Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 12 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
MARCH 25, 1922
REVIEW
Iff^ff^^
Being the Monthly Concoction of the Editor of the Player Section, Combining
Some Information, Some Wit and Some Thought on Things of Moment to the
Industry, Specially Prepared and Served for the Wise Men of the Trade
were not enough. They are being pushed for-
ward as if they represented that combination
of roll, mechanism, piano and artist of which we
The present writer remembers well the first
have recently spoken in special articles and which
very small player-piano he ever saw. It was a
must always be relatively expensive, exclusive and
very good one, too, as may he imagined when
in a class apart. It is not, please note, a ques-
one is told that the piano part of it w r as one of
tion of how far any given mechanism does or
the little baby uprights which Charles Jacob and
does not perform what the ignorant public is led
Truth Plainly Told
his brother have for so many years made in their
to believe by equally ignorant dealers that it ought
Speaking of merchandising policies, we are be- to perform. That question of comparison is a
great New York factory. The impression will
be deepened when it is added that the player ginning to notice another field in which the lack question for experts only. It is simply a ques-
action was one of those superb Gulbransen in- of such a policy is already becoming evident. tion of adopting a sound merchandising policy
stallations, which at this time was the only player During the last two years one house after an- in the industry, in face of the invasion of auto-
action which could have been got into so small other has put on the market player-pianos with matic-expression player-pianos, to the end that
a piano. The present writer remembers very automatic expression. Some of these ought to each name adopted shall mean something and
well tuning and regulating one of these gems be classified as "reproducing pianos"—that is to that those who are working to the best of their
down in St. Louis in the year 1912, and a beauty say, as pianos especially designed to reproduce ability in one class shall not constantly find their
the playing of artists who make themselves per- efforts rendered nugatory by an induced state of
it was. The piano itself was always an aston-
sonally responsible for the accuracy of the trans- public confusion.
isher. Personal recollection of one under all con-
notation. Others, not inferior, ought to be class:
ditions of use for some three years, combined
fied as "automatic-expression pianos." The fact
with many tunings of that one and others, con-
Not Self-sellers
that there should be any question about such
firms the opinion that the small upright which
classifications merely shows that the trade is not
Which leads us to point out that many dealers
Jacob Bros, originated was one of the best up- handling the player-piano intelligently. If it
rights for apartment or small room ever designed. were doing so there would be no effort on the have taken up the automatic-expression player
Now, of course, the day of the small upright, part of merchants to confuse this issue of classi- apparently because they have thought that here
and still more of the small player-piano, is defi- fication, nor would merchants or manufacturers at last is an instrument which will sell itself. No
nitely here. We have half a dozen where the be self-deceived, as certainly many of them are. greater mistake could be made, however, than
other day we had only one. Smith & Barnes, Now, what is needed is a sound, intelligent, this. It has been argued against the pedal-ex-
Jackson, Miessner, Story & Clark have come into truthful presentation of the facts to the people. pression player-piano that the ordinary person
the race and the small player-piano, as well as If the trade wants to call by the name "repro- never learns to play it well. So far as the facts
the small straight upright, looms up as a genu- ducing piano" every player which plays expres- may be found to justify the statement there is
ine competitor for trade favor. Personally, we sively without human interference then there is no quarrel, but the point involved is quite aside
are all for the little ones. They are as good as no complaint. It is simply a matter of words. from this. For if a person who buys a player-
piano neither cares to try nor is able to accom-
uprights can well be, they hold the player action
Hut what is not simply a matter of words is plish the very simple trick of playing it toler-
pertectly well, they are convenient in a way that that the whole question is being confused and
ably well, after a few days of trial, then that
beclouded, just as has happened in evcy other same person obviously neither cares to hear nor
ZEPHIR IS
movement our industry has ever initiated. Pianos is able to appreciate better music when the same
are sold out of their class. Players which give is offered through the medium of an automatic-
excellent renditions of music—renditions quite expression player-piano. So plain is this fact
good enough for ninety-nine in every hundred of that any dealer who has ever thought seriously
Unsurpassed for Pouches and Pneumatics
the population of this or any other country—are about the matter for five minutes must see that a
w
s
being pushed forward as if these their virtues self-seller is the last thing one can call a player-
New York
piano fitted with automatic expression. The
merchant who undertakes to sell these instru-
ments must, first, get a higher price for them
than for a pedal-expression player-piano. Then
he must sell this higher-priced instrument to the
prospect on the ground of its fitness for that.
