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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
June 20th, 1881.
' It is reported (although a detailed account has not yet been made pub- to change the key of the instrument, seeing that the new clarinet only re-
lic) that a patent for a new mechanical pianoforte has been applied for which quires about one bar's rest in order to pass from the key of B flat to that of
•will comprise a compass of at least seven octaves, and by means of which the A, and vice versa. The same invention can also be applied to clarinets in B
pressure on each key of the instrument can be varied automatically from one flat used in military bands, with manifest advantage to composers, who are
ounce to ten pounds. The new instrument will, it is said, render music with thus enabled to write bravura passages in every key, without encountering, as
exquisite expression, and with a perfection of technique unattainable by the in clarinets at present in use, not only difficulties of execution and imperfect
human hand.
intonation, but little homogeneity of sounds, and this because of the difficul-
of fingering that such passages present to the clarinet player of to-day
Mr. Horace Waters, the venerable and well known piano dealer of ty
in keys with sharps. Professor Orsi unites the individual qualities of the-
Broadway and 12th street, this city, attended a meeting to organize a new two
distinct instruments ; the brilliant tone of the clarinet in B flat, and the
Baptist Church in Washington, N. J., on the 11th inst. We understand
that it was the original intention to have the Hon.! D. F. B. president at this sweetness of the clarinet in A.
meeting, but he was induced to retire in favor of his more experienced con-
General W. T. Sherman has accepted an invitation to attend the New
frere. In view of the amount of business talent brought to bear on the England Fair, which will be held in Worcester, Mass., on September 7.
aforesaid church, neither it nor its congregation will lack music (at least
John McTammany, Jr., of Cambridge, Mass., assignor to Alexander
of the instrumental kind) for the future.
McTammany, Akron, Ohio, has patented a Mechanical Musical Instrument.
One of our reporters when in Washington, N. J., last week called upon No. of Patent 242,786. Application filed March 22d, 1880.
Mr. Pierce, the treasurer of The Star Parlor Organ Company in that town,
The history of inventions in this country and other countries shows that
and had the pleasure of making a tour of the factory in his company. The
whole interior arrangement of this factory has been remodeled since the inventors have in almost all cases commenced with a complicated idea on
new organization assumed control and many changes have been made which which they have worked, which device succeeding inventors and adapters
are a manifest improvement as a means of expediting the business and turn- have simplified and made practicable. The reverse of this has curiously
ing out more thorough work. System, order and cleanliness are marked enough been the case with the invention of mechanical musical instrumeuts,
features of the establishment, the whole new plan of the interior of the fac- the original invention having been simple, while succeeding ones have been
tory being modeled after those of the best of our eastern manufacturers, and more and more complicated. The Mechanical Orguinette Co. of this city
fully comprehends this fact and by jndicious purchases now control what
in these respects seems to leave nothing to be desired.
may be described as a circle including more than 60 patents outside of which
Messrs Cornish & Co., of Washington, N. J., are pursuing the even there seems to be very little basis on which a new device in this line can be
tenor of their way; their trade in both pianos and organs shows a marked founded.
increase for this season over the corresponding period last year. The qua-
Square pianos have been supplanted by uprights to such an extent, that
lity of their goods continues to give general satisfaction, and they have not
been obliged to reduce prices, notwithstanding the tremendous amount of several dealers in localities where squares are 6till in demand state that they
blatant and reckless advertising which emanates from their town. Their cannot get their orders for these instruments filled at New York manufactories,
export trade is also increasing and proving satisfactory to all parties con- without giving at least a month's notice. We know that the piano makers
cerned. We understand that their organ sales at present are about 100 per of New York are an upright set of men, but this thing seems to have been
carried to a point where uprightness ceases to be a virtue.
month, and steadily increasing.
It is reported that in spite of the fact that the Sterling Organ Co., of
The new organ factory now in course of construction for Mr. H. W.
Alleger, of Washington, N. J., which is to replace his former one, which his Derby, Conn., turned out 800 organs last month, they are still behindhand
business has outgrown, will be ready for occupancy about July 1st, and will in filling their orders. A prominent dealer in these instruments states that
enable him to produce at least double the number of organs which he is he has much trouble in keeping the supply equal to the demand.
making at present. Mr. Alleger has just put on the market a new style of
A writer in the Philadelphia Sunday Mirror says: '' Whether the Miller
chapel organ, the case of which in our opinion is the handsomest he has yet piano is as good as either the Steinway or Weber or not, it gives them a good
made. This house is celebrated for the fine finish of the cases of the organs deal of worriment." This is a trifle indefinite ; does the writer mean that the
made by it, and although it does not do such an enormous business as some Miller piano is giving the Steinway or Weber piano a good deal of worri-
of its contemporaries it has a very satisfactory home trade considerably ment, or the makers of these instruments, or does it mean that the Miller
ahead of its producing capacity and at satisfactory prices.
piano is giving its purchasers a good deal of worriment, or what ?
We have received many letters concerning the note which we published
Mr. Carl Fink, the champion salesman, and Mr. Wessel, of Wessell r
in the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TEADE REVIEW, inquiring for a traveling salesman Nickel & Gross, the well-known firm of action makers, were seen promenad-
for an eminent New England organ manufacturing firm. These letters have ing together on 14th Street, on the morning of the 1st inst. Our funny man
been duly forwarded by us. The firm informs us that they desire now two says that their friendly actions towards one another were due to the fact that
traveling salesmen, one for New York State, the other for New England. they felt good over a trade they had just been making together.
