Music Trade Review
Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 22 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 1, 1928
The Music Trade Review
Growing Scarcity of Clear Grained
Ivory Problem in the Piano Industry
A. G. Gulbransen, President of the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, Points Out That Only
Prejudice Prevents the Use of Figured Ivory for Piano Keys
*TpHERE are many erroneous ideas and prej-
udices relating to ivory piano keys. This
is becoming a very serious matter for the piano
industry, due to the constant decrease in the
supply of ivory.
There is a notion in the minds of many people
in and outside of the piano trade that ivory
piano keys should be as clear white as possible,
in other words without grain.
On the other hand, highly figured, flaky
veneers for use on the piano are looked upon
with the greatest favor. Highest prices are
paid for figured woods, and very properly so
because they are more beautiful in appearance.
Yet when it comes to picking ivory, a mental
change seems to take place. Grained ivory is
looked upon with disfavor. There seems to be
a. thought that it is inferior in some respects.
disposal we could afford to humor this idea
and pick clear ivory for all of the pianos manu-
factured in this country. But the fact is that
there is a very serious shortage and an adequate
supply of ivory will undoubtedly become more
of a problem as time goes on.
In the ordinary elephant tusk there is a very
small portion of clear ivory. The balance of it,
grained ivory, is just exactly as good in wear-
ing quality, in appearance, as the clear ivory.
But if the grained ivory is waste there is just
one way to meet it and that is to place an
additional premium on the clearer grades of
ivory. The piano trade is now paying the pen-
alty for this prejudice.
Every tusk of ivory produces all grades from
numbers one to five. Number five is the ivory
with the greatest amount of figure in it. And
there are sets of keys made of this grade of
ivory which are as beautiful as any figured
walnut veneer I have ever seen in my work.
As part of the propaganda against grained
ivory, the statement is frequently made that
this grade of ivory will turn blue or red or
green or some other color. This is absolutely
false. All ivory will turn antique yellow (the
old ivory color so much praised in ivory carv-
ings) on account of darkness or age, the fine
ivory as well as the coarser ivory. If there is
any other discoloration it is due to some other
factor such as the hand coming in contact
with a stain of some sort and this stain being
transferred to the piano keyboard when the in-
strument is played. The hands, clothing and
stains due to grasping the bottom of the piano
bench have all been found responsible for dis-
coloration of piano keys, except for the natural
and unescapable yellowing.
The decreasing supply of ivory has made it
necessary for the producers to cut it thin. An
ivory key is now probably one-half or less than
one-half as thick as it was formerly. This has
resulted in readier chipping and cracking of
ivory keys, a condition that could be overcome
to some extent if the whole subject of ivory
were viewed with sanity and use were made of
the complete elephant tusk.
It is in the power of the piano industry to
change this condition. If dealers and salesmen
were willing to face the facts without prejudice,
they, through their direct contact with the
piano-buying public, could very quickly change
the foolish notions about ivory that people now
have.
I submit these thoughts to the earnest con-
sideration of piano manufacturers, dealers,
salesmen and service men. By discarding prej-
udices we can overcome a problem that is in-
creasing in seriousness month by month.
Death of Francis Connor
New York Trade Veteran
be held throughout the Winter months. The
new high school is one of the finest in New
Jersey and is located in the county seat of
Atlantic County.
Well-Known Piano Manufacturer Passes Away
at His Home in New York on November 22
in His 85th Year
Francis Connor, one of the veterans of the
New York piano trade, died at his home, 21
East 126th street, New York, on November 22
after a short illness. He was born in Ireland in
1843, and came to the United States in 1860,
where he became an apprentice in a piano fac-
tory. In 1877 he started the manufacture of
Francis Connor pianos and opened retail ware-
rooms on 42nd street between Madison and
Fifth avenues which were maintained there until
1914 when the retail business was moved to a
building on Lexington avenue. Mr. Connor
was also one of the first manufacturers to build
a factory in the Bronx for the making of pianos.
He retired from active business about two years
ago, being succeeded by his son-in-law, John J.
Schwab.
Mr. Connor was a member of the Catholic
Club, American Irish Historical Society,
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and a charter
member of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association. Funeral services were held at All
Saints' Church on November 25th, where a
Requiem Mass was celebrated.
Steinway for High School
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 12.—There has
been installed in the Auditorium of the May's
Land High School, at May's Landing, N. J., a
Steinway concert grand which will be used for
school work and for the concerts which are to
Over 3,000 Dealers in
Schubert Celebration
Columbia Phonograph Co. Particularly Gratified
Over the Manner in Which Retailers Co-
operated in Carrying Out the Observance
The Columbia Phonograph Co. reports that
3,317 Columbia dealers took active part in the
observance of the Columbia Schubert Week
celebration during the week of November 18-25.
