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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
12
were best acquainted. A Welsh shepherd boy
named John Thomas had some time previous to
that been received by Abraham Darby into his
of those schemes for getting
workshop on the recommendation of a distant
Qhz> money out of the unwary by means of al-
relative.
luring advertisements has been discovered and
While looking on during the experiments of
temporarily suppressed by the Post-Office au-
the Dutch workmen he said to Darby that he
thorities, but the Evening World has learned The Beginning of Iron Casting. thought he " s a w where they had missed i t . "
that arrangements are making to continue the
He begged to be allowed to try, and he and
?AST iron did not come into commercial use Darby remained alone in the workshop all night,
game under another name.
before 1700, when Abraham Darby, an in- struggling with the refractory metal and imper-
A complaint was received at the Post-Office
from Edwin Stanley, a painter, of Meriden, telligent mechanic, who had taken some Dutch fect molds. The hours passed on and daylight
Conn., that on Oct. 19 he had sent $2.85 to the workmen to establish a brass foundry in Bristol, appeared, but neither would leave his task. Just
National Piano Company, of 180 Broadway, for England, received the idea that iron might be as the morning dawned they succeeded in cast-
a piano that had been advertised, and that al- substituted for brass. This his workmen did ing an iron pot complete. The boy entered into
though he had written to the company repeat- not succeed in doing, being probably too much an agreement with Darby to serve him and
edly, he had received neither the piano nor the prejudiced in favor of the metal with which they keep the secret.
return of his money.
Although entictd by offers of higher wages to
Mr. Stanley was informed by the Post-Office
leave his master, he continued faithful, and
authorities that the National Piano Company is
from 1709 to 1828 the family of Thomas were
a fraud, operated by W. W. Ridout, who lives
the confidential and valued agents of the de-
at Blythebourne, L. I., and that the payment
scendants of Abraham Darby. For more than
of money orders to him had been stopped.
100 years after that night in which Thomas and
is an expressive word. Many
The advertisements published by Ridout of-
his master succeeded in making an iron casting
firms know its meaning. In
fered to each of the first 100 applicants a piano-
in a mould of fine sand contained in frames and
forte free of charge. When a letter asking for
our factory we make and ship
with air holes, the same process was practiced
the piano was received, Ridout would return cir-
and kept secret at Coalbrook Dale with plugged
pianos every day—almost.
culars and the following letter :
keyholes and barred doors.
That's what we like. Still,
Dear Sir : We will send you piano as soon as
it doesn't surprise us, for we
you send us $2.85. Very truly,
have the best low-priced pianos
NATIONAL PIANO COMPANY.
in the field. Consult for prices.
The circulars accompanying stated that the
offer was made to introduce the piano, and that
$2.85 was required to pay for package and
freight charges. In one portion of the circular
517—523 W. 45th St.
reference was made to miniature pianos but
New York.
there was nothing to indicate that the pianos
were simply toys.
To some applicants Ridout sent these toys,
which are about a foot high, and make a noise
like the rattle of old junk, but Stanley says he
received nothing.
^
OF THE
At 180 Broadway it was learned by a reporter
that Ridout rented desk room in an office on the
second floor about three months ago. He re-
ceived letters by the score, but finally he was
Theatrical Manager: "Didn't I hear you
forced to leave the place, and then he resumed
making some talk about there not being enough
business in Murray street, near Church. He
realism in this play, Mr. Walker ? "
continued there until the Post-Office authori-
Leading Man : " I did say something of the
ties stopped delivering registered letters to him
kind, sir."
or cashing money orders.
Manager : *' Humph ! We have real horses,
Ridout seems to have decided that a good way
real water, real turnips in the grand banqueting
to avoid interference would be to change the
scene, and a real sausage chopper. What more
name of his concern, As a preliminary move
AND SWEETNESS of TONE. can you want ?''
he engaged S. B. Kurtz, an artist, at 35 Frank-
Leading Man : " Well, I should like a little
fort street, to design a letter-head for him. He ^"SCIENTIFIC CONSTRUCTION.
real applause after the performance and real
evidently intended to substitute "United
(THE ONLY STRICTLY
money on salary days."
DURABILITY.
HIGH GRADE PIANO
States" for "National," and minutely de-
The Professor's Theory : Mrs. Billkins : " Do
MANUFACTURED
scribed to Mr. Kurtz the impressive picture of a
IN CHICAGO.)
you
think it is worth while for my daughter to
manufacturing establishment he wished him to
go
on
taking singing lessons ? She has been
draw.
Mr. Kurtz followed instructions and
at
it
for
five years and cannot sing yet. "
drew the picture in accordance with Ridout's
Prof.
Von
Note : " Dit you expect her to learn
ideas. Although Mr. Ridout was pleased with
to
zing
?
She
will neffer sing in ze vide vorld."
the result, he has not yet paid for the drawing.
SOLE FACTORS.
- "Then why didn't you say so long ago ? "
People who know Mr. Ridout are certain there
" I thought you merely vanted to strengthen
is no such establishment in existence as the one
her lungs. "
" • • -\
portrayed.
Performer (arising from the piano amid an
It is stated that Ridout has been in similar
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WAREROOMS,
animated conversation, ironically): " I hope,
schemes before. He was arrested in Jersey City
ladies, I did not disturb you ? "
two years ago, it is said, on a charge of circulat-
215 WABASH AVE.,
One of them (placidly) : " Oh, no, Mr. Octave,
ing advertisements of an obscene book, but ow- (SECOND FLOOR)
not me, at least. I like to have people play
ing to political influence managed to escape
CHICAGO.
while I am talking."
with a fine of $75. He is about thirty years old,
Ridout's " Cheap " Pianos.
and is always well dressed. In Blythebourne
he is looked upon as a model citizen.
Just where Ridout intends to establish '' The
United States Piano Manufacturing Company"
is not known, but desk room is cheap.
Interregnum
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