Music Trade Review
Issue: 1920 Vol. 71 N. 23 - Page 13
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
DECEMBER 4, 1920
MUSIC TRADE
13
REVIEW
OurTECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BT WILLIAM BKAID WHITB
unless the paper be too coarse. If the operator
will use the very finest paper he can obtain,
there should be no difficulty whatever in getting
How to Mend Them or Remedy the Defects the pins to turn evenly.
They Occasion
There sometimes occur cases where the wrest-
plank has been split, owing to exposure of the
"Dear Mr. White: I should like to get a little piano to extraordinary climatic conditions, or
advice as to what you or some of your readers for other parallel reasons. When anything like
might think regarding loose tuning pins and the this occurs the pin-holes in the neighborhood of
best and most practical way of tightening them. the split are sure to be somewhat enlarged and
The method I have been using is to bush the as a result the pins will be loose, often too loose
pins with emery cloth. The only objection I to be helped by any such scheme as we have
have to this method is that the pins do not turn mentioned above. When this happens it is
steadily after they have been bushed in this necessary to plug up the holes. If the split is
way. Sincerely, P. R."
very bad it may be necessary to put in a new
There are several ways of solving the prob- plank. But if it is a surface split only there is
lem of loose tuning pins. For instance, a larger no necessity to go so far. In this case the
pin can be put in the hole. If a larger pin is offending holes may be plugged up by means
not available, then a brass tuHlng-pin sleeve can of maple dowel. The holes must be reattted
be insertt^dj provided one can be had. The late out, plugged with the dowels and rebored. But
Frank Ccmover made these brass sleeves in Chi- work of this sort is not for the raw amateur*
cagdV/but since his death there has been no at-
t#nsj$ to continue the manufacture. The ma-
MUSHY TREBLE HAMMERS
cjjtinery for making them is in possession of his
And
One
Way of Curing Them—With Some
estate, I understand.
- Observations on Tone Regulating
Failing either of these remedies, the operator
may use slips of mahogany veneer inside the
"Dear Mr. White: I have noticed two tuners
tuning-pin hole. But in that case he ought to
be careful to see that he bushes the hole evenly lately in trying to make the last tones of the
all around, for otherwise the veneer will slip in treble more brilliant wetting a cloth and then
its place and the pin will not turn evenly. The spreading it over the hammers and ironing them.
Now that is the way I take off old ivories. I
use of emery paper is not to be condemned if
the work be done carefully enough, and in fact find that the steam loosens the glue, and I
I can see no reason for any trouble occurring should think it would do the same with the
felt on the hammers. I have ironed hammers,
but never under water. What do you think of
it? D. S. Spence, Santa Barbara, California."
The notion of ironing hammers if, of course,
not new. In some very famous shops the iron
is used on the hammers from end to end before
the process of tone regulating is finished. From
the point of view of the tuner this method is
less interesting in its factory aspect than • in
its relation to the renovation of old hammers.
By putting a damp cloth over the hammer and
then ironing it with a hot iron the repairer is
expecting to shrink the felt so as to make it
Ask us to send on ap-
more compact. The only difficulty is in getting
proval a dozen Magic
the shrinking done perfectly enough. A great
Scratch Removers by pre-
paid Parcel Post. When you
find scratches on your pianos,
talking machines, etc., touch
them with the neutral stain and
the Magic Oiled brush and sell
your instrument. After 10 days'
trial, send us $5.00 or return the
Individual pneumatic stacks, roll
Magic Scratch Removers.
boxes, bellows, pedal actions,
LOOSE TUNING PINS
REMUVER.
Try
It At Our
Expense
deal of time and patience is sometimes neces-
sary. I think that usually the best plan to adopt
with mushy hammers is to file them carefully
more to a point and then iron them on the bare
felt until the surface has been well burned,
quite black. Then they should be filed over
again to remove the traces of the burned felt.
The extreme treble hammers may have been
badly set. In cheap pianos it often happens that
the hammers are not carefully laid to the strings,
and the stems are not carefully measured for
length, so that when the hammers are glued in
the hammers point too high. Then the tone regu-
lator has to heat the stems with an alcohol
lamp and bend them so that the hammers point
downwards or upwards, as the case may be. In
course of time the stems may straighten them-
selves out, and then the work must be done
over again.
AMERICAN VS. GERMAN TONE
The Ideas of a Practical Latin-American Piano
Man—A Tonal Comparison Which Is Unique
I have been fortunate enough to receive a
most interesting and highly suggestive letter
from Mr. Ricardo Ferraro, who is a South Amer-
ican gentleman technically and commercially ex-
pert in the piano trade in his part of the world,
and at present a student at the Danquard
School in New York, where he has been attain-
ing a first-hand knowledge of piano player
mechanism. Mr. Ferraro is talking about the
export trade in American pianos and particu-
larly refers to an article which appeared in this
paper on October 30 of this year, in which much
was said as to the difficulties which American
manufacturers have to undergo in putting them-
selves on the map in South America. Mr. Fer-
raro adduces numerous reasons for this state
of affairs, but there is one particular point in
his observations which will commend itself to
my readers. He is answering the question com-
paring American with European tone, and he
says:
"Generally, the tone of American pianos can-
not and does not appeal to the established taste
of the musical public abroad, especially not to
the professional musician. In South America
and in Europe the tone of the best German
pianos is recognized as the ideal standard, and
such a tone is in striking contrast with the
American standard.
