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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
(Specially compiled for The Review.)
Washington, D. C., Dec. 26th, 1899.
Pianoforte Action. Thomas C. Lewis,
London, Eng. Patent No. 639,255.
This invention relates to improvements
in pianofortes, and is applicable both to
"grands," and "uprights;" and it consists
in an improved action which in a very
simple and most easily regulated arrange-
ment, in which the hammer and the jack
or sticker are adapted to directly coact as
an effective check, insures a most sensitive
finger touch and power of rapid repetition,
entirely avoiding any liability of the
hammer blocking the string, and, among
other advantages, dispenses with any sep-
arate check-wires or other additional check
details customarily employed in existing
actions, considerably reduces the number
of parts composing the action as compared
with the most perfect existing actions,
avoids the present tedious and laborious
process of regulating the same, and ma-
terially reduces the cost of manufacture,
and, moreover, obtains the very consider-
able practical advantage of enabling the
keys to be removed without any derange-
ment of the adjustment of the action.
To this end the invention consists in an
improved action characterized by the for-
mation of the hammer-butt with a prolong-
ation or tail adapted to meet and co-act
directly with the jack or sticker as an ef-
fective check upon the jack (having ad-
vanced the hammer until it is just upon
the point of striking the pianoforte string)
being thrown by the set-off button from
off the hammer-butt part on which it acted
in advancing the hammer, the advancing
jack being then met by the oppositely-
advancing hammer-butt tail and forming
therewith an effective and complete check,
preventing any recoil or second stroke of the
hammer or blocking of the string and arrest-
ing the parts in position to allow, upon the
slightest release and redepression of the
key, of the jack effecting a repeat action
of the hammer, and so insuring the utmost
delicacy of finger touch and a perfect re-
peat action, while avoiding all customary
additional check details, and also as regards
upright-actions, characterized conjunctive-
ly with the aforesaid arrangement, by the
set-off button being applied to a prolong-
ation of the jack-carrying lever beyond
its connection to the jack and underlying
the jack-arm, so as to cause the jack to set
off from the hammer-butt leather roll into
a recess in the hammer-butt between the
roll and the hammer-butt center-pin, thus
reversing the operation of all existing up-
right-actions and giving to upright-actions
a sensitiveness to finger touch and power
of rapid repetition hitherto only obtained
in grand-actions.
Tempo Indicator and Governor for Musi-
cal Instruments. J. H. Chase, Meriden,
Conn., assignor to the JEolian Co. Patent
No. 638,955.
The present invention consists in • an
improved tempo indicator and governor
for musical instruments, and is intended
to apply to all forms of pneumatic musical
instruments—such, for instance, as the
aeolian—wherein the sounding devices are
controlled automatically by a perforated
music-sheet, the rate of travel of the said
music-sheet determining the tempo of the
music.
The object of the invention is to provide
a means for indicating the speed at which
the music-sheet is traveling, which will at
the same time regulate the flow of air from
the motor to the bellows, and which, as
the result of using few parts and only
slightly movable connections, will insure a
reliable movement of the valve and a
quick response to the movement of the in-
dicator-lever.
American Organ. Samuel' Howard,
Manchester, Eng. Patent No. 638,843.
This invention relates to American
LOOK AND LISTEN.
Yes, look at it and see an organ artistically made of the bestl
materials and with the greatest skill of the most experienced work-
men. Look it all over, from pedals
. to music rack, and
it's just the same. ^____ —-—~~~~~~
g j . But listen! Ah, if the
look pleased you, \ ^^
tone? And yet, it \ f^
fifty years of voicing \ ^^
^TC I Iw \ k ° w m u c n more the
# j l t. J^M
\ i s n t strange tha*
Z l f ^ ^ ^ 19
\ reec * s should result
27
organs and like instruments operating by
an exhaust action, and has for its object to
provide simple and efficient means whereby
the melody or bass of a tune played on
such instruments may be brought into
prominence without any special skill on
the part of the player.
Acoustic Supporting Base for Pianos.
Frank A. Bronson, Binghamton, N. Y.
Patent No. 639,106.
This invention relates to a device de-
signed to be placed under the supporting-
legs of pianos, organs, or other musical
instruments standing on carpets, rugs, or
other soft floor-coverings which tend to
deaden or muffle the tone of the instru-
ment, which device is employed for the
purpose of counteracting said effects, or,
in other words, to increase the resonance
of the instrument.
The object of the-invention is to provide
a simple and inexpensive device which can
easily and conveniently be placed under
the instrument and shall effectually over-
come the aforesaid deadening and muffling
effects of the carpet, etc., and at the same
time shall be neat in appearance: and to
that end the invention consists of an acous-
tic base designed to be placed under the
legs of pianos and analogous musical in-
struments, comprising a resonant shell
having a closed top and an open bottom,
said top being formed with a seat for the
leg of the instrument, and a metallic trans-
mitting pin or screw extending from the shell
into the floor supporting the instrument.
The Anderson & Newton Piano.
"The Anderson & Newton piano,"said a
dealer to us recently, "is a piano of which
the manufacturers can well feel proud.
The tone is musical, in the fullest mean-
ing of that much-abused word, while the
instrument is built and cased in a style
that delights every lover of good piano
making. I have sold quite a number of
these instruments with no small degree of
pride, born of the fact that they are bound
to give the greatest possible satisfaction."
. This testimony to the merits of the
pianos made by the Anderson & Newton
Piano Co. of Van Wert, O., is only one of
several compliments paid them within a
recent date. Gust. Ad. Anderson is a
practical piano man who believes in mak-
ing pianos that will stand the X rays of
criticism. Dealers who are not acquainted
with these instruments would do well to
look them up, or communicate with the
manufacturers.
Seth E. Harkness, one of the best known
residents and business men of Palmyra,
N. Y., died suddenly at his home in that
city last week. Mr. Harkness was seventy
years old, and for a number of years con-
ducted a large piano store in Palmyra.
Death was due to heart disease.
in the sweet toned \ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
___^———"^ Estey, ever sweeter
and clearer with e a c h L ^
—"
new instrument that comes
from the factory, else what were the uses of experience ?
Edward W. Fowler, an employee at the
/Eolian Co.'s works, Meriden, Conn., com-
SEND FOR CATALOGUE
mitted suicide Thursday of last week by
ESTEY ORGAN CO..
BRATTLEBORO, VT.
BEHR BROSx'CO.
PIANOS
29™ST.&II™AVE.
NEW YORK.'
swallowing the contents of an ounce bottle
of laudanum.
Highest Standard of Excellence.