Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 20 - Page 11
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THE
20, 1922
MAY
11
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OuiTICHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITK
spoke of a slapping sound in a piano action.
Besides your very good suggestions I should like
to make some of my own, which will probably
Two of the Brethren Write Their Views on the help.
Cause of the Whacking Sound Frequently
"If the brother will look carefully at the ham-
Heard in the Actions of Upright Pianos
mer spring-rail he may find that it has warped
between the action brackets toward the hammers.
"Dear Mr. White: In reference to the inquiry
In this case if one-half of a paper punching be
of E. M. Hickman as to the cause of that 'whack-
inserted behind the rail where the bracket meets
ing sound' in piano actions you may be inter-
the noise will cease.
ested in an experience I once had with one cer-
"Ne-xt, let the brother try the regulating rail,
tain piano. This piano had a number of tones
with that 'whacking sound' and I tried everything which sometimes goes wrong through the wood
I could think of to overcome it, but still it shrinking away from the screws, very slightly,
'whacked.' Finally, in desperation, I selected one but enough to cause a noise under a hard blow
wippen with flanges, sticker and tongue and re- upon the key. Very truly yours, A Reader."
Answers.— Both gentlemen who have been
moved it bodily from the rest of the action.
good enough to favor us with information about
When I had it out I started to dissect it.
the "whacking sounds" in piano actions have laid
"The first thing I did was to push the center-
their fingers upon facts. Rails do warp in ac-
pin out of the tongue, where it is pinned to the
tions which have not been made with all the care
sticker. I then at once saw what was the mat-
in the world. There may be bad pinning done at
ter and what was making the 'whacking sound.'
the factory. Nor should we forget that ham-
The center-pin, instead of passing through the
mer-rails sometimes twist, while it is also well to
felt bushing, was outside the bushing, so that it
remember that some actions of highest grade
came in contact with the wood. Careless pinning
have an extra rail in front of the jack, which
at the action factory was to blame.
limits the forward travel of that member. This
"In other pianos I have seen the action set also, being somewhat slight in structure, is sus-
so far from the strings that the hammer shanks ceptible to distortion through the influence of
came in contact with the hammer spring-rail atmospheric conditions.
every time a stroke was made. Sometimes the
During recent years action making has, in gen-
regulating rail is loose, which gives somewhat the
eral,
greatly been improved. There was a time
same sort of 'whacking sound.'
when an upright action could be bought, with
"These are two possible causes which you did
dampers complete, but without hammers, for less
not mention. Usually, however, the blame is to
than $10, in quantities. Those days, fortunately,
IK laid on loose flanges, loose hammers and loose
have passed forever, and with the death of the
back-stops. C. C. Waugh, Albany, N. Y."
cheap piano has passed also much of the trouble
And Now Another
which the tuner was once compelled to endure.
"Dear Mr. White: In the May 6 issue of The Years, of course, must elapse before the last of
Review Brother Hickman, of West Virginia, these unholy veterans is laid upon the junk pile,
and meanwhile the brethren must labor with
them when they meet them, which is too denied
Make Music Rolls
often for comfort.
PROFITS FOR THE TUNER
THAT WHACKING SOUND
making special player rolls or tliose nnt nil by roRu
roll manufacturers. Or Bell ynur ruatomvrs a rnmiilete
murhine and make a liberal commission.
Free Instruction manual. Price of complete outfit. $12.50. Semi
for details.
LEABARJAN MFG. CO.
HAMILTON, O.
DEAGAN TUNING FORKS
A-440, Bb-466 2 and C-52J 3
(A-43B It desired i
PRICE. 60c. EACH
Deagan Building
.
I . DLAUAN,
i n c . , 1786 Bcrteau Avenue. Chicag
URN YOUR STRAIGHT
PIANOS INTO PLAYERS
T
Individual pneumatic stacks, roll
boxes, bellows, pedal actions,
expression boxes.
Manufacturers, dealers, tuners
and repair men supplied with
player actions for straight pianos.
JENKINSON PLAYER ACTION CO., Inc.
912-914 Elm St.
^ p a
Cincinnati, O.