The dealers tied up with local Schubert com-
mittee in arranging suitable programs, furnished
Columbia Viva-Tonal instruments, and Schu-
bert Masterworks Albums to halls and meeting
places where exercises were being held, used
the special Schubert window display and dis-
tributed over a quarter of a million pieces of
literature regarding the life and works of Schu-
bert. The co-operation of these dealers is
greatly appreciated by the company, for it
served to make the observance a success.
In his report to the advisory body, Otto H.
Kahn, its chairman, said, among other things:
"It is but plain justice to state that I know of
no instance in which a service of that nature
has been performed with larger generosity,
broader scope, greater dignity, and higher
efficiency than the conception, organization, and
carrying out of the Schubert Centennial com-
memoration, by the Columbia Phonograph Co."
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
H. H. Fleer Resigns as
Lyon & Healy Official
CHICAGO, III., November 27.—Herman H. Fleer
resigned on November 24 as vice-president, di-
rector and manager of the piano division of
Lyon & Healy, Inc., and has not yet announced
his plans for the future
In announcing Mr. Fleer's resignation, Ray-
mond E. Durham, president of Lyon & Healy
said: "We very much regret the resignation of
Mr. Fleer, and the fact that greater opportuni-
ties take him away from the Lyon & Healy
organization. We wish him the greatest meas-
ure of success in his new association."
Opens Branch in Buffalo
BUFALO, N. Y., November 26.—Medo Electric
Corp., of 18 East Chippewa street, Buffalo,
on November 24, opened a fine branch store
at 1234 Jefferson avenue, in that city. The new
store features a general line of small goods
Columbia talking machines and records and
radio combinations.
Daynes Back at Desk
SALT LAKE CITY, November 23.—Sharp W.
Daynes, treasurer of the Daynes-Beebe Music
Co. and son of Col. Joseph J. Daynes, president
and general manager, is at his desk again fol-
lowing an operation for appendicitis. Mr.
Daynes was taken suddenly ill in the store and
had to be rushed to the hospital.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
Pratt Read
Service
We maintain special
Repair Departments
for the convenience
of d e a l e r s a n d
tuners.
Send your work to
us for prompt at-
tention and careful
workmanship.
Write for our price lists on
key—action—player
repairs and materials
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established i n 1 8 0 6
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.
DECEMBER 1, 1928
The Music Trade Review
Growing Scarcity of Clear Grained
Ivory Problem in the Piano Industry
A. G. Gulbransen, President of the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, Points Out That Only
Prejudice Prevents the Use of Figured Ivory for Piano Keys
*TpHERE are many erroneous ideas and prej-
udices relating to ivory piano keys. This
is becoming a very serious matter for the piano
industry, due to the constant decrease in the
supply of ivory.
There is a notion in the minds of many people
in and outside of the piano trade that ivory
piano keys should be as clear white as possible,
in other words without grain.
On the other hand, highly figured, flaky
veneers for use on the piano are looked upon
with the greatest favor. Highest prices are
paid for figured woods, and very properly so
because they are more beautiful in appearance.
Yet when it comes to picking ivory, a mental
change seems to take place. Grained ivory is
looked upon with disfavor. There seems to be
a. thought that it is inferior in some respects.
disposal we could afford to humor this idea
and pick clear ivory for all of the pianos manu-
factured in this country. But the fact is that
there is a very serious shortage and an adequate
supply of ivory will undoubtedly become more
of a problem as time goes on.
In the ordinary elephant tusk there is a very
small portion of clear ivory. The balance of it,
grained ivory, is just exactly as good in wear-
ing quality, in appearance, as the clear ivory.
But if the grained ivory is waste there is just
one way to meet it and that is to place an
additional premium on the clearer grades of
ivory. The piano trade is now paying the pen-
alty for this prejudice.
Every tusk of ivory produces all grades from
numbers one to five. Number five is the ivory
with the greatest amount of figure in it. And
there are sets of keys made of this grade of
ivory which are as beautiful as any figured
walnut veneer I have ever seen in my work.
As part of the propaganda against grained
ivory, the statement is frequently made that
this grade of ivory will turn blue or red or
green or some other color. This is absolutely
false. All ivory will turn antique yellow (the
old ivory color so much praised in ivory carv-
ings) on account of darkness or age, the fine
ivory as well as the coarser ivory. If there is
any other discoloration it is due to some other
factor such as the hand coming in contact
with a stain of some sort and this stain being
transferred to the piano keyboard when the in-
strument is played. The hands, clothing and
stains due to grasping the bottom of the piano
bench have all been found responsible for dis-
coloration of piano keys, except for the natural
and unescapable yellowing.