"As a matter of fact, the tone of a concert
grand of Bechstein, Bluthner, Ronisch, Stein-
weg, Schiedmayer, whilst having surely as much
power as the most powerful American piano,
expression boxes.
is yet quite different from the tone of any of
Manufacturers, dealers, tuners
the leading American pianos, with their char-
and repair men supplied with
acteristic volume of voice and their glassy pene-
player actions for straight pianos.
trative force.
(Continued on page 14)
JENKINSON PLAYER ACTION CO., Inc.
T
URN YOUR STRAIGHT
PIANOS INTO PLAYERS
Campbell's Quick Refinishing
Outfit on Free Trial
Permanent repair* easily made at a big saving
in expense. It contains Amber Glaze to remove
packing marks. Ethereal Varnish for rubbed thru
places and Stick Shellac for deep holes. Order an
outfit. Try it 10 days. Then send us $10, or return
the unused portion of the outfit.
Phonograph Dealer* tupplied through the
Dealer'a Service Dept. of Columbia Crapho-
phone Co.
•The ML- CAMPBELL-COMPANY-
912-914 Elm St.
Cincinnati, O.
Here are
POLKS
BASS STRINGS
TUN1NO
TUNERS
Special attention ilven to tke need* »f tka tuner and the dealer
FINISHING
7011 E A S T lUm
PRUUUL1H
K W i v ; C I T V . Mi
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
OTTO TREFZ
2110 Falrmount ATenu«
Philadelphia, Pa.
COURT HOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. IND.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
Old style bridle strtn
Standard of Amarica
Alumni of 2000
BRAUNSDORPS ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS
Piaao Taaiat, Pipe tad Reed 0r«aa
**t Player Pisae. T«ar Be«k Free.
Labor 8avlni; Meute Proof; Guaranteed all one length
Send for Sample*.
Prioet on Request
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
in H's zo^ear
with upwards of
1OOO
SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
New style all leather bridle strap
FtUt and Cloths in any QuanMkt
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.,
Braunsdorf's Other Specialties
Paper, Felt and Cloth
Punchlngs, Fibre Washers
and Bridges for
Pianos, Organs and
Player Actions
Office and Factory:
430 East 53rd St., New York
S M C MASK
THE
DECEMBER 4, 1920
MUSIC TRADE
13
REVIEW
OurTECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BT WILLIAM BKAID WHITB
unless the paper be too coarse. If the operator
will use the very finest paper he can obtain,
there should be no difficulty whatever in getting
How to Mend Them or Remedy the Defects the pins to turn evenly.
They Occasion
There sometimes occur cases where the wrest-
plank has been split, owing to exposure of the
"Dear Mr. White: I should like to get a little piano to extraordinary climatic conditions, or
advice as to what you or some of your readers for other parallel reasons. When anything like
might think regarding loose tuning pins and the this occurs the pin-holes in the neighborhood of
best and most practical way of tightening them. the split are sure to be somewhat enlarged and
The method I have been using is to bush the as a result the pins will be loose, often too loose
pins with emery cloth. The only objection I to be helped by any such scheme as we have
have to this method is that the pins do not turn mentioned above. When this happens it is
steadily after they have been bushed in this necessary to plug up the holes. If the split is
way. Sincerely, P. R."
very bad it may be necessary to put in a new
There are several ways of solving the prob- plank. But if it is a surface split only there is
lem of loose tuning pins. For instance, a larger no necessity to go so far. In this case the
pin can be put in the hole. If a larger pin is offending holes may be plugged up by means
not available, then a brass tuHlng-pin sleeve can of maple dowel. The holes must be reattted
be insertt^dj provided one can be had. The late out, plugged with the dowels and rebored. But
Frank Ccmover made these brass sleeves in Chi- work of this sort is not for the raw amateur*
cagdV/but since his death there has been no at-
t#nsj$ to continue the manufacture. The ma-
MUSHY TREBLE HAMMERS
cjjtinery for making them is in possession of his
And
One
Way of Curing Them—With Some
estate, I understand.
- Observations on Tone Regulating
Failing either of these remedies, the operator
may use slips of mahogany veneer inside the
"Dear Mr. White: I have noticed two tuners
tuning-pin hole. But in that case he ought to
be careful to see that he bushes the hole evenly lately in trying to make the last tones of the
all around, for otherwise the veneer will slip in treble more brilliant wetting a cloth and then
its place and the pin will not turn evenly. The spreading it over the hammers and ironing them.
Now that is the way I take off old ivories. I
use of emery paper is not to be condemned if
the work be done carefully enough, and in fact find that the steam loosens the glue, and I
I can see no reason for any trouble occurring should think it would do the same with the
felt on the hammers. I have ironed hammers,
but never under water. What do you think of
it? D. S. Spence, Santa Barbara, California."
