Presto

12
PRESTO-TIMES
ENGLISHMAN INVENTS
A NEW PIANO ACTION
F. W. Waggett of London Claims His Inven-
tion
Revolutionizes the Accepted Prac-
1
tices of Piano Making.
general points and finish, but it is claimed that even
in the cheapest piano a good, responsive, regular and
permanent touch will be obtained.
The soft pedal is really effective. The mechanism
of the action permits of a simple and true graduated
blow at the key, which is obtained by raising or tilt-
ing the back rail of key frame by means of a lever
attached to the pedal, the depth of the touch and the
blow of the hammer being simultaneously affected
and the half-blow hammer rest being unnecessary.
Some prominent piano makers have recently gone to
the extent of fitting a dual synchronising mechanism
to obtain this effect with the tape action; indeed, the
idea is not by any means new, and a patent was
recently granted for a special design of rocker to
effect this."
F. W. Waggett, of London, England, has intro-
duced a piano action which he says "gives the touch
of a grand piano to the cheapest upright." Accord-
ing to the Music Dealer of London, "the new mech-
anism dispenses with all leathers, cloths and felts,
checks and check wires, tapes and tape wires, butt
springs and loops and guard rail. It is applicable to
over or under damper actions. By means of a device
whereby a special roller attached to the top of the
MARSHALL & WENDELL AMPICOS.
jack and operating in a kidney-shaped die-cast metal
The Marshall & Wendell is making rapid progress
part inserted in the hammer butt, Mr. Waggett has with prominent educational institutions in various
revolutionized the accepted practice of pianoforte his- parts of the country. The list of such installations
tory.
at well-known colleges and schools is already becom-
Touch and Repetition.
ing an imposing one. The two latest names to be
"Modern students of pianoforte playing are taught added are Lewisburg College, Raleigh, N. C , and
to regard the key and hammer as one; to endeavor to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hills, N. C.
govern the quality and quantity of tone they produce The first of these sales was made by Maynard's
by the manner in which they attack the key. This is Music Store of Raleigh, and the second by the
all very well on a good grand piano, but what about Greensboro Music Company of Greensboro, N. C.
the poor student practising upon a cheap upright? The St. Joseph's Academy, Lockport, and the Buf-
falo State Teachers' College, Buffalo, N. Y., also
Professors and students will hail the new action with
delight. Complete control of the hammer is obtained recently added Marshall & Wendell Ampicos to their
at the key and the regulation is permanent; it is not equipment. Both of these sales were made through
upset by constant playing. There is no need to hit Cioold Bros., of Buffalo, N. Y.
or bed the keys. The semi-rotary movement of the
roller in the butt insertion gives the same action as
MOTOR PLAYER CO.S SUCCESS.
obtains in the roller notch grand action, i, e., upon
The Motor Player Corporation, fifth floor of 340
the slightest release of the key the hammer comes West Huron street, Chicago, figured up its increase
out of check and approaches the string ready for the during 1927 over 1926, and was gratified to find that
next blow, hence the repetition is perfect.
the increase in business was 25 per cent. The com-
"It is impossible to block the action. The hammer pany admits that its success is due largely to the fact
and jack act as one, the roller acting as propeller and that it deals with manufacturers of automatic musi-
check and not only is the hammer checked off the cal instruments, which department of musical activity
string, but it is held rigidly in its checked position. has had a remarkably successful year, general con-
Moreover, the checking off is precisely the same dition? considered. Of course the technical perfec-
whatever the blow given to the key. A hard blow tion of its motors, its service also, had much to do
may be followed instantly by a soft blow without the with the success of the company.
necessity for the key coming up to normal position;
indeed the keys may be 'weighed' or partly depressed
HOTEL CHOOSES KNABE.
in the act of touch or as before the notes are played
Sherry-Netherlands Hotel, New York's newest and
and perfect repetition obtained under these circum-
stances. The touch is therefore perfectly responsive most elaborate apartment hotel located at Fifth ave-
nue and 59th street, fronting on Central Park, re-
to the will of the performer.
cently purchased two Knabe grands for use in the
Regulation.
grill room and the gallery. The hotel also makes
The regulation, being set by the design and manu- use of two other Knabe grands, making four in all.
facture of the action, is automatically and perma-
nently fixed and does not depend upon the skill of
PEGGY JOYCE BUYS FISCHER.
the finisher or regulator. The action being fitted,
the finisher has only to adjust the set-off screws. It
Peggy Hopkins Joyce, well-known theatrical star
is impossible to upset the regulation as in the tape recently purchased a Fischer Spanish Ampico grand
check action, where the check wires soon get strained in Pheasant green lacquer for use in her New York
or the check felts wear with the friction. The action, apartment. The sale was made by Knabe Ware-
of course, may be made in different grades as regards rooms, 52nd street and Fifth avenue, New York.
THE KOHLER INDUSTRIES
KREITER
The Leading and Most Popular
Pianos and Players
Grands, Players, Uprights and
Reproducing Pianos
The Results of Over Forty Years'
of Experience.
Kreiter Piano* Cover the Entire Line
and no Piano Dealer who tries these in-
struments would supplant them by any
others. A trial will convince.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
310-312 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wit.
Factory: Marinette, Wii.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s .
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St.
NEW YORK
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos in the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States, Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The LEADING LINE
of NEW YORK
AFFILIATED
February 18, 1928
WEAVER PIANOS
COMPANIES
Qrandu, Upright! and Players
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
anufactoring for the trade
Uprights and Player Pianos
Upright and Grand Pianos
Plaver Pianos
Welte Mignon (Licensee) Repro-
ducing Pianos
De Luxe Player Actions
Standard Player Actions
Welte Mignon (Licensee) Repro-
ducing Actions
Expression Player Actions
Piano Hammers
Bass Strings
Wholesale Chicago Office and Service
San Francisco Office
458 Vhelan building
departments
KOHLER INDUSTRIES
1222 KIMBALL B U I L D I N G
CHICAGO
A high grade piano of great
value and with charming tone quality.
Livingston PUnos— Uprights and Player Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
Over 70,000 instruments made by thii company are sing-
ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write tor catalogue* and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition il yon are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc.
Faetery: YORK. PA.
BatablUhad 1870
CHRISTMAN
UPRIGHTS, GRANDS, PLAYERS
AND REPRODUCING PIANOS
THE FAMOUS "STUDIO GRAND"
"The First Touch Tells"
(Reg. U. 8. Pat. Off.)
The Original Home of Studio Pianos,
Upright, Players and Grands.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO., Inc.
597 Eaat 137th Street.
NEW YORK
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/