Music Trade Review

Issue: 1951 Vol. 110 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PRACTICAL PIANO TUNING
By ALEXANDER HART
Formerly with Steinway & Sons Tuning Department, Instructor
Piano Tuning, Teachers College, Columbia University, N. Y.
Registered Member of the
National Association of Piano Tuners
CHAPTER 25 - Piano Tuning in Review
No. 42
R
KPUTABLK firm? retain foremen
over all their departments, espe-
cially regulating and tone regu-
lating or voicing departments. It would
of hammer rail marked "C'\ Above the
C is cushion felt, above that the action
is bolted past with a knob. To right of
bracket, there is a black dot marked on
tances in cold freight cars, and weather
conditions, tie-u'ps. embargos, etc. tend
to require some attention (no matter
how small) after the piano has had a
chance to get a warming out. Here is
where the dealer comes in to watch out
for these seeming climatic conditions,
for when an instrument is delivered too
soon there is a possibility for a check-
up.
No. 44
Reverting to the knob, hammer head
and regulating screw rail, all three can
stand a check-up. For instance, remove
top frame and try knobs. They loosen
by themselves. Check on hammer head,
and check marked "D" on the hammer
butt, as the stems can become loose and
cause a click. The clicking sound is not
always at the hammer head. The screw
that holds butt in position can also
become loose when instrument is dried
out.
To be cautious is always in order, and
not be too hasty to do anything without
first knowing what it's all about. Use a
thin screwdriver when you attempt to
tighten a flange screw. Don't forget to
tighten screws that hold regulating rail.
These must be tight in order to hold
rail firm.
No.
take a few lifetimes for one to be thor-
oughly skilled in all the procedures of
piano manufacturing. The best the ser-
viceman can do is to be able to correct
unavoidable conditions that arise
through no fault on the part of the
maker, or dealer. Nevertheless, it is not
ihe circumstances but what we make
of it.
To cite a few instances, let us review
our design.
No. 43
Look at the left-hand bracket to left
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 1951
the hammer head. At the extreme right
is letter "L '—a regulating rail.
The knob, hammer head and regulat-
ing rail plus screws to be tightened,
could be one of the unpreventable occur-
rences that cannot be accounted for until
the piano is in its position, i.e., unboxed,
and all ready for display.
Remarks on No. 43: Surely enough,
no one is responsible for these three
items above-mentioned; and can be at-
tributed to extreme cold and heat. The
first, if pianos are shipped long dis-
45
The items of interest and procedures
about pianos I hope will be of value to
those who are beginning to be initiated
into the ranks in the fine art of piano
making.
Taking them in their order, we 'begin
with
The Parts of a Piano:
The framework or foundation
Wrest-plank or pin block
Sound board
Wood for the sound board
The bridge on sound board
The iron or metal plate
The steel strings
The tuning pins
25
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The hitch pins
The hammers, felt for hammers
The making of felt—damper and
damper felt
The keys and key tops—ebony for
black keys
Miscellaneous Parts:
The pedals
The case foundation and the veneers
and various kinds of wood used for
veneers.
It is always of interest to know how
these parts are utilized for putting a
piano together, but this must be left for,
and be taken up, one by one, in a later
issue of The Music Trade REVIEW.
The very best to my readers for 1951.
American Piano Supply Co.
In New Quarters
The American Piano Supply Co..
which for several years has been located
at 229 Fourth Avenue, New York, has
now moved to 6 West 20th Street, New
York 11, N. Y.
In its new quarters, the company will
be able to more efficiently take care of
the technician trade, in addition to the
wholesale business which has been done
by the company for so many years.
F. L. McAllister Buys
School Musician
Forrest L. McAllister, nationally
known music educator and executive of
the American Music Conference, has
purchased the "School Musician" Mag-
ESTABLISHED /885
INCORPORATED 1903
HENRY WICKHAM.
Ftunder
C E L E B R A T E D WICKHAM P L A T E S .
azine and became its editor and pub-
lisher on January 1.
McAllister's resignation as Director
of Research and Community Service of
AMC was accepted by Louis G. LaMair,
president, "with regret for the loss of
his able services but the warmest wishes
for his success in his new venture."
McAllister was with the AMC for the
past two and a half years, heading the
organization's staff of field men. Pre-
viously, he had been Chief of the Recrea-
tion Division, Special Services, Branch
No. 8 of the Veterans' Administration.
R. Hyre's Resignation from MMAO
Not Accepted; Health Improved
Rexford C. Hyre, Secretary and Treas-
urer, and Executive Manager of the
Music Merchants Association of Ohio,
who was suddenly stricken in October
with a hemorrhage is now improving
steadily.
Although he tendered his resignation
as Secretary of the Association, to take
effect November 1st, it was not accepted
and Mr. Hyre received a letter from
Bert Yocke, President, as follows:
"This is to acknowledge your letter of
October 17, and of course, it was a
surprise to me. Also I am very sorry to
hear of your illness.
''As President, I must at this time
pass up your resignation, as 1 am con-
fident your office can carry along for a
while until you are back in shape.
"Of course, I shall refer this matter to
all officers and members of the Advisory
and Executive Committee.
"I hope at this time this letter finds
you feeling better, and with kind per-
sonal regards."
Now Available . . .
FLY BRAND TUNING PINS

The celebrated Fly Brand Tuning Pins, known
for their exceptional tonal qualities, are again
available.

The quality is the same today as it was over 50
years ago.

Fly Brand Pins are made of specially drawn wire,
absolutely uniform in every detail.
WE INVITE YOUR INQUIRIES:
Sole Agents in U.S.A. and Canada
AMERICAN PIANO SUPPLY CO.
Division of Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co.
Since 1848
of
PIANO TUNERS
THERE IS N O T H I N G FINER
6 WEST 20th STREET
J O I N
THE
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
NEW YORK 11, N. Y.
Organized To Maintain The Highest Tech-
nical And Professional Standards In The
Practice Of Piano Serv-ice.
Originators of a Nation-Wide System of
Qualified Piano Service Identified by a
Membership Certificate of "REGISTERED
TUNER and REBUILDER of Pianos." This
certificate is issued each year for the pro-
tection of the Tuner and his Clientele.
Read the
TUNERS JOURNAL
For particulars address the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
PIANO TUNERS
430 OGLETHORPE ST., N.W.
WASHINGTON 11, D. C.
26
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 1951

Download Page 25: PDF File | Image

Download Page 26 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.