Presto

8
PRESTO
DEVELOPING GRAND
PIANO INDUSTRY
Advent of Brambach Small Grand Responsi-
ble for Rapid Strides in Action Making
and Growth of the Brambach Action
Factory, New York.
Some years ago, when the small grand piano first
came into vogue, there were a number of details that
were stubborn obstacles, that stood in the way of
marketing the product. While it was assumed that
there was an undercurrent demand for a grand piano
in the heart of every woman, many mechanical,
financial and physical obstacles prevented the grati-
fying of this desire. What has come about was told
in a lucid way this week in an interview given by
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Brambach Piano
Co., New York.
After the physical objections of space and price
had been overcome in adapting a grand piano to the
small apartment or home, the selling appeal was de-
veloped along the lines of beautifying the home with
a grand piano, which could be had in a small com-
pass, for use in homes where space was precious, and
at a price that permitted a large volume of sales.
The Action Problem.
Among the stubborn manufacturing problems was
one of actions. That problem of supply is the same
today as when it presented itself to the Brambach
Piano Company at its re-organization in 1912. The
demand for grand pianos has grown enormously, and
the demand for actions must necessarily grow with
it; and the supply is as limited, comparatively today,
as it was at that time. It has been said that the
manufacturer of a grand piano of less than five feet
called for the development of a new science in piano
building, as many of the old principles of piano con-
struction could not be adapted to so small an instru-
ment, and it was necessary, because of the short
string length, to have powerful action.
A Bit of History.
For a long time there had been little or no prog-
ress made in the development of the grand piano ac-
tion. Back early in the nineteenth century, the in-
dividual piano manufacturers each made an action
of their own, which served their purposes satisfac-
torily. About 1821 Sebastian Erard made the first
grand piano action, that approximates the present
form, in which he used a repetition lever, which is
responsible for the chief differences between the old
Square Action or the present Upright Action, and
the Grand Action. Several rapid developments oc-
curred and the present action, as developed by Erard
& Herz, was given to the piano world about 1850.
The lack of development in the grand piano itself
is probably the chief cause for lack of development
in the action used in the grand piano. The delicate,
flexibility of an action, actuated by gravity, was so
superior to the upright action that piano makers
and musicians were content to let well enough alone.
The action was a highly complicated one, with in-
ternal springs and many small parts glued together,
which in time needed extensive overhauling, and the
many pieces of felt and leather glued up were unable
to stand the tests of time.
Made First Progress.
A few years ago an inventor in Boston made the
first substantial progress that has been made in this
field in many years. The Brambach Piano Company
took this grand action, applied modern production
methods and engineering to it, and developed a more
powerful action, that had all the sensitiveness and
balance of the finest grand action, and constructed
in such a way as to be easily adjusted and regulated.
When the Brambach Piano Company was re-or-
ganized, on a basis of baby grand pianos exclusively,
and in large quantities, the old bug-a-boo of ac-
tions presented itself. No one was equipped to man-
ufacture a highly complicated Grand Action, and
none were willing to reorganize their factories in a
production basis. The Brambach Piano Company,
recognized the superior merits of this action, which
was called "The Improved Swiss Action" purchased
the patents and commenced to manufacture them.
In 1912 it was a question of actions limiting grand
pianos; in 1920 it is still a question of action limit-
ing the production of grand pianos.
The chief difference between this action and the
usual action is that the jack-fly is as wide as the
hammer-butt, or twice the width of the usual jack-
fly. The final snap of power is imparted to the ham-
mer by the moving of this fly along the butt, giving
more power to the blow, when wanted, and also giv-
ing a longer wearing life to the action, permitting a
perfect regulation after years of service. Its ac-
cessibility is also a virtue. It is not necessary to re-
move a single screw or change a single part on the
action in order to give the piano perfect regulation.
Of course, the ultimate purchaser of a piano is not
November 27, 1920.
consciously interested in fine materials, which they
take for granted; or in regulation, which they know
little about; but they are vitally interested in per-
formance. This action was at one time put in com-
parison with two American grand actions and three
European Actions, all of the most modern type.
After their respective merits had been carefully ex-
amined, the question was asked: "How does the Im-
proved Swiss Action compare with the others?" The
answer given by the technical engineer made any
decision unnecessary when he said: "There is noth-
ing written by Liszt but that this Swiss Action will
execute perfectly. What more can any action do?"
The Brambach Piano Company has added a new
four story building immediately adjoining their im-
mense plant which will be used exclusively for the
manufacture of grand piano actions to be used in
the Brambach product. The enlargement of the
piano manufacturing activities in the main factory
have necessitated more space and prompted the or-
ganization to add to their present building facilities.
