Music Trade Review

Music
Trade
© mbsi.org,
arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
April 5th,
1882. Review -- THE
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
2*6
and pattern maker, I made my debut by construct- "Well, now, as a matter of fact, I can draw
ing a full set of patterns for a stationary engine the scale for a piano; I can make all the patterns;
into the foundry and cast the plate; make all the
which was used for many years by one of the lead- go
hardware used in a piano; make any part of the
INTERESTING TALK ABOUT THE POPULARITY ing piano manufacturers of Boston."
case, action and keys, and can finish, regulate,
"This was an excellent start in piano manufac- tune, and sell the piano."
OF A. WELL-KNOWN INSTRUMENT.
"This, Mr. Guild, comprises all that is neces-
turing. Did you follow it up?"
"Yes, sir. I soon after engaged with one of the sary."
M B . GEORGE M. GUILD TELLS A REPRESENTATIVE
"About all. Yet, I do not mean to say that all
pioneer piano manufacturers of Boston, T. Gilbert this knowledge is a practical necessity for a piano
OF T H E MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW
& Co. You will by this time have noticed that maker. I wish simply to tell you the actual facts
THE STORY OF H I S CAREER AS AN ARTI-
my experience consisted of a solid foundation of and let you know what I can do. There is no
SAN, MERCHANT AND MANUFACTU-
facts and practical information in mechanics, and reason why facts should be hidden for the sake
RER—A FIRM THAT HAS
of delicacy, and therefore I do not hesitate
infor- i n 8 t a t i n g £ o y o u t h a t m y e x p e r i e n c e i n the man-
TURNED OUT 10,000
as a draughtsman and machinist, All
tiiw mior-
A n this
PfAXOK.
mation is, according to my opinion, absolutely '> ufacture of pianos, which, as you see. covers
necessary in order to direct the manufacture of j the whole ground, has resulted in giving our
pianos the reputation which they have gained
REPRESENTATIVE of THE MUSICAL CRITIC pianofortes."
for sweetness of tone, firmness and evenness of
AND TRADE REVIEW recently called on Mr.
"How many years were you with Gilbert?"
touch, and durability, and all those qualities
George M. Guild, of the firm of Guild, Church
Thirteen years in all. I worked seven years w u ich go towards making a first-class instru-
& Co., Boston, Mass., in order to ascertain certain in the finishing and regulating departments, and ' ment."
facts connected with the history and business of several years in other branches of the business.
"You have undoubtedly made a great many in-
struments."
Lastly,! was employed as the traveling agent of the "It has been my aim to make pianos on such
the firm.
The firm ot Guild, Church & Co. has been be- firm, having charge of all their outside business." principles that our agents can do a paying busi-
fore the trade and public for more than twenty
"You certainly had extraordinary facilities for ness with them, and the purchaser be satisfied, and
years, and as Mr. Guild is known as a merchant, studying all the particulars of the pianoforte more than that, gratified. This produces new
trade, and has done so with us. We have made
manufacturer, and artisan, his information regard- business, in a career of that kind."
nearly 16,000 pianos that are now in actual use in
ing pianos, the principles of manufacture, the > "As a consequence of steady application, I was all parts of the world. We have received over
groat changes that have taken place in the con- offered a partnership in the firm, but serious mis- fifty first premiums, including gold and silver
medals. In gettin g all these
struction of pianos, t h e
rewards we never made a
results of these changes,
single step towards influenc-
and the general condition
ing a judge or jury, either
directly or indirectly. This
of the trade and industry
is a record of which any
in pianos to-day, as compar-
manufactory might be proud
ed with that of twenty years
of."
ago, together with his remin-
Our representative asked
iscences and opinions, will
Mr. Guild as to the distribu-
tion of pianos.
be of great value.
