Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NOVEMBER 28, 1925
Basis of Reproducing Service Is Trained Personnel—(Continued from page 3)
In the first place, the student has an oppor-
tunity of examining valves, pneumatics, pouches,
etc., at close range and in cross-section, which
AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY
Service Department
SERVICEMAN'S GENERAL REPORT
Xo.
Dealer
City
Name* of other straight pianos handled
per cent fail to qualify. It is well to cite here
that although this 30 or 40 per cent do not
qualify for a certificate the knowledge they
acquire during the course of instructions will
greatly assist them in their work. Furthermore
such students are encouraged to again avail
themselves of the opportunity to take up this
study and qualify for the credential. The certi-
ficate itself certifies to the fact that the student
has completed the course and is judged com-
petent to service the Ampico, and the manu-
facturer's endorsement of his ability stands him
Names of other player pianos handled
AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY
Service Division
AMPICO-EFFICIENCY REPORT
Names of other reproducer* handled
Stock
Date
No.
Dealer
City
Owner
(s there a repairman to make adjustments
Independent
Address
Employee
Good
Fair
Poor
Studying Ampico
Piano No.
Very Poor
Model
Indifferent
Can handle ordinary adjs.
Yes
No
Name
Player Action
Qiickcring Knabe M. H.
Type
Haines
specimen of this general report on the dealer,
together with the master record card, is repro-
duced herewith.
There is also reproduced another form known
as "instrument efficiency report." This report
is used by the traveling instructor ind covers a
detailed account of the instruments he is called
upon to inspect during his visit to the dealers,
which information in many instances is indica-
tive of the kind of service being rendered by
the dealer. This report even goes so far as to
list the number of Ampico recordings and other
rolls in the owner's library, thus providing in-
formation of direct benefit to the music depart-
ment.
Contact With Dealers
Under the Ampico National Service system
the manufacturer keeps in constant contact with
the dealer. Itineraries are arranged for various
sections of the country which include all dealers
No.
11. & W Franklin
Type of Expression
Fischer
LOUD PEDAL
Type of Pump
General Condition of Mechanism: Good Fur Poor
Last Inspection
Purchase Date
Very Poor
SOFT PEDAL
How many times inspected
Address
General App. of Finish
SERVICE RENDERED BY DEALER
of Hdw.
of Escutcheons
Primary
TRACKING DEVICE
Co-operating and attempting good service
MAIN ACTION
Indifferent
Secodary
No attempt to give local service
No. of Ampicos inspected on floor
ELECTRIC SWITCH
No. of Ampicos inspected in owners' homes
Time given by repairman
Complete
Part time
ELECTRIC MOTOR
REVERSE
PRESSURES: Med. Brill. Sub. T. Sub. B. Tint Int. T. First Int. B.
Found
Set
REPEAT
Why not complete time
No. of Ampico Music Rolls in stock
Instrument Efficiency Report Numbers
TRANSMISSION
REMARKS
SWITCH MECHANISM
Serviceman's General Report
enables him to understand just how each part
operates. The course is developed along lines
that would fit well into the practice in any
school. On a large blackboard sketches of the
various reproducing action parts are drawn by
the instructor and the function of each part and
its relation to the rest of the action is carefully
explained. Then a careful study is made of the
complete instrument. For the student to say
that he understands the problems is not suffi-
cient. He is called upon to make sketches of
the various parts and describe their purposes
and is then given frequent oral examinations
with a written examination at the end of the
course.
Just to prove what the students have learned
the instructor puts the reproducing action out
of commission, changing about the tubes, throw-
ing regulating apparatus out of adjustment,
placing obstructions under valves so they will
AIR MOTOR
Al'TO EXP. CUT-OUT
TUBING
EXPRESSION MECHANISM
PIANO ACTION
CRESCENDOES
An Efficiency Report
in good stead in his relationship with the dealer
and with the piano owner.
That the individual repairmen appreciate the
value of this opportunity to study the repro-
ducing piano is shown by the fact that the regis-
tration for the classes is always heavy and fre-
quently makes necessary two or even three
sessions of the school each day. This was the
case in Philadelphia this month, where three
sessions were required to take care of all the
students, with some of them becoming so inter-
ested that they stayed in the room for at least
two and very often all three of the sessions
with a view to gaining additional knowledge.
Individual Instruction
It is realized, of course, that it is not always
convenient or feasible for the dealer to send
his repairman to even the traveling school
when it is in a distant city, and that until the
school is in his own vicinity he must still take
care of the service work. For that reason the
American Piano Co. still maintains a staff of
traveling instructors to call upon the dealers at
intervals with a view to instructing their serv-
icemen as much as possible, and if necessary
accompany the dealer's man on any service call
Master Service Card
which may require special attention.
This
not function, and in other ways making the affords an opportunity of not only assisting the
action partially or entirely inoperative. After local serviceman to overcome any difficulties
the instructor is through, the students are
which he may be experiencing but to further
called upon to work on the action until it is in instruct him in a practical manner on the
first-class operating shape, thus gaining prac- mechanism generally.
tical experience in testing out the different
A detailed report is made of each service visit
parts to find just where the difficulty exists.
to the dvaler and these reports serve as a per-
As an incentive to the students to encourage manent record to the manufacturer of ju*t what
them to put forth their best efforts and to study
the dealer is doing to handle the service prob-
seriously, the school offers a certificate to those
lem and what progress he is making from time
who pass the final examinations in a satisfac-
to time. It is also noted on these various re-
tory manner. That the requirements are rigid
ports the number of instruments the dealer has
is indicated by the fact that between 30 and 40 in stock at the time service is rendered. A
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rvMCMMD
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—
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•».LO.l.
MCOIWtNG*
Number of Ampico Rolls in Library of Owner
Number of Other Rolls
Condition of Rolls from a Pitying Standpoint
HAVE YOU PUMPED OUT TRACKER BAR
IS INSTRUMENT PLAYING TO YOUR SATISFACTION
REMARKS
Signed
Reverse Side
in a particular territory and a schedule is
assigned for the guidance of the traveling in-
structors. Preceding the service visit, a form
letter is .sent to the dealer notifying him that
an inspector will call upon him and outlining
the purpose for which this service visit has
been arranged. Subsequent to this the traveling
instructor sends a postcard advising the dealer
just what day he will call so that the local
serviceman's time can be placed at his com-
plete disposal for instructions.
Work With Dealers
In previous articles it has been explained
how efficient service can be operated and main-
tained and the Ampico Corp. also takes this
matter up at length with its various dealers so
that the dealers may line up some plan to meet
their particular requirements.
Following the visit of the traveling repair
expert the dealer receives a questionnaire read-
ing as follows:
"You will appreciate it is our desire that you
derive every possible benefit from our periodical
service visits, and with this in mind we would
ask you to kindly report to us at your earliest
convenience on the following:
"Has your repairman benefited by our serv-
iceman's recent visit?
(Continued on page 11)