Music Trade Review

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P. R. Besserman, Besserman Pianu Co., New York
38 inch and 40 inch consoles—yes; :S4 and :'.t; inch consoles—
no.
Royce Chalmers, Chalmers Music Co., Miami, Fla.
"My opinion is that the music trade should encourage the
manufacture of pianos of any and all kinds, and any and all
sizes,
"To t r y and make advanced opinions <>f the quality of
anybody's inventive genius has always proven a mistake.
Witness the people who thought railroads wouldn't run, a i r -
planes wouldn't fly, and steamboats wouldn't cross the seas.
We might much better apply our efforts to standardization
of description and advertising, and lie honest of descriptive
reference.
"For instance, mahogany finish should be either solid
mahogany or mahogany veneer, not Just a red dye on any
kind of wood. Direct blow action is a very bad term, as no
piano really has such a thing, and the word 'blow' might
better be used as a very applying to wind instruments.
"As to the height of a piano. I see no reason why it has to
be higher than the keyboard. The buying public will be the
final judge, so let us not prematurely shackle our industry."
J. D. Hobbie, Jr., Hobbie Bros. Co., Roanoke, Va.
"I h a v e not d e c i d e d a s y e t a s t o w h a t h e i g h t S p i n e t p i a n o
I think should be emphasized after t h e w a r .
"A g r e a t d e a l d e p e n d s o n t h e s c a l e of t h e p i a n o , w h i c h
i n v o l v e s t h e s p e a k i n g l e n g t h of t h e s t r i n g s , a n d I b e l i e v e a
v a s t i m p r o v e m e n t is g o i n g t o t a k e p l a c e in t h i s r e s p e c t . W e
h a v e h a d a lot of t r o u b l e w i t h t h e v e r y s m a l l S p i n e t w i t h
i n d i r e c t b l o w a c t i o n , a n d w e m u c h p r e f e r , o n a c c o u n t of
service required, a longer s t r i n g length a n d direct blow action,
which also includes a l a r g e r sound board.
"I t h i n k it u n w i s e t o s a y t h a t n o p i a n o s h o u l d be m a d e
u n d e r 10 i n c h e s , a s I s t i l l t h i n k it p o s s i b l e f o r a s c a l e d r a f t s -
m a n t o c r e a t e a p i a n o s m a l l e r t h a n 10 i n c h e s w h i c h will h a v e
p l e n t y of r e s o n a n c e a n d q u a l i t y . "
H. B. Wood, Vice President, Wm. Knabe & Co., New York
"I r e a l l y feel t h a t y o u c a n p r o d u c e a g o o d t o n e p i a n o e v e n
t h o u g h it is o n l y 3 4 i n c h e s in h e i g h t .
It a l l r e a l l y
depends
entirely on the scale of the piano and how the instrument is
built whether a 34 inch piano has a good tone or whether
it has not. I have seen some 40 inch pianos that were not so
hot on the upper end and some of the best instruments in
the United States are 40 inches.
"Of course there is advantage in the larger piano in regard
to the string length, and up to the present time these 40 inch
pianos required a direct blow action—which has been impossi-
ble to put in a 34 to 36 inch piano, but Wood & Brooks have
been advertising in the trade papers a direct blow action
which I think would fit in any 36 inch pianti—and if so, then
I think that the 36 inch piano is here to stay. Thousands
of small homes and apartment houses have been built since
the war and before the war and some of the living rooms are
not too large as you know, and a 40 inch piano in some cases
would look out of place, whereby a 34 inch to 36 inch piano
in height would seem to be a lot more appropriate.
"This is only my personal opinion and has nothing to do
with the American Piano Corporation's ideas or the ideas
of the Aeolian American Corporation, because I have not
even discussed with them as to what they think regarding
whether the piano should be large or small—it is merely
my own opinion."
Marion Music Co., Indianapolis, Ind.
"I think the 4H inch piano is all right but I think a manu-
facturer should build at least one style—a 36 inch size be-
cause 1 a lot of people who buy pianos, buy appearance more
than tone and etc. So I think a 36 inch piano should be built."
Thomas R. Young, Salisbury, Md.
" W e t h i n k t h a t i n s t r u m e n t s r a n g i n g f r o m 34 i n c h e s t o 37
i n c h e s in
eight a
r e t me
he m
o s t saiaoie.
salable. B
e f o r e t uie
h e v w
inencs
in h
neigni
are
mosi
tseiore
\ ar, we
• " that
' • customers
•
' " ' not
" want " pianos
'
noted
did
any ' large r than
that.
"The manufacturers that think they cannot produce proper
tones from pianos less than 40 inches should try the Baldwin
Acrosonic Style 073, which is only 35 inches high. This instru-
ment has a tone equal to a (i-ft. grand.
"or course, there might be a small demand for 40 inch
pianos if they are proportionately constructed."
I Turn to page 76 J
THE NEW SIMPLIFIED METHOD OF
CONVERTING UPRIGHTS INTO SPINETS.
By the
M ELODITONE
CUSTIN-MAURI PROCESS
(Patent Applied For)
You can reduce the height of any Upright piano from 10
to 12 inches without impairing tone quality and convert
it into a modern Spinet-type piano.
The OLD
The NEW
EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE
Piano manufacturers and dealers who have adequate
facilities for remodeling pianos may secure exclusive
license in their localities. Specifications and blue prints
are made a part of each license agreement. Full guaran-
tee to licensee and customer.
Apply for your franchise now!
MANHATTAN PIANO SERVICE
CUSTIN-MAURI, Patentees
2240 Amsterdam Ave.
New York 32, N. Y.
Telephone WAdsworth 7-7427
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1945