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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Aluminum Piano Frames and by making of aluminium or of suitable al-
loys thereof only those parts which affect
Actions.
An Austrian manufacturer, Endre Thek,
of Budapest, has just patented in England
an "Improvement in pianos and like instru-
ments." The claims, as well as details of
this patent, the substance of which we
clip from a London contemporary, will be
found interesting to many of our readers.
The application of aluminum and its al-
loys, as a substitute for the metals now
used in the pianos, while not new in this
country has not been worked out success-
fully. This may be due to the fact that
ouf manufacturers have not given this
matter serious consideration. Here is the
excerpt:
"This invention relates to an improve-
ment in pianos, pianinos, and like musical
instruments in which numerous metal
parts have hitherto been employed, which
parts considerably influence, that is to say
diminish, the clearness and strength of tone
of the piano or other instrument. The
metal parts used in the construction of
pianos and like musical instruments have
hitherto been made of iron, steel, brass
and the like, that is to say, of metals the
employment of which gives rise to consid-
erable disadvantages from the technical
point of view, chief amongst which is that
parts made of such easily oxidizable met-
als must be provided with a suitable coat-
ing—for instance, varnish, glazing, &c.—
in order that the said parts shall be pro-
tected from rusting, and this process has
a damaging effect upon the clearness of
the tone of the instrument. Furthermore,
these metal parts increase the weight of
the instrument to a considerable extent,
and present a number of difficulties with
respect to their working, so that the cost
of manufacture is considerably increased.
" Now this invention has for its object
to obviate the above disadvantages, and to
this end the metal parts of pianos, piani-
nos, and like musical instruments are
wholly or partially made of pure or al-
loyed aluminium. From the foregoing it
is clear that the employment of aluminium
is not to be looked upon as a simple ex-
change of material, as this metal, which
has not heretofore been employed for this
purpose, affords numerous technical ad-
vantages which are not to be obtained
from any other metal. Apart from the
fact that the manufacture of these parts of
aluminium considerably reduces the weight
of the instrument, on account of the char-
acteristically low specific gravity of the
metal employed, the use of this metal fur-
ther possesses the important technical ad-
vantage that the parts made thereof or of
suitable alloys thereof maintain their
smooth polished surfaces without requir-
ing any coating, and not only do not in-
juriously affect the quality and strength of
the tone of the instrument, but, on the
contrary, impart thereto a permanent and
surprisingly clear, sweet tone. It is ob-
vious that the internal construction of the
musical instrument does not affect the
principle of the invention, as also that in
certain cases similar results can be obtained
the quality of the tone, such, for instance,
as the wrest-pins."
Compliments Bush & Gerts.
The Bush & Gerts Co., of Chicago, have
received from Prof. Henry F. Freed, of
Harrisburg, Pa., under date of July 14th,
the following flattering testimonial:
Gentlemen:—I think it only doing jus-
tice to you to inform you that the piano,
style 14, mahogany special, that was or-
dered by me through one of your agents,
4s a good instrument. I have thoroughly
tried the instrument and do not find any-
thing wanting. The tone qualities are
perfect, the action free and easy to the
touch. In fact the instrument is a gem
and the best of many I have tried and
played on.
Booming New York.
THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION ISSUE A BOOK-
LET MAKING BETTER KNOWN THE CLAIMS
OF NEW YORK TO BE CONSIDERED
A SUMMER RESORT.
"Summer Days and Nights in New
York," is the title of a beautifully illus-
trated booklet just issued by the Merchants'
Association of this city to merchants
throughout the United States, with the
object of attracting attention to New York
as the pleasantest summer resort of the ,
Western Hemisphere. 150,000 of these
booklets have been circulated at a cost of
$8,000.
This booklet affords further proof of the
effective work which this Association is do-
ing for jhe advancement of the trade in-
terests of New York. In face of the wide
acknowledgments of the good work the As-
sociation has accomplished, it is regrettable
to learn that many of the business men of
the city are not extending that material
Likes the Cameron.
support which is necessary in order to
The A. B. Cameron products are mak- keep up the propaganda of the organiza-
ing steady headway. When The Review tion.
called for news on Tuesday, a letter of
We understand that on July 1st, there
July 18th was seen which was sent from the was a deficit of nearly $9,000 which was
headquarters of a prominent Western made up by the directors. As the latter
dealer in which he says: "We have just give time, brain and service, and moreover
unboxed the Style 5, and it is a beauty. liberally contribute to the funds of the
We are very much pleased with it, and you Association, it is only fair that the business
will probably hear from us right along."
community at large should manifest a
Within a week two orders have been re- deeper and more practical interest in an
ceived from the dealer in question, the organization that is producing large and
last one being for twelve, selected from tangible results for our city.
the Cameron catalogue. Mr. Cameron re-
The work now on hand for the balance
turned yesterday from a week's vacation of this year will cost not less than $40,000.
on Long Island. Mr. Rothenstein leaves This can be met by increased membership
to-day for a two-weeks stay in the upper which costs only $25.00 annually. We
part of the state.
trust the business men will see the wisdom
of joining and thus enable this institution
The 20th Century Action.
to be self-supporting. It would be la-
mentable were the directors compelled'to
THE ROSTER OF MANUFACTURERS USING IT
wind up the organization on Jan. 1, as
INCREASING ALL THE TIME.
they must unless it is placed on the above
During this week's visit of The Review basis.
to the Staib action factory, it was learned
We need a fighting organization in New
that the "Twentieth Century " is making York such as the Merchants' and we feel
rapid headway in the regard of progres- certain it will receive that aid and support
sive manufacturers. A number of piano- it so well merits.
makers, to whom Mr. Abendschein ex-
plained the advantages of the "Twen-
Felix Kraemer's Experience.
tieth Century," gave trial orders and had
the new Staib products thoroughly tested.
Felix Kraemer, the Kranich & Bach
They have stood every test without ex- long distance traveler has been trying to
hibiting a single flaw or fault, and now or- solve the mysteries of bicycle riding with
ders are coming in, with warm commen- the result that he is walking around this
dations. This is some compensation for week with a lame foot. Mr. Kraemer is
the great outlay of time and capital made through now and forever with the "bike."
during the many experiments and trials of He says it is harder to control than a
this new action prior to its actual com kicking bronco.
pletion.
General Julius J. Estey, arrived in town
"During my recent tours in advocacy of
yesterday, on a flying visit.
the 'Twentieth Century,'" said Mr. G. F.
A. G. Cone, of the W. W. Kimball Co., is
Abendschein, " I gave every manufacturer
rusticating
at Colorado Springs, Col.
ten good reasons why our new action
There has been a big shipment of
should supersede the older mechanisms.
Results show that they have kept my ar- Fischer pianos this week for San Fran-
guments well in mind, for many of those cisco.
with whom I talked have adopted the
Manager Grey, of the publishing house
' Twentieth Century' for all their prod- of Novello, Ewer & Co., has gone to
ucts. It is a great triumph, but we have Europe on a six weeks business and
earned it."
pleasure trip.