prospect's needs, not on the ground that no one
can play the foot-expression player well. If he
iriu i JrifrrriiiiiiiitiiiKiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiMiiittitenTiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiTiiiTiiiTiuiiiiiiiiriiMiiiiiiiri 111 ri i iiiMT>rti i
from beneath his own feet and speeds the day
"The valve unit that made the player famous"
when the entire player business shall have pain-
lessly and peacefully passed away. The effort
should be, in fact, to sell the pedal-expression in-
strument by good, intelligent demonstration and
good music service, while reserving the higher-
priced instruments for those who both have the
money to pay and can actually appreciate listen-
ing to records more or less faithfully reproducing
individual work. Just as soon as the prospect
is steered away from the pedal-expression instru-
ment by the plea that a different sort of instru-
ment, higher-priced, will do better work and "all
(Continued on page 8)
must be experienced to be appreciated. May their
tribe increase. And may the trade have sense
enough to develop a merchandising policy that
shall have about it something individual. For
this is an individual voice, this small player-
piano!
"Those Little Fellers"
AIRTIGHT LEATHER
JULIUS SCHMID, Inc., "• "«- '
The highest class player
actions in the world
The new "Amphion Accessible Action" is the last word in scientific player
achievement. It has the complete valve action assembled in a "Demountable
Unit" giving instant accessibility.
AMPHIONff\CTIONS
SYRACUSE
f
—Your Guarantee
*} NEW YORK
PLAYER--ORGAN--PIANO
LEATHERS
A Specialty of Pneumatic
T. L LUTKINS, Inc.
Leathers
THE MUSIC TRADE
MARCH 25, 1922
REVIEW
Iff^ff^^
Being the Monthly Concoction of the Editor of the Player Section, Combining
Some Information, Some Wit and Some Thought on Things of Moment to the
Industry, Specially Prepared and Served for the Wise Men of the Trade
were not enough. They are being pushed for-
ward as if they represented that combination
of roll, mechanism, piano and artist of which we
The present writer remembers well the first
have recently spoken in special articles and which
very small player-piano he ever saw. It was a
must always be relatively expensive, exclusive and
very good one, too, as may he imagined when
in a class apart. It is not, please note, a ques-
one is told that the piano part of it w r as one of
tion of how far any given mechanism does or
the little baby uprights which Charles Jacob and
does not perform what the ignorant public is led
Truth Plainly Told
his brother have for so many years made in their
to believe by equally ignorant dealers that it ought
Speaking of merchandising policies, we are be- to perform. That question of comparison is a
great New York factory. The impression will
be deepened when it is added that the player ginning to notice another field in which the lack question for experts only. It is simply a ques-
action was one of those superb Gulbransen in- of such a policy is already becoming evident. tion of adopting a sound merchandising policy
stallations, which at this time was the only player During the last two years one house after an- in the industry, in face of the invasion of auto-
action which could have been got into so small other has put on the market player-pianos with matic-expression player-pianos, to the end that
a piano. The present writer remembers very automatic expression. Some of these ought to each name adopted shall mean something and
well tuning and regulating one of these gems be classified as "reproducing pianos"—that is to that those who are working to the best of their
down in St. Louis in the year 1912, and a beauty say, as pianos especially designed to reproduce ability in one class shall not constantly find their
the playing of artists who make themselves per- efforts rendered nugatory by an induced state of
it was. The piano itself was always an aston-
sonally responsible for the accuracy of the trans- public confusion.
