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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
A NEW PIANO KEYBOARD.
Writing to a contemporary on the new form of key-
board for the piano, organ and similar instruments
invented by Herr Paul von Janko, of Vienna, and ex-
hibited recently at Leipzig, Mr. T. L. Southgate, of
Epsleadale, Gipsy Hill, draws attention to the fact
that the inventor's idea is not in reality a novelty.
The main features of the invention are that the notes
of the scale are arranged in two rows of keys in place
of only one, as is now the rule; and also that there
is a tone between each note and its immediate neigh-
bor, instead of the tone and semitone arrangement
which now obtains.
A quarter of a century ago Mrs. L. Bead exhibited
a harmonium of precisely the same construction, fit-
ted with what she entitled "AutomaticProgression,"
in the Great French Exhibition, held at Paris, in the
year 1867. Mr. Southgate inspected the instrument
in question on that occasion and sent a description
of the invention to the Musical Standard which ap-
peared on Nov. 13, 1867, in that paper, and was illus-
trated with four engravings. The description of
both instruments is identical. The tonal arrange-
ment of the notes on two tiers or banks, and the
grouping of the white and black keys are the same
iii botu, Mrs. Head providing a supplementary set
which were severally connected to the uppermost
tier, moving at the same time. As far back as 1843,
Mr. W. B. Lunn invented a sequential keyboard ar-
rangement consisting of two tiers of keys, the notes
being grouped in series of sixes, instead of the or-
dinary seven and five in the octave. In 1876, Mr.
Bosanquet, of St. John's College, Oxford, invented a
symmetrical keyboard and applied it to an enhar-
monic harmonium, containing fifty-three sounds to
the octave. This instrument had seven tiers of keys
and the fingering of each scale was identical. Mr.
Poole and Mr. Colin Brown, of Glasgow, have also
employed similar contrivances.
Mr. Southgate concludes as follows : "If mi sic were
in its infancy, it would doubtless be possible to design
a more convenient keyboard than the one we now
possess. But the art is too old for such an alteration.
For the modern keyboord and the tonal divisions of
the scale which now constitutes our alphabet of
sounds, the great masters have written their piano
and organ music. It is hardly likely that we shall
accept a new system, however convenient it may be
for the fingers, or delightful it may appear on paper
to the mind of acoustical mathematicians."
It is only just to add, in order to counterbalance
the impression which the above remarks will proba-
bly produce, that Mr. Janko exhibited his keyboard
at a soiree at the Hotel de Pruse, Leipzig, which re-
sulted in a verdict from competent critics that as
soon as its advantages become known it will entirely
supersede its predecessor. We may also add that, as
a proof of this statement, all the best reputed firms
of Leipzig pianoforte manufacturers have already
constructed, or intend constructing, piano models
fitted with the new keyboard.—London Piano, Organ
HILB0RNE L. ROOSEVELT SUCCEEDED BY
FRANK ROOSEVELT.
I have the honor to inform you that I have suc-
ceeded to the business of my brother, the late Hil-
borne L. Roosevelt.
Having been intimately associated with his work
and plans for some time past, I will continue to
manufacture on the same basis which he adopted at
the start and practiced throughout, and with the
same high aims which he always had in view, viz.:
to endeavor that every instrument, whether large or
small, shall be of the best materials, and most hon-
est workmanship possible, and shall produce the
most artistic results, preferring quality to quantity
in every detail and shunning competition in the lat-
ter feature at the expense of the former. It will be
my ambition to maintain, and if possible to increase
the enviable reputation gained by my predecessor
through many years of earnest work.
The factories will be continued as heretofore in
New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and the
same corps of assistants and workmen, comprising
among them some of the most skilled organ builders
in the world, will be retained.
Mr. Waller F. Crosby will continue to officiate as
general manager, and Messrs. Wm. N. Elbert and A.
Stein will remain as managers of the Philadelphia
and Baltimore factories, respectively.
