Music Trade Review
Issue: 1931 Vol. 90 N. 8 - Page 28
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PIANO FACTORY and
PIANO SERVICING
DR. W M . BRAID WHITE
Technical Editor
Some Comments on
NEW INSTRUMENTS
INTRODUCED RECENTLY
Readers of this department of THE RE- conceived on a scale and after a design both
VIEW generally are well aware that I have chaste and elegant. There are many reasons
more than once directed their attention to of the kind, and those who saw the Mathu-
the question of the development of an en- shek Spinet Grand will understand just how
tirely new type of pianoforte, to be specially it is possible to take the oblong shape and
and specifically created for the purpose of
make it into something quite beautiful and
producing an instrument tonally and archi- charming.
tecturally calculated to satisfy the aesthetic
The principal engineering problem con-
tastes of the present day. I have in fact nected with the oblong pianoforte is that of
envisaged and attempted to describe some- taking up the strains of the strings evenly
DR. WM. BRAID WHITE
thing in the shape of the triangular spinet, in face of the fact that the gap necessarily
well known during the seventeenth century, left for the rise of the hammers extends along
T the recent trade convention in many specimens of which are to be found in the line of greatest length. In the case of
Chicago, two among the items on museums. Some particularly pleasing exam- the grand pianoforte this does not matter,
because the main structure is behind this gap,
display attracted most of the at- ples are in the Crosby-Brown collection of
tention of those who came to musical instruments at the Metropolitan Mu- while of course in the upright the question
look at and to appraise pianos. These weTe seum of Art in New York. I confess that does not arise at all. In the oblong piano-
the so-called "Spinet grand" of Mathushek the idea of modernizing the rectangular spin- forte however it does emerge as a very seri-
and the new upright of Charles Frederick et from which came the nineteenth century ous problem. In the old days of the square
^Stein. The most interesting point about them square pianoforte had occurred to me, as no pianoforte it was never, in fact, satisfactorily
both was undoubtedly the fact that each rep- doubt it had to many others; but I also con- solved, save by making the whole construc-
resents a type supposedly obsolete. The fess that I had not expected any manufac- tion enormously heavy and cumbersome. No
Mathushek piano is nothing more nor less turer actually to make the trial. Now that such solution is possible today, and the an-
than a modernized hammer-spinet; while the Mathushek has done it, the whole thing be- swer must therefore be found in more refined
Stein instrument represents the first attempt comes both interesting, and of immediate engineering.
after a considerable interval to bring for- practical importance, so that it is well worth
A great deal can be done indeed by judi-
ward a thoroughly high class artistic piano our while to consider with some care the cious barring. I think that a steel casting
in vertical form. Uprights during the last engineering problems involved in the success- for this oblong shape would be ideal and in
ten years have been steadily declining in ful model of the kind, taking these in both that case the barring need be neither weighty
numbers and in public favor. One and all their tonal and their mechanical aspect.
nor unsightly. But there can be no doubt
THE HAMMER GAP
the new uprights which have appeared dur-
that the oblong plate needs more and more
ing this period have been either reduced in
It ought to be said at the start that the carefully placed barring than does either the
compass or at least cut down to the minimum
shape of the oblong pianoforte fits it ex- vertical or the wing shaped. And I think
in size and, usually, in price also. The
tremely well for modern rooms decorated ac- that the standing in tune qualities and the
emergence of a new upright, to be retailed
cording to eighteenth century English or tonal values of the oblong scale will always
at a good price and strictly upon its tonal
American styles. It also is extremely con- be less than perfectly satisfactory until this
merits, is therefore quite a portent.
question has been taken up and completely
venient for a small apartment because of
settled.
its fitting neatly against a wall instead of
THE "SPINET GRAND"
REPETITION
occupying
needed
space
in
the
middle
of
Even more of an omen is to be found in
The principal mechanical problem to be
the bold step taken by the Mathushek Piano the floor. Moreover, its architecture can be
Mfg. Co., of New York, in constructing and
putting on the market a modern piano in
oblong form, beautiful to look at and well
adapted to the needs of the modern living
room, especially where decorations and the
furnishings have been conceived in that thor-
oughly artistic and delightful style known as
Early American.
Each of these events demands, then, more
The MOORE and FISHER Manufacturing Co.
than passing consideration, for each moves
in the direction of a possible new trade
Deep River, Conn.
policy.
