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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Crown Pianos and
Organs.
An Unexpected and Highly Com-
plimentary Tribute.
NOTES FROM A DIARY.
AN interesting tribute
to the popularity of the
"Crown" pianos and or-
gans as well as to their
manufacturer, G e o. P .
Bent, came into our hands
recently, It is a diary
written by an English vis-
itor to the World's Fair,
and sent to a friend on the other side. Among
other things mentioned we cull the following :
«• * * # Commenced tour of the Fair to-
day. Cannot portray in words my impressions
of the magnificent panorama. It is heavenly.
* * * Informed friends here of my promise
to you to play ' something ' on the musical in-
struments in each State and Foreign building.
They are quite amused at my request, but ap-
parently enter into the spirit of the thing. * * *
My first visit was to the Victoria House
(Great Britain Building), where I met my old
friend Lloyd. * * # Came across an ex-
tremely handsome piano here which he is most
enthusiastic over ; the tone is rich and mellow
and a revelation to me. It is called the '' Crown,''
and manufactured by a local maker named
Bent. * * * The Kansas Building next en-
gaged my attention. Imagine my surprise to
find here three pianos by the same maker, each
excelling both in tone and appearance that
which I recently performed on in the British
Building. Two are in light and heavy oak, and
the other in walnut. Wonder if I shall come
across other makes as good as these.
My next visit was to the Arkansas Building,
where my surprise was further intensified by
coming across another handsome "Crown"
piano in Hungarian ash. To play on this in-
strument is a comfort and delight, and I can
conscientiously echo the opinion expressed by
the manager of the building, who said, "Its
handsome finish attracts every one and its
sweetness and purity of tone makes it a great
favorite.''
But what is the use repeating. I visited no
less than thirty-two State and foreign buildings
on the Fair grounds, and I was as much aston-
ished as delighted to find organs and pianos
from this, to my mind, wonderful firm in each
building.
As you might expect from a musical enthus-
iast I became an ardent admirer of the '' Crown ''
pianos and organs, and availed myself of the
courteous invitation extended to self and friends
to visit the headquarters where these magnifi-
cent instruments are manufactured. This, also,
afforded me an opportunity of satisfying my
curiosity as to the personality of the head of the
business.
Accordingly we called on Mr. Bent at his
factory, which is on Canal street, this city. I
found Mr. Bent to be a typical American,
shrewd, level-headed and possessed of an abund-
ant supply of nervous energy. He was most
accommodating, took us through his well ap-
pointed factory of five stories and basement. I
can give you a better idea of its enormous size
when I say that it covers three acres of floor
space. Mr. Bent laughed heartily at my prom-
ise to you, also at the conclusion which I came
to after visiting the different buildings, namely:
that he was the only piano manufacturer in
America!
" Well," he said, smiling, "you are just one
of a million people who have played upon and
praised my instruments in the State and foreign
buildings which you visited.'' He complimented
me highly by saying that my good judgment of
the " Crown " pianos and organs was supported
by 371 official commissioners and the executive
officers from the various States, territories and
foreign countries who have been most profuse
in their compliments as to the superior merits
of the "Crown" pianos and organs. I asked
him to explain to me how he accounted for the
superiority and popularity of his instruments.
