Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Ancient and Modern.
Currency and Business.
U
From the City by the Lake.
The signing of the gold standard law by
[Special to The Review.]
President McKinley on Wednesday last,
Chicago, 111., March 14, 1900.
was an event of the greatest importance
The piano factories of Chicago are being
to the commercial interests of the United
L. B. Powell & Co., the well-known States. It marked the final and formal pushed to their utmost capacity and as one
dealers of Scranton, Pa., are exhibiting a declaration of the American people for manufacturer, Mr. Bent, remarked to me,
curiosity in the musical instrument line. stability and honesty in the standard of the days are not long enough to accom-
It is an old hammer clavier of solid ma- value.
plish the desired ends—in other words,
hogany, possibly manufactured 200 years
This measure will do much toward com- there is a limit to their productive capacity
ago, the property of Robt. M. Scranton of mercial and industrial steadiness and we and beyond that limit they cannot go.
that city. It was purchased by its present trust will rob future political campaigns
There has been a wonderful spirit of
owner through a dealer in antiques from of an issue which did much in the past camaraderie developed among the manu-
a family in whose possession it had been to disturb the business equilibrium. For facturers during the long drawn out labor
for over 150 years. Standing alongside of this let us be thankful.
troubles. They have won too at every
the modern grand Steinway, the instru-
point
and there is no longer any fear of
Why such subjects as currency and
ment offers a valuable lesson in the evolu- tariff are made political issues is to us a union domination. I think the manufac-
tion of the pianoforte.
peculiar phase of our party system. Spell- turers are stronger in their independence
The clavier is of great antiquity, and in binders go around the country talking from labor organizations than before for a
Germany, in its day, was distinctly pre- about something of which they have only number of years. To-day they can engage
ferred for teaching purposes. It was a a superficial knowledge, and their elo- or discharge whomsoever they will without
favorite instrument of Bach. Up to the quence only tends to confuse the minds of the fear of a strike being precipitated; they
beginning of the present century, the use the average voter. Side issues creep in are free agents and the organ of the
of the Clavier in Germany was general, and in the meantime business becomes de- union while indulging in an extensive pre-
and it is frequently .met with, even to this moralized. Such important subjects should amble practically admits defeat.
The building trades now have to go
day, in the country places.
be handled by a commission composed of
through
what the piano men have marched
intelligent
members
of
both
parties
in
Con-
Its early history, previous to the 15th
so
triumphantly,
and if they do not profit
gress
and
their
suggestions
acted
upon.
century, rests in profound obscurity, and
by
the
example
of
the piano manufacturers
This
apropos
prospective
tariff
discussion.
during the latter half of the 17th century,
then the building and manufacturing inter-
Wilhelmi, a reputed Clavier maker of Cas-
Starr Visitors.
ests will suffer for a long time to come.
sell, Germany, quoted the prices of the
Free from labor troubles, Chicago moves
best instruments at from 20 to 50 thalers, a
Among the callers at The Review sanc-
ahead
to glorious accomplishments. With
sum equalling $15 to $35.
tum yesterday was L. E. Thayer, the Starr
them—well,
she is seriously retarded in
It was a strictly home instrument, as, in ambassador, who was accompanied by Mr.
her
industrial
growth, to say the least.
fact, is the modern piano. Where it flour- Gennett, son of Henry Gennett, vice-presi-
The
Convention
of the Piano Manu-
ished, the orchestra flourished, for the one dent of the Starr Piano Co. Mr. Gennett's
facturers
National
Association, which is
occupied itself with music in the home, stay in the city is largely one of pleasure.
scheduled
to
take
place
here next May, is
while the orchestra did so with public re-
In the course of a chat with Mr. Thayer
commencing
to
be
a
"live
"issue. E. S.
presentations.
he stated that business with the Starr peo-
Con
way,
chairman
of
the
executive
com-
The early piano was out of place on the ple was simply "booming" and that in
mittee,
is
looking
after
all
preliminaries.
platforms of large halls and opera houses. order to meet orders their new factory for
It was simply a substitute, and a poor one at which ground was recently broken must be It would be difficult to select a man better
that, of the orchestra. In old England, the completed by June. He sees nothing equipped. While the place of meeting has
not been definitely decided upon, it is
orchestra was regarded with a special ahead but the greatest prosperity.
thought
probable that the Great Northern
affection, and thus it is that in England
The
Everett
Grand.
Hotel
will
be the fortunate hostelry which
the Clavier first flourished.
will
house
the distinguished men who go
Being a combination of the organ and
Speaking of the Everett grand which
to
make
up
our great industry. It has a
lute—the one too heavy and churchly—the was used by Richard Burmeister at the
large
banquet
hall and numerous conveni-
other too light and secular—the Clavier Symphony concert in Cincinnati last week,
ences
which
would
make it an ideal selec-
easily offered itself as an instrument of the Inquirer says:
tion.
Nothing
definite,
however, has been
sufficient flexibility to effect the represen-
"A great deal has of late been claimed
decided
in
this
matter.
tation of all the voice parts at once, and for the Everett, and it should be enough to
Speaking of Mr. Conway brings to mind
that more easily than the organ.
say that every claim was completely main-
Students or others interested in the pre- tained by the instrument used by Mr. Bur- that this distinguished member of the trade
cursors of the piano will find an examina- meister. No part of the tone deserves will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of
tion of this old clavier of interest. It will more special mention than another. It was his birth on March 21st. Mr. Conway's
afford them an idea of the unsatisfying great in its bass, in its treble, in its middle fame extends to all sections of our great
mediums for interpretation enjoyed by our register and in its ensemble. Its great country and few men are as widely popu-
ancestors.
depth and richness of tone can but fascin- lar. It can safely be assumed that his mail
ate musical people. Cincinnatians are on the eventful day when he turns the half
The ^Eolian Co. in Brooklyn.
proud of this great victory for the John century mark, will be a mighty heavy one.
Mr. Conway's success in life is one to
The following is from the Brooklyn Church Co."
pattern after. He has won his way up-
Standard Union of Tuesday:
Homeward Bound.
ward through paths not always thornless,
" I t was rumored this afternoon that
the ^olian Co. had secured the building
George L. Orme, of Orme & Son, Otta- with an unsullied reputation and a personal
adjoining the Young Men's Christian As- wa, Canada, Knabe agents in that city, integrity of the highest character. It is
sociation's central headquarters, on Fulton arrived in New York from Atlantic City needless to speak of his business talents
street, now occupied by the Domestic Sew- on Thursday last, accompanied by Mrs. for his present position demonstrates this.
ing Machine Co."
E. W. Furbush, of Vose fame, reached
Orme. They are on their way home.
AN OLD HAMMER CLAVIER AT THE SIDE OF A
STEINWAY GRAND ON EXHIBITION AT THE
WAREROOMS OF L. B. POWELL & CO. OF
SCRANTON, PA. — A CONTRAST.
POOLE
PIANOS
Precious, Perfect, Peerless
As to Tone, Touch, Design,
Durability and Value/ , . ,
5 a n d . 7 A P P L E T O N S T R E E T , BOSTON, M A S S ,