Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE: MUSIC TRADE: REIVIEIW
THE REVIEW'S TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT.
Conducted and Edited by Win. B. White.
[Contributions are invited for this department from members of the industry bearing strictly on the practical side
of the craft
Communications must be signed with the name and address of the sender
The editor ac-
cepts no responsibility for the opinions of correspondents.]
The following letter deserves more than pass-
ing consideration, since it opens up a question
of great interest that has been by no means thor-
oughly thrashed out. While the comments that
we append to it may be taken as the measure of
our opinion on the subject, this is not to say that
they are not susceptible of correction. On the
contrary, we should be very glad to hear from
any of our circle of readers who may feel in-
clined to favor us with views of their own:
Editor Technical Department:
Sir:—In the course of your various interesting
articles you have not as yet touched upon the
different ideas that have from time to time been
put forward for the better holding and bridging
of the strings. I refer to the "capo d'astro"
bars and other forms of bearing bridge. For my
own part, I think that the "capo d'astro bar"
is by no means good for uprights, and at the
same time I have little more respect for the
agraffe, believing that there is nothing so good
as the regular pressure bar. It is different in the
case of grands, I suppose, but 1 never could see
just why. I have always felt that the agraffes
and "capo d'astro bars" were a nuisance and
made the tuner's work harder without improving
the bearing qualities of the plate. Can you let
us have your opinion as to the relative advan-
tages of these different devices, so that we may
have an authoritative view?
Respectfully,
JOHN BROWNE.
pulled out that the agraffe lost its pristine repu-
tation and led the makers finally to adopt a dif-
ferent plan. The first idea was put into practical
shape by Herz, and was the same in general fea-
tures as the now prevalent pressure bar. In
this case the holes are done away with and the
thrust of the strings is given by the curved shape
of the bearing surface of the bar. The latter is
constructed very solidly and secured in place by
screws placed at short intervals. The pressure
bar is almost universal in this country on up-
right instruments, and has even been tried with
good results on some grands. It has the general
advantage of homogeneity, and being solid and
continuous, affords a superior bearing for the
strings.
13
properly built, and shown up, a good idea will
quickly be taken up by the public, provided
it lessens time, trouble and expense, and accom-
plishes the customary results in a satisfactory
manner.
"The short cut represented by my invention is
not intended to benefit those who have already
gotten through their musical education, but for
beginners, and for those who find it hard to ad-
vance beyond the natural scale. There are many
in the latter class who have not only lost hope in
themselves, but faith in their own children ever
advancing beyond their own stopping-place.
Hence their refusal to give encouragement or
opportunity in that line.
"For the benefit of these, as well as the makers
and dealers, I am anxious to see this keyboard
on the market, and to read of it in The Review
under such circumstances. 1 feel sure that in
this position my patent, would be a money-maker
to all concerned.
G. L. NOK.
"P. S.—I believe in specializing; let manufac-
turers manufacture', and inventors invent, each to
do his part and encourage the other."
The above letter is really most pleasing from
every point of view. Whether we consider the
altogether charming naTveti" 1 of the writer's views,
or the obvious sincerity with which he utters
them, we cannot fail to be attracted. It is true
that he runs counter to accepted notions, and
that the idea is strange of a class of inventors
who shall be entirely devoid of mechanical knowl-
edge, but shall stand loftily apart, waiting to en-
trust the mental results of their flashes of in-
spiration to the sordid hands of mechanics and
others, in order that the petty details of develop-
ment may be left to those who have never felt
the divine afflatus. We must confess that the
prospect thus opened up is less attractive when
viewed by the cold eye of the investigator. We
feel that the unmechanical inventor is likely to
be an unpractical inventor, than whom there is
really no greater nuisance, as any manufacturer
will testify. Of course, as we have already had
occasion to say, Mr. Noe's patent is by no means
unpractical, but needs only improvement in cer-
tain details in order to make it a very attractive
and useful arrangement. Mr. Noe, however, takes
the position that it is wrong to expect an inventor
to be a mechanic, and he apparently is convinced
that it is altogether too much to ask that so lofty
a person should put his ideas into such shape
by a man who has been able to produce so in-
genious a device that a concrete working result
may be seen. We are really pained and surprised
at the expression of so remarkable a viewpoint.
But the thought occurs that perhaps Mr. Noe is
just having his little joke with us. In that case
all that has been set down here would be some-
what lacking in point. Nevertheless, we are will-
ing to risk the imputation of irrelevancy, in that
case at least.