This new plant is the most modern piano action
factory in the United States and is equipped with
every kind of newest labor saving machinery. Hand
operations have been eliminated to a major extent
guaranteeing a uniformity of the various parts and
in consequence perfect actions. This new factory
will be put in operation immediately.
J. D. MARTIN'S DEMONSTRATION.
John D. Martin, Gulbransen playerpiano demon-
strator, has just returned from a six weeks' trip,
which included New York, New England, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D. C.;
and parts of Virginia and Ohio, which he called at
on his way west. He came home by way of Louis-
ville. Everywhere his work was appreciated. Deal-
ers who heretofore realized that the Gulbransen was
something extraordinary, are now realizing its ar-
tistic capabilities as well. Mr. Martin gave a public
recital on Tuesday evening of this week at Grand
Rapids, Mich., under the auspices of the Young &
Chaffee Furniture Company, which has one of the
largest piano departments to be found in a house
furnishing store anywhere.
SELL MANY HADDORFF GRANDS.
The call for Haddorff Grand pianos continues
without abatement or surcease at the art rooms
of Gros,venor, Lapham & Co., Fine Arts Building,
Chicago. E. W. Furbush, wholesale representative
of the-Haddorff line, is out and in with his road
work. He was at the Grosvenor & Lapham rooms
on Friday of last week, and he is just as enthusiastic
about the Haddorff grands as ever.
TOM-TOMS AT WEDDING.
A wedding march played by a Chinese orchestra,
with Tom-Toms and other weird instruments, feat-
ured the wedding of Miss Lois Baker, a graduate
of Leland Stanford University, when she was mar-
ried recently in Tsingtau to the American represen-
tative of the Standard Oil Company.
FEATURES GORDON & SON
PLAYER IN PENNSYLVANIA
Meisers' Music House Has Built Up Appreciative
Clientele in Busy Section.
The Gordon & Son playerpiano is featured this
week in a particularly strong way by Meisers' Music
House, Northumberland, Pa. The progressive firm
has achieved an unqualified success with the Gor-
don & Son pianos and playerpianos which, the firm
says have the warm approval of every owner who
purchased at Meisers' Music House. A considerable
number of the pianos and players made by Gor-
don & Sons at the well-equipped factory, 709-713
Whitlock avenue, New York, are now in use in this
section of Pennsylvania.
In Sunbury, Meisers' Music House finds an ex-
cellent opportunity to make good on its energy.
The place is a lively manufacturing center and an
important shipping point for coal. It has all the
evidences of the prosperity that produces piano and
playerpiano customers. The activities of the firm
extends to Sunbury, the thriving county seat two
miles away.
THE PROPER THOUGHT FOR
THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER
The Assurance of Satisfaction Viewed as a Strong
Consideration by Progressive Illinois House.
When a piano firm represents dependable lines
the firm's statement and the constant repetition of
that fact constitutes good advertising. No particu-
lar make of pianos or players may be mentioned but
the desirable thought is created. Theo. L. Miller
& Sons, Dixon, 111., considered that fact when it
printed this "Word to Musical Folk" last week:
"In buying a musical instrument of any kind,, you
like to choose from among- those particularly worth
while. Like anything else that is to last, it pays
to buy a good article.
"You will always find the instrument, bought at
Miller's yielding the measure of satisfaction that
you have a fight to expect. Mark that in your men-
tal note book."
SHORTER HOURS, LESS RESULTS.
The annual report of the Chief Inspector of Fac-
tories and Workshops for 1919, a summary of which
has been received by the Department of Commerce,
discloses the fact that along with the general adop-
tion of the forty-eight-hour week, which was ac-
complished in most British industries during the
war period without legislative compulsion, there has
been a coincident decline in the rate of production.
The experience of different trades vary quite con-
siderably.
PROGRESS IN PIANO DEPARTMENT
Leader Dpa
•5t Joseph,
Mo
The Grand Leader is a big department store of
St. Joseph, Mo., and from its lively, up-to-date pub-
licity methods is known over a wide section in the
Southwest. Since the company added a music de-
partment the interest in the Grand Leader store has
grown in an amazing way. That was why the com-
pany was recently considered a good connection for
the Autopiano, Hazelton Bros., and the lines of
Kohler & Campbell, Inc., New York. The instru-
ments named are now included in the offerings of
the piano department of the Grand Leader. Earl
Elsham, the manager of the department, is an ex-
perienced piano man well known for his aggressive
sales spirit.
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