Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2047

October 17, 1925.
PRESTO
NEW STANDARDS
OF PIANO TUNING
EEBURG
Newly
Designed
T YLE "L"
Piano and Mandolin
Dimensions
Height, 51i' r ; Width, 36J"; Depth, 23J
Its fine tone pleases,
Its beauty attracts,
Its size saves space,
Its PROFITS PROVE
MANUFACTURED ONLY BY
J. P. Seeburg
Piano Co.
"Leaders in the
Automatic Field"
1510 Dayton St.
Chicago
Address Department " £ "
Chamber Releases Article on Results of Con-
ference on Factory Practices in Chipping
£nd Tuning, Called in Order to Dis-
cover Best Result.
PITCH ADOPTED
Report Urges Piano Manufacturers and Others Fall
in Line and Conform to Committee's
Recommendations.
The following article sets forth the "Standard of
Practice of Tuning Pianos in Factories," adopted by
the conference held in Chicago June 8, during the an-
nual conventions of the various music trade associa-
tions at the Drake Hotel. The article has been sent
out by the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
to members by the National Association of Piano
Manufacturers and the Piano Technician's Associa-
tion :
You will remember that some time ago a ques-
tionnaire was sent out to all members of this asso-
ciation, designed to elicit information as to the prac-
tice in factor es in regard to methods of chipping,
tuning, etc.. w th special intent to discover at what
pitch tuning forks for each operation should be tuned,
in order to obta'n the best results in agreement with
the new standard pitch of A 440, C 523, recently
adopted unanimously by the industry.
From a careful analysis of all answers to the ques-
tionnaire, and frcm a d'gest of the opinions set forth
at the open meeting of the association held in Chi-
cago during the trade conventions last June, we have
been able to arri\ e at certain conclusions wlr'ch are
now put before you, and which may be taken to rep-
resent the formal recommendations of the association
on the subject.
Chipping.
Chipping (sometimes called "snapping") is the
loundat'on of the whole structure of the tuning and
largely too of the tonal result finally arrived at. The
following recommendations are now made:
1. The stringer should pull up the str'ngs, after the
back is strung, to a rough chromatic scale.
2. The chipping should be done in the first instance
by a tuner, not a boy apprentice, so that the founda-
tion may be laid right, and the stress equally divided
over the whole board and plate, thus making subse-
quent tunings easier, more accurate and more rapid,
hence cheaper.
3. The chippings are probably sufficient in most
cases but three chippings are certainly better.
4. Strings may be rubbed after each chipping in
order to facilitate settling of the strings, but it is
advisable to use rollers instead of leather covered
sticks, thereby avoiding heating the strings and cre-
ating harmful friction.
5. Boys may do second and third chipping more
safely and with better results to the piano than can
be trusted to do first chipping, and it is the consensus
of the best opinion that first chipping should never be
done by unskilled hands.
6. The fork for first and second chippings alike
should be tuned to C 533 or A 450.
7. Two days should elapse between first and sec-
ond chipping.
8. Fork for third chipping should be tuned to C 530
or A 447.
9. At least three days should elapse between last
chipping and
First Tuning.
L The work for first tuning should be tuned to
C 528 or A 445.
2. Two days at least should elapse between first
tuning and
Second Tuning.
1. The fork for second tuning should be tuned to
C 525 or A 442.
2. Two days at least should elapse between second
tuning and third tuning.
3. Second tuning should not be done until after
first action regulating.
Third Tuning.
1. The fork for third tuning should be tuned to
C 523 or A 440.
2. Third tuning should be done before tone regu-
lating.
3. Two days at least should elapse between third
tuning and
Fourth Tuning.
1. The fork for fourth tuning should be tuned to
C 523 or A 440.
2. Fourth tuning should lie done only after fine reg-
ulating, and just before oiling off.
3. Additional tunings arc always desirable, and the
more of them the piano has the better. Certainly
if pianos are held on the floor over long periods they
should be retuned at least every ninety days, and al-
ways just before shipping.
The Standard Pitch.
It will be recalled that the directors of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce at the beginning
of this year, pursuant to a resolution presented by the
representative on the board of the member associa-
tions, namely the National Association of Piano
Tuners, appointed a committee to investigate and re-
port upon the feasibility of establishing a standard
pitch which all makers of musical instruments of
every kind might adopt and preserve, to the very
great general advantage of all concerned. The com-
mittee represented every manufacturing branch of
the music industries, and the president of this asso-
ciation was one of its members.
After a great deal of careful investigatory work, a
report was presented to the Chamber at the meeting
in Chicago last June, signed by Charles Deutschmanu
as charman and William Braid White as secretary,
and carrying the unanimous endorsement of the mem-
bership of the committee
Pitch Is Adopted.
This report advocated the adoption of the Pitch
A 440 or C 523 as the new American standard pitch
for all musical instruments, showing that such an
arrangement will fall in with the practice of all organ
builders, wind instrument makers, and the vast ma-
jor ty of piano manufacturers, and will vastly fac'li-
tate standardzed methods in the whole industry be-
sides creating a community of practice both con-
venient and economical all around.
