Music Trade Review

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16
THE
OUR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
(Continued from page 15)
Excessive tension is common in this region—
nearly always because the designers cling to a
bass string schedule starting on much too heavy
a core wire. On a general tension for bass of
100 pounds, the first strings on a very short
grand should be covered with No. 34 copper on
a core not heavier than No. 16 wire. Given this
as a start, with a steady graduation of sizes
thence downwards, the bad tone should be im-
proved vastly.
In a word, scientific accuracy is needed; and
today as never before it should be clear to all
concerned that the day of guess-work is about
over. It is no longer difficult to obtain correct
data and formulae; nor should there now be any
difficulty in applying these. The design of the
small grand cannot perhaps be made theoretically
perfect; but it can be vastly improved along the
line I have here suggested.
The region of the extreme bass must be treated
in accordance with the above considerations also;
and if so treated will be found to present no spe-
cial difficulties.
If and when we desire a complete change in
tone quality and a return to the quiet chamber-
tone of the ancient chamber-keyed instruments,
we may make our grands much smaller; and also
much more beautiful in appearance than they are
now; but not otherwise.
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
PHILADELPHIA TRADE BETTER THAN IN MANY SEASONS
Optimism of Dealers Tempered Only by Shortage of Stock—Schomacker, Lester and Cunning-
ham Plants Working Overtime—Tuners on Piece Work Schedule—Personals and Other News
PHH.AUKI.PUIA, PA., October 8.—Business in Phil-
adelphia thus far in October has been quite good
—in fact very good for the season, and consid-
erably-better than last year. The anxiety of the
dealers does not concern the amount of busi-
ness they are going to be able to do during the
remainder of the year, but is rather regarding
what they will have in the way of stock with
which to do business, for it is realized that there
is going to be a serious shortage of pianos.
This same condition prevails at the Lester and
Philadelphia factories, where every energy is be-
ing pushed in order to get out as many instru-
ments as possible, but there is going to be a very
great shortage of stock here. It is said that the
Schomacker factory was compelled to turn down
great numbers of orders that are coming in, feel-
ing that they will be able to sell to their regular
trade all the pianos they can make. The factory
has been working overtime for quite a period.
The same condition prevails at the Lester and
Cunningham factories, both of which have a
night force at work. Among the Lester visitors
the past week were: L. A. Russell, of Augusta,
Ga.; C. A. Peabody, of Brockton, Mass.; Chester
D. Anderson, of the Sword-Anderson Co., of
Dayton, O., and Fred Kramer, of Allentown, Pa.
F. A. North & Co. have their entire building
For the second time in fifteen years, one week now completed, and the booths in place for the
passed (last week) without the Review showing installation of the Pathe phonographs.
Herbert T. Ashford,. the well-known Q R S
a Technical Page. It was quite a shock to me;
traveling man, was in Philadelphia all of last
but perhaps a relief to my readers.
week and secured orders from H. A. Weymann
Communications for this department should be & Sons aggregating 20,000 Q R S rolls.
A serious effort is being made here to unite
addressed to William Braid White, care of Music
Trade Review, 373 Fourth avenue, New York the tuners into a union, but thus far they have not
succeeded very well. All the good tuners seem
City.
to avoid such an affiliation, and to circumvent the
project several of the firms have placed their
NOW KNOX SIMS MUSIC CO.
men on piece work, including Wanamaker's, and
SAN FRANCISCO, CAI,, October 3.—Announce- the plan is working out to the satisfaction of the
ment was made recently of the organizing of the house as well as the men. A certain piano man
Knox Sims Music Co., 250 Stockton street, this told me that since they had placed their tuners
city, by Knox Sims, who has purchased the on piece work they have been tuning very nearly
business formerly conducted by the California double the number of pianos they did when on
Band Instrument Co., to handle everything for salary, and that the firm has had- less complaint
band and orchestras. R. A. Gillmar, considered of bad tuning than before.
The Cunningham Piano Co. has been doing
one of the finest bow makers in the United
a very excellent business; so excellent that they
States, is now associated with this company.
C ONNORIZEn
SONG WORD
MUSIC
OCTOBER 11. 1919
J
- -r
ROLLS
are not able to lay up any stock, in spite of the
fact that their factory has been working nights.
