Music Trade Review

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FEBRUARY 17,
1923
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
Leipzig and Frankfort Piano Industry
The Second of a Series of Articles by H. T. Scott-Huntington, a Well-Known Piano Technician, Dealing With |
Post-War Conditions in the European Industry—The Bluthner and Hupfeld Houses in Leipzig
)
—Frankfort-on-Main's Factories—The German Piano-Owner and His Instrument
"*
LKII'ZK;, GERMANY, January 10.—Well, here 1 am
in this other oltl industrial and cultural center.
Here among the piano manufacturers we have
the well-known Julius Bliithner, founded in
1856, and since then conducted by the son of the
founder and producing a very good product.
Here also 1 have met the 'extensive use of the
"bayonet" action. In speaking with this con-
cern's inspector, one who has been there forty-
seven years, I was again assured that such an
action, properly made, was superior to the open
action. He showed me three of his own inven-
tions, all embodying that principle of construc-
tion, one of which has been adopted, by the
firm and widely sold. I found it very smooth
and well balanced, but always used with the
so-called "short action"; that is, without the
abstract. Where this latter was used the open
action was somewhat better.
At Bolits-Ehrenberg, a suburb of the city,
there is the world-famous pneumatic and or-
chestrion factory of the Ludwig Hupfeld Co.,
the product of which is much appreciated and
of very good construction. This is the firm
which holds the patents for the installation of
the player action above the keybed (in the
grand piano alone, though) which prevented
our more aggressive makers from finding means
beneath the keybed. But it was left to the per-
i spicacity of American patent attorneys to find a
i flaw in the patent's claims whereby it was dis-
covered that the motor mechanism could be in-
stalled above the keybed if the action proper
could not be. However, as this situation has
but another five years in which to hold legally
it will soon be a matter of public utility. I
found that this company maintains a well-
appointed kitchen in which the mid-day lunch is
served the employes at cost, thus eliminating
one of the most serious problems existing be-
tween employer and employed and maintaining
that physical wellbeing so essential to all con-
cerned, especially in a country like this, the in-
dustrial future of which seems to be in the
hands of strong Socialistic groups, many of
which tend markedly toward Sovietism. This
principle has been adopted by many of the very
large German industrial concerns, not to say
the great majority, and has brought very satis-
factory results.
, -v
Frankfort-on-Main's Industry
"^Sr
FRANKFORT-ON-MAIN. GERMANY, January 11.—
Here I am in this other old city, full of com-
mercial and industrial activities, the seat of the
larger Peter's Union Rubber Works, and the
well-known Phillips Orchestrion and pneumatic
pianos. This latter firm has. over 400 employes
and turns out a fairly good product, but mostly
for export, principally to South American mar-
kets.
Here can be witnessed a similar scene to New
York or Chicago, for the Stock Exchange is a
very busy place. From the number of stocks
that change hands, it certainly does not make
one believe that this country is on the road to
ruin, especially as a large portion of those stocks
lepresents foreign investments or purchases.
This is the city of the first Rothschild, Nathan,
the German Jewish money lender, the founder
of the famous banking firm of Rothschild Bros,
and who received from the Austrian Emperor
the title of baron for his services. The economic
conditions here are generally good and the peo-
ple seem to be well fed, at least they are cer-
tainly well dressed. Everyone is working and
no one is unemployed.
The German mentality is one that requires
studying; yes, but hardly much admiration. The
term admiration here is used advisedly, for one
cannot help admiring their constancy and
tenacity of purpose, their ideal of political, or,
rather, national unity permitting the passage of
laws which in many respects are annoying per-
sonally, but very good for the common weal, ll
is a nature that, though full of logic and firm-
ness of purpose, is practically devoid of senti-
ment—to me, at least. Coupled with this trait
is another that does not openly recognize the
superiority of anyone else or anything, a fact
that can be understood by anyone who meet>
with "(•erman methods of doing business.
German Music and the German People
But this is not intended as an essay on the
sociological aspects of this nation, so 1 shall
conclude with a comparison of their much-
vaunted musical traits and abilities as compared
vv.til those ol other people. 1 have found a
marked absence of them in any form. True,
they have their musical conservatories, bra .^
bands, not excepting the famous street-corner
gatherings that remind one somewhat of the
usual Salvation Army sights among us. iiu\
i.ave beautiful theatres in which are to be heard
some very exceptional orchestras. Their stage
settings, tor example, are superior to the Ital-
ian, but their music, to me, lacks soul, idealism,
melody, beauty and harmonious continuity. 1
lully realize that I am treading on very danger-
ous ground in making these and other state-
ments, but 1 do not fear successful contradic-
tion at the hands of any really disinterested
and impartial observer. Their music is pedantic,
heavy in its import and meaning, though vague
in this latter phase. It shows profound study
and considerable art in its observance of all
rules in counterpoint, harmony, ensemble, etc.
