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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
274
IVERS & POND PIANO CO.
V. R. STEDMAN.
W
E greatly regret to announce the death, on the
8th inst., of Mr. V. R. Stedman, senior part-
ner in the firm of Stedman & Co., manufactur-
ers of wound strings for musical instruments, etc.,
Cambridgeport, Mass.
Comparatively few men have left a better record
than that which now belongs to the memory of Mr.
Stedman. He was one of the heroes who redeem hu-
manity from the stigma of ignoble selfishness. His
life, though comparatively obscure except among his
friends and acquaintances, was a life full of devotion to
duty, to family, and to the dictates of an enlightened
conscience. For a long period—as far back as the time
of the Gilberts, of Boston fame—he worked at the bench
in a piano factory, afterwards pursuing the business of
action-making with marked success for nearly thirty
years. His reputation as an action-maker is well re-
membered. During the past ten years he has been en-
gaged with his son, Mr. Geo. H. Stedman, in the man-
ufacture of strings for violins, guitars, etc. Throughout
his entire career he remained quiet, unassuming,
benevolent, faithful, beloved and honored by all with
whom he came in contact, and largely befriending, in
his own modest and unselfish way, the unfortunate and
the necessitous. He was, in brief, a good and true
man—one of those honest, duty-loving citizens who are
the real strength and glory of nations. No nobler in-
heritance than his example could fall to the lot of those
who survive him.
Mr. Stedman was in his 75th year. The business of
his firm will be continued by Mr. Geo. H. Stedman,
under the old style of " Stedman & Co."
THE STANDARD ACTION CO.
THEY START UNDER FAVORABLE AUSPICES.
AMBRIDGEPORT, Mass., now resounds to the
busy hum of the Standard Action Co., whose
factory is located on State street of that city.
Preparations for " action" have come to a conclusion,
the works are in good running order, and the company
are in a position to fill orders promptly from now on.
They claim that they will construct a strictly first-class
action, which they will endeavor to sell at a moderate
price. This " endeavor" gives every promise of suc-
ceeding, for the firm under consideration possess suffi-
cient capital, and have wisely selected every one of
their employes from the most skillful of American
workmen.
This new concern consists of D. A. Barber, George
Bates and W. Mabry, all of whom were formerly in the
employ of A. P. Kelley, or of George W. Seaverns &
Son, or of both. Each of them is an experienced and
skillful action maker, and the combination of the forces
of these three gentlemen is viewed with satisfaction by
the trade. Already many of our leading manufacturers
have decided to test the goods turned out by the Stand-
ard Action Co., and we will answer for it that such
goods will prove to be exactly as represented.
C
A MAGNIFICENT PIANO.
T
HE largest and handsomest upright piano ever
brought into the State of Florida is now on ex-
hibition at Campbell's music rooms. It has
been specially made to order for a lady of Micanopy,
who is one of the leaders in music and social circles of
that aristocratic little town. It is a Haines Bros.'
style 9, and the same model and style as the one built
by that firm for Adelina Patti, for use in her castle in
Wales. The case is of handsome French burl walnut,
of magnificent design. The tone combines the power
of the concert grand with that pure sympathetic quality,
for which the Haines Bros/are so celebrated.—Jackson-
ville (Fla.) Metropolis.
TO PRACTICAL PIANO MAKERS.
WELL-KNOWN firm of organ manufacturers de-
sire to communicate with any practical piano-forte
manufacturer who has a good scale for sale, or
who wishes to dispose of a promising patent. Such an one
might find a purchaser and also obtain a position as
superintendent of a piano factory, by communicating
with the office of this paper.
A
G. B. SHEARER of Oneonta, N. Y., was in town last
week, making purchases of pianos for his spring trade.
THEIR SPLENDID FACTORY—PIANOS THAT INCREASE
DAILY IN PUBLIC FAVOR.
A
Mr. Frasier will satisfy the customer's scruples by sell-
ing him the goods at an advanced price, which the other
will as readily and cheerfully pay. The Cambridgeport
hammer-coverer deserves a splendid trade, and he has his
deserts. It is pleasant, once in a while, to observe such
willingless to accommodate the out-of-the-way wishes
of a friend.
MONG the many large and well equipped piano
factories of the United States, that of the Ivers
& Pond Piano Co., Boston, Mass., takes very
HERSCHEL FENTON.
high rank. It consists of seven stories, each floor meas-
uring 15,000 square feet, the total floorage therefore be-
ing 105,000 square feet. The machinery with which this
OME faces are so full of light and geniality as to
vast edifice is furnished is of a character commensurate
call forth exclamations of wonder even from the
with the reputation of the pianos produced in it, being
confirmed misanthrope. Of such is the counten-
of the most modern, most improved, and most reliable ance of Herschel Fenton, the able and amiable dealer
and enduring style, and having been acquired without in musical instruments who plays, jokes, laughs, and
regard to expense.
minds his own business at No. 59 Maiden Lane, New
The Whitney planer was among the new implements York city. Not having seen him for some time we
that attracted our special attention. Its peculiarity and gave him a call last week, and found him radiant, merry,
merit are observed in an arrangement whereby all shav- optimistic as usual. Business, he said, had been very
ings and dust are taken up into a pipe or tube, whence good since Inauguration. " Nevertheless," remarked
they are thrown outside the building.
Mr. Fenton, " Harrison and his Cabinet, even when they
The factory is furnished with three boilers, and the get into working order, won't be able to proceed very
Brown engine of 100-horse-power is considered one of far without the assistance of Fenton's Electric Banjos,
which are a sine qua non in every household, whether of
the finest ever turned out by its eminent makers.
