Music Trade Review

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Plan Adopted by San Francisco Chapter ASPT
Promotes Piano Construction Knowledge
Floyd Orr, past President of the. service problem if such a program was
adopted by their branch of piano serv-
American Society of Piano Technicians,
ice. Much time would be required to
in discussing tuner-technician problems
elaborate on this thought at this time,
with A. Perry Avery, Chairman of the
but I would be glad to co-operate when,
Tuner-Technician Committee of the Na-
and if necessary, to help improve serv-
tional Association of Music Merchants,
ice relations in the piano industry.
has explained to Mr. Avery the plans
which have been made by the San Fran-
"The plan is as follows: A grand pi-
cisco Chapter of the A.S.P.T. in en- ano will be purchased by our chapter
deavoring to improve the knowledge of
and completely rebuilt with top tech-
members in respect to piano construc-
nicians as instructors. The rebuilding
tion. In a letter to Mr. Avery, Mr. Orr
of said piano will require 14 weeks of
states:
instruction and a class of 12 members
of qualified tuners but lacking in tech-
"The many service problems experi-
nical experience will be better fitted to
enced by dealers can, and will be cor-
meet the service needs in our commun-
rected in time, but co-operation from
ity. Some of these men are employed
all agencies will be necessary with a
by dealers and some are operating pri-
few years of planning and a blueprint
vately. Each man in the class will be
of standards established as a permanent
given an opportunity on each phase of
approach to this solution.
il
instruction to actually do the operation.
As a Past President of the American
Society of Piano Technicians. I was \T hen the piano has been completed, it
will become the sole property of our
able to foresee just such a situation that
now exists, and to contribute to the chapter and sold at standard retail
prices. A new class will be organized
cause of better piano service relations.
and conducted according to our pro-
I have been successful in the promotion
gram adopted from July 1st, 1953 to
of the following plan to be adopted by
July 1st, 1954, and I expect 3 such
the San Francisco Chapter of the
classes will be conducted during our
A.S.P.T. effective on my return to Oak-
fiscal year.
land. California.
"While the service problem is not
"This, I am sure, will meet your ap-
the responsibility of service men only,
proval, but it is not the answer to the
leading dealers could contribute to our service problems we face. Some years
Piano Merchants Get Personally Conducted
Tour Through Modern Gulbransen Plant
ago, a committee of the industry met
to discuss piano service problems ap-
parent at that time in Minneapolis. Mr.
Chancey Bond of the Weaver Piano
Co., Mr. Peter Comstock of Pratt. Read
& Co., and Mr. William Saeger of Stein-
way & Co. and a committee of the A.S.
P.T. While we expected this service
problem to arrise, we were unable suc-
cessfully to put in operation a plan
submitted by Mr. Robert Johnson of
Schaff Piano String Corporation, which
was recommended to the National Pi-
ano Manufacturers Association al that
time.
"The plan was similar to what is be-
ing done by the San Francisco Chapter
but in the form of a traveling school
that would have helped our present
problem had it been approved by the
industry at that time. I am convinced
that such a program with the technical
program now being considered would
meet all service needs in the future, if
adopted."
BBB Set for November Production
Hollywood Producer, Jesse L. Lasky,
has advised NAMM that production of
The Big Brass Band will begin Novem-
ber 15, for general release next July.
The picture will employ the use of the
Cinemascope Wide-Screen process, with
Stereophonic Sound, and a new color
process. The search for the first All-
American High School Rand of 110
members will start the middle of Sep-
tember.
"How Quality Is Built Into Gulbran-
sen Pianos." In this booklet were
shown several views of ilie manufac-
A GROUP OF PIANO DEALERS VISITING THE NEW GULBRANSEN PLANT IN MELROSE PARK, ILL., DURING CONVENTION
WEEK ARE PERSONALLY ESCORTED THROUGH THE PLANT BY VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE A. McDERMOTT AND THEN RE-
TURN TO THE PALMER HOUSE BY CHARTERED BUS.
During Convention Week, the Gul-
bransen Co. conducted a series of spe-
cial tours through the factory out in
Melrose Park, transporting dealers by
specially chartered Bluebird bus. Each
morning this bus would leave the Pal-
mer House and there would be a visit
28
through the factory conducted by
George A. McDermott, vice-president of
the company, after which they would
be served lunch and returned to the
Palmer House.
As each person left the factory they
were presented with a booklet entitled.
turing facilities taken in the factory,
and a story explaining the vast expanse
of the plant, all on one floor and prac-
tically daylight in every department.
The company also maintained an ex-
hibit room at the Palmer House during
the week.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1953