The only thing they have to fear is that the
strike will eventually effect the supply houses
and keep them from getting certain parts that
they do not make themselves.
The attractive warerooms of Ramsdell & Sons
are now adorned by a new oil painting of the
founder of the house, the late J. G. Ramsdell. It
is an admirable likeness of one of the most popu-
lar men ever connected with the piano trade in
Philadelphia. C. M. Ramsdell, the present head
of the house, reports now that his two sons who
were in the service have been discharged. With
his three sons as partners, he expects to make
an active campaign this fall and winter, and ex-
pects shortly to add talking machines again to
his business. This house handles the Laffargue,
Ricca and other pianos.
F. J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe & Son, is taking
an active interest in the securing of the $1,000,000
endowment fund for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
He has been appointed as the chairman to repre-
sent all the musical interests. For the third time
Mr. Heppe is a grandfather, this time of a baby
girl, the two other grandchildren being boys.
Fred Stitcler, formerly with the Heppe music
roll department, but for more than a year serving
Uncle Sam in the marines, has returned to his
old employment.
CHRISTMAN GRAND ENDORSED
Musical Director of New York Hippodrome Has
High Praise for Christman Grand
A. J. Garing, musical director of the New
York Hippodrome, who has recently returned
from an extensive trip through Canada as man-
ager of the famous Sousa Band which proved
a big sensation at five exhibitions and numerous
concerts, has endorsed very highly the Christman
grand piano. An endorsement coming from a
recognized authority such as Mr. Garing is one
of which any piano manufacturer may well be
proud, for the Hippodrome concerts have been
noted for tlu-ir musical and artistic excellence.
Mr. Garing recently sent the following letter to
Christman Sons, New York:
"I wish to say at this time how very pleased
I am with the magnificent Christman grand
piano purchased from you before my trip. There
is no question as to the beautiful tone quality
and the workmanship is superb. As you can un-
derstand, I am in a position to know this. It is
a real piano and you are welcome to use my en-
dorsement of it at any time. Wishing you the
best success, which you honestly deserve, I am,
as ever, very sincerely and cordially yours,
(Signed) A. J. GARING."
With Unique Novelty Effects
NEW BACON NEWSPAPER ADS
SPECIAL
FOR
6607—1 AM ALWAYS BUILDING CASTLES IN
THE AIR. Interlnde with words "There's
Music in the Air."
Ukulele Effects.
Waltz. Garton and Phillips. Played by
S. A. Perry.
6608—CAROLINA SUNSHINE. Interlude "Swa-
nee River." Waltz. Hirsch and Schmidt.
Played by Eva Reeves.
6615—WHEN A FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND.
Waltz. A Musical Interpretation of the
Paramount Briggs Comedies. Grossman,
Stern and Frisch. Played by Jack Dun-
stan.
OCTOBER
6617—DADDY LONG LEGS. Interlude "Simple
Aveu." Waltz. Dedicated to Mary Pick-
ford in photoplay of the same name.
Lewis, Young and Ruby. Played by Eva
Reeves.
6619—GOOD NIGHT ROSES. Interlude, "Flower
Song." Waltz. Freedman and Silnutzer.
Played by Eva Reeves.
6624—I'VE GOT MY CAPTAIN WORKING FOR
ME NOW.
One Step.
Irving Berlin.
Played by S. A. Perry.
CONNORIZED MUSIC CO.
144th Street and Austin Place
NEW YORK
1 2 3 4 Olive Street
ST. LOUIS, MO.
Attractive Series Now Being Issued by Bacon
Piano Co., New York
The distinctive and the gallant name of Francis
Bacon is well emulated in the first four newspaper
advertisements of an extensive Fall campaign
that have recently been offered to Bacon dealers
by the Bacon Piano Co., New York.
As is usual in Bacon newspaper publicity, these
new cuts arc designed to be prestige builders for
the dealer, and in every way suggest refinement
and dignity in their get-up.
The illustrations are very well worked, show-
ing scenes in the great American home, introduc-
ing the Bacon piano as a center-point. The copy
suggestions are well written, each carrying over
a point in favor of the Bacon piano that should
produce increase in sales. Francis Bacon dealers
may obtain this newspaper service by addressing
the Bacon Piano Co.