position with each
other. The adhesive, of course, pre-
vents this movement. The Pratt, Read
management is prepared to make the
statement that this board will never
split. Plies may be made of vary-
ing thicknesses to conform with the
ideas of the piano manufacturer in
the matter of board thickness to get
the best tonal results.
This sound
board will either be manufactured by
Pratt, Read & Co. or released to other
companies on a royalty basis.
Plastie Actions and Sharps
For many months the company has
been working on a plastic action which
will have a light metal hammer rail.
Plastic parts which will be in vari-
ous colors will have greater stability
than similar parts made of wood ac-
cording to the company and will also
permit a greater production in a much
shorter space of time. The company
is also prepared to ship plastic sharps
within the near future which will be
entirely uniform as to shape and color
'and will not mar or chip.
(Turn to next page'
HARDMAN AND
HARRINGTON GRANDS
AND CONSOLES
•
'MINIPIANOS'
33 West 57th Street
New York