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MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
V
SKETCH OF A GREAT INDUSTRY.^
THE STERLING PIANO—A P O P t L A R INSTRUMENT AMONG MUSICIANS AND IN THE HOMES OF OUR MERCHANT PRINCES—AN INTERESTING
TOUR THROUGH THE FACTORIES "WHERE THEY ARE MANUFACTURED—WHAT THE MrEWEN COMPANY HAVK ACCOMPLISHED IN
MUSICAL CULTURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PIANO-FORTE—4N INSTRUMENT WITH A SWEET VOICE AND SINGING TONE—
A GLANCE AT THE WARBROOMS IN W E S T FOURTEENTH STREET—THE "STERLING'S" WONDERFUL ACTION.
In the parlors of one of our merchant princes a few evenings since were
assembled some of the most noted musicians of the times, whose names are
as familiar as those of " Mozart" or " Beethoven." While discussing the power
of the refining influence of music, and listening to the sweet singing quality
of one of the Cabinet Grand Upright STERLING PIANOS, elegantly finished in
mahogany to match its rich and elegant surroundings, Mr. E. H. McEwen voiced
the sentiment of those present when he justly claimed for it " The messenger
of refinement and culture, and its ennobiing influences upon the present and
future generations."
Illustrations are, as will be seen, shown in this article of the mammoth
factory at Derby, Conn,, where Mr. E. W. Blakes, the manufacturer of these
pianos, is always found, and also of the exterior and interior of the company's
handsome warerooms on West Fourteenth street. Before inviting the reader to
a trip through the interesting establishment at Derby, a few words, may, how-
ever, properly be said concerning the history of the company and the gentleman
who is at the head of it.
For twenty years Mr. E. H. McEwen has been well and favorably known to
the mnsic trade, not only of this city, but of the country at large. In addition
to his qualities as a fine salesman and thorough business man, his geniality of
temperament and good fellowship are proverbial and have won for him multi-
tudes of warm personal friends. When, therefore, the McEwen Company was
formed for the manufacture of the Sterling pianos, there was but one opinion in
the trade concerning its inevitable success. The company was started with
abundant capital (which is to-day more abundant than ever) and with the firm
intention of giving public satisfaction. Associated with Mr. McEwen in the
direct and personal management of the company's business is Mr. Samuel Par-
sons, who is fully entitled to share with the gentleman just named the honors of
the great success that has been achieved. It appears to be the motto of these
gentlemen and of the company: "Please the public, regardless of expense."
Mr. McEwen himself says : " I do business upon the theory that a well-satisfied
customer makes the best possible kind of a salesman. We guarantee our pianos
in every way for five
years, and if people
are not satisfied
with them we are
determined t h e y
shall not have
them." When one
journeying by rail
through the charm-
ing valley of the
Naugatuck comes
within sight of the
flourishing l i t t l e
town of Derby,
Conn., he is sure to
be struck with the
immense size of a
great quadrangular
brick factory, oc-
cupying a promi-
nent site in the
town.
The first
townsman he ad-
dresses will look at
him with genuine
surprise for not
knowing that it is
there the famous
Sterling pianos are
manufactured. En-
tering the factory
and passingstraight
through into the
court that is form-
ed by its four sides,
the visitor comes
upon thousands of
feet
of lumber
which is " stuck
up " (to use a tech-
nical term) to un-
dergo the season-
ing action of sun
and wind before
being placed in the
WAKKKooiu», w a s ! iouitxKiiM'H KTKEET, NEW YORK.
dry
kilns.
These
dry kilns are constructed on a new and improved plan whereby the forces
of nature are supplemented by a system of artificial currents of air,
combined with a strong heat.
Innumerable rows of steam-heated pipes
produce a high temperature, while at the same time powerful blowers remove
the moisture-sodden air. The result of the action of these two forces is to pro-
duce a superior quality of lumber, thoroughly dried, and yet with the vitality of
the wood unimpaired. All parts of the Sterling pianos are subjected to the
same process, insuring equal quality of material throughout. Immediately
adjacent to the dry kilns are the engine and boiler-rooms. Three large steel
boilers supply the steam necessary for the process previously noted; for warm-
ing the entire factory during the cold weather; for boiling the glue cauldrons,
and also furnish the requisite power for the magnificent Wheelock engine of
200 horse-power, 20-inch cylinder, and 48-inch stroke.
In times past, the company made use of water power, but the latter having
proved an unreliable motor, and the rapid increase of their business having
overtaxed its capacity, they have entirely discarded it, and substituted this
powerful auxiliary, whose noiseless but mighty arm keeps alive the hum of this
hive of industry. The engine-room is a marvel of neatness. The slippery
smoothness of the floor bespeaks a careful tread ; the cylinder-jacket shines like
burnished gold, and the polished working parts bear witness to the care bestowed
upon them.
From here you pass into the main "milling-room," so-called. The kiln-
dried lumber, taken from the storehouses, is first delivered to the "swing-saws,"
and all the chief or most important parts of the piano cases are " blocked out,"
as it is termed. The different parts then journey on down the busy room, over
the jointers and through the cylinder planers.
.
