Music Trade Review
Issue: 1950 Vol. 109 N. 8 - Page 25
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
American Society of Piano Technicians
Holds Successful Los Angeles Convention
The 9th Annual Convention of the
American Society of Piano Technicians,
held at Los Angeles, Calif. June 27-30,
stood out as one of the best attended in
the history of the organization.
Willard B. Davis, Pasadena, Calif.,
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., DeKalb, 111.,
who gave an inspiring talk on "Build
Your Business with Bricks not Sticks."
This was followed by a business pro-
motion forum conducted by Ted Gose,
Les Hoskins and George Brash. Many
The newly elected officers of ASPT for ihe ensuing year. I^eft to right: Kobert I.utzen, Milwaukee,
Recording Secretary; (ieorjje Brsisch, Milwaukee, President; Willard R. Davis, Pasadena, California,
Vice President; and Floyd Orr, Berkley, Michigan; Retiring President and newly elected Treamirer.
welcomed the delegates and guests at
the Elks Club convention hall. Greetings
were extended by a representative of
the piano manufacturers. The Los An-
geles piano dealers were represented by
one of their midst who also spoke for
the music dealers throughout the coun-
try.
President Floyd Orr. Royal Oak,
Mich., then reviewed the piano business
as a piano technician sees it. He stated
that the future of the piano business is
very bright. The tremendous expansion
in the West which offered the oppor-
tunity to hold a successful convention
on the far West Coast, demonstrates be-
yond doubt, that new fields have come
into being. He gave much credit to the
fine work of the American Music Con-
ference for the promotion and a greater
desire for music through public school
education to meet tomorrow's necessity.
The American Society fully indorses
this program and hopes to contribute
generously to its development.
The Wednesday morning session was
given over to a demonstration of tuning
a piano with the Mean Tone tempera-
ment by Paul Kegley, and Percy Gatz.
It was interesting to note the difference
of the Mean Tone temperament as com-
pared with the modern Equal tempera-
ment.
Demonstrations and classes conducted
by the various exhibitors on action regu-
lating, trouble shooting, getting the best
out of a piano with proper service, were
well received and well attended.
The afternoon featured Joe Daurer,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1950
helpful hints were brought out to help
the service man build up a profitable
business of repeat orders at regular in-
tervals.
More highlights of the convention
were presented on Thursday in the form
of a technical presentation on piano re-
building, piano servicing, and satisfy-
ing the customer. The panel was headed
by Charles Fredrick Stein, representing
Pratt Read & Co., Granville Ward, Stein-
way & Sons, Bob Johnson, Schaff Piano
String Corp., Vic Jackson, Baldwin Co.,
Roy Newsted. Wurlitzer Co., and Charles
Smith, Wm. Stonaker, Ted Gose, Alfred
Utterberg, representing the American
Society.
Percy Gatz then continued with a
HENRY WICKHAM.
presentation of Applied Electronics for
Piano Technicians. Mr. Gatz set up
elaborate equipment to demonstrate the
behavior of the piano string, and other
acoustical oddities, and the science of
sound. This demonstration was a mar-
velous presentation on "why" things be-
have as they do.
The afternoon session was concluded
by William Dege, with a talk of Sound
Board and Bridge repairs. Mr. Dege be-
lieves that every piano technician should
have at least three years training in
cabinet work to really qualify him for
such delicate work as to build up a
sagged bridge or to replace a split
bridge with another one. The work must
be done with precision to have good
tone.
All technical discussions were re-
corded with a wire recorder. The tran-
script will be published in book form
and for sale at the home office of the
American Society or directly by the pub-
lisher, Hollywood Convention Reporting
Co., 5410 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
36, Calif.
The newly elected officers for the
coming year are: George Brash, Mil-
waukee, Wis., President; Willard Davis,
Pasadena, Calif., Vice President; Floyd
Orr, Royal Oak, Mich., Treasurer, and
Robert Lutze, Milwaukee, Wis., Secre-
tary.
The 1951 convention of the American
Society will be held at Milwaukee Wis.
RCA Television Picture Tube
Plant Opened in Marion, Ind.
The Radio Corp. of America recently
dedicated a new television picture tube
plant in Marion, Ind. An impressive
program of events was arranged by the
Indiana state and local officials in co-
operation with the RCA Victor Division.
