Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SPECIALTY TALKS.
offering the rattle boxes, of which the
market is full, at a figure which does not
even cover what the labor costs in a well-
QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED BY THE " REVIEW
UPON THE LIVE MATTERS OF THE DAY AND made piano, is deplorable and must cer-
tainly come to an end sooner or later.
ANSWERED BY LEADING MEN IN THE TRADE.
REVIEW—To get at the real gist of the
matter, it would almost seem that the
Interview XX.—Paul H. Zeidler.
piano industry, as an industry, is not a
purely artistic cne. But the manufacture
HIS is the twentieth interview which country certainly claims the honor of pro- of a high grade of pianos is an artistic
ducing the best pianos made (and I am branch of the business. Is this your
THE REVIEW has published under the
view?
above head.
These "Specialty Talks" sorry to say, also enjoys the reputation of
MR. ZEIDLER—It is. A piano made as it
have created widespread interest, inas- making the rankest in the world). With
much as they present to our readers the the enormous resources and facilities should be, can most assuredly be termed a
offered, there is no reason why America work of art.
personal views of prominent members of
REVIEW—Do you think the general ten-
the trade upon matters which aie of live should not take the lead in almost any
manufactured article, as the push, enter- dency of case work design tends to an
interest.
It should be understood that the answers prise and brains concentrated in that di- elaboration or a simplification of present
to our inquiries are published in every in- rection will certainly lead to the highest day ideas?
MR. ZEIDLER—The general tendency will
stance without editorial criticism.
Each results obtainable.
REVIEW—We judge we are correct in our be to make more artistic cases, as that part
" T a l k " fairly expresses the sentiment of
the individual under whose name it ap- surmise, Mr. Zeidler, that it is not an easy of the piano has been shamefully neglected
matter to place a high grade instrument on and abused. The majority of the pianos
pears rather than the editorial belief of
made the present day are of the same de-
THE REVIEW. There is no distortion, no
sign used twenty-five years ago, and prob-
boiling down, and in every case the an-
ably somewhat worse, as the original de-
swers are published without change or
signs have been copied, re-copied and
comment, thus preserving the individuality
specially cheapened ad nauseam.
of ideas of the person whom we have
REVIEW—Is the demand for grands in-
interviewed.
creasing? Do you deem it probable that
The " T a l k s " have been extended to
among the better class of piano purchasers,
every branch of the trade, and have been of
the bijou grand will ultimately supersede
great value inasmuch as they have invari-
the upright grand?
ably touched upon important trade topics.
MR. ZEIDLER—The demand for grands
Our interview this week is with Paul M.
has increased considerably during the last
Zeidler, of Strich & Zeidler, piano makers.
five years, and will certainly become great-
er as the knowledge of tonal qualities in-
REVIEW—We presume, Mr. Zeidler, that
creases, for the upright will be unsatisfac-
the term "practical piano man" should be
tory where responsiveness, volume of tone
sufficiently comprehensive to denote that
and delicacy of touch are required. These
rara avis, the skilled acoustician, the scien-
are only obtainable in a grand piano, owing
tific scale drawer, who possesses, in addi-
to the difference in construction, relative
tion to these accomplishments, the faculty
position of action to strings, etc.
for appreciating, criticising and improving
REVIEW — In what department of piano
the efforts of the piano case designer.
construction do you consider there is the
Your extended experience in the Steinway
greatest scope for the display of the inven-
factory, together with the fact that in the
tive genius of piano makers?
development of the Strich & Zeidler pianos
PAUL M. ZEIDLER.
MR. ZEIDLER—This is a very difficult
you have fully demonstrated your special
aptitude as a piano maker and inventor, the market with a tolerably sure degree of question to answer without going into de-
tail, and would probably take too much of
makes any observations you may feel dis- ultimate success?
There is a great
posed to make on the piano question of
MR. ZEIDLER—It is certainly a difficult your valuable space.
scope for some inventive genius to improve
unique and special interest.
matter to figure on the ultimate success of
From personal knowledge, Mr. Zeidler, anything. But I believe that with perse- the present day action, the touch and
THE REVIEW gives you credit for being a verance, careful management, and an in- above all the tone, for I do not think that
conscientious piano maker, with whom strument made on merit, success is sure to scientific perfection has been reached or
commercial success is really secondary to be the reward in the end. It may be a trifle discovered, that there are certain deficien-
artistic achievement.
This may sound slow in coming, as a high grade piano cies and imperfections which can and will
complimentary, but we believe it is a correct naturally means a high-priced one, and be overcome. The study of acoustics is
view of the case.
anything which is high-priced takes a yet in its infancy, and the progress sure to
It has frequently been stated, by men longer time to actually get a foot-hold, than be made in this neglected branch will,
sooner or later, enable us to overcome cer-
who can certainly lay claim to compe- a cheaper article.
REVIEW—Do you consider the demand tain deficiencies and imperfections.
tency in affairs relating to piano matters,
REVIEW—Do you consider that the aver-
that the really skilled experts in the piano for the better grade of pianos on the in-
business in America are few and far be- crease, or is the purely commercial in- age high grade piano action for both
tween; this being so, how is it, that, not- stinct among the greater proportion of upright and grand pianos, is reasonably
withstanding this state of affairs, the piano purchasers so strong that price is perfected ?
MR. ZEIDLER—The present day action is
American piano, on the testimony of lead- taken into consideration more than quality ?
ing experts of both continents, in point of
MR. ZEIDLER—The demand for better not by any means, in construction, perfect;
tone, touch, finish, durability and workman- grade pianos will certainly increase, in pro- simplification is the great desideratum,
ship, leads the world?
portion as the public becomes more enlight- combined with improved elasticity and
MR. ZEIDLER—Some of our American ened, educated, and more refined in artistic power. There are many other objection-
pianos are better, but the majority are no and musical tastes; then it will mean qual- able features, prominent among them being
better or worse than the ordinary commer- ity more than price. The deception and the susceptibility of the materials used to
cial piano made the world over. This temptation which is practiced to-day in the influence of climate and temperature.
T