Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Twentieth Century Pianophone=—George
Howlett Davis' Latest Triumph
energy necessary to run the "Twentieth
Century" is only one-half of that formerly
required. In other words, our largest size
storage battery that would run our old
The advantages of the pianophone have embodied some mechanical defects which form of device ten hours, will run the new
been generally recognized, and it has been were subsequently overcome by its invent- attachment twenty hours, or play 240 aver-
admitted by many to be the best electri- or, Mr. Bell, who instead of being sus- age rolls with one charging. A primary
cally operated piano player in the world. tained by the public while perfecting his battery that would allow forty minutes
In fact, it has been a revelation in the use invention, was looked upon as an enthus- average playing daily will now allow one
of electricity as applied to automatic musi- iast whose invention perhaps would never hour and twenty minutes
playing
cal instruments. The inventor, George develop to the practical stage.
daily.
Howlett Davis, has made marked advances
Even the press took occasion to belittle
Durability.—Simplification in mechan-
that invention with- isms of all forms always tends towards
out which the busi- lengthening the life of a machine and ren-
ness world would be ders it less liable to get out of order, and it
a keen sufferer to- is especially so with the "Twentieth Cen-
day.
tury" Pianophone as the parts dispensed
A claim was made with were those which gave us the most
at that time that elec- trouble in the old style machines.
tricity was too com-
Musical Effects.—The playing of the
plicated— that t h e "Twentieth Century" shows an improve-
telephones would ment in the direction of a more regular
constantly get out of tempo and a more distinct repetition of
order.
Telephones short notes, nevertheless we claim no such
to-day bring the en- radical improvements as those of a me-
tire business world chanical and electrical nature previously
into close touch and described.
telephone stock is
Applying to a piano.—Comparatively
considered a good in-
speaking, the "Twentieth Century" piano-
vestment. It is nat-
phone is a marvelously simple attachment
ural too that similar
to apply to any piano, for, unlike the old
experiences should
styles, there is no motor to set and conse-
be encountered by
quently no belts or wires to be connected
electrical experts in
any new field and therefrom to the action, and in fact there
Mr. Davis, who ranks is not the slightest wiring or electrical
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY PIANOPHONE.
as an electrical ex. work to be done outside simply connecting
The gentleman standing on the left is Mr. G. Howlett Davis, its inventor.
the battery wires to two binding posts #
in the pianophone so that it is possible to pert, has met with some discouraging ex-
Again, it is absolutely unnecessary to ever
modulate and shade the music at the will periences, but from the favorable com-
change the trap work at the bottom of a
of the operator.
ments which his twentieth century piano-
piano. Two large bolts is all that is nec-
As this is the age when great interest is phone has elicited it would seem as if
essary in securing the new attachment to
manifested in the various piano players, it he would now quickly eliminate all pre-
is fitting to emphasize some of the princi- judices and reap a pecuniary benefit for the keyboard, and any person possessing
pal advantages which are possessed by the his inventive skill.
Some of the special
pianophone.
The pianophone is entirely out of the advantages of the
century
way when applied to the piano, as will be twentieth
pianophone
are
de-
verified by an examination of the illustra-
scribed
in
the
follow-
tions which are presented herewith; there-
fore, it does not interfere with its ordinary ing extract from a
issued
use or appearance, nor does it discourage r e c e n t l y
pamphlet
of
the
Pi-
playing by hand. The operating f ower is
supplied entirely by either an electric light anophone Co. :
circuit or a battery, the latter being as sim-
ADVANTAGES OF THE
ple as a door-bell battery to keep charged.
T W E N T I E T H CEN-
In this way the operator is relieved from
TURY
PIANOPHONE
any personal expenditure of labor.
OVER OUR PREVIOUS
There has been considerable prejudice
STYLES.
existing against elecricity as applied to
Motor.—The motor
piano players. This is natural, as applied
in
the "Twentieth
electricity has been but little understood
C
e
n
t u r y " Piano-
by many. Much of that prejudice is be-
phone
forms an in-
ing overcome, which is the same, however,
tegral
part of the
as was originally raised against the appli-
cation of electricity in every sub-division suspended a c t i o n
BROOKLYN FACTORY OF THE PIANOPHONE CO.
Showing a detached twentieth century pianophone in upper central part of view.
of industry, including telephoning and (see photographic
view) which allows
telegraphing.
all
the wires and belts which were former- the slightest mechanical skill can now ac-
Some of us recollect when the telephone
ly
used
to connect the old separable motor complish the task.
first came in vogue—it was believed to be
The Pianophone Co.,
to
be
entirely
dispensed with, as well as
a scientific novelty whose general utility
Salesroom:
both
bearings
and
some
other
parts
of
the
for public welfare was not considered fea-
5 & 7 East Fourteenth Street,
sible and was looked upon with disfavor old motor.
New York City.
by the general public until its adoption
Power.—As a result of above, and the
Factory:
was practically forced upon them.
ability to use a very small friction roller Willoughby and Raymond Streets,
At the time of its inception the telephone in the new device, the power or electric
Brooklyn, N. Y.