FAUST SCHOOL
For PIANOS and PLAYER-PIANOS
DEALERS and
TUNERS
Send all work parcels post.
121-123 East 126th S t r e e t
Give us trial order.
N e w York. N. Y.
FREE
Just send your name and address and get this
free book, which tells how damaged or worn
surfaces, in any finish, can quickly and
easily be made N E W again.
Every dealer, repair man and re-
finisher should read it. Sent post-
paid—no cost, no obligation.
Write for it now—a card will do.
L
M. L. CAMPBELL CO.
2328 Penn St.
TUNERS
l^^^Kln^l
- 1
Pica. Toninf. Pipe ind Rtcd Organ
and Player Piaa*. Tear B.ok Free.
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
JUST WHAT YOU
HAVE BEEN LOOK-
ING FOR
S T U D Y
T H I S
VIEW. T H E N
WRITE
FOR FULL
DESCRIPTIVE CIRCU-
LAR AND PRICES. IT EXPLAINS
THE
LATEST
INVENTION IN
THIS KIND OF A DEVICE. THE
BEST MADE AND IT COSTS NO
MORE.
UNDER KEYBED CONTROL FOR
STRAIGHT PIAN08, AND SPOOL-
BOX CONTROL FOR PLAYER-
SUPERIOR MFG. CO.
LIMA, OHIO
Kansas City, Mo.
In it's 2O? w
with upwards at
«„.„
BASS STRINGS
1OOO
J3» SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
•»t«lil atteatlta live* to th* needs • ! th« tuner and th« d«.•!•»
ill!)
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
Kiiiriuoinii Avt-u
Philadelphia, Pa.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
The Superior Ukulele Attachment
KKY RKPA1KING AND NEW WORK
Ivorine, Celluloid and Composition Keys
A Specialty
Ko-t Work
Lowest Frices
VALUABLE BOOK
ON REFINISHING
"One Seventy"
''Dear Mr. White: Here is a point on which
I should like to have your opinion: In upright
actions the hammer, after striking the string and
being caught- by the back check, settles back to
the hammer-rail, of course. Then the jack re-
tracts itself under the hammer-butt. However,
in some pianos, where the jack springs are quite
strong, the jack retracts itself immediately "be-
fore the hammer falls back to the hammer rail.
"Of course, you have to release the key very
slowly to observe these movements. Now, does it
make any difference or is there any rule for the
jack's retracting itself to the position of rest?.
"I find in many high-grade pianos that jacks
work both ways. When the jack-spring is strong
enough to send the jack back quickly—in other
words, to beat on the hammer-butt—one is always
sure to get in Summertime an even tone, even
though the action has swelled and the hammers
are slightly raised from the key-rail.
"I hope I have made myself understood. You
have told us to send in our ideas. Here is mine,
and now I shall close till I have something more
to say or ask. Respectfully yours, C. C. Waugh."
Answer.—The theory of the piano action is
simple. In order to produce on the piano a tone
which shall be a tone, which shall endure for
some time at least and have a life of its own, it
is necessary that the hammer should rebound im-
mediately after the contact has been made with
the string. In both vertical and horizontal piaiios
the elasticity of the felt and of the steel wire is
sufficient to cause a rebound, which, however,
must in the upright be assisted by a spring..
(Continued on page 12)
HARLEM PIANO & ORGAN KEY CO.
VIBRATIONS GUARANTEED
SM1«*
JACK AND HAMMER=BUTT
Some Questions and an Explanation of the Re-
lations of These Action Parts
COURTHOUSE SQ,
VALPARAISO. IND.
Repair Parts and Tools of
Every Description
Send for New Prices
\>w ntjile all leather bridle itrap
BRAUNSDORFS ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS
labor Saving; Mouse
Si nil for Samples.
Proof; Guaranteed a l l one length
Prices on Request
Felts and Cloths in any Quantities
Braunsdori's Other Specialties
I'uper,
Felt
and
Cloth
I'lim-hlng*, Fibre Washer*
and Bridge* for
Pianos, Or Kan* and
Flayer Action*
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc., «. •LT^-TrSE 1 ^
THE
20, 1922
MAY
11
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OuiTICHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITK
spoke of a slapping sound in a piano action.
