Music Trade Review

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I Continued from page 81
new :',4 inch Spinet. While a city apartment or email home
does not require the extra volume, the depth of tune is to
be desired at all times."
H. C. Trader, Butler, Pa.
"I am satisfied that a 40 inch piano would be most desired
in tone quality and 'too' even case styling is more preferrable.
However, the 3 6 inch Spinet is more attraction to the average
home buyer, who is thinking- only of size and not of tone.
"In my opinion a very attractive case styling- piano of the
40 inch height can be sold over the average :?(! inch job, if
tone quality is brought to the customer's attention."
Frark Werk, Werk Music Store, Chicago, 111.
"'Phis dealer believes, that, if a piano is to have a reasonable
amount of resonance, i.e., tone, it should not be made lower
than :;;• to 40 inches in height. The public, or rather, some
customers might clamor for lower pianos, but if confronted
with a choice of buying- a 40 inch piano and have a good tone
or buying- a 35 inch piano and having- 100 per cent less tone,
they will always chose the former.
"It's a poor salesman who cannot convey the logic of this."
F. O. Wilking, Pres., Wilking Music Co., Indianapolis, Ind.
"I sincerely hope that the Piano Manufacturing
Industry
will not go back to small console pianos. I believe that 40
inches is a good height and 1 hope that pianos that are manu-
factured after the war will start at this height. You get a
better tone and the piano really looks like something-.
"We have learned a great many lessons in our restyling
work and it is surprising what beautiful tone can be had out
of the larger pianos. When you do a real job of restyling, such
as new strings throughout, and give the action great care it
is amazing what quality of tone is achieved. Of course a lot
of this good quality of tone is due to the fact that we select
very carefully the pianos that are made into MirrApianos
before we start work on them. The operation is expensive,
but if you have a good piano that is in fine condition before
you start work on it, it always comes out a very lovely piano.
"1 am heartily in accord with your plan of proposing- to
manufacturers the demand for a larg-er console type piano and
I certainly believe that the console piano that is made after
the war should start at forty inches."
William Rush, Sec, Watkins Bros., Inc., Hartford, Mass.
"It is our opinion t h a t console pianos should be at least
forty inches. When you go below this you a r e limiting- t h e
volume and quality of t h e tone."
«maller than 30 inches and prefer the ones 38 to 40 inches.
We feel the only place for small pianos are very cheap instru-
ments where the customer wants pianos more than musical
instruments."
Roy W. Goodman, Spokane, Wash.
"Replying- to your circular letter of February 26 requesting
statements from dealers as to their opinion concerning- the
minimum height of vertical pianos, please put us on record
for a 40 inch minimum height."
L. E. Fontron, President, Southern California Music Co.,
Los Angeles, Cal.
"From the experience that we have had in the sale of
Spinets and consoles, we would strongly urge the manufac-
turers to confine themselves to a 40 inch or more instru-
ment.
In fact, we lay all stress on the superior quality
of tone, the longer strings, and the larger sounding: board
surface of the 40 inch console piano. Naturally, we have
sold many of the Spinets, but if We could concentrate on
the 40 inch piano, I think we would be doing' the public
a great favor,
"Of course, actions may change sot that the direct blow
action may be used with the 3ii or 38 inch piano, but at the
present time, the direct blow action such as is used in the 40
inch height piano is greatly superior to that of the Spinet.
"In this matter, while I hope to see all pianos such as we
have mentioned restricted to 40 inches- or more, ft would
be my opinion that, owing- to present shortness of stock
and materials, it will be necessary to use the lower inch
scale instruments, at least until the present supplies are
exhausted.
If, however, the equivalent to the direct blow
action can be assured us, then I would feel strongly inclined
to recommend the manufacture of the 3f> and 38 Inch piano."
Parker M. Harris, Pres., Philip Werlein, Ltd., New Orleans, La.
"We quite agree with some of the manufacturers
that
vertical pianos should never be made lower than 40 inches.
