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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE "SMALL GOODS" TRADE
Musical Instruments of Alum=
inum.
PROF. SPRINGER SAYS THE PROPERTIES OF
ALUMINUM ARE MORE CLOSELY ALLIED
TO WOOD THAN ANY OTHER
METAL.
T
HE musical, or more particularly the
acoustic possibilities of aluminum
were very clearly demonstrated some time
ago in the aluminum violin which created
such a sensation in Cincinnati, O., when
played by the famous violinist, Ysaye. Few
men have given more attention to the ap-
plication of this metal to musical instru-
ments than Dr. Alfred Springer, a gradu-
ate of Heidelberg University, Germany,
and the inventor of the violin.
Five years ago Dr. Springer began
working on a hobby of his^—aluminum as a
transmitter of sound. Two months ago his
aluminum violin was taken up, if we mis-
take not, by the John Church Co., and in
a few weeks that firm will place the instru-
ment on sale in the market.
Speaking about his invention Dr.
Springer said: "Continued experiments
made with aluminum sound boards have
shown me that the acoustic properties of
aluminum are very closely allied to those of
wood, more so than any other metal. Met-
als in general in the higher tones are in-
harmonious. Aluminum holds the higher
tones much more readily than wood. In
the latter the mass is small. In wooden in-
struments special provision must be made
to prevent the bass notes from entering in-
to segmental vibrations, detrimental to the
prime. In aluminum the prime of the bass
notes outweighs the upper partials, thereby
giving a dull tone, lacking all brilliancy.
This desired brilliancy I produce by an
arched aluminum bar, the center of which is
riveted to the violin beneath the bridge.
This bass bar can be regulated to give as
full or as cutting a tone as demanded by
the individual player. So you see I find
aluminum to be woodier than wood.
Ysaye so liked the instrument that he took
one back to Europe with him."
An aluminum violin was played by Prof.
Kuhn last week at a concert given in Buf-
falo, and the richness of the tone in the in-
strument amazed all who heard it. Alum-
inum and ebony are the only materials used
except in the strings; the joining is made
with tiny aluminum rivets.
An Automatic Banjo.
NE of the latest and most ingenious
mechanical musical instruments in-
vented is an automatic banjo which does
everything that human fingers can do to
produce tuneful melody.
O
A full-sized banjo is incased in glass and
stands upright in full view. It is equipped
with 4 metallic strings and 40 frets, or
stops, which are placed closely together
over the strings. At the bridge are four
prongs or pricks, which project from either
side.
The instrument is operated by dropping
a nickel in the slot, starting an electric
motor in the base of the machine, which
propels a series of bellows, thus forcing the
air through a cylinder over which passes a
roll of perforated sheet music.
There are a number of pneumatic tubes
which lead to each pick or fret. As the
perforated notes come in contact with these
tubes the air is exhausted and each pick
and fret acts accordingly.
The most difficult music can be played
with the same effect, both in time and har-
mony, as performed by professional banjo-
ists. Any stringed instrument that is
played with the fingers can be adjusted to
this automaton.
A Portuguese Guitar.
ERT STEVENS, Richmond's, Ind.,
musical inventive genius, is now
completing an instrument that will fill a
long felt want in mandolin clubs. It is a
Portuguese guitar with twelve strings, that
will be the best thing for "seconding" that
has yet been invented. Mr. Stevens has
made fifteen guitars after patterns of his
own, every one of which are of splendid
tone.
B
A New Scale of Prices.
COPY of the Lyon & Healy Adver-
tiser for September lies upon our
desk, and a glance at its contents convinces
us that it is one of the most important
trade announcements of the season, for it
makes public anew scale of retail prices for
the celebrated Washburn guitars, banjos,
mandolins and zithers. Hereafter the cheap-
est style of Washburn guitar will retail for
$15.00, instead of $22.00, as formerly, and
all along the whole Washburn line are
equally important reductions. Then the
new 1897 Washburn mandolin is described
at length, and the long and expensive pro-
cesses by which its new and striking model
was evolved, are told in an entertaining
manner. Besides illustrations of the new
Washburns, there are over thirty pages
of other new goods, comprising a new
cheap guitar to be known as the "Jupiter,"
and many other offerings, presenting
special points of value. The literary feat-
ures of the Advertiser are all entertaining to
a music trade man, and such articles as the
one upon the giving of Complimentary
Store Concerts by music dealers deserve the
A
most careful attention, for it is along such
lines that profitable business may be stirred
up, despite the hard times. We note that
the prices of some 250 articles in the pres-
ent Lyon & Healy catalogue have been
changed—in nearly every case reduced, and
these tables alone make this Advertiser in-
dispensable to all close buyers. A copy may
be obtained by any one in the trade by
sending a postal to Lyon & Healy.
Rene Gruriewald.
UST three years ago to-day young Rene"
Grunewald, a most progressive and
enterprising Orleanian, opened his mando-
Mn manufactory at Nos. 820 and 822 Conti
street. The idea of establishing a factory
here was original with him, and his friends,
who had faith in his pluck, push and per-
severance, felt that he would make a suc-
cess of it and he did. He introduced the
very latest machinery, employed only first-
class mechanics, and from the beginning
.fortune smiled on him. His business grew
so rapidly that his original plant was found
to be entirely too small and the property
adjoining was purchased. The deal was con-
summated yesterday, Jind to-day a force of
workmen are busily engaged razing the old
building preparatory to erecting the new.
Mr. Grunewald makes a specialty of high
grade instruments, and his mandolins and
guitars, finished with the greatest care and
nicety, find a rapid sale in the North and
East, where they are recognized as stand-
ard goods. He is an importer of mahog-
any, Spanish cedar, ebony, maple, walnut,
oak, birch, and other fine woods, and sup-
plies a number of factories with mandolin
and guitar necks sawed in the rough.
This branch of his business is increasing
rapidly, he being able to undersell his
Northern competitors, owing to the geo-
graphical advantages possessed by New Or-
leans. Mr. Grunewald was born here. He
is the son of Mr. L. Grunewald, the head
of the oldest music house in the city, and
is only twenty-eight years of age.—New
Orleans "Daily Item," Aug. 31st.
J
Piano Stool.
T
HE folding joint principle has been
utilized in the manufacture of piano
stools, which, with the method of manipu-
lation, has been patented by Max Huhle,
of St. Louis, Mo. The sides of the chair
frame are slotted; through the slots extend
journaled shafts, to the ends of which are
attached ratchet wheels which mesh in a
cogged bar above. As the chair is raised
or lowered the wheels travel in the trans-
verse slots, at any point of which they are
securely held by the ratchet. The seat
above is pivoted in the center so as to be
revoluble.