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PRACTICAL PIANO TUNING
By ALEXANDER HART
Formerly with Steinway & Sons Tuning Department, Instructor in
Piano Tuning, Teachers College, Columbia University, N. Y.
Registered Member of the
National Association of Piano Tuners
Notes of Interest on Tuning
¥W7V must not leave the piano dealer
* * out of the picture. He is the life-
line of the industrial communities
where new business must go on.
With the advent of better consoles
or direct-blow actions, it could be a
good break for bigger and better busi-
ness.
A point I want to bring out is this.
A customer once asked me whether I
could tell him where to obtain some
whippens which could be of great as-
sistance in repairing an action. Unfor-
tunately, I could not find these parts,
which were part of a piano action made
by a company long out of business. I
have a faint recollection of this action,
and I for one would sooner interest
the customer in purchasing a new in-
strument than patch up this action.
There are some technicians who are
loyal to their community dealer and
others who are not. I cannot under-
stand the reason why a dealer cannot
do a few emergency repairs without do-
ing any harm to any tuner.
First aid is a vital procedure, especi-
ally when it comes to unavoidable small
complaints. Let us cite a few instances.
Let's say a piano has just been deliv-
ered. A few days later, a call comes
in that there is a rattling noise and
a party of friends wanted to hear how
the instrument sounds, and pleaded
with the dealer to send someone over.
What could it be? Just a few screws
loose, that is, the hinge that holds the
top in place when it is raised, then
when it was lowered, the rod was bounc-
ing against the iron frame. (A small
piece of felt between the rod and frame
stopped the noise and everyone was de-
lighted). I am quite sure this was an
emergency and unless taken care of
as soon as possible the dealer finds him-
self losing ground. I maintain that
every piano dealer should know how
io take care of first aid to the instru-
ment.
What are some of these first aids?
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JUNE, 1953
How often do we find a broken string
replaced, and letting it go for weeks
before it is pulled up again. One does
not have to be a "Craftician" to go
to the place and pull up a string. There
is no difference between pulling up a
violin string and a piano string. It is
simply that we have not tried to do it.
and we are all capable of doing more
than we do.
This is not a hard matter to straight-
en out. Let us say the regular tuner is
on vacation . . . a new instrument is
installed. Complaint: Notes are staying
down. Oftimes one only needs a screw-
driver in his pocket to satisfy all con-
cerned.
There is not sufficient margin between
the key slip and ivory fronts for abso-
lute clerance and now and then there
is a tendency for the key slip to war])
and cause a few notes to stick.
There are four screws under the key
slip. Take screws out. place a piece of
cord between the slip and key frame,
put screws back and your trouble is
over.
The difference here was a new piano
—if it was an old one—it's problemati-
cal in such cases.
Assuming the customer bought an
old upright with the intention later on
to purchase a better one.
A complaint is a complaint and must
be followed up at once. Furthermore,
there is a direct contact with the cus-
tomer, with a probability of turning
the old piano in sooner than expected,
and many customers appreciate the im-
mediate attention. Although time seems
to be lost, it sooner or later pays off
We did not mention what the complaint
was. like the others it did not take
much time to put on a bridal strap.
Just imagine how exasperating a
small item of this kind is. Here the
hammer stays up against the strings
because the bridal strap will not bring
the hammer back to rest. The worst
part of it was the fact that the strap
was broken in the center of the key-
board. It is not hard to figure out how
vital it is for a dealer to know what to
do in an emergency.
I am speaking from experience when
I say there are many sales lost through
not paying attention to re-calls. You
can never tell when a good word is
passed around in favor of the commun-
ity dealer. Dependability, deeds rather
than words, gives prestige and brings
new business unknowningly from all
directions.
Richard Wagner Appointed
Gen'l Office Mgr. at Tonk Mfg.
The Tonk Manufacturing Co., Chi-
cago, recently announced the appoint-
ment of Richard Wagner as General Of-
fice Manager. Mr. Wagner is a great-
grandson of Max Tonk who started the
business in 1878. a fourth generation
member of the family that has operated
the firm for eighty years.
Following his service in the Army,
Mr. Wagner completed the special fur-
niture coures at the University of Mich-
igan. His duties at the Tonk offices in
Chicago include coordinating the ac-
counting and order records between the
firm's Chicago and Indianapolis factor-
ies.
The Tonk organization is now cele-
brating its 80th anniversary. Originally
its production was primarily in the pi-
ano seating field. On January 1st the
production of piano benches was dis-
continued in order to concentrate all
facilities on production of Tonkabinets
for sheet music and other Tonk prod-
ucts.
Other members of the founder fam-
ily now active in the business are Percy
A. Tonk, son of the founder and Presi-
dent of the firm, his son Hampton E.
Tonk. who is Vice President, and his
daughter Doris Tonk, Secretary of the
firm.
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