But with it all, excepting many very beautiful
harmonies and melodies, 1 am ndt impressed
with German compositions to the extent and in
the manner 1 am with the Italian or Spanish, or
even French music, the melodies ol which are
great, not in their musical or technical com-
plexities, but in their great simplicity. You
leave a concert hall with at least one excerpt ot
the latter ringing in your head, and, it you arc
endowed with anything short of a tone-deaf
ear you will find yourself humming, whistling
or even singing it not only on your way home,
but some tune on the morrow while at work.
There is a marked difference in appeal to
human beings and animals. An example of
this will permit me to prove it. One evening
after a hard day's inarch during the 1'hilippini/
Island insurrection, while squatted on the
ground in front of our tents after supper listen-
ing to the musical program at one end of the
line of tents in the midst of some jungle grass
• or bamboo canes 1 noticed a mini her ot spar-
kling spots. They would disappear and then
reappear. This phenomenon surprised me not
a little, so I called several others to witness
it and asked their opinion. Jnev also vvcrc
astonished. One night the half-German band-
master, Schneider I believe was his name, was
giving a program, the greater part of which
was German. As usual, I had my eyes riveted
on that dark emptiness, but barely could dis-
tinguish some dozen spots. Struck still more
forcibly with this fact, 1 arose and went toward
it, accompanied by a companion. We deter-
mined to fathom this matter, and what do you
think we saw, or, rather, heard?—several snakes
rushing away in the grass. That caused us to
look around for something they might be eating,
but I found nothing. I went to the cook and
asked whether he was in the habit of throwing
anything there which might interest a snake and
he looked as though I needed the attention of a
physician. Not satisfied with that, I determined
to know. Next evening there was a program
which contained almost all Italian, French and
Spanish numbers and I observed that the num-
ber of glittering spots, which I now knew to
be snakes' eyes, was greater, their glitter seem-
ing almost to be brighter.
Still confiding in my companion, fearing
ridicule at the hands of others less observant,
he said that our music was beginning to draw
more of the reptiles of the vicinity. That ex-
planation appeared plausible, but inwardly I
could not understand why, if it really was that
effect, and this musical diversion had been go-
ing on for several weeks, that it took so long
to interest the other snakes. To come to the
point more quickly, it was proved that when a
program containing musical- numbers of any
other nationality than German was given the
snakes were more numerous and their eyes
shone more brightly. Many readers of this
will probably assert that this is not proof. True,
it is not in the sense that proof must be self-
sustaining and possess logical sequence, but
there are certain proofs that must be accepted
as seen or witnessed by one's self.
Smaller Number of Pianos Owned
I observed that the number of pianos in pro-
portion to the population is much smaller in
Germany than it is with us. As to tuning them,
they are much more neglectful than we. Tuners
and shopmen with whom I spoke regarding
this phase especially assured me that their cus-
tomers averaged not more than one tuning in
1 irec years. Bad as our condition is in that
regard, I believe we can show a better percent-
age, generally speaking. Another marked dif-
ference, however, and in their favor, be it said,
i^ the fact that the proportion of good quality
pianos to the total is much greater than among
us. I believe the reason is that the German
manufacturer in general feels a greater artistic,
mechanical and finished pride in his product
than many American manufacturers. This is
not that the German is not commercially keen,
but he does not appear to permit that element
to dominate him to an entire degree.
Features of the German piano are that it is
lower or shorter than ours, almost invariably
black in color, with two brass candle-holders on
the music panels, two pedals, the back covered
with a doth screen and somewhat lighter in
weight, and a markedly metallic tone. When
one of our mellower-toned instruments is
shown Germans they almost always pass it up.
I hey want the piano to stand out banjo-like
in its tone.
As to the use of the player-piano, it is hardly
seen in the home. The automatic player has
been perfected for use in the dance hall, cinema
theatre, etc.
JOINS ELBEL BROjs ORGANIZATION
i-'. B. Lynch, Experienced Music Man, Now
Connected With South Bend Concern
Soi'Tii BEND. IND., February 10.—P. B. Lynch,
for a number of years associated with the Boyer
Music House, of South Bend, and the Templin .
Music Co., of South Bend and Mishawaka, has
formed a connection with Elbel Bros., South [\>
Bend's oldest music firm.
Elbel Bros, report 1922 to have been the
most lcmarkable year in their history, having
shown an increase in business of over 50 per ,
cent. This is in accordance with their aggressive
policy of expansion announced last July. The
growth of the firm extends over a period of
more than sixty-live years and Mr. Lynch is
the sixth man to join their sales force within
the last six months.