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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
all will agree that he is in every respect an
unique figure—a figure whose success we are
always pleased to chronicle.
Jack Haynes' comfortable and attractive
quarters on 17th street are always the rendez-
vous for rmisic lovers and dealers who happen
to be in town. Jack Haynes possesses a large
quantity of that magnetic force which attracts,
and he never fails to engage the attention of
all who come within his reach. He has a wide
circle of friends in and outside of the music
trade at home and abroad. In conclusion—
the name of Jack Haynes is as wide and favor-
ably known as any in the trade.
Wessell, Nickel & Gross
A Firm which Discarded Old
Theories and Developed New.
'T is impossible to justly estimate the promi-
nence which Wessell, Nickel & Gross, the
eminent manufacturers of piano actions, occupy
without thoroughly realizing the conditions
which have led up to it. Some twenty years ago,
when the upright piano first became popular,
manufacturers had to depend largely upon im-
ported actions and copies of European upright
actions, which, as well known at the time, con-
tained many disabilities and qualities of unfit-
ness for our peculiar climate. Manufacturers
having no other recourse, had to use them.
Meanwhile this did not continue long, for in
the same year a triumvirate of practical action
makers, brainy, expert workmen, appeared on
the scene in the persons of Messrs. Wessell,
Nickel & Gross, and they stepped into the
breach and originated a distinctive American
upright action—an action suitable to our climate.
They threw aside frail wooden brackets and
slender rails, substituting metal brackets ; they
later invented and patented a superior flange;
they centered the hammers so as to secure a
better rigidity consistent with the smallest mini-
mum of friction when in operation, and in vari-
ous other ways contributed materially toward
making the development of the American up-
right a possibility.
They not alone originated an upright action,
but they predicted that the upright would be-
come the popular instrument of this country,
and their predictions seem to have been fulfilled.
Early in their business career they gave evi-
dence that the "talent of success is nothing
more than doing what you can do well, and do
well whatever you do. " They continued to labor
persistently and energetically toward the evolu-
tion and improvement of the piano action, and
the best possible evidence of the progress in this
direction was the numerous patented inven-
tions and innovations which Messrs. Wessell,
Nickel & Gross have placed before the musical
public. This array of improvements, and the
minuteness of investigation rendered necessary,
give potent evidence of the patience, care and
skill which the firm have devoted to the
perfection of the piano action. And yet the
valuable patents owned by them are but a small
part of their contributions in this respect. There
are numerous other details which have made the
Wessell, Nickel & Gross action one that pos-
sesses merits peculiarly its own.
The position which they occupy in the his-
tory of the evolution of the pianoforte industry
in this country as improvers and originators met
with a strong endorsement in the award which
was given them at the World's Fair. It is as fol-
lows : "This firm is deserving of the highest
praise for the excellence of their product, and
61
for the Impetus they have given to the rapid
advance in the perfecting of the piano in America
by the production of an action that successfully
meets the severest demands of the artist."
That they received such a strong endorsement
is pleasing to all who have watched the progress
of this firm. As can be seen in another page of
this paper, the factories of this house are among
the most imposing and the best equipped in the
world.
.
Pianoforte Mouldings.
&$CT no period in the history of piano manu-
© S facturing has there been evidenced such a
spontaneous effort among manufacturers to im-
prove and beautify their instruments as to-day.
The old, dismal, coffin-like cases are being re-
placed by ornamental and ingenius designs in
fancy woods, thereby producing an effect pleas-
ing to lovers of the aesthetic and artistic.
In the elaboration of case designs, the piano-
forte mouldings manufactured by Ehrhard &
Hagen, of 245-247 West 48th street play an im-
portant part. Manufacturers find them to be a
material aid, and, in fact, a necessity toward
achieving desired results.
Ehrhard & Hagen are one of the largest and
oldest houses in this business, and their mould-
ings, whether plain or carved, display skill and
taste. They are up-to-date in all respects, and
manufacturers who care to inspect the some six
thousand patterns which they keep in stock
cannot fail to appreciate the efforts of this old
house to make the American piano as perfect
architecturally as it is acoustically.
HARDMAN, PKCK & Co. are in receipt of very
enthusiastic praise from prominent artists and
teachers who have used the Hardman baby
grand piano. Its special merits are asserting
themselves every day.
A Flamboyant
Statement may attract temporary notice but the truth well told
remains in the memory.
T H E CLAFLIN
PIANO is not the best in the world,
but it is a soundly built, tuneful instrument with excellent features
to commend.
The appointments are of fine and substantial character,
well-blended register, light and pleasing touch.
Prices commensurate with the trying times.
Send for brief
an,d pointedly written catalogue to
The
5»7
to
523 W. 45th Street,
Claflin Piano Co.,
NEW YORK.