Music Trade Review
Issue: 1932 Vol. 91 N. 6 - Page 14
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
14
THE
JOSE ITU RBI
MUSIC
HAROLD BAUER
TRADE
REVIEW,
June-July, 1932
E. ROBERT SCHMITZ
THE NOTED ARTISTS WHO AIDED IN CREATING THE NEW BALDWIN TONE
complished by several investigators, among
them notably D. C. Miller of Case School.
The methods heretofore employed will prob-
ably be too cumbersome for industrial ap-
plication.
The first step in this research would be
to develop an apparatus for tone analysis
applicable under industrial conditions. This
problem will be difficult, but there is no rea-
son to regard it as impossible of solution.
When a successful method of tone analysis
has been devised two phases present them-
selves in its application: (1) to determine the
composition of the most desirable tone for
given conditions, for example, concert, vocal
accompaniment, etc.; (2) to investigate the
effect on tone quality of the variables which
enter into piano construction, for example,
striking point, weight and construction of
hammers, sounding board construction,
strings, etc.
The first step in the problem is strictly a
laboratory development and would require
a man of considerable ingenuity and general
knowledge in the field of physics. We have
in mind at the present time Mr. Armand
Knoblaugh, who would be very well fitted
to carry on this work. The necessary ex-
penditure for apparatus during the first year
would probably not exceed a thousand dol-
lars.
Very truly yours,
(Signed)
R. C. GOWDV.
Dean Herman Schneider,
College of Engineering and Commerce,
University of Cincinnati.
In order to conduct the investigations de-
sired it was necessary to develop a new and
special type of tone testing apparatus. This
is known as the Tone-Spectrograph. The
tone given off by the sound board is trans-
formed by a calibrated microphone into elec-
trical vibrations that are amplified to show-
clear readings in the intricate apparatus. The
uniform touch for tone testing purposes is
secured by means of a mechanical key striker
which delivers exactly the same blow, with
the same force time after time, something not
possible with the human finger.
In the development of the new Baldwin
tone leading artists were asked to pass judg-
ment on the various tonal effects secured
throughout the scale and when a certain tone
was agreed upon as being the most satisfac-
tory a record of that tone was secured as a
model for developing the final scale. The
result was a scientific building up of tone
throughout the piano.
But the tone question was not the only
one considered in the building up of this new
Baldwin line, for it was felt that the entire
job should be done at once as one great piece
of development rather than in sections. The
various details in the construction of the
piano itself all received careful study and
consideration with a view to improvement
with the result that, as already stated, 168
such improvements are to be found in the
Masterpiece Model. For instance, as an ex-
ample, the pedal rods have been made
heavier than in previous models to avoid
any chance of even a slight buckling under
heavy pressure and various moving parts of
the case, such as the music desk, have been
remodeled to increase ease of operation. In
short, the new Baldwins are to be accepted
as new instruments throughout and scien-
tifically accurate.
The Baldwin Masterpiece Models are six
in number including the new style M, a
grand, only five feet two inches long but of
remarkable tonal and structural qualities.
This instrument is offered at only $975,
which gives an idea of the price adjustments
that have been made in the line, despite the
numerous improvements, many of them of a
costly nature. The full line with the prices,
all F. O. B. factory, is as follows:
Style M—Grand 5 feet 2 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $ 975
Walnut
1,050
Style B—Grand 5 feet 6 inches.
• Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized. .. $1,175
Walnut
1,250
Style W—Grand 5 feet 9 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $1,375
Walnut
1,450
Style L—Grand 6 feet 3 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $1,625
Walnut
1,700
Style F—Grand 7 feet.
Ebonized
$1,875
Style D—Grand 9 feet.
Ebonized
$2,700
How the new Baldwin pianos impress the
artist is best told in the words of the artists
themselves. Harold Bauer in a letter sent to
the Baldwin company early this month wrote:
"The new Baldwin Piano combines to a
supreme degree beautiful quality of tone,
delicate responsiveness of action and wide
range of dynamic possibilities.
"I place these qualities above all others
and for this reason I have chosen to play the
Baldwin exclusively in my concerts.
"The new Baldwin is a truly magnificent
instrument and in my judgment it has no
superior in the world today."
Jose Iturbi says of the new Baldwin:
' I believe that your invention of the
Spectrograph is one of the most revolutionary
developments in the manufacturing of
pianos.
"I am happy to see that the plan you
started six years ago has arrived to such
magnificent reality. At last, we have the
most perfect piano."
E. Robert Schmitz also said, recently:
"The new Baldwin Concert Grand, which
I have just tried, is truly a revelation in
beauty of tone, power, and its keyboard
illustrates well what years of patient, sus-
tained, scientific research can realize in me-
chanical power.
"I am convinced that there is no other
instrument that I would prefer to possess."
And so it goes with numerous musical au-
thorities concurring their opinions regarding
what has been accomplished.
Seven years of study and experimenting
backed by many years of piano building ex-
perience have reached the culmination that
has proven well worthy of the effort. The
Baldwin Masterpiece Model offers a chal-
lenge to further scientific development of
piano tone on the basis of accuracy rather
than approximation.
Just what such a process may be expected
to lead to in the designing and production
of pianos in the future remains to be seen.
Certainly the manufacturing trade generally
has been inclined to substitute engineering
principles for guess work but the Baldwin
Co. has shown the way in the application of
scientific accuracy to tone production. And
after all, the tone is the heart of the piano.
