Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC
fkAbE REVIEW
The Greater Standardization of Music Rolls and Tracking Devices Should
Receive Earnest Attention at Coming Executive Sessions—Technical Mat-
ters That Should Be Carefully Considered—Some Work for Practical Men.
Within a week or so after the publication of
these words, the executive committees of the Manu-
facturers and Merchants Associations will meet
severally in New York. We are informed by
Paul B. Klugh, who is a member of both asso-
ciations and prominent in the conduct of their af-
fairs, that his plan for the amalgamation of all
trade bodies into a music trade Chamber of Com-
merce will be taken up. As a natural conclusion
from this it is safe to assume that representatives
of every branch of the industry will be present,
and we may therefore expect to see player-piano
manufacturers and dealers, supply men, music roll
perforators and tuners gathered together for the
discussion of this subject.
Roll Standardization.
Now F. W. Teeple, of the Price & Teeple Piano
Co., has already, through these columns, proposed
that a conference should be organized at the time
of the coming meetings for the purpose of taking
up, amplifying and further cementing the resolu-
tions already adopted four years ago at the Chicago
conference, when the present dimensions of music
rolls were settled. It is Mr. Teeple's contention,
in which we whole-heartedly concur, that standard-
ization is essential in the newly arisen branch of
the industry represented by the power-driven
player-piano. His special plea is for a conference
to frame a standard method of laying out the ex-
pressive perforations on tracker-bar and music roll
for instruments of the power-driven type. We
feel that this subject is quite as important as any
that can be brought up before the coming meet-
ings, and we venture to think that it is a good deal
more important than some of the politics to which
so much attention is usually given on these occa-
sions.
Anyhow, one thing is certain. We have asked
the opinion of a goodly number of men in the
trade whose views count for something, and all
agree that standardization of roll and tracker-bar
expressive perforations is of the utmost Importance.
In a recent communication on this subject Major
Corley, president of the Merchants' Association,
remarks: "I am thoroughly in accord with any
movement for the standardization of music rolls
for electrically-driven player-pianos. It seems to
me a case that would admit of no argument against
its cause, therefore I trust the movement will re-
ceive the support it deserves." In the same way
we understand that the president of the Manufac-
turers Association is in sympathy with the move-
ment. In fact, it is extremely hard to see why
there should be any opposition except from the
narrowest opportunistic motives. And it is cer-
tain that any advantage that might be derived by
any concern from limiting its instruments to the
use of one edition of rolls specially prepared for
it would be counterbalanced by the natural dislike
of retailers for any system which involves con-
fusion of stock and general inconvenience. The
history of the player trade is the history of stand-
ardization. How foolish to neglect an opportunity
to take a step in this right direction!
Roll Dimensions.
The proposed conference, which would, of
course, be under the wing of the committees and
would represent the entire sentiment of the trade,
might well consider another matter. It is the ex-
perience of retailers and of manufacturers alike
that a prolific cause of trouble in the use of music
rolls arises from lack of uniformity in the dimen-
sioning of the flanges. The difficulties complained
of are found mainly in details. Sockets, into which
the chucks of the player fit, are found to vary
widely in depth and diameter. Flanges are uneven
in thickness. The cores are uneven in width. There
i; complaint of occasional carelessness in winding
the paper on the core. All this means, of course,
tracking troubles, and it will be admitted that no
matter how infallible anybody may believe any
tracking device to be we should be much happier,
all of us, if there were no need for anything of
the sort. Improvement of the roll in the direc-
tion of uniformity would do much to eliminate
tracking difficulties. Every practical man knows
that this is true. Here is another subject for the
proposed conference.
Make the Conference Annual.
It would by no means be extravagant, in fact,
to propose that this conference be not only insti-
tuted this year but be made an annual affair. If
Mr. Klugh's amalgamation plan goes through there
will be sections devoted to the various branches of
the musical industry, for the reason that all the
original associations will retain their individuality.
The special advantage of amalgamation lies in the
fact that a much more representative gathering
can be had once a year, and there will be much
more convenience in securing consideration of
really important matters. At the present moment,
not to be too meticulous, it is only fair to say that
important technical subjects common to the in-
terests of all the trade are simply ignored at the
annual conventions because nobody capable of
proposing their consideration and contributing ef-
ficiently thereto, has any special say about anything.
There are a few practical men high up in the
associations; but they are very few. The technical
side of the industry is virtually ignored. Yet the
technical men, above all others', are the very men
to be heard on broad matters connected with the
improvement of output. Suppose that from the
conference there should emerge a musico-pneumatic
engineers' association, composed of men actually
engaged in the practical engineering of the player
industry. There is need for such an association,
to meet annually, to publish its transactions and
gradually to work itself into a position where it
will be the recognized authority in musical pneu-
matics. We need such an authority. Under the
Klugh plan there is room for an organization like
this. Cannot we have it?
These few suggestions are thrown out with the
hope that the men who meet next month in New
York will display a willingness to consider the
broad interests of the trade, and will bring them-
selves to see that the prosperity of the piano and
player trade alike depend upon co-operation and
harmonious inter-action. This business of ours has
been for generations trained in the idea that each
little shop has its own little secrets which it is
death to disclose and which no one else ever
dreams of hoping to penetrate. Yet the fact is
that all the trade secrets in the business put to-
gether in a row would not exceed in length the
height of the proverbial hill of beans. Every up-
to-date piano and player manufacturer is ac-
quainted with the methods of his rivals; nor
do the facts especially improve the technical posi-
tion of the industry. In fact, most of the alleged
trade secrets are merely so much tradition and no
more.
HAINES BROS. PLAYER IN CANADA.
(Special to The Review.)
TORONTO, ONT., January 24.—A new Haines
Bros, player has just been introduced by the man-
ufacturers, the Foster-Armstrong Co., Ltd., To-
ronto and Berlin. This is a Louis XV design
somewhat similar to its Louis XV De Luxe, but
with less carving. J. W. Woodham, manager of
the Foster-Armstrong Co., is quite pleased with
this latest product of its factory, which has already
received substantial indorsement of the dealers.
The Mason & Hamlin concert grand piano will
be used on the afternoon of February 4 at a Chopin
recital to be given by Herbert Fryer, pianist, in aid
of funds for suffering soldiers abroad.
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