Messrs. Ivers & Pond's arrangements for quenching president, priest, or precentor, republican or rebel, demo-
fires are perfect. They are plentifully provided with crat or dialectician, Jew, Greek, Turk, infidel, or gen-
Grinnell sprinklers; and a fire pump connects with a tile." Judging from the large sales of these famous in-
tank at the top of the factory containing 40,000 gallons struments, it would really appear as if Mr. Fenton's
of water. This pump has an ejecting power of 650 statement were not much of an exaggeration. Great
as he is in the banjo field, however, he finds time to
gallons per minute.
It is not to be supposed that all these elaborate pre- manipulate very admirable lines of rare old violins,
parations and improvements have been brought together Florentine strings, superior bows, and other musical
for the purpose of producing some second or third rate specialties. The merry musician of Maiden Lane, as he
article. The reason why the Ivers & Pond Piano Co. is termed by his intimate friends, has been associated
have built an enormous factory and furnished it with with and has traveled extensively for the most promin-
the best known implements, machines and fire appara- ent music houses during many years, and it is very
tus, is that they desire their house to be a lasting one; pleasant to record the progress made by him since
and they possess good sense enough to be aware that launching his own gallant little bark and setting all her
no firm is on a good foundation whose policy is to palm sail to catch the favoring trade breezes.
off upon the public a product of worthless or inferior
grade as something better than it is.
That the pianos made by this prominent and reputa- FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE IN CAMBRIDGE,
ble house are sound and excellent instruments is proven
MASS.
by the fact that they are daily growing in favor among
the trade and profession. There is never a time when
N Wednesday evening, March 6th, Miss Carrie
fewer than 1,200 grands, squares and uprights are in
Belle Frasier, youngest daughter of Daniel E.
process of construction.
Frasier, the popular alderman and well-known pi-
Various improvements in the construction of pianos ano-forte hammer coverer of Cambridgeport, Mass., was
have from time to time been made by this wide-awake united in marriage to Mr. Curtis Davis Noyes, son of
firm. Their patent sliding fall-board and frame, which Mr. Samuel Noyes, Jr., of the firm of Noyes, Campbell
will henceforth be used in all their styles, is a most use- & Co., of Boston, and grandson of the late well-known
ful and convenient contrivance, of magnificient pattern, Curtis Davis. The ceremony was conducted by Rev.
and one that is destined to command universal favor. Henry Hinckley of Lynn, an uncle of the groom, at No.
Their patent soft stop is readily admitted to be a great 9 Prince street, the residence of the bride's father.
advance upon other arrangements of similar purport.
Visitors to the number of over a hundred attended, in-
In point of variety of styles, Ivers & Pond are equal clusive of at least seventy-five relatives of the happy
to meeting the most fastidious desires of dealers and couple. The entrance to the house, and the parlors and
private customers. Any person or firm failing to be suit- other rooms thereof, were florally decorated in the
ed from their immense and diversified stock must in- most profuse and beautiful manner, and many costly
deed be a queer specimen of musical humanity.
presents were displayed. At the conclusion of the cere-
The factory has facilities for an output of sixty pianos mony a short reception was held, a substantial collation
per week, which output we have no doubt will be reach- in the dining-hall following. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes are
ed ere many months have passed. At present forty-five well-known and popular members of Cambridge society,
are produced every week. The Ivers & Pond Piano Co. and begin their married life under deservedly happy
are certainly a steadily-advancing and highly-deserving auspices.
concern.
MORE HONORS FOR THE SMITH AMERI-
D. E. FRASIER'S REMARKABLE TESTIMO-
CAN ORGAN.
NIAL.
S
O
THE CAMBRIDGEPORT PIANOFORTE HAMMER COVERER.AT
THE REQUEST OF AN OLD CUSTOMER RAISES HIS
PRICES, AND THEREBY EARNS THE CUSTOMER'S
ETERNAL GRATITUDE.
M
R, D. E. FRASIER, of Cambridgeport, Mass.,
recently had an experience as agreeable as it
was rare. During a visit among some of his
many customers in Boston, Mass., he came upon one to
whom he has for many years supplied with hammer cov-
ers, and who at the time was testing one of his bills.
Said the piano-maker, "I am glad you have come. I am
tired of having the same price, year after year, on these
hammers, and I wish you would make it either more or
less." Mr. Frasier at once replied, in that spirit of self-
sacrifice for a fellow-creature which is too seldom exer-
cised in these selfish and degenerate days, " With pleas-
ure; I will make it more!" The piano manufacturer
hastened to express his gratiude. The hammers, he
said, were the best he had ever used, and he firmly be-
lieved he had been getting them too cheaply, Hereafter
IT SECURES THE HIGHEST AWARD OF THE MELBOURNE
EXPOSITION COMMISSIONERS.
EWS of another laurel for the Smith American
Organ Co. comes by cable from Melbourne, Aus-
tralia. The message flashed under the ocean
from the antipodes conveys the gratifying information
that their highest award for organ manufacture had
been given by the Commissioners of the Exposition at
Melbourne to the great Smith Amenican Co., who can
now add this to the innumerable former acknowledg-
ments of their skill, prowess, and eminence as organ
makers.
Mr. Harry D, Smith of this house has returned from
a six month's visit to London, Eng., and reports that
their European agencies are increasing and multiplying
in importance and prosperity. Their home trade is
certainly in very admirable condition.
N
$8,ooo is said to be the highest price paid for a
Stradivarius violin.