Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
v K
in the inventive field have been most suc-
cessful.
Mr. Davis has invented an electrical at-
tachment for pianos, which, it can safely be
said, is superior to anything of the kind at
AN INVENTION WHICH WILL CONCERN ALL
present on the market. The perfectness of
INTERESTED IN MUSIC DOES NOT DISFIG-
the device in all its parts shows how care-
URE A PIANO AND OPERATES PLIABLE
fully and skillfully he has worked out a
PAPER
MANY FEATURES OF EX-
difficult problem. The value of Mr. Davis'
v ... • CELLENCE IN THE INVENTION
device is so apparent that he failed to have
OF G. HOWLETT DAVIS.
any difficulty in having it taken up by wide-
awake capitalists. Last week the Electric
URING the past two years inventors Self-Playing Piano Co. was incorporated at
have given more than ordinary atten- Trenton, N. J., with a capital stock of $100,-
tion to the perfection of automatic attach- ooo. Robert W. Lyle, of the Staten Island
ments to musical instruments. In the line Terra Cotta and Lumber Co., is president,
of piano attachments especially elaborate and G. Liowlett Davis is treasurer and gen-
The business offices of the
efforts have been made from time to time eral manager.
company
are
333-35
West Thirty-sixth
to meet the wants of the public in this spe-
street,
this
city.
cial line. A demand was clearly evident
It is only necessary to make an examina-
from the way attachments, imperfect and
crude both in design and effects, became so tion of Mr. Davis' electric piano attach-
ment to be convinced that this innovation
popular.
without injuring it or affecting its ordinary
use. It is so small that it may be placed
entirely out of sight, if desired. It does not
disfigure the piano by its size and clumsi-
ness like other attachments, or interfere
with the knees of the performer. It costs
less than any other attachment; and owing
to the size and the use of their pliable paper
in the music rolls, they are cheaper in price
than those used by other manufacturers,
and last indefinitely.
It is very durable,
owing to the electro-mechanical construc-
tion of the attachment, and is guaranteed
absolutely for five years. One of its novel
features is that the piano can be operated
at any distance from the music holder, thus
permitting of startling and amusing-
effects. Another important point is that it
is the only attachment capable of operating
the pedals automatically.
Electric Piano Attach=
ment.
D
This electric self-playing attachment so
nearly approaches what the most critical
musician of to-day would demand that its
mnny merits cannot fail to impress them-
selves upon progressive members of the
music trade.
It is most undoubtedly a
"good thing," and deserves being "pushed
along."
William Steinway Returns.
M
R. WILLIAM STEINWAY returned
to town last Wednesday from his so-
journ at Mt. Clemens, Mich. He was ac-
companied by Mr. Nahum Stetson. We
are pleased to say that Mr. Steinway is en-
joying the best of health. He derived ma-
terial benefit from his stay at the baths.
FREEBORN G. SMITH, JR., is dodging
the
warm spell in the Catskill mountains.
H. C. THEOPOLD, of the Schimmel & Nel-
son Piano Co., has reached his home in
Faribault, Minn., after a tour of Europe.
"COUNT" CAVALLI'S rheumatic attack is,
To the inventor who watches the trend
of events in the musical world, this was
more than a hint that here was a rich field
for exploration. Hence it was hardly sur-
prising when Mr. G. Howlett Davis, a
patent and mechanical expert, who was
some time ago connected with the Automa-
ton Piano Co. of this city, became interested
in the matter. He noted the rapid exten-
sion in popularity of piano attachments
throughout this country and Europe, and
realized the important part the}' were des-
tined to play in the musical advancement
of our nation, as sources of pleasure and in-
struction, particularly in the homes of
those who had not the advantages of a
musical education.
His interest was
aroused, and he devoted considerable time
to the subject. At that time the several
appliances may be said to have been in the
infancy of their musical possibilities. Mr.
Davis recognized, however, the wide
range of achievement, and set to work
earnestly. He called to his aid the great
motive pow T er of this age-—electricity—and
through its intelligent application his labors
is suigeneris.
In accuracy, tempo, grada-
tions of tone, and all that go to make the
execution of good music a delight to the
musician, this attachment excels. The
effects are far superior to that of any other
attachment, and are due to a unique utili-
zation of electricity. By the use of electro-
magnets the keys of the piano are con-
trolled, and it is actually possible to repeat
a particular note faster than can be done by
an expert performer.
As can be seen in cut herewith, the mo-
tive power comes from an electric motor
which is placed at bottom of upright piano.
It operates a roll of perforated paper under
the keyboard through the holes in which
wires communicate the electric current to
the magnets which control the keys. The
whole system is so delicate yet so perfect
as to excite pardonable enthusiasm—it
demonstrates the wonderful possibilities of
electricity in the music trade arena
Aside from the well nigh marvellous per-
fection m tone and effects of the electric
attachment, the following advantages may
be cited: It can be applied to any piano
we are pleased to say, on the mend. With
the aid of King Neptune he expects to over-
throw his "old enemy." He is "taking the
baths" at Rockaway.
THE progressive music house of Smith &
Nixon, Cincinnati, O., report a very satis-
factory summer trade.
G. B. BENNETT, of Elmira, N. Y., is now
proprietor of the "Elmira Music Store."
He handles a full line of the C. C. O. Co. 's
goods, and the Weber pianos.
W. P. VAN WICKLE, Washington repre-
sentative of the "Bradbury," is spending a
well deserved vacation in the Adirondacks.
J. S. BROWNLOW, Mehlin representative
in Danbury, Conn., is in town. He reports
a good demand for the Mehlin in his sec-
tion.
DANIEL
F.
TREACY,
of
Davenport
&
Treacy, leaves to-day by steamer for his old
home in New Brunswick, where he will
spend his vacation. .
KRANICH & BACH announce two changes
in agencies. In Knoxville the McArthur
Music House, and at St. Louis Stork &
Light will in future represent their wares.