A
WHERE CAN YOU GET
PLAYER ACTION
REPAIRS and SUPPLIES
23
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
August, 1931
PIANO FACTORY and
PIANO SERVICING
DR. W M . BRAID WHITE
Technical Editor
Some Comments on
NEW INSTRUMENTS
INTRODUCED RECENTLY
Readers of this department of THE RE- conceived on a scale and after a design both
VIEW generally are well aware that I have chaste and elegant. There are many reasons
more than once directed their attention to of the kind, and those who saw the Mathu-
the question of the development of an en- shek Spinet Grand will understand just how
tirely new type of pianoforte, to be specially it is possible to take the oblong shape and
and specifically created for the purpose of
make it into something quite beautiful and
producing an instrument tonally and archi- charming.
tecturally calculated to satisfy the aesthetic
The principal engineering problem con-
tastes of the present day. I have in fact nected with the oblong pianoforte is that of
envisaged and attempted to describe some- taking up the strains of the strings evenly
DR. WM. BRAID WHITE
thing in the shape of the triangular spinet, in face of the fact that the gap necessarily
well known during the seventeenth century, left for the rise of the hammers extends along
T the recent trade convention in many specimens of which are to be found in the line of greatest length. In the case of
Chicago, two among the items on museums. Some particularly pleasing exam- the grand pianoforte this does not matter,
because the main structure is behind this gap,
display attracted most of the at- ples are in the Crosby-Brown collection of
tention of those who came to musical instruments at the Metropolitan Mu- while of course in the upright the question
look at and to appraise pianos. These weTe seum of Art in New York. I confess that does not arise at all. In the oblong piano-
the so-called "Spinet grand" of Mathushek the idea of modernizing the rectangular spin- forte however it does emerge as a very seri-
and the new upright of Charles Frederick et from which came the nineteenth century ous problem. In the old days of the square
^Stein. The most interesting point about them square pianoforte had occurred to me, as no pianoforte it was never, in fact, satisfactorily
both was undoubtedly the fact that each rep- doubt it had to many others; but I also con- solved, save by making the whole construc-
resents a type supposedly obsolete. The fess that I had not expected any manufac- tion enormously heavy and cumbersome. No
Mathushek piano is nothing more nor less turer actually to make the trial. Now that such solution is possible today, and the an-
than a modernized hammer-spinet; while the Mathushek has done it, the whole thing be- swer must therefore be found in more refined
Stein instrument represents the first attempt comes both interesting, and of immediate engineering.
after a considerable interval to bring for- practical importance, so that it is well worth
A great deal can be done indeed by judi-
ward a thoroughly high class artistic piano our while to consider with some care the cious barring. I think that a steel casting
in vertical form. Uprights during the last engineering problems involved in the success- for this oblong shape would be ideal and in
ten years have been steadily declining in ful model of the kind, taking these in both that case the barring need be neither weighty
numbers and in public favor. One and all their tonal and their mechanical aspect.
nor unsightly. But there can be no doubt
THE HAMMER GAP
the new uprights which have appeared dur-
that the oblong plate needs more and more
ing this period have been either reduced in
It ought to be said at the start that the carefully placed barring than does either the
compass or at least cut down to the minimum
shape of the oblong pianoforte fits it ex- vertical or the wing shaped. And I think
in size and, usually, in price also. The
tremely well for modern rooms decorated ac- that the standing in tune qualities and the
emergence of a new upright, to be retailed
cording to eighteenth century English or tonal values of the oblong scale will always
at a good price and strictly upon its tonal
American styles. It also is extremely con- be less than perfectly satisfactory until this
merits, is therefore quite a portent.
question has been taken up and completely
venient for a small apartment because of
settled.
its fitting neatly against a wall instead of
THE "SPINET GRAND"
REPETITION
occupying
needed
space
in
the
middle
of
Even more of an omen is to be found in
The principal mechanical problem to be
the bold step taken by the Mathushek Piano the floor. Moreover, its architecture can be
Mfg. Co., of New York, in constructing and
putting on the market a modern piano in
oblong form, beautiful to look at and well
adapted to the needs of the modern living
room, especially where decorations and the
furnishings have been conceived in that thor-
oughly artistic and delightful style known as
Early American.
Each of these events demands, then, more
The MOORE and FISHER Manufacturing Co.
than passing consideration, for each moves
in the direction of a possible new trade
Deep River, Conn.
policy.
A
WHERE CAN YOU GET
PLAYER ACTION
REPAIRS and SUPPLIES
23
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
August, 1931
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