isher. Personal recollection of one under all con-
notation. Others, not inferior, ought to be class:
ditions of use for some three years, combined
fied as "automatic-expression pianos." The fact
with many tunings of that one and others, con-
Not Self-sellers
that there should be any question about such
firms the opinion that the small upright which
classifications merely shows that the trade is not
Which leads us to point out that many dealers
Jacob Bros, originated was one of the best up- handling the player-piano intelligently. If it
rights for apartment or small room ever designed. were doing so there would be no effort on the have taken up the automatic-expression player
Now, of course, the day of the small upright, part of merchants to confuse this issue of classi- apparently because they have thought that here
and still more of the small player-piano, is defi- fication, nor would merchants or manufacturers at last is an instrument which will sell itself. No
nitely here. We have half a dozen where the be self-deceived, as certainly many of them are. greater mistake could be made, however, than
other day we had only one. Smith & Barnes, Now, what is needed is a sound, intelligent, this. It has been argued against the pedal-ex-
Jackson, Miessner, Story & Clark have come into truthful presentation of the facts to the people. pression player-piano that the ordinary person
the race and the small player-piano, as well as If the trade wants to call by the name "repro- never learns to play it well. So far as the facts
the small straight upright, looms up as a genu- ducing piano" every player which plays expres- may be found to justify the statement there is
ine competitor for trade favor. Personally, we sively without human interference then there is no quarrel, but the point involved is quite aside
are all for the little ones. They are as good as no complaint. It is simply a matter of words. from this. For if a person who buys a player-
piano neither cares to try nor is able to accom-
uprights can well be, they hold the player action
Hut what is not simply a matter of words is plish the very simple trick of playing it toler-
pertectly well, they are convenient in a way that that the whole question is being confused and
ably well, after a few days of trial, then that
beclouded, just as has happened in evcy other same person obviously neither cares to hear nor
ZEPHIR IS
movement our industry has ever initiated. Pianos is able to appreciate better music when the same
are sold out of their class. Players which give is offered through the medium of an automatic-
excellent renditions of music—renditions quite expression player-piano. So plain is this fact
good enough for ninety-nine in every hundred of that any dealer who has ever thought seriously
Unsurpassed for Pouches and Pneumatics
the population of this or any other country—are about the matter for five minutes must see that a
w
s
being pushed forward as if these their virtues self-seller is the last thing one can call a player-
New York
piano fitted with automatic expression. The
merchant who undertakes to sell these instru-
ments must, first, get a higher price for them
than for a pedal-expression player-piano. Then
he must sell this higher-priced instrument to the
prospect on the ground of its fitness for that.
prospect's needs, not on the ground that no one
can play the foot-expression player well. If he
iriu i JrifrrriiiiiiiitiiiKiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiMiiittitenTiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiTiiiTiiiTiuiiiiiiiiriiMiiiiiiiri 111 ri i iiiMT>rti i
from beneath his own feet and speeds the day
"The valve unit that made the player famous"
when the entire player business shall have pain-
lessly and peacefully passed away. The effort
should be, in fact, to sell the pedal-expression in-
strument by good, intelligent demonstration and
good music service, while reserving the higher-
priced instruments for those who both have the
money to pay and can actually appreciate listen-
ing to records more or less faithfully reproducing
individual work. Just as soon as the prospect
is steered away from the pedal-expression instru-
ment by the plea that a different sort of instru-
ment, higher-priced, will do better work and "all
(Continued on page 8)
must be experienced to be appreciated. May their
tribe increase. And may the trade have sense
enough to develop a merchandising policy that
shall have about it something individual. For
this is an individual voice, this small player-
piano!
"Those Little Fellers"
AIRTIGHT LEATHER
JULIUS SCHMID, Inc., "• "«- '
The highest class player
actions in the world
The new "Amphion Accessible Action" is the last word in scientific player
achievement. It has the complete valve action assembled in a "Demountable
Unit" giving instant accessibility.
AMPHIONff\CTIONS
SYRACUSE
f
—Your Guarantee
*} NEW YORK
PLAYER--ORGAN--PIANO
LEATHERS
A Specialty of Pneumatic
T. L LUTKINS, Inc.
Leathers
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