Music Trade Review

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JANUARY 31, 1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
Need for New Player Nomenclature
Lack of Precision in Names Used for Various Parts of the Player-Piano Action a Hindrance to the Advance
of Its Study and Understanding—A Tentative List Which Is Proposed as a Basis for a Final
Decision in This Important Part of the Player's Development
should afford a basis for discussion throughout
the trade. It will be noticed that most of the
names of parts are already generally the subject
of agreement. One or two of them, however,
are worth a brief criticism.
Some Criticisms
It is a question whether the word "exhauster"
is better than the word "pumper" to describe
the pressure-reducing apparatus of the player
action. It is also a question whether the word
."bleed" is better than, or as good as, the word
"vent," which the present writer prefers as
being more plainly descriptive.
One might also question whether the term
"gate box" or its accessory "gate valve" is
really as descriptive and accurate as, say, "ac-
tion cut-off box" and "action cut-off valve."
Likewise "unit" seems better than "point" in
speaking of the pneumatic motor.
Turning to the words 'which describe proc-
esses, it is only necessary to say that perhaps
the term "reduced pressure air" is better than
the suggested term "reduced air."
Certainly if we could get away forever from
the confusion which comes about by applying,
for example, the word "pedal" to the treadles
of the lower action, and to the hammer-rail and
damper-lifting devices, all without any discrim-
ination, the gain would be very great, indeed,
both in accuracy as such and in practical con-
venience.
Where Is the Objection?
Considerations like these lead to the reflection
that there is not a word to be said on the sci-
entific or the technical sides against a general
agreement as to terminology in the pneumatic
player art. Such objection as there may ever be,
or as there ever has been yet, can only be
traced to the fear that the individuality or the
A List of Suggested Names for Player Parts and
commercial value of some player action will be
Processes
hurt by adopting for it terms used for other
Reduced Air (instead of "vacuum")
players. From the technical standpoint such
Upper Action (in uprights only)
an objection seems absurd, but it must be taken
Lower Action (in uprights only)
Exhauster or Exhaust Bellows
into practical account. It exists and is em-
Equalizer (instead of "reservoir")
bodied
in the practice of various manufacturers,
Treadles (instead of "pedals")
who show no desire to adapt their terminology
Pneumatic Stack
to that which is in use among their rivals.
Reduced Air Chamber (in valves)
Reduced Air Channel (tracker to valve)
Certain terms, of course, have forced their
Bleed
way into general use, despite those who would
Valve
have resisted their advance; but they are few.
Primary Valve
Secondary Valve
As the art advances and becomes with the re-
Atmospheric Seat (in valves to describe the outer disk
producing piano more and more highly organ-
and seat)
ized, the need becomes greater for some agree-
Exhaust Seat (in valves, to describe inner disk and
ment as to terms. It has been suggested that the
seat)
Pallet Vnlve (in reproducing pianos to describe a
National Piano Technicians' Association might
rocking lever valve)
take up this matter, and the suggestion is very
Flap Valve (on inside and outside of exhaust bellows)
good. This body is undoubtedly the only one
Knife Valve (describing jack-knife valve in governors,
really capable of taking up such a scheme and of
etc.)
putting.it
through. Volunteer critics have hand-
Locking Valve (reproducing pianos)
ed to the N. P. T. A. several jobs of a more
Pouch (under all valves)
i Bleed Line (describing tubing connected with bleed
or less vast kind since its organization was
mechanism)
first announced; but it is hard to think of any
Air Line
other one at once so simple and so much
Striking Pneumatic
needed.
Gate Valve and Gate Box (for cutting off action)
Spill Valve (leak—in valve on reproducing pianos)
No One Will Be Harmed
Dynamic Valve (power regulating valve in reproduc-
What, of course, is most lacking in the situ-
ing pianos)
Governor (for tempo or playing power)
ation is a general understanding by the manu-
Points (describing the iinits of motors)
facturers to the effect that standardization is
Sustaining Pedal Pneumatic
actually needed in this matter of names. It
Hammer-rail Pneumatic
is apparently very hard to get some of the
Switch, Switch-lever or Valve-switch (for levers hav-
ing " o n " and "off" positions)
manufacturing interests to see that they will
Expression Levers
not be damaged, but actually will be aided, by
Keyslip Buttons
every step taken towards securing a general
Re-roll Lever or Transmission Lever
agreement as to the technical terms to be used.
