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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
22$
"Royal Copper," while the piece itself is finished in
Bronze Antique," the frame being equally durable,
BY ANITA LILIAN KING.
with the piece. However, as this frame cannot be re-
moved or changed to suit different tastes, the company
N attempting an improvement in the make-up of a
are prepared to furnish any of their pieces without
violin, it must be understood that the aim and
frames, to be mounted by the purchaser.
purpose of the inventor, whose improvement I am
Proceeding now through our picture gallery, we
about to describe, is to make common, cheap violins
come upon " Land and Water Game," beautifully exe-
better toned, so as to approach the excellence, which
cuted and reproduced, and appropriate as dining room
has never been surpassed, of the Cremona makers.
pieces; "A Pair of Naiads;" "A Pair of Roman War-
These Cremona gems, as well as those of many other
riors' Heads from Trajan's Column;" "The Dancing
masters, both ancient and modern, are out of reach of
Faun, and the Faun at Play;" Thorwaldsen's " Guar-
the mass of the people who use violins.
dian Angel," and the same sculptor's "Angel of Death;'
Since the time of Stradivario, Guarnerio, and Amati,
Two Ideals, " Fruits," and " Flowers; " " Marie Antoin-
violin makers have tried rather to equal than to im-
ette" and the " Duchess De Berri;" "Diana," "Nep-
prove upon the instruments of those masters in any
tune," and " Jupiter;" Heads of Dickens,Thorwaidsen,
material way. Perhaps the most notable innovation
Rubens, VanDyck, etc.; "The Lion Hunt;" "The
was Spohr's fiddle-holder—a shield fixed to the nut-
Judgment of Paris;" "The Blind Fiddler;" and very
hole and overhanging the taiNpiece for the direct pur-
many other pieces of the various kinds mentioned
pose of getting a grip of the instrument between chin
earlier in this notice, all calculated to excite most fav-
HOMER
D.
BBONSON
CO.
and shoulder, and thus ensuring two objects; viz.,
orable views of the Electro-bronze Art work.
greater steadiness of the instrument under the move-
Then we come to the illustrations of patent perforated
ment of the fingers, and keeping the chin pressure off THEIR EXQUISITE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF ELEC-
and other art panels for pianos and organs, in a sufficient
TRO-BRONZE ART WORK, ETC.—SAMPLES OF THE
the instrument, as by such contact a dimming of tone
PRINTING DONE BY THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
variety of styles, every line of the intricate ornamenta-
might result.
PRESS.
tion being brought out with wondrous grace and clear-
Without going into the technical and tonic mysteries
ness. All of these panels, plaques, medallions, and so
of construction, which would only reveal my ignor-
E have much pleasure in calling the attention of forth are described at great length both as to subject
ance, I will briefly refer to one of the potential though
the piano trade and others to the newly-is- and artistically. The descriptions, sizes, prices, etc.,
fractional factors in violin construction. As the
sued catalogue of the Homer D. Bronson Co. ( are printed in a style which reflects the highest credit
" sound post" is well or ill placed, so will good or in- of Beacon Falls, Conn., manufacturers of the celebrat- upon our printers.
different tones be produced. So important an item is ed Electro-Bronze Art Work—for pianos, organs, da-
On behalf of the artistic interests of the piano and
this " post " that a fractional alteration of its position does, etc.,—frequently mentioned in these columns, also organ trade, as well as in justice to the Homer D.
between the belly and the back of the violin, or in the of wrought brass-butt hinges, brass pressure bars, and Bronson Co., we earnestly request our readers to per-
degree of pressure on both, or even in the trueness of brass goods in general.
use with care this masterly and beautiful work, which
its fit to both, may result magnificently or disastrously.
This work has been gotten up and printed by THE cannot fail to delight and instruct them from an
Take away the sound-post, and the violin is spoiled. MUSIC TRADE REVIEW press, whose headquarters are aesthetic as well as from a commercial point of view.
While it serves for tonic action, it serves also for at the office of this paper, where estimates for the best
mechanical action, supporting the pressure of the stvles of printing and the most superior kinds of illus-
bridge, which without the sound-post to support the trated work may be obtained on application. The title-
MUSICAL SAND NOTES.
belly or sounding-board of the violin, would cause the page of the catalogue is adorned with striking and
belly to sink as an arch deprived of its keystone.
beautifully executed portraits of the Bronson firm— TWO THEORIES ON THE CAUSE OF SQUEAKING SAND.
comprising the senior and the three junior Bronsons,
HERE has of late been considerable discussion
together with ornamental typographical inscription.
on the subject of sonorous sand, which is found
In the introduction it is explained that the Homer
in numerous places in this country and else-
D. Bronson Co. manufacture only the very highest
grade of work, and that the largest importers of fine where, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. The old theory
bronzes in this country have unhesitatingly accepted that the sounds are produced by rubbing together of
the Bronson products as being equally perfect with millions of clean sand grains very uniform in size, ap-
the best imported goods of that description. The at- pears to explain very feasibly musical sand, but the
tention of architects and interior decorators is called to explanation does not so well apply to squeaking sand,
the work done by this firm, which includes panels for which is known to exist. These two classes of sounds
dadoes, friezes, doors, mantels, sideboards, etc., repro- produced by disturbing sand are both undoubtedly due
duced in any desired size from drawings, models, or to vibrations. One sound is produced by the attrition
carvings. Architects' designs are carried out, and du- of the particles and has a harsh character by no means
plicates from decorators' carvings made to order. The musical, which, in rare cases, becomes a loud squeak.