"Our pianos," he replied,
Mr. Guild was found in
"are distributed all over
his private office in the ware-
the United States, there be-
rooms on Washington street,
ing 'Guild' pianos in every
State and Territory, and in
where he was comfortably
Canada. We have exported
situated and quite willing
our pianos to England, Scot-
to* impart the information
land, Germany and Switzer-
sought for.
land. A most remarkable
fact in connection with this
"You have been identi-
is, that I can show you a
fied with manufacturing a
long list of agents who began
number of years, I under-
with taking our pianos in
1861, and who have continu-
stand?" said our representa-
ed ever since to take them
tive.
from us."
"Yes, sir," replied Mr.
" How is your present
Guild, " I have been identi-
trade?"
fied with mechanical pur-
"I must say that our trade
suits and with experiments
has always been remarkably
steady. We have always had
of many kinds calculated to
PRINCIPAL BUILDING, WAREROOM AND FACTORY,
orders ahead of stock, some-
improve the tono, touch and
times as low as 5 pianos,
682 Washington Street, Boston, Mass.
general construction of
but also running up to 300.
I can say that there never
pianofortes. My father for
more than forty years carried on a large manufac- fortunes which overtook the house, due especially has been a daj when the supply has been equal to
turing business, and early in life considerable to heavy losses in outside matters, prevented any the demand."
"With the constantly increasing demand foi
ingenuity was attributed to me in getting up consummation of that kind. In April, 1861, just your pianos, do you intend to keep pace in your
various useful machines, which at last resulted in twenty-one years ago, I began the manufacture of manufacturing facilities?"
"I certainly do. We have recently added
the choice of a business to be followed that was pianofortes on my own account, taking into my
employ many of the best men of the former firm another large factory, where we make all our
well suited to my taste."
own cases, and in a few weeks we can more than
of T. Gilbert & Co.; and let me say to you that double
"What was this particular business?"
our production."
"That is just what I will explain to you. My some of those very men are still in my employ to- "Have you made changes in construction
lately?"
early training in the various branches which I will
"We have added some wonderful improvements
mention gave me the very best opportunities of
"That speaks well for your disposition."
in perfecting the scale and in applying some of
applying my knowledge to the manufacture of
"I try my utmost to be just towards the men our valuable patents; and in the use of some of
pianos, as I subsequently did and as you will hear. in my employ. But to continue: My business these improvements we get rid of the metallic
An arrangement was made with the firm of Hub- grew with wonderful rapidity, and in 1866 I was tone so often found in upright pianos. We find
sale of the upright piano is increasing, while
bard & Goulding of this city, where I was to learn making from twenty five to thirty pianos per week, the
the demand for squares remains steady."
the machinist trade. At first I was set to work as making in my factory all my cases, actions, keys,
"Having had so many years' experience in the
an engineer, which position I held for seven and hammers; in fact, everything but the hard- business, your opinions are valuable. I would
months, after which I worked a year at the lathe, ware. I was then the youngest pianoforte manu- therefore ask you, what is your view of the spring
trade?"
and in the various branches of the business."
facturer in Boston or New York. I wish to relate
"There is going to be a very large spring busi-
"This was undoubtedly excellent schooling," an incident to you. I made nearly the whole of ness done. In fact, for the next five years, or
my first piano, marked it No. 1, and sent it to John tliereabouts, business, in my opinion, will be brisk
interposed our representative.
and active, provided the speculators, who often
W.
Adams, Simpsonville, Ky. On account of the ruin
"You will immediately see what this resulted
the brightest prospects, keep their hands off.
in," continued Mr. Guild. "The members of the satisfaction the piano gave him, he recently pur- Indications now point to a general activity in the
firm found that I had excellent taste and judgment chased one of our style B pianos, keeping the first future. Emigration has assumed enormous propor-
tions, and I see no reasons why, with the general
in the use of tools for woodwork, and they induced one as a souvenir."
prosperity of the country, the trade in pianofortes
"That
speaks
well
for
piano
No.
1.
Your
inti-
me, in addition to the knowledge I had gathered, to
should not prosper. In fact, it is prospering, and
learn the pattern-makers' trade, and after three mate knowledge of the manufacture of pianofortes will continue to do so, if the conditions I men-
tioned before are complied with."
years of study and application as draughtsman seems to have been applied successfully?"
THE GUILD PIANO.
A