As you near the elevator, a car of finished parts is about ascending to the
case-room, and you go with it. Here, sand wheels, adapted to plain and irregular
forms, and of all styles and sizes, from that outrivalling the largest bass-drum
to that whose tiny spindle scarce equals in diameter a child's finger, rapidly
reduce the surfaces of each separate piece to a marble smoothness; and under
the skillful hands of the corps of cabinet-makers, the seemingly innumerable
parts are quickly assembled, accurately framed and fitted together, and the case
without its minor appointments Is now ready for its journey upward to the
varnish-room.
Before you follow it, you may pause to view the men who make ready the
minor appointments aforesaid, and may also inspect the veneering room ad-
joining. Here an immense cauldron capable of holding or reducing two barrels
of glue claims attention ; also the caul heaters and rows of presses—all adapted
for the execution of work cheaply and rapidly. On the same floor are to be
found the carving-room, where a half-dozen knights of the mallet and chisel
may be seen intent on producing the varied patterns of ornamention for which
the Sterling pianos are justly famous. Adjacent to this department are the Gen-
eral Superintendent's office and the draughting-room.
Resuming the journey upward, you arrive in the varnishing-room, where
the case delivered from below receives first a coat of "filler," made under the
formula used exclusively by this company. The result of this application is
to produce a granite-like surface, smooth and hard, which, when coated with
the fine varnish used only by this firm, and completed by a thorough "hand
rubbing," by a squad of brawny-armed employees, results in a satin-like sheen,
which will resist the action of time and retain its polish indefinitely. You have
by this time begun to get an adequate idea of the labor that enters into the
manufacture of the outside or body of a first class piano alone. Want of space
forbids the narration of the many interesting processes that you will see, as
you follow the growth of the noble instrument along to its completion. In one
room you will see
t h e " stringing "
done; in another
the " action" and-
keys are being fit-
ted, and still an-
other apartment is
given up to t h e
h a n d l i n g and
sounding
boards
and iron plates. It
is a great business,
and cannot be ex-
hausted in a single •
newspaper article.
The superiority of
the " action" of the
Sterling piano is,
however, so mani-
INTERIOB OP SALESROOM.
fest, that more than passing attention must be bestowed upon this sub-
ject. It is in the " action " of a piano that its excellence or imperfection
chiefly lies. A faulty action results in unmelodious or tinny sounds, while
a good action gives to the piano that resonant singing quality for which first-
class pianos are chiefly valued. It is only necessary to inform persons ac-
quainted with the subject of pianoforte construction, that the Sterling pianos are
supplied with the Strauch Brothers' action, to convince them of the excellence
of the instrument.
The Messrs. Strauch Bros., whose mammoth factory is situated at Nos. 114,
116 and 118 Gansevoort street, in this city, supply the action to nearly all first
class and leading pianoforte manufactories. The name of this firm has been
before the public for over twenty years as the manufacturers of pianoforte
action, and while others who were at that time well known in business have
either gone out of the same, or else have been forced out owing to the poorer
quality of their goods, the above firm has steadily grown, and to-day it can be
safely said that they manufacture more action than any other house in the coun-
try, and possess one of the best and finest equipped factories for the manufacture
of pianoforte action. Their long and practical experience as action makers is
also further advanced as practical pianoforte makers, having been engaged as
finishers and regulators with one of the largest and oldest New York manufac-
turers, and afterwards themselves as manufacturers in Albany, N. Y., only
leaving that business to continue in the one which has now reached such large
proportions. The advantage they derive in being practical pianoforte makers
in all its branches, is that it enables them to understand better the adaptability
of action in all its parts, both in reference to bringing out the tone, and having
a touch that will be easy and pliant under the hands of the skilful performer.
Their aim has been to always make the best action that could possibly be pro-
duced, and at as low a price as could possibly be consistent with first class
workmanship and materials. That they have succeeded in this is attested by
the vast amount of work they are doing, and the large number of inquiries they
are all the time having. Being thoroughly practical men in all departments of
mechanism, they have produced labor-saving machinery that is in use in no
other manufactory; and as action making is essentially fine work, the machinery
used in its construction must necessarily be of the very best, and be particular
in every detail, in order to secure accuracy and perfection. Action to the piano
is as the vitals to the human body ; let the one be out of order and the rest ia
comparatively useless.
Perfection in action, therefore, is the essential to a perfect piano, and this
great desideratum has been attained by the Messrs. Strauch Bros, after years of
constant labor and close attention to their business.
The construction of the Strauch Bros, action is attended with the greatest
amount of care, even to the minutest detail. To secure a perfect action, great
pains must be taken in the selection of materials, such as the proper kinds of
woods, cloths, felts, leather, wire, glue, hardware, etc., and their proper placing
together. T h o s e
qualities are so ful-
ly developed in the
M e s s r s . Strauch
Bros., that by their
united efforts in the
construction, per-
fection and simpli-
fication of light run •
ning and labor sav-
ing machinery, they
h a v e established
the leading house,
a n d organized a
very large foreign
exportation.
Of recent years
the Strauch Bros.,
becoming convinc-
ed, as a great many
people are, that the
upright
piano, by
FACTOBY, DERBY, CONN.
reason of its many! and obvious"Jadvantages, is destined to "oeoomej the
piano of America, have turned their attention to the development of a
superior action for this style of instrument, and since it is to the manufacturing
of upright pianos that the McEwen Company turns its chief attention, the com-
bination of their work with the work of Strauoh Brothers will be reoognized as
being most happy and effective.—N. Y. World.