The notion of ironing hammers if, of course,
not new. In some very famous shops the iron
is used on the hammers from end to end before
the process of tone regulating is finished. From
the point of view of the tuner this method is
less interesting in its factory aspect than • in
its relation to the renovation of old hammers.
By putting a damp cloth over the hammer and
then ironing it with a hot iron the repairer is
expecting to shrink the felt so as to make it
Ask us to send on ap-
more compact. The only difficulty is in getting
proval a dozen Magic
the shrinking done perfectly enough. A great
Scratch Removers by pre-
paid Parcel Post. When you
find scratches on your pianos,
talking machines, etc., touch
them with the neutral stain and
the Magic Oiled brush and sell
your instrument. After 10 days'
trial, send us $5.00 or return the
Individual pneumatic stacks, roll
Magic Scratch Removers.
boxes, bellows, pedal actions,
LOOSE TUNING PINS
REMUVER.
Try
It At Our
Expense
deal of time and patience is sometimes neces-
sary. I think that usually the best plan to adopt
with mushy hammers is to file them carefully
more to a point and then iron them on the bare
felt until the surface has been well burned,
quite black. Then they should be filed over
again to remove the traces of the burned felt.
The extreme treble hammers may have been
badly set. In cheap pianos it often happens that
the hammers are not carefully laid to the strings,
and the stems are not carefully measured for
length, so that when the hammers are glued in
the hammers point too high. Then the tone regu-
lator has to heat the stems with an alcohol
lamp and bend them so that the hammers point
downwards or upwards, as the case may be. In
course of time the stems may straighten them-
selves out, and then the work must be done
over again.
AMERICAN VS. GERMAN TONE
The Ideas of a Practical Latin-American Piano
Man—A Tonal Comparison Which Is Unique
I have been fortunate enough to receive a
most interesting and highly suggestive letter
from Mr. Ricardo Ferraro, who is a South Amer-
ican gentleman technically and commercially ex-
pert in the piano trade in his part of the world,
and at present a student at the Danquard
School in New York, where he has been attain-
ing a first-hand knowledge of piano player
mechanism. Mr. Ferraro is talking about the
export trade in American pianos and particu-
larly refers to an article which appeared in this
paper on October 30 of this year, in which much
was said as to the difficulties which American
manufacturers have to undergo in putting them-
selves on the map in South America. Mr. Fer-
raro adduces numerous reasons for this state
of affairs, but there is one particular point in
his observations which will commend itself to
my readers. He is answering the question com-
paring American with European tone, and he
says:
"Generally, the tone of American pianos can-
not and does not appeal to the established taste
of the musical public abroad, especially not to
the professional musician. In South America
and in Europe the tone of the best German
pianos is recognized as the ideal standard, and
such a tone is in striking contrast with the
American standard.
"As a matter of fact, the tone of a concert
grand of Bechstein, Bluthner, Ronisch, Stein-
weg, Schiedmayer, whilst having surely as much
power as the most powerful American piano,
expression boxes.
is yet quite different from the tone of any of
Manufacturers, dealers, tuners
the leading American pianos, with their char-
and repair men supplied with
acteristic volume of voice and their glassy pene-
player actions for straight pianos.
trative force.
(Continued on page 14)
JENKINSON PLAYER ACTION CO., Inc.
T
URN YOUR STRAIGHT
PIANOS INTO PLAYERS
Campbell's Quick Refinishing
Outfit on Free Trial
Permanent repair* easily made at a big saving
in expense. It contains Amber Glaze to remove
packing marks. Ethereal Varnish for rubbed thru
places and Stick Shellac for deep holes. Order an
outfit. Try it 10 days. Then send us $10, or return
the unused portion of the outfit.
Phonograph Dealer* tupplied through the
Dealer'a Service Dept. of Columbia Crapho-
phone Co.
•The ML- CAMPBELL-COMPANY-
912-914 Elm St.
Cincinnati, O.
Here are
POLKS
BASS STRINGS
TUN1NO
TUNERS
Special attention ilven to tke need* »f tka tuner and the dealer
FINISHING
7011 E A S T lUm
PRUUUL1H
K W i v ; C I T V . Mi
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
OTTO TREFZ
2110 Falrmount ATenu«
Philadelphia, Pa.
COURT HOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. IND.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
Old style bridle strtn
Standard of Amarica
Alumni of 2000
BRAUNSDORPS ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS
Piaao Taaiat, Pipe tad Reed 0r«aa
**t Player Pisae. T«ar Be«k Free.
Labor 8avlni; Meute Proof; Guaranteed all one length
Send for Sample*.
Prioet on Request
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
in H's zo^ear
with upwards of
1OOO
SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
New style all leather bridle strap
FtUt and Cloths in any QuanMkt
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.,
Braunsdorf's Other Specialties
Paper, Felt and Cloth
Punchlngs, Fibre Washers
and Bridges for
Pianos, Organs and
Player Actions
Office and Factory:
430 East 53rd St., New York
S M C MASK
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