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V O L . XXIX. No. 3 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteentn Street. New York, July 15,1899.
The First Pease Piano
Built
HAS BEEN RECOVERED BY THE MANUFACTUR-
ERS IN AN EXCELLENT STATE OF PRES-
ERVATION WILL BE EXHIBITED
SOON IN WAREROOMS OVER
A HALF CENTURY OLD.
The Pease Piano Co. have just secured
possession of the first piano made by the
firm, and it is to be placed on exhibition at
the new Pease warerooms in a few days.
It is over fifty years old, mahogany cased.
The instrument, which is quite a curiosity
in many ways, stands on six legs. It is
one of the "squares" of our forefathers
and about 4 feet 3 inches in length, with
music drawers. It has been in constant
use, more or less, ever since its former
owners purchased it half a century ago.
The case and mechanism are in excellent
condition and the tone marvelously good.
In this connection we may say that the
"Pease" piano has been prominently before
the musical world for the past 50 years,
during which time over 60,000 of these in-
struments have been manufactured and
sold. This means that sixty thousand
lovers of music have closely examined into
the merits of the " Pease " piano and pur-
chased.
The first " Pease " pianos were manufac-
tured by Mr. C. D. Pease, in Cooperstown,
N. Y., and later on in the city of Hudson,
and it was there that the late C. D. Pease,
the founder of the present business, served
his apprenticeship and received his first
instructions in the art of piano-making,
which was the beginning of the long line
of earnest and efficient endeavor which
has placed the "Pease" piano to the very
forefront among its many competitors, and
given it the high place in the minds of the
musical public that it to-day has.
In 1871 the present business was estab-
lished in New York City, and the rapidly
increasing" demand for the "Pease" piano
necessitated several removals in quick suc-
cession to more extensive quarters, until it
resulted in the building of the large factory
at Nos. 316 to 322 West Forty-third street,
which they now occupy. Eight years later
the adjoining Pease buildings were erected
and made available for their constantly
increasing business. The Pease Piano Co.
also occupy retail warerooms in one of the
most central and convenient locations in
the city, 109 West Forty-second street.
Pease prospects were never brighter
than to-day.
The Stencil Causes Trouble
IN FRANCE MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS
FORM A RIVAL ORGANIZATION TO THAT
NOW EXISTING.
As a result of the difference which has
arisen between some of the manufacturers
and dealers of France regarding the recent
decision of the Chambre Syndicale des In-
struments de Musique to exclude what we
term "stencil" instruments from represen-
tation at the Paris Exposition, several
members have resigned and organized a
new association entitled the Chambre Syn-
dicale des Pianos et Orgues. The officers
of the new association are: President,
M. Rodhe-Staub; vice-president, M. La-
brousse; secretaries, MM. Frantz et Char-
tier; treasurer, M. Turon-Lagau.
At the last meeting of the Association
a committee of ten members was appointed
to take action on the preparation of a suit-
able contract to be adopted by the mem-
bers for the renting and selling of pianos.
The present friction among our con-
freres in the French capital is due to the
fact that a number of prominent dealers
have for a long number of years been
handling pianos and other musical instru-
ments made for them and bearing their
own names. In this way they have built
up a large clientele at home and abroad,
and feel they are entitled to equal standing
with legitimate manufacturers. They are
apparently hurt at the decision of the rep-
resentative association of manufacturers in
Paris which has concluded that visitors to
the Exposition shall not be imposed upon
by being led to believe that certain wares
are the product of the firms whose name
they bear, when they are not.
It is evident that the stencil matter is a
crying evil in France, as it is in this coun-.
try. Manufacturers there, like here, are
coming to realize that some steps must be
taken to regulate the matter to the end
that the public discriminates between
right and wrong.
$3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENT. 1 -
ness. This is the initial trip of Mr. Nick-
el to the Boston trade, and we understand
that he has been most cordially received.
Somewhat Exaggerated.
Several startling statements have ap-
peared this week in the daily press con-
cerning a falling building at No. 6 East
Seventeenth street, owned by the late Mr.
Brautigan. The Review visited the White,
Smith Co. 's store in the basement of this
building on Tuesday, expecting to find at
least a startled expression on the coun-
tenance of the occupants. No such ex-
pression—or anything like it—could be
discovered there or even in the neighbor-
hood.
The party interviewed as to the cata-
strophe that nearly happened failed to
show any signs of excitement when he
read a story about the foundations giving
way. " That's all nonsense," said he; " a
couple of paving stones gave way—nothing
more."
The Cameron Catalogue.
The A. B. Cameron Co. have just issued
a modest yet clear-cut and effective cata-
logue of their new styles for the forthcom-
ing fall trade. It is not too much to say
that every enterprising dealer in search of
attractive instruments calculated to please
his patrons and satisfy his desire for a fair
profit often repeated ought, in justice to
himself, to examine the new Cameron pub-
lication and ask questions concerning the
Cameron products.
Four styles in uprights are shown, and
from them a ready choice can be made.
The following brief paragraphs, taken from
the introduction, tell the whole story of the
Cameron piano and the present attitude of
its makers:
"The A. B. Cameron piano is built on
lines which experience has proved to be
the best, and it attains the highest results
that have so far been reached in piano
making.
" Its construction is a guarantee of sta-
Nickel in Boston.
bility and musical excellence. If you are
Adam Nickel, head of the Wessell, Nic- not handling it you should write for terms,
kel & Gross corporation, accompanied by territory and prices.
Chas. Muhlenfels, passed a few days this
"There is no piano sold at the price of
week in Boston. It has always been the the A. B. Cameron that is as well built.
custom of his late business associate, Otto
" I t s splendid musical qualities are not
Wessell, to visit personally the members surpassed by any piano made. Neither is
of the trade at different points, while Mr. it excelled in stability of structure.
Nickel maintained a close superintendence
'' With ordinary good care it should last
of the mechanical department of the busi- a life time. ••