Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 75 N. 4 - Page 11
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THE
JULY 22, 1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
11
OurTECHNICAL DEPARIMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITE
the maker's tonal ideal. If he plans his scale
scientifically, according to a certain conception
plainly in his mind, it is probable that he will
How the Weight of Hammers Is Determined and scon be able to hit upon a weight for his ham-
the Advantages of Various Weights
mers which will fit the other peculiar conditions
lf
Dear Mr. White: What method is employed arising out of his scale construction. If he merely
to determine the weight of piano hammers cov- copies his scale and, besides, has. no clear idea
ered with 12-14 or 16-18-pound felt? What ad- as to what he wishes to obtain in the way of
vantage is there in using one weight of felt tone, he will have to try this and that until he
has arrived somewhere near what he feels he
rather than another?
wants.
"Some time ago my attention was called to an
On the other hand, the question of the influ-
action which has received a new set of ham-
ence
which might be exerted upon an action by a
mers. An easy-playing action prior to the above-
mentioned repair, it now needs a heavy touch, change in the hammers opens up still other pos-
tires out the performer and all in all is most un- sibilities. I should be inclined to say that the
satisfactory. I should feel indebted to you if difficulty could not possibly be owing to any
you would tell me whether you think the heavier change in the weight of the hammers caused by
grade of felt now in the piano accounts for the putting on a new set of greater weight. It seems
difference. Sincerely, E. Smetana, Philadelphia, much more likely that in regulating the action
the operator either increased the tension of the
Ta."
hammer and damper springs or else made some
Doubtless Brother Smetana is aware that when
change in the leverage of the keys upon the action.
we speak of hammers being made from, say, 14-
The latter possibility is not so wild as it seems,
pound felt, we mean that 14 pounds is the weight
for a very slight change in the swing of the ham-
of a sheet of the felt. From such a sheet sev-
mers or of the angle at which they were hung
eral sets of hammers may be made.
would produce a change in the leverage and
Rut the question as to why piano hammers are therefore in the key-power. 1 doubt the ham-
made of various weights raises different and more mers in themselves being the cause, but I should
important considerations. Unfortunately, it is not like to see the action. Meanwhile it might be
as easy to answer as might be imagined. Piano well to try the strength of the hammer and
makers have not yet been able to organize re- damper strings.
search for the purpose of finding out just what
does take place at the contact of hammer with
ABOUT "THAT WHACKING SOUND'
wire. Hence their attempts to produce the best
kind of hammer have been largely experimental.
A correspondent in Moundsville, W. Va., who
They have had to labor until some combination desires that his name be not mentioned, writes
of weights was found which fitted the other in- a.s follows:
dividual characteristics of their scales. When this
"Dear Mr. White: Referring back to 'That
was found by a manufacturer he wisely stuck to
Whacking Noise,' the sound of the extreme treble
it, realizing that it would be foolish to go much
hammers striking the strings, not the musical
further when there was really no basis but pre-
sound, but the 'whacking sound,' is quite pr6-
vious experience.
nounced in many pianos. Sometimes it is exag-
Of course, everything depends upon what is gerated by a sort of resonance, as if the bell metal
(?) plate were really ringing. I have never heard
of any persons except tuners ever noticing the
sound [ mention, but the whacking sound seems
Will recover your old keys with
to be very annoying to apprentice tuners, espe-
new Ivory, Ivorine or Celluloid
cially if tuning in a large room. If you hold your
Send for Complete Price List
finger on the strings when you strike the key you
547-549 The Johnson, Muncie, Indiana
will get the sound I am trying to describe.
Please give us a l&cture on this subject if you
HARLEM PIANO & ORGAN KEY CO.
feel so inclined."
KEY REPAIRING AND NEW WORK
The peculiar sound to which the brother refers
Ivorine, Celluloid and Composition Keys
is very noticeable in the upper treble of nearly
A Specialty-
all upright pianos. It is caused by the interopera-
Best Work
Lowest Prices
tion of two distinct factors. These are the thick-
Send all work parcels post. Give us trial order.