There is no reason why the pressure bar
should not be regarded as the ideal device,
at least in our opinion. For it has the obvious
merits of simplicity, and comparative cheap-
ness, to say nothing more of its practical effi-
ciency. Of late years, however, there has been
a tendency on the part of some makers to adopt
the "capo d'astro bar." This is simply a pres-
sure bar cast into the plate, as an integral part
of the iron framing. Its advocates claim for it
that it possesses solidity and rigid bearing, and
performs its duties in a superior manner. The
major part of these claims may be admitted, but
we have considerable doubts as to the superior-
ity of the manner in which the "capo d'astro'
We are glad to have the opportunity of taking does its work. In the first place, it must always
up this interesting matter. In the first place, be very heavy, and contain a large mass of
we must ask ourselves what is the exact func- metal. This has a tendency to encourage the
tion of the bearing bridge. Obviously it is put in undue production of dissonant upper partials,
place to impart a thrust to the strings and hold and thus to impart a metallic and harsh quality
them securely in position against the impact of of tone to such strings as come within its influ-
the hammers. It will be remembered that the ence. For this reason, its chief utility may be
thrust is always in an upward direction, and found in the upper treble regions, where the
that the tuning pin is therefore placed in a dif- kind of tone described is more useful, or less
ferent plane from the speaking length of the objectionable, than elsewhere. For grands, per-
haps, the "capo d'astro" is to be commended, al-
strings; above them in the grand, and forward though rather negatively than positively. We
of them in the upright. The second function of have never held that the "capo d'astro" is the
the bearing bridge is to keep the strings securely last word in the bearing-bridge question, and
in their relative positions and to limit the speak- therefore we are glad to note the success which
ing lengths at the upper end. Now, it is well has attended the introduction of the pressure
known that there are three devices commonly bar into the scale of one of the most celebrated
used, either alone or in combination with one an- small grands now on the market.
other. These are the agraffe, the pressure bar
Our correspondent will doubtless be able to
and the capo d'astro. We put them down in
chronological order, the first having been the in- gather from the foregoing that our sympathies
vention of Erard, of Paris. This celebrated are generally in accord with his, and we trust
We are likewise glad to acknowledge a com-
maker, who also. perfected the double repetition that this little disquisition may not be without
munication from E. E. Murtaugh, of Marquette,
action for the grand, was the first to use agraffes enlightenment to him.
Mich. Mr. Murtaugh's letter deals with the ques-
for the purpose of giving an upward, as opposed
We beg to acknowledge receipt of a letter from tion of strain on the framing of pianofortes, and
to the then prevailing downward thrust to the
our old friend, G. L. Noe, of Elcho, Nev. It
strings. The application of this latter idea was may be considered both in the light of a reply covers much the same ground as that recently
one of the epochal improvements in pianoforte tc our recent criticisms of his patented trans- traversed by Mr. Paul Germann. We shall notice
construction ,and is entitled to rank with the posing keyboard, and as a general contribution Mr. Murtaugh's letter next week, if space can be
great inventions of John Broadwood the first and to the ever-new question of the practicability of found for it.
Jonas Chickering.
the ideas of inventors. We therefore feel that it
Communications for this department should be
addressed to the Editor, Technical Department.
For a long time the agraffe was the favorite will be interesting to our readers:
"Your columns of March 4 gave me a most The Music Trade Review.
bearing device. It consisted, then and now, of
a brass stud, screwed into the frame of the in- happy surprise, when I saw that your attention
strument, and pierced with the required number was directed to my new style keyboard. The
AUSTIN CO. GIVE SHORTER DAY.
of holes, at an angle which imparted the proper little mechanical imperfections spoken of are
(Special to The Heview.)
thrust to the strings. In many ways this device what make such matters interesting. I mean by
Hartford, Conn., April 24, 1905.
is useful and good. It supports the strings with that they call the attention of talented minds to
A nine-hour day will go into effect at the Aus-
ease, and in a manner at once simple and effec- them, on account of their very existence.
"Your columns provide interesting reading for tin Organ Co.'s plant on May 1, as a result of a
tive. On the other hand, however, the agraffe
is always liable to be pulled out on account of master mechanics. I imagine their looks and conference, Monday, between the officers of the
the excessive strain of the strings, and this feelings when they conceive the lack of mechani- company and a committee of employes, composed
even when it is secured through the iron cal knowledge displayed by inventors. In this of three foremen and two workmen.
The men claim they can do as much work in
plate. Moreover, there is no question that age of specializing we will admit that we (the
agraffes are a nuisance to the tuner, inas- inventors) are not advanced in the mechanical nine hours as they are now doing in ten, and also
much as they present an obstacle to the free professions. On the other hand, we claim to be asked that there be no reduction in pay.
The change affects eighty to ninety men, and
movement of the strings, through them as well a step ahead of them. We blaze the trail, ex-
as through the belly-bridge pins. It was, how- pecting them to follow, and make improvements, makes an increase of $6,000 to $7,000 a year in
ever, chiefly on account of its liability to be and put our ideas into shape for public use. If the company's expenses.
>