Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 63 N. 25 - Page 47
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A DEFENSE OF AMERICAN FELT
(Continued from page 45)
And so it is with the piano manufacturer in
his tone regulating. A good felt and a good
hammer are sometimes ruined in this depart-
ment, and occasionally by good experienced
regulators. Here it is also that the hammer
is often blamed for other defects such as im-
perfect strings, poor sounding boards, defective
plates, etc. Quite often I have submitted sample
hammers made from the same sheet of felt,
made by the same hammer coverer to two or
three different manufacturers, and I have had
opposite reports on them. How can one ac-
count for these apparent differences of opin-
ion? My experience has been that the trouble
is not always with the felt, or in the hammers,
but has been located in some other member.
Every part that goes into the instrument must
be perfect, and their combination must har-
monize in order to obtain proper results.
As to imported felts being superior to do-
mestic felts, this is not true. It is a matter of
opinion, of preference, of a talking point for'the
dealer, and T believe a little prejudice. Quality
for quality, just as good felts are made in this
country as are built elsewhere, and equally as
good, if not better pianos are manufactured here
than abroad.
There are manufacturers, who claim that the
various imported supplies they use are superior
to the corresponding domestic products, but can
you find one of them who will admit that his
piano is inferior to that made in foreign coun-
tries? It is quite to the contrary. They at-
tribute it to better workmanship and granting
this to be the fact, why should not this apply
to wire, tuning pins and especially felts, when
the same raw material and machinery are ap-
plied? In many instances it is but a matter
of price. The piano manufacturer and the ham-
mer coverer as well, expect the domestic felt
manufacturer to produce as good or even better
felt in this country, for less money than that
which they are obliged to pay for the imported
article. Good sound judgment and experience
tells us that this cannot be done. Foreign wools
such as are used in imported felts are brought
into this country and used in this endeavor, but
the vast difference in the cost of labor makes
our products more expensive.
One of the leading piano manufacturers in this
country using the best grade of hammer felt
manufactured by the Standard Felt Co. (there
are four distinctive grades), expressed art opin-
ion nearly a year ago, after receiving a trial
shipment, that they were sorry they had not
used this merchandise sooner, as they were ob-
taining better results than they had ever here-
tofore. Formerly, this concern used imported
felts exclusively. Many gratifying reports of
similar nature have been received and we think
that if anyone is truly sincere and willing to
be convinced, that by giving the domestic ham-
mer felt manufacturers the opportunity to dem-
onstrate, quality for quality, with any imported;
he will be well pleased and better satisfied by
using material "Made in America." This ap-
plies as well to the dealer who uses the imported
article as a talking point for selling his goods,
and who on this account is able to get a few
dollars more from the consumer for his instru-
ment. On the other hand, if it is a case of
prejudice, or with the expectation of getting
more for his money here than abroad, he would
be wasting not only his own time, but that of
the domestic felt manufacturer as well. The
importer of hammer felt can be convinced only
when he shows a desire to be convinced, and
we are prepared to extend that service to manu-
facturers at any time.
SOME REASONS FOR THE INCREASED COST OF PLATES
Iron Prices Have Steadily Advanced Since the Beginning of the War, Due to the Enormous De-
^rnand for Export Trade—All Foundry Materials Have Also Gone Skyward
The piano plate situation continues to attract
considerable prominence, both on account of
the steadily increasing cost and the steadily in-
creasing shortage. It is, therefore, decidedly in-
teresting to get some concrete ideas of what the
increased cost of production involves and to
what extent it exists.
On the most important articles, or the articles
which are used in the greatest quantities in
making a piano plate, the increases have been
the highest. All of them were above 100 per
cent, and averaging more than 150 per cent. In
iron, the highest prices in the history of the
industry prevail, and a chart in the November
30 issue of the Iron Trade Review gives a won-
derful comparison of prices showing foundry
iron on December 15, 1889, at $18.15 a ton and
November 22, 1916, $26 a ton at the furnace.
' Today, two weeks later, the same iron is quoted
at $30 a ton at the furnace. From 1889 to the
present time the highest price reached in this
iron prior to 1916 was $22.15, which was quoted
on December 15, 1899, but this price did not last
very long at that time.
