Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Morris Steinert's Invention.
MAKING THE PIANO INTELLIGENT THE PIANO
ACTION WHICH THE WILL-KNOWN MUSICIAN
HAS CONSTRUCTED GIVES TO THE INSTRU-
MENT AN EXPRESSION, SOETNESS AND
EEELING FOR NEARLY TWO CEN-
TURIES INVENTORS HAVE TRIED
IN VAIN TO PRODUCE IT NEW
ERA IN MUSICAL COM-
POSITION.
M
ORRIS STEINERT, head of the firm
of The M. Steinert & Sons Co., and
a musician of national repute, has invented
what promises to revolutionize the whole
order of piano construction. It consists of
a new piano action, that mechanism which
connects the keys to the hammers, which
strike the strings and give the tones.
The action at present in use was invented
in 1711, and no change has been made in
it. Players and makers have known that
MORRIS STEINERT.
it was not as good as was desired, but there
was no inventor to come forward with an
improvement, although great musical and
mechanical minds have struggled with the
problem, time and time again. The old
action had to remain, and with it the stroke
or blows coming from the working of the
keys, which blows players knew spoiled the
tones.
Mr. Steinert has worked on his action for
nineteen years, and so difficult has been the
task he imposed on himself that at times
he felt like abandoning it. But he per-
severed, and perhaps was spurred to con-
tinue because told by nearly everybody
that he was doomed to disappointment,
and the result is he a few weeks ago had
his invention perfected.
The action has been adjusted to a Stein-
way grand piano in Mr. Steinert's store in
Chapel street, and has been tried by a few
specially favored players. They all have
pronounced it a remarkable thing, and as
furnishing the need that has been known
to always exist in the execution of the
pianoforte. The action admits of the play-
ing of the piano as one would an organ.
The slightest touch on the key, a nervous
shiver is. reflected in the tones. It is
necessary to give a blow to the key to pio-
duce the sound with the present action.
Mr. Steinert is satisfied he has invented
an action that will be taken up by all mak-
ers, supplanting the old action. "My in-
vention," said he, "makes the pianoforte
an intelligent instrument, not a mechanical
instrument. The present action makes the
tones dry and colorless. Mine gives sym-
pathy and elasticity. A player cannot
now transmit to the instrument his im-
pulses, emotions and passions as a player
can to a violin, for instance. He strikes
the key and the hammer goes away from
him, out of his reach and control. Just
when he would like that hammer to make
some expression on the chords, he can't
get hold of it. With my action, a player
constantly has the hammer in his hand, so
to speak, the same as the hammer used by
a dulcimer player. Now the dulcimer is
not a fine instrument, but some players get
good music out of it because they have the
hammers right in their hand and under
their control, and can put their feeling into
the instrument. The blow given a piano
may be likened to a blow by a pugilist.
You are struck hard on the head by a fist
and knocked silly. The blow on the piano
string knocks the tone silly. " Mr. Steinert
played on the piano equipped with his
action, and also on one with the old action,
to illustrate the contrast and difference.
The difference in the tones was easily
noticed. The old action made the tones
harsh in comparison. The slightest touch
on the key in operating his action was re-
sponded to by the strings. It was some-
thing like the playing of an organ.
The invention, Mr. Steinert says, besides
changing the order of piano manufacture,
will open a new era in musical composition,
as his action will permit the use of note
combinations hitherto impossible.
" I will not estimate the value of my in-
vention in money," said Mr. Steinert. " I
did not work on it so long that I might
profit pecuniarily. I labored that I might
bring the piano into the front rank of in-
struments where it belongs. If I have
done that, I am satisfied."—Register, New
Haven, Conn.
Taber Organ Co.
Flechter Gets a Stay.
CONVICTED OF HAVING PROF. BOTT's STOLEN
VIOLIN HE HAS A CHANCE FOR
RETRIAL.
ICTOR S. FLECHTER, who a short
time ago was convicted in the Court
of General Sessions before Recorder Goff
for receiving stolen goods, and sentenced
to one year in the Penitentiary, has ob-
tained a certificate of reasonable doubt
from Justice Beach in the Supreme Court,
pending the appeal from the verdict that is
to be made to the Appellate Division.
Flechter, it is alleged, had in his posses-
sion the Stradivarius violin that was once
the property of Prof. Jean Joseph Bott,
and was stolen from him. He will prob-
ably be released on bail pending a retrial.
V
flarshall & Wendell Piano.
T
HE Marshall & Wendell Piano Co., of
Albany, N. Y., offer to send a sample
piano on approval to any responsible dealer
in the United States in territory in which
they are not now represented. If after in-
spection the piano is not desired they will
take it back, and pay freight charges and
cartage both ways.
This is certainly an offer which is liberal
and broad enough. It speaks eloquently
of the faith which the manufacturers have
in their product. There is one thing cer-
tain, that the Marshall & Wendell piano
once tested is sure to please, hence there
will be very little return freight or cartage
charges to pay.
Goggan Publications.
HOS. GOGGAN & BRO., music pub-
lishers, Galveston, Tex., have favored
us with some of their recent publications,
which are especially meritorious—"Go,
Pretty Rose," by O. R. White, with words
by M. Beverly; "The Last Good Bye," by
H. C. Sherrod; " I Think of Old Times
To-night," by Mrs. M. L. Marriott, and
"The Signal Service March," by O. C.
Bruce. The first named is a song of more
than ordinary merit, while the other two
possess pleasing melodies set to good verse.
The last named composition is a captivat-
ing march, which should prove exceeding-
ly popular.
T
EALERS who desire to handle an or-
gan which is of unusually attractive
design, neatly finished, honestly con-
structed, possessing a remarkably effective
tone and a number of excellent stop effects,
should not fail to look up the organs manu-
factured by the Taber Organ Co., of Wor-
cester, Mass.
They are sold at a figure which enables
Protest Not Upheld.
the dealer to make a fair margin of profit.
In fact, the prices are exceedingly reason-
HE protest of C. F. Goepel & Co.
able, and this will be apparent to the dealer
against the decision of the Collector
who peruses their catalogue.
of Customs of this city, who assessed a duty
The Taber people don't make much of a of 35 per cent, ad valorem on several sizes
noise in the trade world, but just the same, of thin wire, "composed of copper or brass,
they are doing some good work, which de- or some other metal, coated or plated with
serves the support of discriminating silver or nickel and intended for use in the
dealers.
manufacture of strings for musical instru-
ments," has been set aside by the United
NEW warerooms have been opened up in States General Appraisers on the grounds
Rockland, Me., by Warren Jones. He that the same was not tinsel wire, and is
will handle a full line of pianos, organs thicker than No. 8 or its equivalent. No.
26, Stubb's standard English gauge.
and musical merchandise.
D
T