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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Is the Vocalion Organ Equal to the claims of the Vocalion, and communi-
cate with the manufacturers, the Mason &
the Pipe Organ?
Risch Co., or their representatives in New
York or Worcester, Mass. The Vocalion is
HIS is the question which is being as rich in tone, lower in price, and far less
much discussed by skilled musicians, expensive to maintain than the pipe organ.
FKRNC.RF.N & Co., music, etc., Kansas
trustees of churches and others who are
City, Mo., reported attached.
thoroughly acquainted with the possibili-
J. C. HASSINGKR, piano dealer, Santa Bar-
ties of both instruments. They have been
bara, Cal., reported as having conveyed real
led into an examination of this question by
E had the pleasure of examining the
estate for $1.
the steady growth of the Vocalion in ap-
completed—and much talked about
FRICK. PIANO CASK CO., Wendell, Mass.,
preciation, notwithstanding the pronounced —Columbian Exposition Medal, at the Ex-
filed
annual statement as follows: Fixed
prejudice of a number of people who have hibition of the National Sculpture Society,
capital,
$12,000. Assets—Land and water
riot discriminated between the parlor organ which was opened at the Fine Arts Build-
power,
$500;
buildings, $5,000; machinery,
and the higher class of instruments, viz.: ing last Monday evening. This is the first
$6,774;
cash
and
debts receivable, $2,618;
the vocalion and pipe organ.
public exposition of this now famous
manufactures
and
merchandise, $5,105;
When the Vocalion first appeared it was medal, and was loaned by the United States
profit
and
loss,
$3,069;
total, $22,067. Lia-
classed in the popular mind among the Mint through the courtesy of Hon. R. E.
bilities—Capital
stock,
$12,000; debts,
many "cheap" imitations of the pipe organ, Preston, Director of the Mint. It is a
$10,067
;
total,
$22,067.
but this illusion was rapidly dispelled, and splendid example of the medalists' art.
being cheaper in price, and as effective as The obverse, by St. Gaudens, represents the
HACF.N & RUF.FFK, piano manufacturers
a small pipe organ, it became quite a landing of Columbus. He is shown in the of this city, are removing their business to
favorite with small churches whose ex- act of stepping from a boat, his attitude Peterborough, N. H. , "• • " "
chequers were limited, and who desired expressing thanks to God for their safe
THE Peterborough Ivory Works, Peter-
conduct over the unknown seas.
the best value for the least money.
borough, N. H., have increased its capacity
He is attended by his followers, and the by adding additional force.
Now, however, it is dawning upon or-
ganists and scientists that all qualities of flag of Spain is seen floating around him,
MKTZF.ROTT
MUSIC
CO., Washington,
tone and degrees of power can be and are forming a back-ground, with the inscrip-
D.
C
,
have
been
appointed
Washington
being produced by the Vocalion system of tion "Christopher Columbus, Oct. X I I . ,
agents
for
the
Hard
in
an
pianos.
This
voicing organs. In consequence, organists MDCCCXCII," with the pillars of Her-
agency
was,
until
recently,
in
the
hands
of
and representatives of churches who have cules, Caravels and the motto, " P l u s
Edward
F.
Droop
&
Sons.
investigated the subject have given and are Ultra."
giving their orders for organs on the Vo-
The design on the reverse is by Chas. E.
HARDMAN, PF.CK & Co. shipped quite a
calion plan; even in many instances when Barber, and contains a shield with the fol- large order of "Standard ' pianos to the Pa-
sufficient means were available to purchase lowing inscription: "World's Columbian cific Coast early this week.
an effective pipe organ.
Exposition in Commemoration of the Four
GKO. C. ADAMS, of the McCammon Piano
Their reasons for purchasing large Vo- Hundredth Anniversary of the Landing of Co., Oneonta, N. Y., visited the Metropolis
calion organs at an outlay amounting up Columbus, MDCCCXCII, MDCCCXCIII," during the week. He was accompanied by
into the thousands are well founded, and and place for inset to receive name of re-
his wife.
cipient of medal.
are based largely on the following facts:
SAMUF.I. T. SMITH, of Smith Bros., music
The shield is surmounted by the globe,
The Vocalion tones are ideal organ tones,
dealers, Boonville, N. Y., has opened new
being free from the defects inherent in at either side of which are female figures
music store on Mechanic street, Carthage,
pipes of the flue or whistle pattern. They representing Fame.
N. Y. He will handle a general line of
are also free from the instability of pitch
The figure at the right of globe has
peculiar to flue pipes, and which cause pipe trumpet in one hand, and is proclaiming musical instruments, musical merchandise
organs to get out of tune with every cli- the award, and in the other hand she holds and musical publications.
matic change, while the Vocalion organs re- wreaths ready to present.
The Weber Piano Co.
quire very little tuning.
The figure on left of globe has tablet in
The Vocalion is much less expensive to left hand, while in the right she holds a
LBERT WEBER, of the Weber Piano
build than a pipe organ, and the outlay for pen ready to inscribe the award as pro-
Co., returned last week from an ex-
keeping it in order amounts practically to claimed. On either side of shield are flam- tended trip which covered all the important
nothing; consequently the Vocalion offers ing torches representing light, or intelli- cities in the United States. His visit was
very much more for the money than the gence.
a successful one, and he booked a number
pipe organ, whether the sum available be
Beneath, and partially hidden by the of substantial orders in mostly all the sec-
shield, is the Caravel, which is used to tions visited. Mr. Weber is highly pleased
$35° o r $3,5°°-
Another important point is the economy make a unity or completeness of idea, and with the pronounced success of the new
in material of the Vocalion tones over the forming an allegory between the two sides Weber styles. Dealers everywhere spoke
pipe organ tones; it permits of a greater of the medal, the one side having the land- heighly of thm.
economy in space. It is well known that ing of Columbus, the other the above des-
many churches have not the adequate space cribed design, the whole to commemorate
Still Another.
for the proper speaking of a pipe organ. the four hundredth anniversary of the land-
R. A. WADF. and E. E. Jones, of Chicago,
Now the Vocalion can be reduced to about ing of Columbus, and the World's Exposi-
are reported to be negotiating with a com-
one-third the bulk of a pipe organ of simi- tion, held 1892-1893.
An electrotype of St. Gaudens' reverse, mittee of citizens, looking to the establish-
lar power; and, mark you, without com-
with the nude figure which was considered ment of a piano factory at Fon du Lac,Wis.
pressing its tone.
It is not surprising that eminent scien- too outre by the United States Senate and Other Chicago parties interested are J.
tists, organists and even organ builders con- rejected by the Secretary of the Treasury, O'Connor, William Bingham and J. B.
Pierce. The proposed factory will have a
cede the superior possibilities of the Vo- is alsa on exhibition.
calion over the pipe organ, for the reasons
It is some consolation to be able to see a capacity of*ioo pianos a month, and it is
just given. Organists like the Vocalion, completed medal at last. When they will the purpose of the company to manufacture
for, apart from its tonal effects, it is played reach manufacturers is hard to tell, judg- moderate price instruments for the country
in the same way as a pipe organ.
ing from the way in which this matter of trade, which they think is just beginning
Churches contemplating the purchase of medals and awards has been so far mis- to be an important feature in the piano
trade.
•.••'•. -•<•«•
an organ would do well to investigate frilly managed. - : . .
T
The First Hedal.
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