Since that time there has been a steady in-
crease in prices, with no weakening of the mar-
kets, until the price has now reached $30, or at
least the market price is said to be $30, but
actual buying in a great many cases shows
premiums of $1 to $2 a ton, although the sales
are now running high. As an example, during
The Ohio Veneer Co.
CINCINNATI, O.
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
m
New York Office and Sample Room
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN, Eastern RepreaentatWe
the past week iron was sold in Columbus for
$32.50 a ton, and $45 iron is already talked of.
At present it is hard to see any reason for
iron not coming to $45 a ton because there is,
of course, none being imported, great quantities
are being exported, all home demand is greater
than ever before, and the world's pig iron out-
put was less than 1915, and is less this year
than it was in 1913.
From the time prices started to rise, during
our present period of prosperity, greater in-
creases have been made in iron and steel prices
than in any other articles with the possible ex-
ception of some imported goods and drugs. The
miscellaneous foundry materials, such as rosin,
plumbago, sea coal, talc, etc., have increased on
an average from 70 to 80 per cent. Coke has
increased 260 per cent, and iron more than 50
per cent. On finished articles made from steel
we find an increase of 110 per cent, in files, 140
per cent, in chisels and 300 per cent, in drills.
Bronzes have made quite an increase, having
gone up 225 per cent.
A feature which draws attention in compar-
ing these increases is that the percentage of in-
crease on the finished article is far below the
percentage of increase on the raw material, but
these percentages are day by day becoming more
equal. The difference is due to the fact that
labor did not increase at first as rapidly as the
raw materials, but increases in wages are of
necessity becoming more general and being
made with more rapidity in order to meet the
increased cost of food stuffs and clothings and
other necessities of life.
There has been an increase in Italian pumice
sand of 50 per cent., while on German rubbing
stones there has been an increase of 500 per
cent, plus premiums charged by jobbers or
dealers.
The above facts account for the 40 to 60 per
cent, increase in piano plates as published in
The Review Holiday Number under the article
entitled, "Actual Increase in Piano Supply
Prices During the Year."
47
ADVICE?
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.E G0EPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -£ ST.
NEW
YORK.
TO REBUILD 0 . S. KELLY CO. PLANT
The Company to Replace Immediately the
Building Occupied by Finishing Department
SPRINGFIELD, O., December 11.—i J lans have al-
ready been completed for the rebuilding of the
finishing department of the O. S. Kelly Co.'s
piano plate plant, which was destroyed by fire
a week ago. O. W. Kelly, president of the
company, who was in Spokane at the time of
the lire, hurried home immediately to confer
with the other members of the company re-
garding future plans. It was announced by the
company that there would only be a slight and
temporary delay in the output of plates inas-
much as the foundry proper was not damaged
by the flames, and that arrangements have been
made for finishing the plates in other plants.
SEVERE SHORTAGE OF GLUE
Piano Makers Are Paying Twice As Much
for Glue As They Did Before the War
As an example of the way in which all piano
supplies have increased in price, the status of
the glue market at the present time is worth
considering. The United States is now ex-
porting instead of importing glue, and conse-
quently there is a decided shortage of glue in
this country. Glue has doubled in price since
the beginning of the war, the increase in the
cost of the glue used in the manufacture of one
piano being approximately $1.50. The glue fac-
tories in this country are working t o . capacity,
and at that are not able to supply their cus-
tomers with as much material as formerly.
BRANCH OFFICES
The Superior
Points of
Invisible
Hinges
are Apparent
Some of the sizes shown indicate the
variety of " S O S S " Hinges which we
anufacture for use on pianos, player-
pianos, talking machines and music
cabinets.
There is a particular "SOSS" Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
Our illustrated catalog " S " gives
complete and interesting information.
Write for a copy and lor quotations on
your particular requirements.
S o u Manufacturing Company,
435-443 Atlantic A M . , Brooklyn, N.T.
