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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
I 2
The Strauch Piano Actions.
It is noted elsewhere in The Review that
Mr. Albert T. Strauch has been honored
by a place on the program of the Music
Teachers' National Association at their
nineteenth annual convention, now in pro-
gress at the Grand Central Palace. The
selection of Mr. Strauch to discourse on
piano actions has peculiar significance
when taken in connection with an opinion
recently expressed concerning the Strauch
products. The event above referred to
justifies the reproduction at this time of
these views:—
"In the history of the manufacture of the
pianoforte, the house of Strauch Bros,
deserves a distinct and distinguished place.
Their intimate knowledge of all the details
of piano manufacture has enabled them to
progress in entire sympathy with the piano
makers, as well as hand in hand with
them.
In some instances they have anticipated
improvements in piano manufacture, in
others their genius has made it possible of
expression, and while it is true that the
main principles at the foundation of all
piano action manufacture are the same, still
it is to the firm of Strauch Bros, that we
owe that working out of these principles
and adopting them to the peculiar ideas as
to construction and the tone of our various
makers that has made it possible for so
many of our American piano manufact-
urers to develop so strong and so distinc-
tive an individuality in their respective
instruments."
Fine Pianos on Exhibition.
The Weber-Wheelock warerooms present
an unusually attractive appearance at pres-
ent. New stock, in all woods and in every
style, is being constantly added in each of
the three exhibition halls. In the first, on
the ground floor,are numerous choice exam-
ples of the Weber and Wheelock uprights.
In the concert or recital hall, on the second
floor, Weber grands are displayed to great
advantage. The third floor, at one end of
which are the several offices of the firm,
contains a score or more of the latest
styles. These are mostly in recesses or
practice rooms, where the instruments may
be thoroughly tested.
Attachment for Stringed In-
struments.
Jay E. Walker, Lincoln, Kans., is the
inventor of a movable tuning bar, form-
ing an attachment for stringed instru-
ments of the banjo and guitar class, by
means of which the pitch of the strings,
after they have been tuned in the ordi-
nary way, may be raised or lowered with-
out tightening or loosening them. A
transversely elongated nut slides longi-
tudinally on the finger-board, the nut be-
ing formed with two connected sections
having limited independent movement,
and the strings passing between the sec-
tions and being engaged by their contig-
uous faces.
Rudolph Ibach Sails for Home. Chronicles of the Traveling Man.
Rudolph Ibach of the distinguished
piano manufacturing house of Rud. Ibach
Sohn, Barmen-Koln, Germany, was a visitor
to The Review sanctum on Thursday.
Mr. Ibach leaves for Europe to-day after a
protracted visit to the American Continent.
He left home last October, and since that
time has visited Chili, Mexico, and other
South American countries, thence to San
Francisco. On his travels from the far
West he stopped off at all the important
manufacturing centers, spending some time
in Chicago where he visited the leading
piano factories, reaching New York about
a week ago. From this point he took in
Baltimore and Boston.
Mr. Ibach expressed himself as highly
pleased with the kindly reception vouch-
safed him and with the many courtesies
shown him by Mr. Chas. Keidel in Balti-
more, Mr. Foster of the Chickering house,
as well the gentlemen in charge of the
Everett, Emerson and other Boston fac-
tories which he visited. During the past
few days he devoted all his time to visiting
the local factories, every courtesy possible
being shown him. He spoke particularly
of Mr. Stetson's and Mr. Chas. Steinvvay's
graciousness, as well as the many atten-
tions shown him by Mr. Ferdinand Mayer
and Mr. Carl Fink.
In addition to the piano houses Mr.
Ibach spent considerable time in touring
the concerns making a specialty of piano
supplies. He expressed himself as much
impressed with the magnitude of the piano
industry in this country and the up to-
datedness of the factory plant.
Mr. Ibach is a cultured gentleman,whose
frank, open face and courtly bearing at
once attracts, and The Review is not sur-
prised at the big roster of friends he has
made during his visit to this country.
The firm of which Mr. Ibach is a mem-
ber is one of the progressive German insti-
tutions, whose products are as largely es-
teemed in England and other countries as
they are in the land of their manufacture.
Mr. Ibach's tour has been largely an
educational one, and we look for an Amer-
ican influence being generated in the near
future in the manufacturing departments
of the celebrated Ibach concern.
BY AN UNKNOWN PHILOSOPHER.
Who hath woe? .Who hath contention?
Who hath babblings? Who hath corns on
the bosom of his pants? Verily, he who
goeth forth upon the road to travel.
He goeth forth in the morning with a
light heart and a starched collar, and re-
turneth at eventide with a soiled raiment
and blisters on his heel.
He goeth forth like a roaring lion, seek-
ing-whom he may devour; but lo! every
man he meets smiteth him. He goeth to
the place where they do entertain strangers,
and what he ordereth of the servant she
bringeth not, and that which he doth not
order is set before him.
And when eventide has fallen, he sayeth
unto the keeper of the house:
"Behold! I would be wakened at the
fifth hour of the morning, that I may de-
part to another country."
And lo! before it is yet light he knocketh
loudly against the door and sayeth in a
loud voice: Arise, that thou mayestdepart
upon thy train.
And he that would arise awaketh in haste
and putteth his right foot into his left shoe,
and he girdeth himself quickly. And,
behold, he weareth his clothes hindside be-
fore, so great is his haste thereof.
And the collarthat should be girt about his
neck is coiled in the upper story of his hat.
Or perchance he asketh to be awakened
at the sixth hour of the morning, and lo! the
servant man knocketh not until the eighth
hour, and when he raileth the hired man
looketh at him with a look of scorn.
He goeth forth to ride upon the railway.
Then cometh in a beautiful maiden r
arrayed like the lilies, and behold she
taketh a seat afar off, but the dowdy
woman with five children and a wart on
her nose taketh the seat nearest him.
Verily, man that is born of woman, and
goeth upon the road, is of few days and
variegated rations. To-day he has much
that is good, and to-morrow the food is
the withered grass, yet not so cleanly.
Where he sleepeth, if there be much
water, he hath no towel; but if the wa-
ter be gone, he hath of towels five in
number and a piece of soap.
Verily, he hath cause to murmur an ex-
ceeding
great murmur.
William Knabe and James E. Healy of
Wm. Knabe & Co., Baltimore, were visitors
to this city on Tuesday last. Mr. Healy,
Hason & Hamlin Display.
returned to Baltimore the same evening,
Now that the new location of the Mason'
while Mr. Knabe left for Rochester and
&
Hamlin warerooms is becoming more
Buffalo and several otherpoints of thisState
generally
known, visitors, always plentiful,
which he will visit before returning home.
are increasing in numbers. By a judicious
At a business session of the Northeast use of the space at command, it has been
Saengerbund in Philadelphia Wednesday, found possible to embrace a complete and
Brooklyn was unanimously selected for the attractive exhibit of the firm's famous
next meeting place in 1900.
products. With a wide, well-lighted fore-
E. Gabler & Bro.'s souvenir of the Grant ground for the Mason & Hamlin pianos
Monument dedicatory .services, which was and a background of ample proportions
noticed recently in The Review, is in great for exhibition of Liszt organs, the condi-
demand. The splendid advertising matter tions necessary for a complete and impres-
in connection therewith should be pro- sive showing are not lacking. That they
ductive of an immense benefit to this sub- are made good use of is plainly evident to-
all observers.
stantial and respected house.