121-123 East 126th Street
New York, N. Y.
THE WEIGHT OF PIANO HAMMERS
RELIABLE PIANO SERVICE
VALUABLE BOOK
ON REFINISHING
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.
M. L. CAMPBELL CO.
2328 Perm St.
Kansas City, Mo.
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
A TREATISE ON TEMPERAMENT
Another correspondent who does not want his
name mentioned is W. A. Kingman, of Pittsfield,
Mass., who, however, says something so very
much to the point that I know he will not mind
my electing him to membership by printing his
name. Says he: "If I start to tune a piano at
C-517.3 and get my temperament right would
the A come out just at 435? 1 know that you
give the figures on page 87 of your book, but I
find a great difference between the figures given
and the results obtained by most tuner's. If you
yourself start with A-517.3 does your A come
out exactly at the tuning-fork figure, 435?"
The question is pointed, but I like pointed
questions when they are sincere like this one and
likely to open up fruitful discussion. I may
answer the questions as follows:
If the A tuning fork is actually registering 435
and the C fork 517.3, then I should expect, on a
good piano, to come out nearly enough right to
satisfy any tuner. Actually, of course, I should
be working on the A and C one octave lower than
435 and 517.3, namely, on 217.5 and 258.65, for
the tuning forks used are always pitched an
octave higher, owing to the predominance of the
second or octave partial in piano tone. With a
good piano the tuner ought to be able to come
(Continued on page 12)
Concord School of Piano Tuning
TUNING,
making specli
roll manufac
machine and make a liberal con
Free Instruction manual.
(or details.
LEABARJAN MFG. CO.
Complete Course in
REPAIRING, REGULATING AND
POLISHING
GEORGE S. CARL,
Price of complete outfit, $12.50.
Send
Director
601 West 51st St.
New York City
Three doors from the Danquard Player Action School
HAMILTON, O.
~
"in M'S 2d*_
wi*h upwards of
BASS STRINGS
SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
TUNERS
H~ea,e
1OOO
Special stteatlaa live* to ! • • arndi at the tuner and tfce 4t*l«r
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
2110 Falrmount Avenue
Philadelphia, fa.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
BRAUNSDORF'S ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS:
Piase Toning. Pipe Mid Reed Orf >p
and Player ri»n». Tear Book Free.
Labor Saving; Mouse Proof; Guaranteed all on* length
Send for Samples.
Prioet on Request
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
ness of the felt on the hammers and the stiff-
ness of the strings. The treble hammers are thin
as to felt and gradually become thinner toward
the upper end. The treble strings become stiffer
per unit of length as their length shortens. The
combination, naturally, produces a sound which
is compounded of a knock combined with a tone.
With very fine pianos this knocking is minimized
by the excellence of the sound board, and in
large grands may almost be wholly extinguished.
But in poorly built uprights it is often very dis-
tressing, indeed.
There is, of course, little to be done in the
way of remedy. I have, of course, occasionally
been able to do some good by slightly changing
the striking point of the hammers on the strings.
Very often this point is too high throughout the
upper treble region. Sometimes it is possible to
heat the hammer-stems enough to bend them so
as to bring the hammers down toward the middle
of the strings. This remedy must be used very
discreetly, but it can sometimes be employed,
though only, of course, when the trouble is obvi-
ously due to an excessively high striking position.
New ityU all leather bridle (trap
Felts and Cloths in any Quantities
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.,
COURTHOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. IND.j
Repair Parts and Tools of
Every Description
Send for New Prices
Braunsdort's Other Specialties
Paper. Felt
and Cloth
Punching*, Fibre Washers
and Bridges for
Pianos, Organs and
Player Actions
Office and Factory!