CUcaco
160 No. Fifth Art.
San Francisco
164 Hansford Bldf.
Los Angeles
224 Central Bldf.
Minneapolis
3416SecondA«.,So
Detroit
922 Darid Whitney
Building
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A DEFENSE OF AMERICAN FELT
(Continued from page 45)
And so it is with the piano manufacturer in
his tone regulating. A good felt and a good
hammer are sometimes ruined in this depart-
ment, and occasionally by good experienced
regulators. Here it is also that the hammer
is often blamed for other defects such as im-
perfect strings, poor sounding boards, defective
plates, etc. Quite often I have submitted sample
hammers made from the same sheet of felt,
made by the same hammer coverer to two or
three different manufacturers, and I have had
opposite reports on them. How can one ac-
count for these apparent differences of opin-
ion? My experience has been that the trouble
is not always with the felt, or in the hammers,
but has been located in some other member.
Every part that goes into the instrument must
be perfect, and their combination must har-
monize in order to obtain proper results.
As to imported felts being superior to do-
mestic felts, this is not true. It is a matter of
opinion, of preference, of a talking point for'the
dealer, and T believe a little prejudice. Quality
for quality, just as good felts are made in this
country as are built elsewhere, and equally as
good, if not better pianos are manufactured here
than abroad.
There are manufacturers, who claim that the
various imported supplies they use are superior
to the corresponding domestic products, but can
you find one of them who will admit that his
piano is inferior to that made in foreign coun-
tries? It is quite to the contrary. They at-
tribute it to better workmanship and granting
this to be the fact, why should not this apply
to wire, tuning pins and especially felts, when
the same raw material and machinery are ap-
plied? In many instances it is but a matter
of price. The piano manufacturer and the ham-
mer coverer as well, expect the domestic felt
manufacturer to produce as good or even better
felt in this country, for less money than that
which they are obliged to pay for the imported
article. Good sound judgment and experience
tells us that this cannot be done. Foreign wools
such as are used in imported felts are brought
into this country and used in this endeavor, but
the vast difference in the cost of labor makes
our products more expensive.
One of the leading piano manufacturers in this
country using the best grade of hammer felt
manufactured by the Standard Felt Co. (there
are four distinctive grades), expressed art opin-
ion nearly a year ago, after receiving a trial
shipment, that they were sorry they had not
used this merchandise sooner, as they were ob-
taining better results than they had ever here-
tofore. Formerly, this concern used imported
felts exclusively. Many gratifying reports of
similar nature have been received and we think
that if anyone is truly sincere and willing to
be convinced, that by giving the domestic ham-
mer felt manufacturers the opportunity to dem-
onstrate, quality for quality, with any imported;
he will be well pleased and better satisfied by
using material "Made in America." This ap-
plies as well to the dealer who uses the imported
article as a talking point for selling his goods,
and who on this account is able to get a few
dollars more from the consumer for his instru-
ment. On the other hand, if it is a case of
prejudice, or with the expectation of getting
more for his money here than abroad, he would
be wasting not only his own time, but that of
the domestic felt manufacturer as well. The
importer of hammer felt can be convinced only
when he shows a desire to be convinced, and
we are prepared to extend that service to manu-
facturers at any time.
SOME REASONS FOR THE INCREASED COST OF PLATES
Iron Prices Have Steadily Advanced Since the Beginning of the War, Due to the Enormous De-
^rnand for Export Trade—All Foundry Materials Have Also Gone Skyward
The piano plate situation continues to attract
considerable prominence, both on account of
the steadily increasing cost and the steadily in-
creasing shortage. It is, therefore, decidedly in-
teresting to get some concrete ideas of what the
increased cost of production involves and to
what extent it exists.
On the most important articles, or the articles
which are used in the greatest quantities in
making a piano plate, the increases have been
the highest. All of them were above 100 per
cent, and averaging more than 150 per cent. In
iron, the highest prices in the history of the
industry prevail, and a chart in the November
30 issue of the Iron Trade Review gives a won-
derful comparison of prices showing foundry
iron on December 15, 1889, at $18.15 a ton and
November 22, 1916, $26 a ton at the furnace.
' Today, two weeks later, the same iron is quoted
at $30 a ton at the furnace. From 1889 to the
present time the highest price reached in this
iron prior to 1916 was $22.15, which was quoted
on December 15, 1899, but this price did not last
very long at that time.
