Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
terially until the principal parts, those made on
dies and templates especially, are standardized.
The economies established by a change in dies
and templates would continue, while the loss would
By Stanley W. Widney, of Widney & Widney, Chicago, III.
end with the change. In the end the gain is greater
Kventually all manufactured products reach a o.ne make, finds difficulty in securing his prede- than the loss.
Jt might be well to consider that the attitude of
form of so-called "standardization"' of parts that termined results.
go to make up a synchronizing of the article man-
The teaching of artistic player manipulation at the owner toward the player action which has
ufactured. Standardization means the use of uni- present is practically limited to one particular been sold to him as a piece of mechanism only is
form materials under uniform conditions.
make, because the different system of levers for not such as to inspire o.thers, who look upon music
The player-piano has not yet reached this stage, the control of the same working parts makes it as an art, to become enraptured, and, while in
therefore is not a "standardized instrument" in impracticable for a general school for the player. that blissful state of mind, to loosen their purse
strings to the purchase of the combination instru-
An impression also prevails that the so-called
so far as its manufacture is concerned. The
standardization idea has not advanced in the piano "talking po.ints" may be lost by standardization. ment.
The "talking points" having been talked out to
industry, nor reached the stage of development it There is also a feeling among piano manufactur-
has in many other lines. Naturally, standardiza- ers that the use of any standard part or number a great degree at the present time, and the interest
of parts by the maker of a strictly "commercial" of the public being largely centered in the artistic
tion should first obtain in the manufacturing of
the regular piano, which we might say was the piano makes it unfit for use on a more expensive rather than the mechanical, the loss is theoretical
parent industry compared with the player-piano. instrument because of the alleged impression given only.
Standardization will serve to bring the piano
Once the piano parts are standardized, in so far as that the buyer can purchase the same player action,
into prominence, and unless the piano is exploited
is reasonably possible, working out the standard- and sometimes, inferentially, the same worth of
piano, at a lower price. These are deduction fal- through the stimulation of interest in art the re-
ization of player parts would be more simple.
sult of the publicity methods of the hour will be
One of the first things noticed upon entering the lacies.
the displacement of hand playing, whereas the
Talking points, based on technicalities which
manufacturing end of the piano trade is the forti-
player
should stimulate hand playing.
are
understood
only
by
the
mechanical
engineer
fied attitude of some of the manufacturers against
Standardization will stimulate a greater interest
any movement toward standardization, particularly designing the player action, are accepted or re-
when it becomes necessary to consider the product jected by the prospective purchaser largely on be- among the makers of parts—steel manufacturers,
player hardware makers and felt concerns—in the
of a competitor. The most prevalent reason is lief. While it is true the issue between salesman
that their instrument is the only and original per- and customer is frequently on mechanical lines, success of the piano maker. The interest of this
great contingency will become an important factor
fected one. If the other manufacturers would con- acoustic and artistic ideas should predominate in
form to their specifications, very well and good— the sale and purchase of a piano or player-piano. in the business and will reduce the expense of
The upkeep on a reasonable basis of expense is publicity and sales amo.ng these industries, and
tine. On the other hand, these same manufactur-
ers are terribly wrought up and indignant if a not calculable by a customer, save on the assump- consequently reduce the cost of the finished piano.
The future of the piano player is one to con-
competitor gets out a case design similar to their tion that the maker shall always be in business.
jure with. Its final place, conserved by judicious
Opposition to standardization may come from
own.
production methods which shall simplify rather
There are many parts which might be standard- the situation in which many manufacturers now
than augment the construction and operation, will
find
themselves,
having
devised
special
machinery
ized without affecting the individuality of the in-
be one of great import in the commercial and
adapted
to
the
patterns
now
in
use,
the
new
adapt-
strument. The individuality, character or sort of
artistic development of the country's musical lead-
ation
of
which
might
entail
considerable
expense.
a piano, after all, is only indirectly associated with
ership.
The
cost
of
production
cannot
be
reduced
ma-
its mechanical parts—more directly with its artistic
THE STANDARDIZATION OF PIANO PLAYER PARTS.
features.
It is conceded among piano manufacturers that
the automobile industry is far in advance of the
piano industry in standardization of parts. The
"standardized car" is a result of the response of
the public to this idea. The arguments advanced
in their sales talks are strong and logical. Owners
of cars, the manufacturers of which have gone out
of business or changed designs, experience great
difficulty in the replacement of parts. This is
bound to be an important factor in the future of
the player. The manufacturer who is strong on
the standardization of parts will receive first con-
sideration from the purchaser.
Standardization promotes the distribution of the
products for which we, as a manufacturing nation,
are noted.
The player-piano occupies a definite place in
music—a place won after many vicissitudes in the
way of obstructions, born originally of inherent
antipathy to the suggestion that anything me-
chanical in operation could be termed artistic in its
output. It filled the well-known "long-felt want,"
and many a music lover who, lacking the training,
took up the player and to-day is filled with joy
and satisfaction because of this medium for the
expression of the feelings of his inner soul—of his
hopes and desires.
W.ith its many improvements and general use-
fulness in inculcating a fundamental desire for a
further knowledge of music and musical literature
the player-piano now is a permanent factor in
musical instrument manufacture.
Multiplicity in the production of player-pianos
should mean increased profit and an enlargement
of the piano industry. Standardization of parts
that enter into certain settled lines of work will
add one more factor in the ascending scale of
output.
At the present time nearly all parts are made
special at an added expense, with an infinite va-
riety of individual parts. This makes for final
co.nfusion, inasmuch as it has been determined
that the ability to operate a player-piano of one
make does not permit of the intelligent handling
of an instrument of a different source of manu-
facture.
This fact very often operates disadvanta-
geously in the selling, for a prospect, having used
Siller Piano Player
vs. Put it I M ubuf Piano
This is the Answer to the
Trade-In Proposition
MANUFACTURED BY
SIGLER PIANO PLAYER CO.,
Offices and Salesrooms
Sigler Building, 30 N. Second St.
Factory
426-428 Market St.