Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
13
Being a Discussion of the Power-Driven Player-Piano in Which Some
Technical Possibilities in Regard to This Instrument Are Considered—
How the Present System of Pneumatics and Valves Can be Cut in Half.
We are free to confess that our first idea of sat-
isfaction as regards the playing of music through
the medium of the pneumatic mechanism is to be
found in the snappy responsive foot-touch of a
well-made bellows system. At the same time due
regard for the truth compels the admission that
neither the success of Jhe trade with the public in
pushing the foot-driven player nor the efficiency of
that player itself is as yet sufficiently well defined
to make one feel confident as to its future. The
truth is that those who don't care for the artistic
manipulation of the player-piano are asking why
they should have to pump at all; while those who
have mastered the pedal technic are now asking
whether the utility and efficiency of the player can-
not be increased without impojing additional physi-
cal burdens. In short, the ignorant don't want the
physical effort, while the real player-pianists want
more results from their efforts.
Motor Drag.
Now, some not small experience with all sorts
of players has led us to the persuasion, now more
recently deepened by experiment into conviction,
that the principal single element in promoting the
efficiency of the foot-driven bellows is to be found
in what may be called the "motor drag." The
pneumatic motor derives its running power from
the same bellows which operate the speaking pneu-
matics, wherefore upon these bellows is imposed
a duty which they are ill fitted to perform in addi-
tion to their other and equally important duties.
The point, of course, is that the motor requires
steady, while the speaking pneumatic demands un-
steady, flow of power. It is true that an elaborate
system of governance is applied to the motor so
that the air flowing from it at the behest of the
bellows is subjected to a sort of remixture and re-
distribution wit.i the purpose of preserving a steady
flow of air at a given rate of displacement irre-
spective of changes in pedaling. But of course it
is evident that the pedal work must be sufficiently
constant to maintain the minimum pressure at
which the motor governor is set to collapse. But
this minimum pressure may be higher than that at
which the speaking pneumatics are required at
some particular instant to operate. Moreover, even
with the motor pressure fixed at the highest prac-
ticable point, it is a common and well-founded
complaint that the motor cannot be made to run
fast enough for special requirements. In any case,
therefore, the motor drag is serious even when
considered only in respect of the pressure at which
it must be operated.
When we consider amperage instead of voltage,
as it were, or quantity instead of pressure, we find
ourselves in an equally unfortunate position. For
experiment shows that not less than 40 per cent.,
and often more, of the total amount of effort put
into pedaling is expended in the act of running
the motor. Thus, the foot-driven bellows must
either be relieved from the task of providing power
for the motor, or else must be superseded by some
haust set to the regular bellows system, such as has
already been done more or less widely by various
manufacturers. For, if the player is not right
when made with foot-driven bellows system, it
should be changed from end to end. To make a
player on the understanding that it is to be driven
in one way and then to hang another system of
driving onto it is to produce a hybrid. If the foot-
driven method is right, the other should be cut out
entirely. If the motor-driven method is right, then
the whole player should be redesigned to take care
of the new conditions. For it is plain that with
the introduction of the motor you at once elimi-
nate the necessity for an ordinary bellows system.
You can use, for instance, a small multiplex fan,
direct motor-driven, which may be placed out in
the garage, or in the barn, or downstairs by the
furnace, or in the bathroom, or anywhere you
please. Then you can eliminate the old bellows
system with its exhausters and with its equalizers,
using governors for motor and expression. With
such a system, furthermore, the power can always
be delivered at high tension. The power will al-
ways be at a maximum, and therefore the non-
speaking parts of the action, such as motor, expres-
sion governors, sustaining pedal pneumatics or other
devices, will work on tension much higher than
normally used for playing. This of course, will
Separate Source of Pneumatic Power.
It should be observed that the retention of foot mean that all these devices can be made very small,
while at the same time they will work instantly
pumping is in many ways very important. Foot
pumping, if only the "motor drag" could be elimi- and will be entirely separate from the work of the
speaking pneumatics.
nated, would be found to possess many important
The motor, of cou~se, in an arrangement like
advantages. Half the joy of using the player-
piano comes from the "touch" control felt through this, can be governed for the highest poss'ble
the pedals. No method of moving a lever or de- speeds without any effect upon the playing. Like-
pressing a button gives the same reaction to the wise it could be smaller.
For the speaking pneumatics the tension will be
emotions as deliberate pressure upon a resisting,
yet yielding, pedal invariably gives. This quality governed down through regular expression gov-
of emotional reaction is something which the ernors. In the case of the double divided action,
player manufacturers cannot afford to eliminate, in order to retain the desirable pedal "touch" and
for when they have eliminated it they will have control, the expression governors could be con-
gone a long way toward eliminating the player- nected with regular foot pedals by levers running
to the expansion springs of the governors. Tien,
piano itself.
Why, therefore, should it not be possible simply if the normal at-rest position of each pedal cor-
responded to the lowest tension of the spring and
to eliminate the motor drag by the expedient of
providing a power-driven sourse of energy for the the lightest possible playing, the higher tensions
motor alone? In other words, why not retain the could be had merely by pressing the foot down a
original motor, motor governor and tempo-box, little more or less, ju?t like the balanced crescendo
but attach these to a small auxiliary pumping set, pedal of the organ.
This idea in essence has already been worked
electric motor-driven? This arrangement would
have the effect of eliminating the motor drag while out for his own amusement by an eminent consult-
retaining the pumping feature for the actual play- ing engineer,'who resides in an Eastern city and
ing and greatly increasing the power available whose acquaintance we are proud to possess.
There is no doubt that such a method as we have
therefor. Tnis would mean to produce much bet-
ter and more widely extended effects, to reduce so roughly outlined could be worked out with suc-
the physical effort, and lastly, though by no means cess.
The electric motor-driven player should be a
least, to eliminate the foot-pumping for rewind.
It does seem that this would be a simple and ef- real player reworked throughout in every detail.
Remember, also, that with this system the pres-
fective arrangement, well worth trying out.
ent awkward size of pneumatics and valves can be
Motor-Driven Bellows.
We are not by any means satisfied with the ex- cut in half. Will somebody have the courage to
pedient of attaching an auxiliary motor-driven ex- make the attempt?
other form of power provision, unless the popu-
larity of the player is sooner or later to decline.
Value of Retaining Pneumatic Motor Power.
In the first place, however, it must be said that,
apart from phrase-recorded rolls, which are sup-
posed to travel at constant speed, no form of
motor, either developed or suggested, as yet com-
pares with the pneumatic system for responsive-
ness and general capacity for instantaneous changes
of speed. Now the essence of the art of phras-
ing, as far as regards the player-piano, is in
making the necessary changes of roll speed instan-
taneously. Certain peculiarities of accent, certain
turns and graces in the effect given to a melody,
are impossible without constant change of motor
speed. Without this, even a phrase-recorded roll
has a certain woodenness of effect. The straight
cut roll is of course musically impossible without
the highly responsive motor.
In all attempts to supersede the pneumatic motor
the quality of responsiveness has been absent from
the attempted substitutions, so that the supremacy
of this form remains for the time being virtually
unchallenged. There remains to consider the pos-
sibility, therefore, of eliminating its "drag" from
the sum total of duties piled on the overworked
bellows system.
The Master Player-Piano
is now equipped with an
AUTOMATIC TRACKING DEVICE
Which guarantees absolutely correct tracking of even the most imperfect music rolls
W I N T E R & CO., 220 Southern Boulevard, New York City