Besides your very good suggestions I should like
to make some of my own, which will probably
Two of the Brethren Write Their Views on the help.
Cause of the Whacking Sound Frequently
"If the brother will look carefully at the ham-
Heard in the Actions of Upright Pianos
mer spring-rail he may find that it has warped
between the action brackets toward the hammers.
"Dear Mr. White: In reference to the inquiry
In this case if one-half of a paper punching be
of E. M. Hickman as to the cause of that 'whack-
inserted behind the rail where the bracket meets
ing sound' in piano actions you may be inter-
the noise will cease.
ested in an experience I once had with one cer-
"Ne-xt, let the brother try the regulating rail,
tain piano. This piano had a number of tones
with that 'whacking sound' and I tried everything which sometimes goes wrong through the wood
I could think of to overcome it, but still it shrinking away from the screws, very slightly,
'whacked.' Finally, in desperation, I selected one but enough to cause a noise under a hard blow
wippen with flanges, sticker and tongue and re- upon the key. Very truly yours, A Reader."
Answers.— Both gentlemen who have been
moved it bodily from the rest of the action.
good enough to favor us with information about
When I had it out I started to dissect it.
the "whacking sounds" in piano actions have laid
"The first thing I did was to push the center-
their fingers upon facts. Rails do warp in ac-
pin out of the tongue, where it is pinned to the
tions which have not been made with all the care
sticker. I then at once saw what was the mat-
in the world. There may be bad pinning done at
ter and what was making the 'whacking sound.'
the factory. Nor should we forget that ham-
The center-pin, instead of passing through the
mer-rails sometimes twist, while it is also well to
felt bushing, was outside the bushing, so that it
remember that some actions of highest grade
came in contact with the wood. Careless pinning
have an extra rail in front of the jack, which
at the action factory was to blame.
limits the forward travel of that member. This
"In other pianos I have seen the action set also, being somewhat slight in structure, is sus-
so far from the strings that the hammer shanks ceptible to distortion through the influence of
came in contact with the hammer spring-rail atmospheric conditions.
every time a stroke was made. Sometimes the
During recent years action making has, in gen-
regulating rail is loose, which gives somewhat the
eral,
greatly been improved. There was a time
same sort of 'whacking sound.'
when an upright action could be bought, with
"These are two possible causes which you did
dampers complete, but without hammers, for less
not mention. Usually, however, the blame is to
than $10, in quantities. Those days, fortunately,
IK laid on loose flanges, loose hammers and loose
have passed forever, and with the death of the
back-stops. C. C. Waugh, Albany, N. Y."
cheap piano has passed also much of the trouble
And Now Another
which the tuner was once compelled to endure.
"Dear Mr. White: In the May 6 issue of The Years, of course, must elapse before the last of
Review Brother Hickman, of West Virginia, these unholy veterans is laid upon the junk pile,
and meanwhile the brethren must labor with
them when they meet them, which is too denied
Make Music Rolls
often for comfort.
PROFITS FOR THE TUNER
THAT WHACKING SOUND
making special player rolls or tliose nnt nil by roRu
roll manufacturers. Or Bell ynur ruatomvrs a rnmiilete
murhine and make a liberal commission.
Free Instruction manual. Price of complete outfit. $12.50. Semi
for details.
LEABARJAN MFG. CO.
HAMILTON, O.
DEAGAN TUNING FORKS
A-440, Bb-466 2 and C-52J 3
(A-43B It desired i
PRICE. 60c. EACH
Deagan Building
.
I . DLAUAN,
i n c . , 1786 Bcrteau Avenue. Chicag
URN YOUR STRAIGHT
PIANOS INTO PLAYERS
T
Individual pneumatic stacks, roll
boxes, bellows, pedal actions,
expression boxes.
Manufacturers, dealers, tuners
and repair men supplied with
player actions for straight pianos.
JENKINSON PLAYER ACTION CO., Inc.
912-914 Elm St.
^ p a
Cincinnati, O.