Homer D. Bronson Co. also make a specialty of orig- The second is caused by oscillations of the particles
inal work, modelled and finished in the highest style of themselves perfected from actual contact by elastic
air-cushions, and this is decidedly musical in tone.
their art.
Musical sand yields notes by friction only when dry;
The last part of the catalogue is devoted more es-
pecially to the piano and organ trade, for whom the squeaking sand yields a harsh shrill squeak (reminding
Homer D. Bronson Co. are already furnishing elec- one of the cry of a guinea fowl) best when moist. This
tro-bronze panels, and whose special attention is latter is very rare. Out of 500 specimens of sand from
called to the " Open Work Panels," patented by Mr. all around the world, while musical sand seemed to be
Homer D. Bronson, and combining all the beauty of comparatively common, only two samples of squeak-
the solid bronze with all the practical benefits to be ing sand were found to have been taken from places
in this country; they were both so-called boiling
derived from the sawed frets.
Throughout the pages of this most interesting and springs. One was in Maine and the other in Kansas.
instructive work are scattered illustrations of over one A very small quantity of squeaking sand pressed be-
hundred plaques, panels, friezes, and medallions— tween the thumb and forefinger produces, when wet,
It has been attempted to make violins without backs, classical, historical, mythical, pastoral and ideal—which a peculiar shrill squeak—a phenomenon which fs well
and even to put the bridge on the edge of the key- the Homer D. Bronson Co. are prepared to furnish, explained by the attrition theory.
board—prolonged almost to the ordinary position occu- with or without frames, in quantities to suit purchas-
pied by the bridge; of course palpable failures, but ers, and at prices that will compare favorably with any
WICKHAM. CHAPMAN & CO.
they indicate the aim of the makers, viz., to take away other work of the same description, either imported or
if possible, or modify the pressure on the belly which domestic, particularly when the element of quality is A NICKEL-PLATING DEPARTMENT ADDED TO THEIR
taken into consideration. All these illustrations have
PIANO PLATE PLANT.
now determines the sound more or less inimically.
The fact of the sound-post being always placed been directly reduced from the panels, plaques, etc.,
E are glad to note that Messrs. Wickham, Chap-
nearly under the tenor, or tightest of the four strings, represented, and the success with which this marvel-
man & Co., manufacturers of grand, square,
where the bridge has its bearing on the belly, was the lous reduction has been achieved constitutes the work
and upright piano plates and piano' hard-
only matter in violin construction deemed capable of our artists a veritable triumph. First comes a rep-
of improvement by the maker whose name we are resentation of Leonardo Da Vinci's " Last Supper," re- ware, Springfield, O-, are having an excellent trade.
about to mention. By a simple arrangement he dis- produced from a bronze measuring 32^ in.x2O>^ in. Some months ago we had an opportunity of inspecting
placed it without taking it entirely away. Any one The figures strike one as being endowed with life, the factory and plant of this firm, whose work is turn-
with an ear for tone will tell by the first touch of the while the perspective of the supper room and the ed out in a most superior and commendable manner.
wonderfully perfect detail of delineation call forth un-
Wickham, Chapman & Co. are also making pedal
bow if an improvement has been effected, or not.
The inventor, C. Dion, i, Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, is qualified amazement. We may here call attention to feet, pedal guards, action brackets, and bearing bars.
They have, moreover, added a nickel-plating depart-
the patentee and maker. His genius as an instru- the fact that, at a great expense, the Homer D. Bron-
mentalist and telephone inventor warrants consider- son Co. have framed all their art work, plaques, and ment to their plant.
medallions in artistic patterns in bronze, making the
ation of his invention.
MR. HARRY R. WILLIAMS, Detroit, Mich., finds the
The sketch of a bridge with one leg made out of the piece and frame complete in one solid and uniform
same piece of wood tells at once what is the inventors' cast, and finishing the frame in what is known as Behr pianos capital leaders.
VIOLIN IMPROVEMENT.
I
aim. The end of the leg, after passing through a hole
in the sounding-board or belly, rests on the back. The
hole is sufficiently large to avoid contact with the leg.
The sketch is from memory, but I think I am doing
the inventor justice in it. The slight slant over the
bridge allows the tension of the tenor strings to exert
its strain on the leg and back to the relief of the press-
ure of the other foot of the bridge on the belly over
the " bass bar." Another hole in the belly of a violin
is a somewhat startling innovation, but it was demon-
strated at the Exposition Centennial, 1889, that a
3-franc violin fitted with this invention was materially
improved in tone. This was the favorable comment of
the public who heard it, also of the jury of musical ex-
perts who critically examined it. It gave to cheaply
made instruments, which had but a poor uneven quality
of tone before, greater resonance and a more even tone
throughout.
W
T
W