They want only first classmen; energetic, enterprising, capable and reliable.
Mr. Carl Julius Gebauhr, the eminent pianoforte manufacturer of
The services of such men will meet with adequate remuneration. Continue
to address on this subject the editor of the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW, Konigsberg, Prussia, died on May 8th, at his residence in Konigsberg. The
piano manufactory of C. J. Gebauhr was founded in 1834, and had attained
853 Broadway.
great celebrity, the instruments were widely known and obtained medals-
Messrs. Taylor & Farley, the organ manufacturers of Worcester, and diplomas at nearly every exposition in Europe.
Mass., received orders during one week recently for their excellent instru-
Mr. Fred. Steinway, of Messrs. Steinway & Sons, left for Europe in the-
ments from Australia, New Zealand, Constantinople, Christiana, Sweden;
Guttenburg, and Prague. Summer tourists this year may expect to steamer Donau, on Saturday, June 11th. Among the passengers leaving by
encounter the Taylor & Farley organs in whatever quarter of the globe the same steamer were Constantine Sternberg, the pianist, and Mr. L.
Geilfuss, of Steinway's the latter returning to Europe after an absence of
they may penetrate.
thirty years.
The Loring & Blake Organ Co., of Worcester, Mass., one of our ster-
Christy Brothers & Hughes, dealers in musical instruments, etc., of
ling concerns, is pushing ahead with great zeal, and has every reason to be-
Youngstown, Ohio, have dissolved, and E. M. Wilson has been appointed
lieve that its implicit trust in public favor is well founded.
receiver. It is thought that the assets will pay the debts.
We understand that Messrs. Clough & Warren, of Detroit, Mich.,
An interesting Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Musical Instruments
have been running their factory on very short time lately; indeed, we have is announced
to take place at the Alexandra Palace, London, from July 2 to
received the impression that for a time they had about shut down entirely. 23. Several valuable
ancient instruments have already been promised, and
Messrs. Peloubet and Co., the organ manufacturers, having their head- eminent manufacturing and trading firms have signified their intention of
quarters in this city, have asked their creditors for an extension of their co-operating in the undertaking. Lectures will be given on the improve-
notes. The impression having got abroad that this action might lead to ments which have from time to time been effected, and illustrated by per-
more serious results, we made inquiries, and were assured in the most posi- formances of efficient players on the various instruments displayed.
tive manner, that the extension was due merely to the necessity for throw-
Emile Berliner, of Boston, Mass., has patented a resonator for violins.
ing out the worthless account of Thomas Bros., of Catskill, N. Y. In con-
sequence of this action, as a matter of prudence, and not as an absolute No. of patent 242,104. Application filed August 9, 1880.
necessity, Messrs. Peloubet desired to extend the time on their own paper.
Albert K. Hebard, of Cambridge, Mass., has patented an upright piano-
Mr. J. McTammany, Jr., manufacturer of the McTammany orguinette, forte action. No. of patent 242,312. Application filed February 23, 1881.
of Worcester, Mass., has moved into his new quarters near the railroad
George B. Kelly, of Boston, Mass., has patented a mechanical instru-
depot. He informs us that his business during the past two months was ment. No. of patent 242,419. Application filed February 19, 1881.
double that of any equal time before.
A meeting of the members of the Produce Exchange was held in Boston,
The Smith American Organ Co., of Boston, Mass., is making some June 4, to consider the project for a World's Fair in that city. Speeches
beautiful new styles of instruments. One style—that intended for the Eng- favoring the project were made by a large number of the members, and the
lish market—is particularly handsome. We give in another place, a pic- following resolution was unanimouslyjadopted : "Resolved. That the senti-
ture of one of the new styles to be brought out by the Smith American ment of the merchants engaged in the various brandies of trade here repre-
Organ Co.
sented is heartily in favor of holding a World's Fair in Boston in 1885, and
we
are ready to extend substantial aid to the enterprise, and to do all in our
Silas M. Waite, ex-President of the First National Bank of Brattleboro,
to carry it forward to success." A committee of six was appointed to
came into the United States Court June 15th, at Windsor, Vt., and pleaded power
guilty to the first and fourth counts of the first indictment against him, charg- act with other committees already appointed.
ing him with making a false return to the Government officers under the Na-
The Baltimore Industrial Exposition and jMusical Festival Association
tional Banking act, and was sentenced by Judge Wheeler to six years' im- is getting into shape. The organization has been formed, and a charter will
prisonment in the House of Correction.
soon be secured. It is not supposed that there will be any difficulty in
obtaining the requisite subscriptions, and, unless some unforseen obstacle
A New Clarinet has been invented by Professor Orsi, of Milan, which prevents,
Baltimore will have an industrial exposition and musical festival in
passes from the keys of B flat to that of A by means of a very simple me- October, 1882.
chanism, and remains perfectly in tune in the chromatic scale of the two
keys. The player finds no difference in the least when he has to change, since
Work on the grand building for the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic
he only looks at the distance between one hole and the other, the respective Association, on the Back Bay, in Boston, is advancing rapidly. The prin-
keys remaining unaltered, as well as the embouchure and the reed. It almost cipal columns in the great hall, which is 200 by 150 feet, also of the main
completely removes the inconvenience occasioned by the composer having to exhibition building, are now up. Altogether, there will be a floor space of
give the clarinet a number of measures rest, in order to allow the player time seven acres.