Since that time there has been a steady in-
crease in prices, with no weakening of the mar-
kets, until the price has now reached $30, or at
least the market price is said to be $30, but
actual buying in a great many cases shows
premiums of $1 to $2 a ton, although the sales
are now running high. As an example, during
The Ohio Veneer Co.
CINCINNATI, O.
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
m
New York Office and Sample Room
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN, Eastern RepreaentatWe
the past week iron was sold in Columbus for
$32.50 a ton, and $45 iron is already talked of.
At present it is hard to see any reason for
iron not coming to $45 a ton because there is,
of course, none being imported, great quantities
are being exported, all home demand is greater
than ever before, and the world's pig iron out-
put was less than 1915, and is less this year
than it was in 1913.
From the time prices started to rise, during
our present period of prosperity, greater in-
creases have been made in iron and steel prices
than in any other articles with the possible ex-
ception of some imported goods and drugs. The
miscellaneous foundry materials, such as rosin,
plumbago, sea coal, talc, etc., have increased on
an average from 70 to 80 per cent. Coke has
increased 260 per cent, and iron more than 50
per cent. On finished articles made from steel
we find an increase of 110 per cent, in files, 140
per cent, in chisels and 300 per cent, in drills.
Bronzes have made quite an increase, having
gone up 225 per cent.
A feature which draws attention in compar-
ing these increases is that the percentage of in-
crease on the finished article is far below the
percentage of increase on the raw material, but
these percentages are day by day becoming more
equal. The difference is due to the fact that
labor did not increase at first as rapidly as the
raw materials, but increases in wages are of
necessity becoming more general and being
made with more rapidity in order to meet the
increased cost of food stuffs and clothings and
other necessities of life.
There has been an increase in Italian pumice
sand of 50 per cent., while on German rubbing
stones there has been an increase of 500 per
cent, plus premiums charged by jobbers or
dealers.
The above facts account for the 40 to 60 per
cent, increase in piano plates as published in
The Review Holiday Number under the article
entitled, "Actual Increase in Piano Supply
Prices During the Year."
47
ADVICE?
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.E G0EPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -£ ST.
NEW
YORK.
TO REBUILD 0 . S. KELLY CO. PLANT
The Company to Replace Immediately the
Building Occupied by Finishing Department
SPRINGFIELD, O., December 11.—i J lans have al-
ready been completed for the rebuilding of the
finishing department of the O. S. Kelly Co.'s
piano plate plant, which was destroyed by fire
a week ago. O. W. Kelly, president of the
company, who was in Spokane at the time of
the lire, hurried home immediately to confer
with the other members of the company re-
garding future plans. It was announced by the
company that there would only be a slight and
temporary delay in the output of plates inas-
much as the foundry proper was not damaged
by the flames, and that arrangements have been
made for finishing the plates in other plants.
SEVERE SHORTAGE OF GLUE
Piano Makers Are Paying Twice As Much
for Glue As They Did Before the War
As an example of the way in which all piano
supplies have increased in price, the status of
the glue market at the present time is worth
considering. The United States is now ex-
porting instead of importing glue, and conse-
quently there is a decided shortage of glue in
this country. Glue has doubled in price since
the beginning of the war, the increase in the
cost of the glue used in the manufacture of one
piano being approximately $1.50. The glue fac-
tories in this country are working t o . capacity,
and at that are not able to supply their cus-
tomers with as much material as formerly.
BRANCH OFFICES
The Superior
Points of
Invisible
Hinges
are Apparent
Some of the sizes shown indicate the
variety of " S O S S " Hinges which we
anufacture for use on pianos, player-
pianos, talking machines and music
cabinets.
There is a particular "SOSS" Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
Our illustrated catalog " S " gives
complete and interesting information.
Write for a copy and lor quotations on
your particular requirements.
S o u Manufacturing Company,
435-443 Atlantic A M . , Brooklyn, N.T.
CUcaco
160 No. Fifth Art.
San Francisco
164 Hansford Bldf.
Los Angeles
224 Central Bldf.
Minneapolis
3416SecondA«.,So
Detroit
922 Darid Whitney
Building
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).