14
THE
JOSE ITU RBI
MUSIC
HAROLD BAUER
TRADE
REVIEW,
June-July, 1932
E. ROBERT SCHMITZ
THE NOTED ARTISTS WHO AIDED IN CREATING THE NEW BALDWIN TONE
complished by several investigators, among
them notably D. C. Miller of Case School.
The methods heretofore employed will prob-
ably be too cumbersome for industrial ap-
plication.
The first step in this research would be
to develop an apparatus for tone analysis
applicable under industrial conditions. This
problem will be difficult, but there is no rea-
son to regard it as impossible of solution.
When a successful method of tone analysis
has been devised two phases present them-
selves in its application: (1) to determine the
composition of the most desirable tone for
given conditions, for example, concert, vocal
accompaniment, etc.; (2) to investigate the
effect on tone quality of the variables which
enter into piano construction, for example,
striking point, weight and construction of
hammers, sounding board construction,
strings, etc.
The first step in the problem is strictly a
laboratory development and would require
a man of considerable ingenuity and general
knowledge in the field of physics. We have
in mind at the present time Mr. Armand
Knoblaugh, who would be very well fitted
to carry on this work. The necessary ex-
penditure for apparatus during the first year
would probably not exceed a thousand dol-
lars.
Very truly yours,
(Signed)
R. C. GOWDV.
Dean Herman Schneider,
College of Engineering and Commerce,
University of Cincinnati.
In order to conduct the investigations de-
sired it was necessary to develop a new and
special type of tone testing apparatus. This
is known as the Tone-Spectrograph. The
tone given off by the sound board is trans-
formed by a calibrated microphone into elec-
trical vibrations that are amplified to show-
clear readings in the intricate apparatus. The
uniform touch for tone testing purposes is
secured by means of a mechanical key striker
which delivers exactly the same blow, with
the same force time after time, something not
possible with the human finger.
In the development of the new Baldwin
tone leading artists were asked to pass judg-
ment on the various tonal effects secured
throughout the scale and when a certain tone
was agreed upon as being the most satisfac-
tory a record of that tone was secured as a
model for developing the final scale. The
result was a scientific building up of tone
throughout the piano.
But the tone question was not the only
one considered in the building up of this new
Baldwin line, for it was felt that the entire
job should be done at once as one great piece
of development rather than in sections. The
various details in the construction of the
piano itself all received careful study and
consideration with a view to improvement
with the result that, as already stated, 168
such improvements are to be found in the
Masterpiece Model. For instance, as an ex-
ample, the pedal rods have been made
heavier than in previous models to avoid
any chance of even a slight buckling under
heavy pressure and various moving parts of
the case, such as the music desk, have been
remodeled to increase ease of operation. In
short, the new Baldwins are to be accepted
as new instruments throughout and scien-
tifically accurate.
The Baldwin Masterpiece Models are six
in number including the new style M, a
grand, only five feet two inches long but of
remarkable tonal and structural qualities.
This instrument is offered at only $975,
which gives an idea of the price adjustments
that have been made in the line, despite the
numerous improvements, many of them of a
costly nature. The full line with the prices,
all F. O. B. factory, is as follows:
Style M—Grand 5 feet 2 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $ 975
Walnut
1,050
Style B—Grand 5 feet 6 inches.
• Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized. .. $1,175
Walnut
1,250
Style W—Grand 5 feet 9 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $1,375
Walnut
1,450
Style L—Grand 6 feet 3 inches.
Mahogany-Brown or Ebonized... $1,625
Walnut
1,700
Style F—Grand 7 feet.
Ebonized
$1,875
Style D—Grand 9 feet.
Ebonized
$2,700
How the new Baldwin pianos impress the
artist is best told in the words of the artists
themselves. Harold Bauer in a letter sent to
the Baldwin company early this month wrote:
"The new Baldwin Piano combines to a
supreme degree beautiful quality of tone,
delicate responsiveness of action and wide
range of dynamic possibilities.
"I place these qualities above all others
and for this reason I have chosen to play the
Baldwin exclusively in my concerts.
"The new Baldwin is a truly magnificent
instrument and in my judgment it has no
superior in the world today."
Jose Iturbi says of the new Baldwin:
' I believe that your invention of the
Spectrograph is one of the most revolutionary
developments in the manufacturing of
pianos.
"I am happy to see that the plan you
started six years ago has arrived to such
magnificent reality. At last, we have the
most perfect piano."
E. Robert Schmitz also said, recently:
"The new Baldwin Concert Grand, which
I have just tried, is truly a revelation in
beauty of tone, power, and its keyboard
illustrates well what years of patient, sus-
tained, scientific research can realize in me-
chanical power.
"I am convinced that there is no other
instrument that I would prefer to possess."
And so it goes with numerous musical au-
thorities concurring their opinions regarding
what has been accomplished.
Seven years of study and experimenting
backed by many years of piano building ex-
perience have reached the culmination that
has proven well worthy of the effort. The
Baldwin Masterpiece Model offers a chal-
lenge to further scientific development of
piano tone on the basis of accuracy rather
than approximation.
Just what such a process may be expected
to lead to in the designing and production
of pianos in the future remains to be seen.
Certainly the manufacturing trade generally
has been inclined to substitute engineering
principles for guess work but the Baldwin
Co. has shown the way in the application of
scientific accuracy to tone production. And
after all, the tone is the heart of the piano.
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