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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Wonderful Experience of a Behr Piano.
UNDERGOES A
1
BAPTISM OF FIRE
AND EXPOSURE THE SCALE SEEMED
TRIUMPHED CLEVERLY REMADE AN INTERESTING STORY.
The true test of a piano is its "wear and
tear." The following episode in the career
of Oliver H. Goodwin, piano maker and
tuner, of Los Angeles, Cal., illustrates the
possibilities of withstanding "wear and
tear," including excessive heat and scorch-
IMMORTAL AND
intended to do anything with it, but upon
second consideration, not expecting any
rain for a few weeks, concluded to wait
until my next trip to Santa Ana.
When I returned to that city, it was still
there, standing against the fence in the hot
noon sun and cool night fogs. I went to
O. H
BEFORE RENOVATION.
ing, when material and workmanship are
O. K.
The letter now published was received
recently at the offices of Behr Bros. & Co.
With it were inclosed the photographs of
instruments "before and after" reproduced
on this page. The letter reads:—
Messrs. Behr Bros. & Co.
Gentlemen: — Having bought and re-
paired a Behr Bros, piano, No. 11,031, after
it had passed through a severe fire, I write
to ask permission to put your name on the
new case work. The name is on the plate
but it is too good an instrument not to have
its identity in sight. Just to give you an
idea of how it suffered, I enclose photo-
graphs " before and after " renovation. My
only regret now is not having applied a
more elaborate case.
I found the remains during a tuning trip
to Santa Clara. Looking out of my bed-
room window one morning late in August
'99, I noticed a piano out in the yard below
the hotel. The next morning it was still
there. Curiosity predominating, I went
down before breakfast and found it to be a
Behr Bros, piano. The action and keys
had disappeared, and several of the treble
strings had been removed in a very care-
less maner.
Running my thumb nail across the re-
maining strings, I was surprised at the
amount of tone still existing, and upon
counting down to pitch C, to my astonish-
ment it was just at international pitch.
Beginning to feel interested, I thought of
going into the piano store and telling them
they had better take it outside if they ever
POOLE
the store and asked if it was for sale. The
dealer said he guessed he could realize
more by selling the wires to the fishermen.
GOi D W IN.
belly and bridges were and are as sound as
the day they were made.
It has been in my possession over a year
now, but show no signs of weakness in
any way. The tone is beautifully pure,
and handling the burnt Behr Bros, piano
has brought me several new professional
friends. If you will give me permission
asked, I will get it polished and you will
confer a favor upon
Yours truly,
O. H. Goodwin.
Behr Bros., in response to the request
contained in Mr. Goodwin's exceptionally
interesting letter, have given their sanc-
AFTER RENOVATION.
However, he finally let me have it at my
original figure, strings and all. The key
bottom was charred on the under side to a
depth of one-half inch, yet the points in the
PIANOS
tion to the use
sound board of
has so cleverly
start out on its
of the firm name on the
the instrument which he
resuscitated. It will now
second lease of lifel"]
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 ,