Spool Box
Right-hand Spindle (in spool box)
The prejudice which has so far made this agree-
Left-hand Spindle (in spool box)
ment impossible is founded mainly upon the
Take-up Spool
belief that each type of reproducing mechanism
Tracker Bar.
On the whole the selection is admirable and is so thoroughly individual that terms used to
ROPOSALS for putting upon a scientific
basis the whole terminology of the player-
piano art have not been lacking and de-
serve the most careful consideration at all
times. Unfortunately for the player-piano, its
development has been mainly at the hands of
men who never had been obliged to deal with
either design or material in an engineering way,
or among engineers. Thus, the names which
they gave to the many parts and elements of
their player actions, as these developed under
their hands, were almost as numerous as them-
selves. There grew up gradually in this way a
vague and loose list of names which in course
of time was condensed into a comparatively
small size, but which nevertheless has always
been incorrect and confusing.
The situation we have to-day is that we are
agreed upon most of the names we give to
parts but that the nomenclature of processes
and the (what may be called) "scientific" terms
are still very much in a state of confusion;
so that the progress of the art, to that extent
and thereby, is obstructed and rendered less
smooth.
In a recent contribution to a technical con-
temporary (Tuners' Journal, January, 1925, page
331) Nicholas Cook, a technician, has put forth
a list of suggested names for processes and
parts of the player mechanism. Most of the
names suggested for parts are already in gen-
eral use, but some valuable ideas are set forth
in connection with the need for more care and
more general agreement as to words used to
describe the scientific laws which govern.
The following is the list. The notes in pa-
rentheses have been inserted by the present
writer, either for further explanation or by
way of comment:
P
describe its own special features cannot be used
to describe parallel features in another type.
This, however, is not really the case. The thing
which has to be done by every player-piano
mechanism of any kind at all is the same thing
always. It is the regulation and variation of
the pressure of air contained within the mech-
anism. This regulation is always performed in
essentially the same way, by regulating the size
of a passage-way through which air is flowing.
The means for accomplishing the regulation
are many and various, but the method is always
essentially one, and the means themselves con-
sist of few and simple parts, disposed in few
and simple relations. The differences are not
differences of mechanical law but of mechanical
practice; and consequently a substantial agree-
ment as to the names of mechanical parts is
quite within the bounds of practical possibility.
Essential to All
To every tuner, to every technician, to every
supply man and to every owner ol" a player-
piano or reproducing piano, substantial agree-
ment as to the names to be used to describe
parts and processes would come as a boon and
a blessing.
Duo-Art in Film
Early this year the striking new picture "Had
Company" will be released by the Associated
Kxhibitors, Inc., in which The Aeolian Co.'s
Puo-Art plays an important part. Madge Ken-
Madge Kennedy at the Duo-Art
nedy and Conway Tearle are the stars of this
production and every effort has been made to
supply these popular artists with an attractive
stage setting in their new picture "Bad Com-
pany." Because of the excellent quality of this
picture both as to entertainment value and elab-
orateness of production, it is expected that this
new film, presented by the Associated Exhibi-
tors, Inc., will be one of the outstanding screen
productions of the year.
Larger Quarters in Brockton
BROCKTON, MASS., January 19.—Larger quarters
in the Times Building here have just been taken
by the United Music Co., which has expanded
its local business beyond the capacity of the
former store at 19 Main street. The new ware-
rooms have a modern show window and an
attractive arched entrance has been built in.
The old store will be used in the future by the
radio department of the company, and pianos
and phonographs will be handled exclusively in
the new quarters.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.