Arrangements were made for standard forks and
for means whereby every factory may within a short
time obtain a standard fork and have means provided
for comparing its present forks, rating them to the
proper p'tches for each operation, and so getting in
line with the new arrangements. The report was
unanimously adopted by the representatives of the
allied music industries represented in the Chamber
anil the committee was empowered to take steps to
carry out the provisions of its report.
Urge Immediate Action.
1 hat action leaves u^ no option but to fall in line
and it 's therefore recommended that you take imme-
diate action in accord with the principles laid down
in this circu'ar. Arrangements will in due course
be made whereby your forks may be accurately rated
to conform with the provisions of the Pitch Com-
mittee's recommendations. Meanwhile, we shall ap-
prec'ate your attention to the recommendations
herein maae.
THE NATIONAL PIANO TECHNICIANS'
ASSOCIATION,
A. K. Gutsohn, President.
BRIEF RECORDS OF PIANO
DEALERS ACTIVITIES
Incidents in the Energetic Pursuit of the Prospec-
tive Buyer Told in Short Sentences.
James A. Morang recently opened a music store
in the new Kenniston Block, Depot Square, Gardiner,
Me.
Miss Lillian Blackburn has purchased the business
of the Oakley Music Shop of Fayetteville, Ark.
The Hannibal Music Co., Hannibal, Mo., has moved
to its new home at 108 South Main street.
The L. Gruenwald Co., New Orleans, La., has pre-
pared plans for remodeling the store building at 926
Dumain street.
Brick's Phonograph Shop, of Brooklyn, N. Y., is
now settled in new and larger quarters at 1634 Pitkin
avenue.
Quinn's Music Shop recently held a formal opening
of its new store at 350 Livingston street, Brooklyn,
N. Y.
The Lisbon Music Shop & Furniture Co., South
Market street, Lisbon, Ohio, will erect an addition to
the store and enlarge the business.
E. E. Ray, music merchant of Cisco, Tex., has en-
larged his quarters and added a radio department.
C- E. Sandrock is continuing the music and jewelry
business formerly conducted under the name of S. M.
Ladd & Co., West Main street, Morrison, 111.
Oscar Kaufman, music merchant of Danville, 111.,
recently acquired the business of the Hopkins Music
Co. there.
Joseph J. Hajano has opened warerooms at 523
North Clinton avenue, Trenton, N. J., handling pianos
and talking machines.
The O. K. Houck Piano Co., Memphis, Tenn., has
acquired the entire stock of the W. S. Christian Piano
Co.
The Ampico and Edison Shop, Atlanta, Ga., has
moved to new quarters at 241-243 Peachtree street.
S. M. Frankel is manager.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
PRESTO
Presto
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT -
Editors
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1925.
STATE ASSOCIATIONS
There could be no better promise of a stead-
ily increasing music trade and industry than
the rapidly growing succession of state music
trade associations. Thus far this year, in ad-
dition to the national convention in June, we
have had the enthusiastic meetings of the
Ohio dealers at Cincinnati, the equally fine
gathering of the Illinois and Indiana dealers
at Rockford and Fort Wayne, respectively,
and the large meeting of piano tuners at
Cleveland. And now the first convention of
the Michigan music dealers at Detroit next
month promises to be equally as interesting
as any of the others.
There is little doubt but that eventually
every state in the Union will have its music
trade association. There is no business better
suited for the gatherings which are half busi-
ness and half social in their character. The
men of music always have a good deal to
discuss, for the methods of their every day
pursuits are constantly changing, and the so-
cial side of the average music man is usually
well developed. Music itself suggests that
and, while there have been state associations
before, they have never taken hold as they
should, largely because the interests of mem-
bers, over a large territory, have been fixed
upon the annual gatherings in New York or
Chicago.
When the state associations get fully going
it may simplify matters for the national asso-
ciation. Instead of the retailers making long
trips every year, it will be easy to so adjust
matters as to have delegates represent the
associations as Congress represents the pub-
lic. Delegates may be chosen to attend the
national conventions, and so representation be
insured, every member of which will have
responsibilities of a kind to insure the kind
of participation that counts for the good of
many as well as the entertainment of one.
But that will all work itself out. At present
it is good enough that the state associations
are multiplying in a way to promise the kind
of results that must mean bigger business and
better.
GETTING BACK HOME
The piano trade is getting back home. And the
large piano manufacturers are leading it there. In
other words, the forces by which the industry and
trade must be directed are giving renewed consid-
eration to the need of a more personal under-
standing of the art of producing music by music
loving people. It is the piano, the instrument
played by hands, and not by any mechanical
means, however fine and expressive, that is re-
ceiving special attention, as was illustrated in a
recent remarkably effective announcement of The
Cable Company.
"The backbone of most successful piano busi-
nesses is the Upright," is the opening sentence of
The Cable Company's printed display, and, fur-
ther, that "more Uprights are being sold today
than any other type of piano, even in the face of
the general rising popularity of Grands, Players
and Reproducing Pianos." That kind of publicity
must be of practical helpfulness to all of the trade,
whatever pianos the dealers may sell.