410 Sast Mrd St., Mew York
THE
JULY 22, 1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
11
OurTECHNICAL DEPARIMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITE
the maker's tonal ideal. If he plans his scale
scientifically, according to a certain conception
plainly in his mind, it is probable that he will
How the Weight of Hammers Is Determined and scon be able to hit upon a weight for his ham-
the Advantages of Various Weights
mers which will fit the other peculiar conditions
lf
Dear Mr. White: What method is employed arising out of his scale construction. If he merely
to determine the weight of piano hammers cov- copies his scale and, besides, has. no clear idea
ered with 12-14 or 16-18-pound felt? What ad- as to what he wishes to obtain in the way of
vantage is there in using one weight of felt tone, he will have to try this and that until he
has arrived somewhere near what he feels he
rather than another?
wants.
"Some time ago my attention was called to an
On the other hand, the question of the influ-
action which has received a new set of ham-
ence
which might be exerted upon an action by a
mers. An easy-playing action prior to the above-
mentioned repair, it now needs a heavy touch, change in the hammers opens up still other pos-
tires out the performer and all in all is most un- sibilities. I should be inclined to say that the
satisfactory. I should feel indebted to you if difficulty could not possibly be owing to any
you would tell me whether you think the heavier change in the weight of the hammers caused by
grade of felt now in the piano accounts for the putting on a new set of greater weight. It seems
difference. Sincerely, E. Smetana, Philadelphia, much more likely that in regulating the action
the operator either increased the tension of the
Ta."
hammer and damper springs or else made some
Doubtless Brother Smetana is aware that when
change in the leverage of the keys upon the action.
we speak of hammers being made from, say, 14-
The latter possibility is not so wild as it seems,
pound felt, we mean that 14 pounds is the weight
for a very slight change in the swing of the ham-
of a sheet of the felt. From such a sheet sev-
mers or of the angle at which they were hung
eral sets of hammers may be made.
would produce a change in the leverage and
Rut the question as to why piano hammers are therefore in the key-power. 1 doubt the ham-
made of various weights raises different and more mers in themselves being the cause, but I should
important considerations. Unfortunately, it is not like to see the action. Meanwhile it might be
as easy to answer as might be imagined. Piano well to try the strength of the hammer and
makers have not yet been able to organize re- damper strings.
search for the purpose of finding out just what
does take place at the contact of hammer with
ABOUT "THAT WHACKING SOUND'
wire. Hence their attempts to produce the best
kind of hammer have been largely experimental.
A correspondent in Moundsville, W. Va., who
They have had to labor until some combination desires that his name be not mentioned, writes
of weights was found which fitted the other in- a.s follows:
dividual characteristics of their scales. When this
"Dear Mr. White: Referring back to 'That
was found by a manufacturer he wisely stuck to
Whacking Noise,' the sound of the extreme treble
it, realizing that it would be foolish to go much
hammers striking the strings, not the musical
further when there was really no basis but pre-
sound, but the 'whacking sound,' is quite pr6-
vious experience.
nounced in many pianos. Sometimes it is exag-
Of course, everything depends upon what is gerated by a sort of resonance, as if the bell metal
(?) plate were really ringing. I have never heard
of any persons except tuners ever noticing the
sound [ mention, but the whacking sound seems
Will recover your old keys with
to be very annoying to apprentice tuners, espe-
new Ivory, Ivorine or Celluloid
cially if tuning in a large room. If you hold your
Send for Complete Price List
finger on the strings when you strike the key you
547-549 The Johnson, Muncie, Indiana
will get the sound I am trying to describe.
Please give us a l&cture on this subject if you
HARLEM PIANO & ORGAN KEY CO.
feel so inclined."
KEY REPAIRING AND NEW WORK
The peculiar sound to which the brother refers
Ivorine, Celluloid and Composition Keys
is very noticeable in the upper treble of nearly
A Specialty-
all upright pianos. It is caused by the interopera-
Best Work
Lowest Prices
tion of two distinct factors. These are the thick-
Send all work parcels post. Give us trial order.
