Music Trade Review

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FEBRUARY 6,
THE MUSIC TRADE
1926
set forth a program of work for the year 1926.
This included, among other things, the project
of a complete survey of the principles of tone
production in the piano and a thorough discus-
sion of methods of design and construction.
During the coming year this project will be car-
ried out and will furnish one of the great divis-
ions of the editorial work. It is proposed to
take at regular intervals (1) large scientific
problems of design and construction; (2) prac-
tical factory problems in production, costing and
management; (3) practical and scientific prob-
lems pertaining to tuning and service; (4) prob-
lems related to the accessory trades after a
fashion calculated to draw out the close but
oft-neglected relation in which these trades
stand to the manufacture of good pianos.
This last point should by no means be passed
over hurriedly. The makers of plates, bass
strings, wire, hammers, keys, actions, player ac-
tions, veneers, varnish, soundboards, tuning
pins and hardware have always been regarded
too much as if they were outside interests com-
ing in to make difficulty for the piano manufac-
turers. Actually, of course, all good supply men
desire, above everything, to be in the confidence
of manufacturers and to understand the latters 1
tonal and mechanical problems. There is no
hammer man, for instance, who would not much
rather deal on scientific bases with the piano
men, if only such bases could be erected. And
the same is true of the action men, the player
men and all the rest of them. It is high time,
for the best interests of a piano industry sorely
beset by formidable competition, that all men
should cease from their ancient quarrels, be-
come friends again and work in concert for the
common good. This new and more compre-
hensive Technical Department will do its best
to forward a consummation so much to be de-
sired.
That is not all, of course. Piano manufac-
turers are only slowly coming to see that the
problems of one factory are, in general, the
problems of all, and that the old policy of ex
clusiveness and of secrecy is no longer practi-
cal. Yet they are coming to see this gradually,
and so long as this is so one can only be happy
in forwarding, to the best of one's ability, more
discussion of the great problems now beset-
ting the production men of the industry. These
problems have to do with the reduction of over-
head by the adoption of better methods, espe-
cially methods which shall permit the steady
substitution of unskilled or semi-skilled for the
rapidly dying skilled labor, which is not being
replaced. It is hoped that discussions of mat-
ters within the above classifications may be had
hereafter at frequent intervals.
Inside and Outside Men
And it is my hope, too, that in this way there
may be brought about gradually a better un-
derstanding between the inside and outside
technical rfien. A year ago the president of the
Technicians' Association appeared at the con-
vention of the Tuners' Association and held
forth formally the hand of friendship. As one
result of his proffer the two associations are
now working, through committees, on a pro-
gram of common action and are jointly engaged,
with manufacturers and supply men, in the la-
bors of the committee on standardization of
technical terms. It is evident that the old-time
animosity between inside and outside, compa-
rable only to the Town and Gown warfare of
the old university cities, is dying out. What-
ever can be done not only to kill it completely
but to bring forth in its place a spirit of co-op-
eration and friendship, practically expressed in
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
P U B * Tonne, Pip* and Read Ort«o
i x l PUr«r Piano. Year Book Frte.
27-29 Gainsboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
REVIEW
practical results, shall by this department hence-
forth be done.
To the Tuners
The tuners, who have, during past years, so
staunchly supported my efforts, will not, I am sure,
look the less favorably upon them now that
they must find here a more catholic treatment of
great technical questions and a wider view of
editorial responsibilities.
They themselves,
mostly out of touch with factories and often
domiciled in places remote from the large in-
terests of the industry, have always to face the
probability of falling into stolidity and self-com-
placency, shutting their eyes and ears to the
note of progress and discovery. It has always
been my desire to keep these good men awake
to new ideas and alive to new conditions. In
the future this ought to be easier, rather than
harder, for those who read this department
week by week should expect to find a larger
variety of subjects and a wider view. Thus the
benefit should be general and mutual.
No Rabbits From Hats
I hope that these words will not produce an-
ticipations which cannot be realized. The new
Technical Department can only be as good as
the trade of which it treats and as the man who
conducts it. I can only answer personally, of
course, for the latter, and in so answering shall
have to confess that I have no rabbits up my
sleeve to be produced from a hat by any leger-
demain. It is not so much, I think, in the ap-
pearance of things as in their treatment and
the view taken of the editor's responsibility, that
the new department will be more interesting
and more valuable. It will be a case of trying,
for the first time in the history of piano trade
journalism, to bring all the technical interests
under one heading, entrusting their treatment to
one who may, I suppose, be called a specialist.
It has never been tried before on this scale. It
has been tried on a limited scale more than
once by others, but even on a limited and in-
complete scale it has never been tried contin-
uously save by The Review. If, after the long
trial in a limited form, the decision now comes
to expand and complete, then one must suppose
47
that the subjects to be taken up have become
recognized generally for the essential things to
the industry which we technical men have al-
ways known them to be.
Please wish us good luck in our new efforts
for your benefit.
Correspondence
dealing with any and all branches of the indus-
try is solicited and shall receive attention if ad-
dressed to William Braid White, 209 South
State street, Chicago.
Operates at a Profit
The Brooks Piano Co., Minneapolis, Minn.,
maintains a regular service department the facili-
ties of which are available to the public and which
is operated at a profit with the department
credited for work done for the store. A fixed
schedule of charges is provided which includes
an adequate profit and considerable work is
done on an annual contract basis. Service men
receive credit for sales made to prospects
turned in by them. This store credits fully 50
per cent of its sales to the recommendations of
satisfied customers.
>>•*.
Leather Specially
Tanned for Player*
Pianos and Organs
Also Chamois
Sheepskins, Indias
and Skivers
A Specialty of
Pnmtmm$ie und
Paumk SUm £ * • * « «
T.L.LUTKINSInc
4 0 SPRUCE ST.. NEW YORK.N.Y.
TUNERS
AND
REPAIRERS
Our new catalogue of piano and
Player Hardware, Felts and
Tools is now ready. If you
haven't received your copy
please let us know.
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co.
New York, Since 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.