"Well," he said, "we make the best, we
employ skilled workmen, use the best of ma-
terials, use an action of a high class, pay special
attention to the acoustic qualities and designs
of our instruments, and look out for all modern
improvements. The consequence is, we have
placed pianos and organs on the market which
have been awarded four medals and diplomas of
the highest honor; and seventeen points of
superior excellence which these instruments
possess are testified to in no ambiguous words
—every essential point being covered by the
diplomas which these goods received. Apart
from this, the raw materials used by me in the
construction of the "Crown " instruments ob-
tained twenty medals and diplomas. This gives
you a fair idea why '' Crown *' pianos and
organs are not alone popular at the World's
Fair but throughout the great American conti-
nent. And mind you,'' said Mr. Bent, smiling,
'' we have not yet reached the altitude of our
success. We are always endeavoring to increase
the quality, and we hope for a wider popularity
in the future. * * * "
I am so much in love with the '' Crown ''
pianos and organs that before I left Mr. Bent I
entered into an arrangement with him to ship
me one of his pianos on my return home. I feel
confident that my enthusiasm and admiration
for the instrument will find a strong support
from you when you perform on it. It is truly
an admirable piano. * * * "
This unexpected and hearty testimony to the
merits of the " Crown " pianos and organs is a
decided proof of the efficacy of Mr. Bent's enter-
prise at the World's Fair, and it leads one to
think what an extraordinary tribute to their
superior qualities might be obtained, if the
many who, like the writer of the above diary,
played on and admired the "Crown" instru-
ments, were to write their impressions and
opinions. Dealers and others throughout the
country who are not acquainted with Geo. P.
Bent, or the " Crown " pianos and organs,
should not fail to call or place themselves in
communication with him. They will become
as enthusiastic as our English visitor. The
'' Crown '' pianos and organs are not only
"sellers" but make sales for wide-awake dealers.
Duty on Pianos.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
The General Appraisers of the Treasury De-
partment have decided that pianos may be
brought into this country free of duty, when
they are included among household effects. The
decision is in the matter of the protest of Francis
Kwinn, against the decision of the Collector of
Customs at New Haven, Conn., as to the rate
and amount of duties chargeable on a piano im-
ported by him with other household goods.
General Appraiser Somerville delivered the
opinion as follows :
The merchandise covered by the protest in
this case is invoiced as "one old piano,"
valued at 30 pounds.
It was assessed for duty at 35 per cent, ad
valorem under paragraph 230 of the new tariff
act of 1890.
The claim of the importer is that the article
is free of duty as a " household effect,'' under
paragraph 516 of said act, which reads as fol-
lows :
516. Books or libraries or parts of libraries
and other household effects of persons or families
from foreign countries, if actually used abroad
by them not less than one year, and not in-
tended for any other person or persons, nor for
sale.
The tariff act of March 3d, 1893, paragraph 662
(free list), relating to this subject, reads as fol-
lows :
Books, household effects, or libraries, or parts
of libraries in use of persons or families from
foreign countries, if used abroad by them not
less than one year, and not intended for any
other person or persons, nor for sale.
In Arthur v. Morgan (112 U. S., 495), this
paragraph was construed to include a carriage
which had been in use abroad for a year by its
owner, who imported it into this country for his
own use. Mr. Justice Blatchford, speaking for
the whole court, construed the words " house-
hold effects " as intended to include "articles
which pertain to a person as a householder or to
a family as a household, which have been used
abroad not less than a year, and are not in-
tended for others, nor for sale. A carriage,"
he observed, " is peculiarly a family or house-
hold article. -It contributes, in a large degree,
to the health, convenience, comfort and welfare
of the householder or of the family.''
There is no such change in the phraseology of
paragraph 516 of the present tariff act of 1890
as to justify, in our opinion, a different inter-
pretation being placed on it from that given by
the Supreme Court to the corresponding para-
graph (662) of the tariff act of 1893. The appli-
cation of the rule ejusdem generis to the words
"other household effects," in said paragraph
516, would not exclude a carriage or other like
article from their scope.
A piano, used by a person or family in the
household for musical entertainment or edifica-
tion of the householder or the members of his
family, is just as much a household effect as a
carriage would be, being, like "books " and
" libraries," designed for the comfort, instruc-
tion or entertainment of the householder or the
family.
We find as facts :
1. The article under consideration is a piano
which was in actual use by the owner for more
than a year prior to exportation from England.
2. It was imported in the month of June,
1893, for the private uses of the owner, and not
for sale.
3. The article is a " household effect " within
the meaning of paragraph 516 of the present
tariff act.
The protest, claiming the merchandise to be
free under said paragraph, is sustained, and the
collector's decision reversed, with instructions
to reliquidate the entry accordingly.