Anyone who has tuned a screw-stringer Mason & Hamlin piano may have wondered why they abandoned the system. After all, it seems to be an extremely stable and well-designed one. In looking over the system, one may form the opinion that it is a decided improvement over the ancient tuning-pin-in-wood system. Well, the answer you will usually get is that it was just too expensive to continue, and in essence that is a true statement. Some may respond that it was too bad that they had to give in to the economics of it and discontinue its production. Others may say that they should have continued it anyway, because it was such a superior tuning system. I have wondered about it also, but there was a little more to the story as to why they discontinued the system.
If we take a look at it from the historical perspective, we find that in 1903 Mason & Hamlin was in real danger of going out of business because of its pursuit and continued production of the screw-stringer system. In other words, they gave it their all in pushing it onto the piano marketplace, endeavoring to make it popular, but it just didn't take. So it was the economics of it, yes, but more to the point, it was a matter of life and death to the Mason & Hamlin Piano Co., for if they were to pursue it, they would have gone bankrupt!
What did the tuners of the time think of the screw-stringer system? For the most part, they hated it! First and foremost, it was a sight more difficult to replace a string, and restring the whole piano? Forget about it! Less frustrating was the different technique the tuner had to use when tuning the screw-stringer, but nevertheless, was another reason they opposed the system.
such a nice and knowledgeable post
ReplyDeleteThey actually did go bankrupt in 1903; they were bought by The Cable Company of Chicago, and in 1923 by American Piano Company.
ReplyDeleteThe involuntary bankrupt proceedings began in the summer of 1903 and was determined by the committee of creditors that a reorganization would be in the best interest of all concerned. The final sale of Mason & Hamlin assets and the lease takeover was made in Feb. of 1904. Up to that time, the factory was still in operation with approximately 60 factory workers finishing up instruments, under the old organization.
ReplyDeleteA Music Trades Review editorial put it this way:
"While the famous old Mason & Hamlin business passes under the control of virile, active, resourceful business men, it should be understood that the individuality of the product will be steadfastly maintained and wherever betterment is possible, it will be accomplished. There will be a reorganization of the business, a lease of the old Mason & Hamlin factory already having been made.
Prominently identified in the directorate of the new Mason & Hamlin concern will be the Mason brothers Edward P and Henry L and also Richard W Gertz, who is conceded to be one of the best practical piano experts in America."
Thanks to MasonHamlinOrgans for pointing this out.
My wife plays and teaches piano. I wish that Mason & Hamlin would again market the screw stringer system. The gear system appears far superior. In the area of pegs for violins and other stringed instruments Wittner pegs have now been invented and their gear mechanism provides far greater tuning stability, as we found in our son's violin and viola. Perfection Planetery is another similar product, though we chose the Wittner pegs for our son's violin and viola.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. They will never bring that back because they are not interested in adding costs to production, even in the high end pianos.
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