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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Challenges the East.
A. REED A: SONS EXHIBIT THEIR PIANO TO NEW
YORKERS
FAVORABLY CRITICISM
THING OF THE REED SYSTEM
INAL
FEATURES
ORIG-
MARVELOUS
VIHRAT6RY POWER.
W
SOME-
The Reed system of construction, as ef-
fecting the scale, the sounding board and
plate, insure a singing power and flexibil-
ity of tone in the Reed piano which yields
readily to all the demands of musical ex-
pression. Its vibrating capacity, as well as
sustaining power, is remarkable.
There are other features in the Reed
piano which, although not as radical as
those commented on, are of the utmost im-
portance and value. The "wheel agraffes"
that take the place of the usual pressure
bar, are a marked aid to the tuning of the
piano. Each string passes from its bearing
to an aluminum bronze wheel or pulley,
which turns freely upon a hardened steel
axle, thus preventing friction when strain-
ing the strings to tune. This "agraffe" in-
sures a finer tuning and more perfect uni-
son—just what all musicians are looking
for.
Another novelty is a new design of foot
pedal, which secures to the player comfort
while using the pedals. Although the fate
of the inventor is not always a ' 'happy one,"
yet A. Reed & Sons have succeeded in
proving that the different innovations em-
bodied in their instruments are in many
respects the most important placed before
the musical public in years.
This was affirmed at the World's Fair,
where they received for their pianos an
award which was unusually strong, with
the further compliment of a diploma of
honorable mention to Mr. J. W. Reed, the
inventor.
ITHIN the past few weeks the pro-
duct of a Chicago factory has been
•exhibited in tHis city. It has come to com-
pete in article excellence with anything
heretofore /roduced in the realm of piano
manufacture, and' judging from the many
tributes paid it by piano makers and musi-
•cian£, its success has been as brilliant as it
is- wdfi deserved.
K. Reed & Sons are the firm which have
s4f successfully invaded New York, and
their latest style of Reed upright piano is
the instrument that has helped them to
this end. Old in years (being established
in 1842), they have come East to compete
with the older as well as the newer houses
—to demonstrate that at the expenditure
•of time and money they have developed
new ideas in piano building, resulting in
the production of pianos capable of high,,
•expression of musical thought.
Last week we had the pleasure of thor-
oughly examining the handsome Reed
upright which was on exhibition in New
York, and the Eastern manufacturers who
cherish the idea that pianos of the cheap or
medium grades only are produced in
Chicago will be disappointed in this con-
Change of Patent Office Rules.
nection if they do not improve the oppor-
tunity of inspecting this instrument.
For
N consequence of the decision of the
tone quality, workmanship, improvements,
Courts in the Berliner Telephone
and, in a word, the embodiment of original-
patent cases recently, new rules went into
ities in the science of piano building, it
effect at the Patent Office, Washington,
will compel the favorable criticism and ad-
last week, which will prevent prolonging
miration of the most critical judge, be he
the life of inventions beyond the contem-
theoretical or practical.
plation of the law. Applications and ap-
The Reed upright piano partakes of the
peals must be made within six months, and
character of a grand piano. It has mar-
any claims that have been pending for five
velous singing power and great sympa-
years will be rejected unless the applicant
thetic resonance—cantabile passages and
can show cause why the case was not more
concert cadenzas alike can Le rendered with
rapidly prosecuted. These new rules will
their best effects.
not actually effect the practice of the office
Whence the superiority of the Reed
for six months.
piano?
The secret lies in the many inventions
Keeping 165 Hen Busy.
used in the instrument. Two points are
worthy of special emphasis in this connec-
ROTH & ENGKLHARDT, action makers of
tion: First, the full tension is carried
St.
Johnsville, N. Y., are keeping one hun-
wholly upon the iron frame, thus rendering
dred
and sixty-five men busy until 9 P. M.
the instrument independent of atmospheric
each
working
day in order to fill the orders
disturbances.
Second, by the aid of a
which
they
are
in receipt of. This speaks
partly detached or free sounding board, as
eloquently
for
the
popularity of their wares
also by a larger surface of board than has
and
the
improving
condition of business
ever before been placed in an upright
throughout
the
trade.
piano, a vibratory power really marvelous is
obtained.
A detailed description of these two radi-
A New Scale Connor Piano.
cal improvements would take up more
FRANCIS CONNOR will shortly have a new
space than is at this moment available, and
scale
piano ready for the market. It will
again, it could not be successfully illus-
be
four
feet six inches high, and while it
trated without the aid of diagrams.
That
will
not
differ much in appearance from
is why we would impress on all the neces-
the
other
styles
of Connor instruments, much
sity of examining this instrument. It will
is
expected
in
the
way of tone quality. Mr.
serve as an education in the science of
Connor
reports
a
good
business.
"modern" piano construction.
I
To Change Corporation Law.
IMPORTANT INNOVATIONS EMBODIED IN THE
AINSWORTH BILL.
I
T has been* discovered that the Ainsworth
Joint Stock Corporation Revision bill,
now on the order of third reading in the
Assembly, changes the Joint Stock Cor-
poration law in several peculiar ways.
In the first place, it proposes to make it
legal to elect a board of directors outside
the stockholders, and to allow such a board
to run a corporation. By another section
the directors are not to be liable for the in-
debtedness which they incur, except to the
creditors of the corporation.
Moreover, the present law, which re-
quires a corporation to specify in its certifi-
cate of incorporation whether or not it is to
issue preferred stock, is to be changed so
as to allow the filing of an amended certifi-
cate by a two-thirds vote if it is desired to
issue preferred stock, or to allow two-thirds
of the stockholders to authorize the issue of
what preferred stock they wish without any
certificates.
The bill also removes the penalty from
the present law requiring corporations to
file annual reports with County Clerks and
the Secretary of State.
An Opera by fir. Hanson.
C
HAS. F. HANSON, of C. F. Hanson
& Co., Sohmer agents in Boston, is
the composer of a new comic opera, which
was produced in Worcester last Friday
night.
The opera is called "Princess
Phoso." Mr. Hanson is to be congratu-
lated upon his success as a composer.
Play Ball!
H
AMILTON S. GORDON'S employees
have organized two base ball nines,
one composed of members of the piano de-
partment, and the other the sheet music
department. They propose to issue chal-
lenges to the other houses in the trade, and
if their enthusiasm be an augury they will
Win the "pennant" at the close of the
season.
A Reputation
Is made by selling Pianos of
the highest excellence. The
reputation of many dealers has
been made by selling the
HENRY F.
FULLER
Pianos.
They
cost more than
the majority of
Pianos, but they have ac-
quired their reputation as
Pianos of the highest grade
solely because they merit the
highest praise. If there is not
an authorized representative
in your city, write to the man-
ufacturers
88 Boylston Street
BOSTON, HASS.