ESTABLISHED 1885
INCORPORATED 1903
25
American Society of Piano Technicians
Holds Successful Los Angeles Convention
The 9th Annual Convention of the
American Society of Piano Technicians,
held at Los Angeles, Calif. June 27-30,
stood out as one of the best attended in
the history of the organization.
Willard B. Davis, Pasadena, Calif.,
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., DeKalb, 111.,
who gave an inspiring talk on "Build
Your Business with Bricks not Sticks."
This was followed by a business pro-
motion forum conducted by Ted Gose,
Les Hoskins and George Brash. Many
The newly elected officers of ASPT for ihe ensuing year. I^eft to right: Kobert I.utzen, Milwaukee,
Recording Secretary; (ieorjje Brsisch, Milwaukee, President; Willard R. Davis, Pasadena, California,
Vice President; and Floyd Orr, Berkley, Michigan; Retiring President and newly elected Treamirer.
welcomed the delegates and guests at
the Elks Club convention hall. Greetings
were extended by a representative of
the piano manufacturers. The Los An-
geles piano dealers were represented by
one of their midst who also spoke for
the music dealers throughout the coun-
try.
President Floyd Orr. Royal Oak,
Mich., then reviewed the piano business
as a piano technician sees it. He stated
that the future of the piano business is
very bright. The tremendous expansion
in the West which offered the oppor-
tunity to hold a successful convention
on the far West Coast, demonstrates be-
yond doubt, that new fields have come
into being. He gave much credit to the
fine work of the American Music Con-
ference for the promotion and a greater
desire for music through public school
education to meet tomorrow's necessity.
The American Society fully indorses
this program and hopes to contribute
generously to its development.
The Wednesday morning session was
given over to a demonstration of tuning
a piano with the Mean Tone tempera-
ment by Paul Kegley, and Percy Gatz.
It was interesting to note the difference
of the Mean Tone temperament as com-
pared with the modern Equal tempera-
ment.
Demonstrations and classes conducted
by the various exhibitors on action regu-
lating, trouble shooting, getting the best
out of a piano with proper service, were
well received and well attended.
The afternoon featured Joe Daurer,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1950
helpful hints were brought out to help
the service man build up a profitable
business of repeat orders at regular in-
tervals.
More highlights of the convention
were presented on Thursday in the form
of a technical presentation on piano re-
building, piano servicing, and satisfy-
ing the customer. The panel was headed
by Charles Fredrick Stein, representing
Pratt Read & Co., Granville Ward, Stein-
way & Sons, Bob Johnson, Schaff Piano
String Corp., Vic Jackson, Baldwin Co.,
Roy Newsted. Wurlitzer Co., and Charles
Smith, Wm. Stonaker, Ted Gose, Alfred
Utterberg, representing the American
Society.
Percy Gatz then continued with a
HENRY WICKHAM.
presentation of Applied Electronics for
Piano Technicians. Mr. Gatz set up
elaborate equipment to demonstrate the
behavior of the piano string, and other
acoustical oddities, and the science of
sound. This demonstration was a mar-
velous presentation on "why" things be-
have as they do.
The afternoon session was concluded
by William Dege, with a talk of Sound
Board and Bridge repairs. Mr. Dege be-
lieves that every piano technician should
have at least three years training in
cabinet work to really qualify him for
such delicate work as to build up a
sagged bridge or to replace a split
bridge with another one. The work must
be done with precision to have good
tone.
All technical discussions were re-
corded with a wire recorder. The tran-
script will be published in book form
and for sale at the home office of the
American Society or directly by the pub-
lisher, Hollywood Convention Reporting
Co., 5410 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
36, Calif.
The newly elected officers for the
coming year are: George Brash, Mil-
waukee, Wis., President; Willard Davis,
Pasadena, Calif., Vice President; Floyd
Orr, Royal Oak, Mich., Treasurer, and
Robert Lutze, Milwaukee, Wis., Secre-
tary.
The 1951 convention of the American
Society will be held at Milwaukee Wis.
RCA Television Picture Tube
Plant Opened in Marion, Ind.
The Radio Corp. of America recently
dedicated a new television picture tube
plant in Marion, Ind. An impressive
program of events was arranged by the
Indiana state and local officials in co-
operation with the RCA Victor Division.
ESTABLISHED 1885
INCORPORATED 1903
25
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