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PLAYER PIANO DISCUSSION
However, when one is fairly good we leave the player action in the piano
and seem to find sale for them. We have sold these players at a quite
reasonable price, as we prefer to move them quickly rather than let
George Snyder, Leon Becker Piano and Organ Studio,
stock of this kind accumulate.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
"We don't think the former type of player piano could be revived to
"I think there are some possibilities of people buying a player piano
if the price is kept low enough. In order to do any amount of volume any extent. However, if there was a possibility of making a player that
was not so bulky, that could be installed in a spinet-type piano, we
with a player piano, it would have to be priced under $1,000.00.
"I have been in the piano business for a number of years, and went think there would be limited market for instruments of this kind, but
through the old player days, and also know what the present market is. manufacturers would have to realize the strong competition of TV, radio
So, I feel sure that we pretty well know what the retail price of a and the present type of phonograph with record changer and long play-
ing records. All of these instruments come under the 'push button' type,
player piano will have to be in order to sell it in any quantity."
which is more attractive than the physical effort of pumping the player,
or changing the rolls on an electric player.
J. J. Collins, Collins & Erwin Piano Co., Portland, Ore.
"A great many of the players that we take in trade would require so "If a compact player action was developed we would be willing to give
much work to put them in good playing condition that we strip them. it a try and see what the reaction would be."
(Continued from Page 18)
Sixty-Eight Knabe Grand Pianos
Purchased for Use in New York Schools
TRAILER TRUCK BEING LOADED WITH KNABE GRAND PIANOS
FOR NEW YORK SCHOOLS
The Board of Education of New York
City has purchased sixty-eight Knabe
grand pianos to date this year for use
in the public schools. The sale was
made through the Wm. Knabe & Co.
retail store in New York by Clarence
M. Pettit. vice-president and general
manager. Delivery of the instruments
from the Knabe factories in East Ro-
chester, N. Y., was completed by a final
truck shipment on September 16.
"The choice of Knabe," said O. F.
Rydeen, vice-president and sales man-
ager of Wm. Knabe & Co., "is an in-
dication that the increasing recognition
being given to the importance of mu-
sic in the school curriculum includes
the necessity of providing instruments
of reliable tone and performance. In
no instance is the quality of an instru-
ment more important than when it is
used to develop the latent appreciation
of tone . . . and a natural desire to
make music . . . in the young and
eager student. Everyone in the Knabe
organization is justly proud that the
instruments we manufacture measure
20
up in every way to this all-important
purpose."
"The quality of Knabe tone has long
been recognized by vocal artists," said
Mr. Rydeen, "and an overwhelming
number prefer it for accompaniment.
It has been the official piano of the Met-
ropolitan Opera Company for many
years. Its unique adaptability to the
needs of teachers and pupils comes
from its ability not only to produce
such tone but the ease with which the
tone can be produced. Whether the stu-
dent is studying music appreciation,
voice, piano or some other instrument
this ability of the Knabe is highly im-
portant."
Most of the instruments included in
the sale were of the Style 410, a 5'8"
conventional grand; others were in the
popular Style 400, 5'1" size.
FOR PIANO NEWS
READ
THE REVIEW
They Sell and Demonstrate
Organs, But Catch Fish Also
To be able to sell pianos and organs
and also be an accomplished organist
takes some little time and experience,
but it's not many who have achieved
this who have the opportunity of eat-
ting their breakfast, taking their rod
and going out and casting from the
front lawn into the lake on a Sunday
morn and returning with a beautiful
bass weighing 8 V2 pounds.
This, however, was the recent ex-
perience of Jerry Girardat who is seen
in the accompanying illustration with
his better half the former Joyce Rick-
ard, well-known organist, both of whom
are now affiliated with the Streep Music
House in Orlando, Fla.
"I was in the kitchen washing dish-
es," said Mrs. Girardat, "when I heard
JERRY AND JOYCE GIRARDET SMILE
the screen door of the breezeway open,
caught rather a large shadow passing
the window — wet hands and all. I
scooted to the kitchen door only to see
Jerry holding up what was anything
but a shadow. He had a broad grin on
his face. This was one time that the
typical phrase 'Now bring back a big
one' applied, for that is exactly what
I said to Jerry as he left the breakfast
table."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1954