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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
originated a very ingenious device for hoisting
pianos. L,ately, aside from conducting a music
business he has become a banjo manufacturer.
He is meeting with excellent success and is find-
ing a ready sale for his instruments. The
Banjo Club of Yale College have ordered some
instruments of his make.
MUSKEGON, niCH.
Chase Brothers Piano Co.
The illustrations which have been printed of
the factory of Chase Bros, at Muskegon have
failed to give one an adequate idea of their plant.
Although there is in many instances a tendency
to exaggerate in factory representations, this
cannot be said of Chase Brothers in their repre-
sentations to the public. Their factory is not
only impressive in external appearance, but in-
teresting in the internal arrangement as well.
In the planning and erection of their factory
Chase Brothers brought an experience of
years fraught with fruitful results ; ergo their
plant is up to date in every respect. Chase
Bros, aptly term their piano '' The Pioneer
Piano of the West.'' I believe that it is true,
but not generally known, that Milo J. Chase
was the pioneer in Western piano manufactur-
ing. Practical and methodical in all his
theories, he has demonstrated their success by
the production of instruments which meet the
requirements of the age. When I say that I was
entertained during my tarry by Braton Chase,
that means much. It means that unstinted
Western hospitality was lavished upon me dur-
ing my tarry in Western Michigan. Braton
Chase is one of the best and most genial of men,
and as an entertainer he takes front rank.
Nelson Piano Co.
The question has frequently been propounded
to me—'' how is the Nelson concern getting on ?"
I can answer by saying that they are not getting
on, they are defunct, and the new factory which
they erected at Muskegon is closed. There are
about thirty finished pianos in the factory, which
will be sold by Henry A. Wolff, the local dealer,
who was one of the directors of the company.
Mr. Wolff says he lost considerable money in the
enterprise, and all of the other stockholders as
well. Nelson, who was formerly a lumber man
of considerable property, has had a short but
depleting experience in piano manufacturing.
His formerly plethoric pocket-book has become
attenuated, and he has concluded that piano
manufacturing is not as profitable as A. A.
Fischer, the nomadic, sporadic and pugilistic
piano dealer, now of Ft. Wayne, would strive to
impress upon the public mind.
Grand Rapids.
It now seems that Julius A. J. Friedrich has
matters about his own way in the retail trade in
Grand Rapids. His competition is very slight
indeed since Chase Bros, have given up their
store here. The Schwankovsky branch here
never was a success.
Grand Rapids Piano Case Co.
Mr. Ducey, the general manager of this con-
cern, had just returned from an Eastern trip
when I called. He was successful, and secured
a very satisfactory number of orders. This com-
pany have improved their goods very much since
they began to manufacture. To-day they are
turning out piano cases that are appreciated
by Eastern as well as Western manufacturers.
And now for Chicago and a long sojourn with-
in its borders.
THE Chicago Cottage Organ Company's
branch house at Middletown, N. Y., will hence-
forth be in charge of Mr. D. C. Bond.
II
IMITATES GRAIN OF AN OAK.
Remarkable Wood=Working Machine In.
vented in Pennsylvania.
^
fine
results are said to be obtained in
^
the ornamental working of wood by the
use of an ingraining machine lately brought
forward by a Pennsylvania inventor, says the
Philadelphia Press.
The mechanism is described as a hollow cyl-
inder ten and one-half feet in circumference, to
which the grain of a piece of oak of the width of
the cylinder has been transferred, this grain be-
ing covered with a soft cement which sinks into
the depressions, and in these about 200,000 bits
of metal, like type, are set, above this being
placed a small, smooth steel cylinder, adjust-
able to different heights; between the two
cylinders, both revolving, a piece of birch, pop-
lar, bass, spruce or maple may be passed, which
comes out with the grain of the oak transferred
to it, after which it is passed between two
other steel cylinders, one revolving in a trough
containing a liquid consisting of oil, coloring
matter, and another ingredient—not yet dis-
closed—used as a " filler."
After being treated in this manner the wood
is subjected to processes of polishing and var-
nishing, and when finished presents the appear-
ance of choice quartered oak.
GENEVA,
O.—Brett Piano Co. will locate at
Geneva.
KANSAS CITY, MO.—V. R. Andrus Music Co.
has been incorporated. Capital $25,000. V. R.
Andrus, Benj. H. Chapman, Frank A. L,ee, W.
H. Mosby, and others.
BRIGGS PIANOS.
WHERE THE NEW STYLES
ARE MADE.
E15-E21 Albany Street, Bnstnn, Mass.