The decreasing supply of ivory has made it
necessary for the producers to cut it thin. An
ivory key is now probably one-half or less than
one-half as thick as it was formerly. This has
resulted in readier chipping and cracking of
ivory keys, a condition that could be overcome
to some extent if the whole subject of ivory
were viewed with sanity and use were made of
the complete elephant tusk.
It is in the power of the piano industry to
change this condition. If dealers and salesmen
were willing to face the facts without prejudice,
they, through their direct contact with the
piano-buying public, could very quickly change
the foolish notions about ivory that people now
have.
I submit these thoughts to the earnest con-
sideration of piano manufacturers, dealers,
salesmen and service men. By discarding prej-
udices we can overcome a problem that is in-
creasing in seriousness month by month.
Death of Francis Connor
New York Trade Veteran
be held throughout the Winter months. The
new high school is one of the finest in New
Jersey and is located in the county seat of
Atlantic County.
Well-Known Piano Manufacturer Passes Away
at His Home in New York on November 22
in His 85th Year
Francis Connor, one of the veterans of the
New York piano trade, died at his home, 21
East 126th street, New York, on November 22
after a short illness. He was born in Ireland in
1843, and came to the United States in 1860,
where he became an apprentice in a piano fac-
tory. In 1877 he started the manufacture of
Francis Connor pianos and opened retail ware-
rooms on 42nd street between Madison and
Fifth avenues which were maintained there until
1914 when the retail business was moved to a
building on Lexington avenue. Mr. Connor
was also one of the first manufacturers to build
a factory in the Bronx for the making of pianos.
He retired from active business about two years
ago, being succeeded by his son-in-law, John J.
Schwab.
Mr. Connor was a member of the Catholic
Club, American Irish Historical Society,
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and a charter
member of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association. Funeral services were held at All
Saints' Church on November 25th, where a
Requiem Mass was celebrated.
Steinway for High School
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 12.—There has
been installed in the Auditorium of the May's
Land High School, at May's Landing, N. J., a
Steinway concert grand which will be used for
school work and for the concerts which are to
Over 3,000 Dealers in
Schubert Celebration
Columbia Phonograph Co. Particularly Gratified
Over the Manner in Which Retailers Co-
operated in Carrying Out the Observance
The Columbia Phonograph Co. reports that
3,317 Columbia dealers took active part in the
observance of the Columbia Schubert Week
celebration during the week of November 18-25.
The dealers tied up with local Schubert com-
mittee in arranging suitable programs, furnished
Columbia Viva-Tonal instruments, and Schu-
bert Masterworks Albums to halls and meeting
places where exercises were being held, used
the special Schubert window display and dis-
tributed over a quarter of a million pieces of
literature regarding the life and works of Schu-
bert. The co-operation of these dealers is
greatly appreciated by the company, for it
served to make the observance a success.
In his report to the advisory body, Otto H.
Kahn, its chairman, said, among other things:
"It is but plain justice to state that I know of
no instance in which a service of that nature
has been performed with larger generosity,
broader scope, greater dignity, and higher
efficiency than the conception, organization, and
carrying out of the Schubert Centennial com-
memoration, by the Columbia Phonograph Co."
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
H. H. Fleer Resigns as
Lyon & Healy Official
CHICAGO, III., November 27.—Herman H. Fleer
resigned on November 24 as vice-president, di-
rector and manager of the piano division of
Lyon & Healy, Inc., and has not yet announced
his plans for the future
In announcing Mr. Fleer's resignation, Ray-
mond E. Durham, president of Lyon & Healy
said: "We very much regret the resignation of
Mr. Fleer, and the fact that greater opportuni-
ties take him away from the Lyon & Healy
organization. We wish him the greatest meas-
ure of success in his new association."
Opens Branch in Buffalo
BUFALO, N. Y., November 26.—Medo Electric
Corp., of 18 East Chippewa street, Buffalo,
on November 24, opened a fine branch store
at 1234 Jefferson avenue, in that city. The new
store features a general line of small goods
Columbia talking machines and records and
radio combinations.
Daynes Back at Desk
SALT LAKE CITY, November 23.—Sharp W.
Daynes, treasurer of the Daynes-Beebe Music
Co. and son of Col. Joseph J. Daynes, president
and general manager, is at his desk again fol-
lowing an operation for appendicitis. Mr.
Daynes was taken suddenly ill in the store and
had to be rushed to the hospital.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
Pratt Read
Service
We maintain special
Repair Departments
for the convenience
of d e a l e r s a n d
tuners.
Send your work to
us for prompt at-
tention and careful
workmanship.
Write for our price lists on
key—action—player
repairs and materials
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established i n 1 8 0 6
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.
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