FAUST SCHOOL
For PIANOS and PLAYER-PIANOS
DEALERS and
TUNERS
Send all work parcels post.
121-123 East 126th S t r e e t
Give us trial order.
N e w York. N. Y.
FREE
Just send your name and address and get this
free book, which tells how damaged or worn
surfaces, in any finish, can quickly and
easily be made N E W again.
Every dealer, repair man and re-
finisher should read it. Sent post-
paid—no cost, no obligation.
Write for it now—a card will do.
L
M. L. CAMPBELL CO.
2328 Penn St.
TUNERS
l^^^Kln^l
- 1
Pica. Toninf. Pipe ind Rtcd Organ
and Player Piaa*. Tear B.ok Free.
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
JUST WHAT YOU
HAVE BEEN LOOK-
ING FOR
S T U D Y
T H I S
VIEW. T H E N
WRITE
FOR FULL
DESCRIPTIVE CIRCU-
LAR AND PRICES. IT EXPLAINS
THE
LATEST
INVENTION IN
THIS KIND OF A DEVICE. THE
BEST MADE AND IT COSTS NO
MORE.
UNDER KEYBED CONTROL FOR
STRAIGHT PIAN08, AND SPOOL-
BOX CONTROL FOR PLAYER-
SUPERIOR MFG. CO.
LIMA, OHIO
Kansas City, Mo.
In it's 2O? w
with upwards at
«„.„
BASS STRINGS
1OOO
J3» SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
•»t«lil atteatlta live* to th* needs • ! th« tuner and th« d«.•!•»
ill!)
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
Kiiiriuoinii Avt-u
Philadelphia, Pa.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
The Superior Ukulele Attachment
KKY RKPA1KING AND NEW WORK
Ivorine, Celluloid and Composition Keys
A Specialty
Ko-t Work
Lowest Frices
VALUABLE BOOK
ON REFINISHING
"One Seventy"
''Dear Mr. White: Here is a point on which
I should like to have your opinion: In upright
actions the hammer, after striking the string and
being caught- by the back check, settles back to
the hammer-rail, of course. Then the jack re-
tracts itself under the hammer-butt. However,
in some pianos, where the jack springs are quite
strong, the jack retracts itself immediately "be-
fore the hammer falls back to the hammer rail.
"Of course, you have to release the key very
slowly to observe these movements. Now, does it
make any difference or is there any rule for the
jack's retracting itself to the position of rest?.
"I find in many high-grade pianos that jacks
work both ways. When the jack-spring is strong
enough to send the jack back quickly—in other
words, to beat on the hammer-butt—one is always
sure to get in Summertime an even tone, even
though the action has swelled and the hammers
are slightly raised from the key-rail.
"I hope I have made myself understood. You
have told us to send in our ideas. Here is mine,
and now I shall close till I have something more
to say or ask. Respectfully yours, C. C. Waugh."
Answer.—The theory of the piano action is
simple. In order to produce on the piano a tone
which shall be a tone, which shall endure for
some time at least and have a life of its own, it
is necessary that the hammer should rebound im-
mediately after the contact has been made with
the string. In both vertical and horizontal piaiios
the elasticity of the felt and of the steel wire is
sufficient to cause a rebound, which, however,
must in the upright be assisted by a spring..
(Continued on page 12)
HARLEM PIANO & ORGAN KEY CO.
VIBRATIONS GUARANTEED
SM1«*
JACK AND HAMMER=BUTT
Some Questions and an Explanation of the Re-
lations of These Action Parts
COURTHOUSE SQ,
VALPARAISO. IND.
Repair Parts and Tools of
Every Description
Send for New Prices
\>w ntjile all leather bridle itrap
BRAUNSDORFS ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS
labor Saving; Mouse
Si nil for Samples.
Proof; Guaranteed a l l one length
Prices on Request
Felts and Cloths in any Quantities
Braunsdori's Other Specialties
I'uper,
Felt
and
Cloth
I'lim-hlng*, Fibre Washer*
and Bridge* for
Pianos, Or Kan* and
Flayer Action*
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc., «. •LT^-TrSE 1 ^
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).