I remain, very respectflly,
FEANK ROOSEVELT.
RENDER UNTO SEIZERS THE THINGS
WHICH ARE SCISSORS.
Miss Birdie McGinnis imagines that she is a tal-
ented performer on the piano, and whenever there is
company at the McGinnis mansion, she inflicts on the
visitors the only piece she knows, which is very long
and is entitled: "Mozart's Funeral March to thes
Tomb."
On a recent occasion she had been getting her
work in slowly for about half an hour, when her
brother Hostetter, who had heard that funeral march
a thousand times, heaved a deep-drawn sigh, and re-
marked in anguish:
"Good gracions! Birdie, how much longer will it
take you to get to that cemetery?"—Exchange.
SEVERAL GENTLEMEN IN THE TRADE
DINE TOGETHER IN PITTSBURG.
T
WANTED.
A. A. POND,
MUSIC TRADES
OF
AMERICA,
ARE NOW AT THE OFFICES
3 East 14th St.,
NEW YORK CITY,
(NEAR F I F T H AVENUE.)
Our friends in the music trades will find
every arrangement for their convenience or
comfort at our offices, while they are visit-
ing New York.
We have all the conveniences, so that
members of the trade can attend to their
correspondence here, use telephone, messen-
ger and telegraph calls, meeting other mem-
bers of the trade, transact business if they
wish, and secure our best advice if they
desire to consult us about trade matters-
To insure prompt delivery, all commun-
ications should be addressed to
BILL & CARR,
PROPRIETORS,
THE
Mui>ie (§Jrac|e
3 EAST 14TH STREET.
ISAAC I. COLE & SON
MANUFACTUBKB8 OF
ALL KINDS OF
YENEERS.
Make a Specialty of Piano Case Veneers.
SEND TO
BURDFTT ORGAN CO.,
LIMITED,
207 St. Louis St., Springfield, Mo.
HEADQUARTERS
EDITORS MUSIC TBADE REVIEW :
Several of the leading piano and organ manufac-
turers of the country accidentally met in this city
yesterday. They were entertained at dinner at the
Seventh Avenue Hotel, by Messrs. E. G. Hays and
H. P. Ecker. Among those preseat were J. H.
White and E. H. White, of the Wilcox & White
Organ Company, Meriden, Conn.; Mr Fischer,
of J. & C. Fischer, piano manufacturers of New
&> Musical Trades Journal.
York; Mr. Howard, of the Hallett & Cumston Piano
Company, of Boston; Mr. Tremaine, of the American
Mechanical Organette Company; Mr. Votey, of
NEW CORPORATION.
the Farrand & Votey Organ Company, of Detroit;
HE Prescott Piano & Organ Co. held its first C. A. House, of Wheeling ; Mr. Sisson, a well known
meeting Wednesday evening, and organized traveling piano man. All united in saying that the
under its new charter. Five directors were business prospects in Pittsburgand elsewhere, musi-
elected as follows: A. J. Prescott, J. R. Foster, cally, are very good for the coming year. The second
George D. B. Prescott, H. J. Crippin, and F. P. An- musicale of the Wilcox & White Organ Company has
drews, and at a subsequent meeting of the directors been postponed, pending the additions and altera-
A. J. Prescot was chosen president; George D. B. tions to be made in their store. This will take about
ten days.—Pittsburg Ex.
Prescott, treasurer, and Frank P. Andrews, clerk.
It was voted to purchase of the Prescott Organ Co.
all its real estate and other property, and to as-
sume all its liabilities. The present capital stock of
the corporation is $30,000, which will be increased as
fast as needed. The change as indicated above was
decided upon solely to enable the company to ex-
pand its business to an extent not provided for in its
original charter.
A First Class Tuner and Repairer.
State salary expected.
247
,
FAOTOET AITS WABEBOOMS,
,
FUR LIST, BEFORS BUYING.
Foot 8th St., E. R., New York.