"Our reasoning- is that music teachers are becoming-• more
prominent in the selection of an instrument by prospective
customers and they, as a rule, are prejudiced to the small
type instrument owing to the tonal quality.
"It is my opinion that the future of the piano business
will be more than ever along' the lines of a music education
program and looking- to the future with the music teacher
involved, I thoroughly recommend that no new instruments
be made lower than 40 inches.
T hope that this opinion
will be of some value."
C. H. Yahrling, Yahrliiig-Rayner Music Co., Youngstown, O.
"I have always contended that no vertical piano should be
made lower than 40 inches but our experience has been in
selling- Spinet pianos that 60 per cent of the purchasers do
not buy a piano because of its musical worth but more for a
piece of furniture and eye appeal. We have sold a number
of 34 inch pianos and I would say that all that we sold have
been because of eye appeal.
"However, it is the manufacturer's problem and he has
to build what the public demands because you can't make
them take tea when they want coffee. Of course, if every
manufacturer making- Spinet pianos would agree not to put
a piano out under 40 inches, it mig-ht change the whole aspect
of Spinet piano selling-, and I think it would be mig-hty g-ood
if they would do this very thing- because by sticking- to one
scale and one size and not too many desig-ns, they would be
able to produce more pianos and certainly what the dealers
of this country want now as soon as they start the wheels
turning again is production more than variety."
C. R. L. Myers, Meyers Piano Co., Magnolia, Ark.
"I say nothing under 40 inches and from that on up to
4 feet 1 inch.
My reasons are:
"1. I have the people well sold here on longer string- length
and larger sounding 1 board capacity.
"2. Direct blow actions; better and easier to regulate.
"3. People will be able to buy better pianos.
"4. People are -wanting- better pianos and will lie willing to
pay the difference in price.
"5. Dealers would have larger sale units.
"fi. I am going- to push pianos from 41 inches up to 4 feet
1 inch. The latter makes a fine school piano where volume is
needed in a large auditorium. If designed on neat order a
few could he sold in homes."
H. K. Wood, Wood Music & Jewelry Co., Anthony, Kans.
"The extremely low pianos have worried us for a number
of years and our customers do not demand such very small
instruments.
"We do prefer and hope the factory will not make pianos
10
C. W. Parker, Parker-Gardner Co., Charlotte, N. C.
"Our personal opinion is that Spinets should be made in the
following- sizes: Spinet pianos ought to be made in fine furniture
styles No. 1, I! feet high, No, 2, console type, 3 feet 4 inches
high. Studio, or console type, 3. feet fi inches high or 3 feet 8
inches high. These are the only sizes that should bo made
in vertical pianos.
"Grand pianos should start at 4 feet fi inches, 5 feet, 5 feet
fi inches and 6 feet long."
R. H. Knowles, Mgr., Sterclie Bros. Stores, Chattanooga, Tenn.
"The smaller the better.
Our customers
want
them
small."
B. M. Grunewald, Grunewald Co., New Orleans, La.
"I am of the opinion that the general public lean to the 34
and not 40 inch pianos. The main reason is that the rooms
the pianos are going- in are small and they cannot afford the,
space for larger pianos. This applies to cheap as well as high
grade pianos.
"The question has come up but not often, as to whether a
Spinet has as much volume as the large upright. After you
tell them it has not, it does not make much difference as they
buy it anyway.
"The appearance of a small piano Is more important to a
lot of piano purchasers than its musical quality."
Hauger Bros., Lincoln, 111.
"The piano industry seemed to be getting- on very well be-
fore the war as to its models, prices and sizes. Why not put
each model into production as you get demands for that
model? We know the Spinets (curse 'em) will be first on the
want list. Then as production becomes easier and more nor-
mad there should be a student or studio upright designed for
use in schools.
"This war should have given the manufacturers some ideas
as to how to build school pianos so young America won't
tear them to bits. I wonder if other dealers have this trouble?"
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1945