121-123 East 126th Street
New York, N. Y.
THE WEIGHT OF PIANO HAMMERS
RELIABLE PIANO SERVICE
VALUABLE BOOK
ON REFINISHING
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.
M. L. CAMPBELL CO.
2328 Perm St.
Kansas City, Mo.
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
A TREATISE ON TEMPERAMENT
Another correspondent who does not want his
name mentioned is W. A. Kingman, of Pittsfield,
Mass., who, however, says something so very
much to the point that I know he will not mind
my electing him to membership by printing his
name. Says he: "If I start to tune a piano at
C-517.3 and get my temperament right would
the A come out just at 435? 1 know that you
give the figures on page 87 of your book, but I
find a great difference between the figures given
and the results obtained by most tuner's. If you
yourself start with A-517.3 does your A come
out exactly at the tuning-fork figure, 435?"
The question is pointed, but I like pointed
questions when they are sincere like this one and
likely to open up fruitful discussion. I may
answer the questions as follows:
If the A tuning fork is actually registering 435
and the C fork 517.3, then I should expect, on a
good piano, to come out nearly enough right to
satisfy any tuner. Actually, of course, I should
be working on the A and C one octave lower than
435 and 517.3, namely, on 217.5 and 258.65, for
the tuning forks used are always pitched an
octave higher, owing to the predominance of the
second or octave partial in piano tone. With a
good piano the tuner ought to be able to come
(Continued on page 12)
Concord School of Piano Tuning
TUNING,
making specli
roll manufac
machine and make a liberal con
Free Instruction manual.
(or details.
LEABARJAN MFG. CO.
Complete Course in
REPAIRING, REGULATING AND
POLISHING
GEORGE S. CARL,
Price of complete outfit, $12.50.
Send
Director
601 West 51st St.
New York City
Three doors from the Danquard Player Action School
HAMILTON, O.
~
"in M'S 2d*_
wi*h upwards of
BASS STRINGS
SUCCESSFUL
GRADUATES
TUNERS
H~ea,e
1OOO
Special stteatlaa live* to ! • • arndi at the tuner and tfce 4t*l«r
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
2110 Falrmount Avenue
Philadelphia, fa.
The TUNER'S FRIEND
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
BRAUNSDORF'S ALL LEATHER BRIDLE STRAPS:
Piase Toning. Pipe Mid Reed Orf >p
and Player ri»n». Tear Book Free.
Labor Saving; Mouse Proof; Guaranteed all on* length
Send for Samples.
Prioet on Request
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
ness of the felt on the hammers and the stiff-
ness of the strings. The treble hammers are thin
as to felt and gradually become thinner toward
the upper end. The treble strings become stiffer
per unit of length as their length shortens. The
combination, naturally, produces a sound which
is compounded of a knock combined with a tone.
With very fine pianos this knocking is minimized
by the excellence of the sound board, and in
large grands may almost be wholly extinguished.
But in poorly built uprights it is often very dis-
tressing, indeed.
There is, of course, little to be done in the
way of remedy. I have, of course, occasionally
been able to do some good by slightly changing
the striking point of the hammers on the strings.
Very often this point is too high throughout the
upper treble region. Sometimes it is possible to
heat the hammer-stems enough to bend them so
as to bring the hammers down toward the middle
of the strings. This remedy must be used very
discreetly, but it can sometimes be employed,
though only, of course, when the trouble is obvi-
ously due to an excessively high striking position.
New ityU all leather bridle (trap
Felts and Cloths in any Quantities
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.,
COURTHOUSE SO.
VALPARAISO. IND.j
Repair Parts and Tools of
Every Description
Send for New Prices
Braunsdort's Other Specialties
Paper. Felt
and Cloth
Punching*, Fibre Washers
and Bridges for
Pianos, Organs and
Player Actions
Office and Factory!
410 Sast Mrd St., Mew York
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