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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Bridgeport Organ Co. have five
styles of organs on exhibition ranging
from two to thirteen sets of reeds.
THE POPULAR WEAVER ORGANS.
Our European Budget,
LONDON, June 17,
1895.
DEAR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
I write you this letter from the Agri-
cultural Hall, where the Music Trades
Exhibition, which opened last Thursday,
June 13th, is now in full swing. Judging
from the attendance for the past few days,
I feel confident in predicting that it will
come up to the expectations of the origin-
ators, both as to attendance and direct
benefit to exhibitors. The general arrange-
ment of the exhibits is artistic and impos-
ing, and every care has been taken looking
to the comfort and convenience of visitors.
Notwithstanding the fact that many of our
manufacturers did not think well of par-
ticipating, yet there is a very fair showing of
domestic as well as foreign manufacturers.
About fifty display pianos, while organ
houses, particularly American manufact-
urers, predominate in that special field, and
the brass instrument and small goods trades
as well as the supply houses, are also well
represented. One praiseworthy feature of
this Exhibition is the absence of instru-
ments specially made for "show" pur-
poses. They have all been taken from the
general stock; hence dealers and exhibitors
are inspecting instruments that are bought
and sold in the showrooms every day. This
in my opinion is a good point.
THE W. W. KIMBALL CO.
The exhibits of the W. W. Kimball Co.
attract considerable attention, and their
portable pipe organ has called forth many
commendatory remarks. They also show
several designs in reed organs which are
most artistic in design of case, and I should
say unequaled in purity and variety of tone.
Two styles of pianos are also on exhibition,
and they are undoubtedly splendid instru-
ments and worthy the encomiums bestowed
on them by such artists as Patti, Scalchi,
Nordica, De Reszke and others. R. M.
Marples, their London agent, deserves
credit for this artistic exhibit.
THE MILLER ORGAN CO.
The Miller organs, made by the Miller
Organ Co., Lebanon, Pa., are given a very
prominent place in the center of the hall,
where L. Blankenstein & Co. hold forth.
They are excellent instruments, both as to
tonal quality and case architecture. These
organs are selected from the regular show-
room stock, and, considering their price,
should win a large circle of friends through-
out the United Kingdom.
Six styles of Weaver organs are included
in the exhibit made by Edwin Smith, 53
Darwen street. After an examination of
these instruments one is able to get an idea
why they are becoming so popular on this
side of the water. Mr. Smith is very en-
thusiastic about the future of the Weaver
organ, as he well might be.
On the
opening day some well-known musicians
tried these instruments, and they weie
amazed at their excellence and moderate
prices.
One of the largest displays of organs is
made by the Bell Organ Co., of Canada.
They show eighteen, and they are very
creditable instruments, indeed.
STORY & CLARK ORGAN CO.
Story & Clark make a fine display of six
organs, among which are several new styles
which will be put on the market the com.
ing autumn, as well as their pedal practice
organ, which has been so highly praised by
organists and musicians. They also ex-
hibit two Story & Clark and two Wagener
pianos. This concern are booming things
in true Yankee style, and they have an able
representative in Chas. H. Wagener, who
will undoubtedly do some active work for
the Story & Clark concern before the Ex-
hibition closes.
THE PELOUBET AND THE CARPENTER ORGANS.
Messrs. Murdock & Co., Farringdon
Road, are exhibiting two samples of the
Peloubet church organ, one at 250 guineas,
and the other at 120 guineas. The con-
struction of these instruments and the sur-
prising results obtained in the way of pipe
organ tone, naturally compel the attention
of musicians, who express surprise at the
quality and volume of tone. A number of
the latest styles parlor organs made by the
Carpenter Co. are also shown, and on ex-
amination they realize Messrs. Murdock's
high opinion of them.
THE FORT WAYSfE ORGAN CO.
The Fort Wayne Organ Co., through E.
Hirsch & Co., exhibit a number of the well-
known "Packard" organs, some of which
contain the pedal bass attachment.
THE SMITH ORGANS.
Henry Hannington is exhibiting the pro-
ducts of the Smith-American Organ Co. in
five styles at prices ranging from fourteen
to ninety-three guineas.
THE ERARD
"RESONATOR."
At the Erard booth I had an opportunity
of examining one of their boudoir grands
with the new "piano improver," which has
been so largely talked about. This innova-
tion is in the form of a resonator, and is
made of manganese, a sort of thin, soft
steel, which is shaped like a number of
gongs to receive and reinforce the sound.
The resonators are placed around the sides
of the piano, and underneath the grand
piano. Each gong is connected with the
sound-board by a piece of catgut, in this
way catching up all the sound waves, and
acts as an auxiliary to the sound-board.
There can be no question as to its aid and
value in this connection. It augments the
tone considerably, and in my opinion en-
riches it as far as quality is concerned.
It
has attracted quite some attention, and
much comment pro and con has taken place
as to its real value.
For a concert instru-
ment I think it should be a great success.
Messrs. Brinsmead have a very neat and
artistic display of their high grade instru-
ments, and Hirsch & Co. are displaying a
very fine Schiedmaj'er & Son piano, made
in Stuttgart.
Outside of the Erard innovation just re-
ferred to, there is nothing really new in the
way of novelties. The Exhibition has been
very fairly supported by the German,
Italian and American trade, and as the pro-
jectors of the Exhibition are to repeat it
next year, there is no doubt but it will be
more generally supported by domestic
manufacturers in 1896.
THE MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.
Not the least interesting feature of the
show is the series of musical competitions
which commenced the opening day with a
violin contest, the prize for which is a
grand piano worth 100 guineas; the second
day was a pianoforte contest for which a
Brinsmead grand was the prize. Saturday,
the 15th, was a brass band contest, for
which ^150 was the first prize; to-day
(17th) a vocal competition for soprano
voices is being held, and this will be fol-
lowed the next three days by competitions
for tenor, contralto and baritone voices,
the prizes in each case being loo-guinea
pianos. The last few days will be taken
up by an organ recital competition and a
second brass band contest. The closing day
will be devoted to the distribution of prizes.
The enterprise and liberality of the man-
agement in arranging these competitions
has contribtited materially to. the success of
the Exhibition. It has attracted a number
of bands and musicians from all over the
country. Quite a number of dealers from
the Provinces are in town, and to this end
reduced fares on the railways have been se-
cured from all parts of the country.
A VISIT TO UROADWOOD'S.
I had the good fortune of being one of
the large number of musicians and artists
invited on June 7th, by Messrs. Broadwood
& Sons, to inspect a new Louis Seize piano,
which was made to order for a wealthy cus-
tomer of theirs. It has been two years in
process of construction, and this will give
an idea as to its elaborateness. It is semi-
concert grand in size, and evidently made
to harmonize with furniture of Louis XVI
period. The cover is of mosaic in king-
wood, with medallions containing trophies
of musical instruments and flowers in mar-
quetry, while the sides are beautifully in-
laid and ornamented with musical and floral
trophies, framed with ormulu and rose-
wood mouldings. The marquetry is made
up of foreign woods of natural color,
mingled with woods stained in different
tints, while upon the mouldings are hung
festoons of ro?es tied with Louis XVI bows.