The Cable advertisement is one of the most
useful to the retail trade that has appeared. It is
brightened by a family scene, in which daughter
is playing upon an upright, in the good old-
fashioned way. "The family which is buying a
musical instrument usually chooses the Upright,"
continues the statement in the Cable display. And
the sound conclusion is made that "the more Up-
right pianos a dealer sells the greater will be his
Grand and Player business."
Xo one who knows anything about the veering
fancies of the people and the keen readiness of the
piano dealers to-seize upon the salient points in
trade will doubt that The Cable Company adver-
tisement will do good work. It will attract all
classes of piano merchants—big, little and pros-
pective. And it will sell pianos for the dealers,
because many of them need nothing more than the
suggestion to instill them with increased energy.
And the Cable conclusion is this: "Concentrate
some of your effort on the Upright and the idea
of music in every home."
Considering the overmastering influence of
music, how does it happen that, instead of all
the fussing about a league of nations, and
other peace pacts, no one has proposed the
plan of great international band or choral con-
tests to settle world disputes? A jury of the
nations might be chosen and when any cause
of dispute arises let the ruffled countries in-
volved send their best performers to the har-
monious contest, the aggregation that gets
the most votes to be declared the winner and
so settle it. Well, why not? Better real
music than so much of the chin variety.
* * *
Walnut cases are as popular, in many sec-
tions, and as easy to sell as any other if the
salesman only thinks so and likes them him-
self. The finish has not so much to do with
the selling as some salesmen seem to think.
And all of the beautiful cases are so good
that they must have admirers every and any-
where.
* * *
The mystery of who is "Mike the Mover"
grows deeper. Presto has received two re-
quests that the verses of the anonymous poet
be republished. If the author will reveal him-
self and doesn't prove to be the "lariat" of
October 17, 1925.
the trade, we'll acquiesce and give a whole
page to Mike's verses. The hunt is on.
This is a good time for the small piano in-
dustry from which comes really fine instru-
ments—better than those of the larger ones,
if possible. The small factory, conducted upon
ideals, has a chance to win quickly such as
has never been known before.
* * *
The Cunningham Piano Co., of Philadelphia,
seems to have adopted the not very original
slogan, "It Pays to Think." How does it ap-
ply? Or is the Philadelphia piano industry
springing some new thought cult upon the
unsuspecting Quaker City?
If the piano tuners must have a new name
to indicate their calling, it seems to us that
Mr. H. F. Peltier has suggested about the
best one so far. It is "Harmonizer." And
that's what the piano tuners are supposed to
be.
* * *
The bright "Story Book" of Story & Clark
cries for "no free tuning; no free service."
From sounds and appearances that seems to
be about what a majority of the pianos are
getting.
* * *
It is said by those who claim to have ways
of finding out, that prohibition has neither
helped nor hurt the piano trade. What do you
think about it—and why?
30 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
From the Files of Presto
(October 17, 1895.)
On Oct. 22 the Empress' birthday, the Royal Opera
House, Berlin, will he reopened with Beethoven's
"Fidelio."
After years of deserted idleness, the old white factory
liuilt for the Boardman & Gray piano in Albany, and
later the scene of the original McCammon, is now occu-
pied as a shirt manufactory.
Mr. E. S. Payson.'who has been appreciably dubbed
"general overseer of the Emerson plantation," arrived in
the city on Sunday evening last, on a business trip and
leaves to-night for Boston.
Negotiations have been made by Mr. E. F. Droop, the
Washington dealer, with Paderewski's New York man-
agers, and the pianist is to give two recitals Dec. 10 and
13, respectively, at Lafayette Square Opera House, in
that city.
The Foster piano factory in Rochester, N. Y., is close
to that of the Martin Co., which enables Mr. George
Foster to superintend both enterprises. Mr. Foster is one
of the "characters" among the young men of the piano
industry. As a hustler he excels, and the skill with
which he catches trade and holds it, would make a
readable hand-book for the instruction of the rising gen-
eration of piano men.
20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(From Presto, October 19, 1905.)
The "ad" that does the most good is the one that
doesn't touch the sore spots in the other fellow's piano.
Henry Dreher of the B. Dreher's Sons Piano Co., said
at Cleveland that people who are wise will place their
orders for holiday pianos early, as he felt certain there
would be a shortage of pianos later in the season.
Before worrying about your bills payable look over
your book accounts and installment paper and see how
many of your own customers need worrying. Keep up
collections and you will be doing service also for your
creditors.
Marshall Field, the Chicago merchant prince, who is
a close observer of financial conditions, on his arrival
at New York Tuesday spoke of the commercial situation
abroad as follows: "England, France and Germany are
prosperous and commercially Europe is at the height of
its prosperity."
Charles Lester Reimer, a young music dealer of As-
bury Park, N. J., who obtained a verdict for $800 dam-
ages against Charles R. Zacharias, at Freehold, for
assault, found attached to his store door Tuesday morn-
ing a white card, which contained a skull and crossbones
in red ink and dagger, and this warning in big black
letters: "Leave here for good and all within one month
or a coffin you fill."
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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