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VOL. XLI. No. 10.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Ave., New York, Sept. 9, 1905.
SINGLE COPIES. 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
WHAT IS THE PIANO?
HAVE YOU JOINED ?
SHIPPING PIANOS UNBOXED.
Some Reflections Which Show How Its An-
cestry Is Overlooked and How Some Com-
posers Consider It an Orchestra and Not a
Solo or Chamber Instrument.
Every Traveling Man Shuold Become a Mem-
ber of the National Piano Travelers' Asso-
ciation.
According to a Ruling of the Western Classi-
fication Committee Pianos May Be Shipped
Without Being Encased in Frames or Boxes
After Oct. 1—Conditions Necessary.
The fact that the piano is descended from the
spinet and the harpsichord is still a stum-
bling block to amateurs of music; the
fact that in tone and resonance it has
lately been enormously developed is a stum-
bling block to those who write for it.
The first class have entirely neglected the harpsi-
chord—a perfect and fully evolved instrument,
the spirit of which is altogether different from
that of the piano; the second class have been
tempted by the dynamics of the piano to treat it
too much like an orchestra, and to forget that
it is not only a solo instrument, but really a
chamber instrument.
Its utterance, which Chopin understood so
well, is really chamber music; and there is al-
ways something lamentable in the contemplation
of a great artist distressing himself and his in-
strument in the attempt to fill a large concert
room with exaggerated expressions of a delicate
and intimate temperament. The effect is never
entirely satisfactory, however great the artist
may be, for that note of intimacy which is sure-
ly the very essence and spirit of the piano, can-
not possibly be maintained in the presence of a
large and miscellaneous audience.
When we consider among all our impressions
of pianoforte music the moments that have given
us memorable pleasure, we find, says the Na-
tional Review, that they took place in intimate
assemblies where some one played and some one
sang, and where the atmosphere thrilled with
just that amount of electric disturbance which we
call sympathy, which is born with the meeting of
friends and dies when they disperse.
TO FIGHT UNJUST DIFFERENTIALS.
The Merchants' Association and the New York
Produce Exchange, according to latest advices,
are to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce
of the city of Boston, to secure a fair deal as to
railroad rates, which to-day favor Baltimore and
Philadelphia at the expense of Boston and New
York.
The two bodies will show the absurdity of the
rulings of the Interstate Commerce Commission
in the matter of differentials in railroad rates
favoring the cities mentioned. It is pointed out
that this momentous question, which so seri-
ously affects the commerce of the port of New
York, should be fought with vigor, and until the
attainment of successful results.
It is high time New York merchants should
awake from their "Rip Van Winkle" lethargy,
and secure lower freight rates. Philadelphia
manufacturers' are also losing no time in adver-
tising the advantages of their open market, and
even contribute to a fund to entertain buyers
while in the city. Special excursions are now
being run from Pniladelphia to points south and
southwest, and will be continued several months
to come.
The National Piano Travelers' Association, of
which J. C. Amie is president, is steadily grow-
ing in membership. Its objects are so helpful
to the traveling fraternity, that it is difficult to
see why any member of the craft should be out-
side the ranks. The officers are men of decided
ability, who are aided by committees composed
of experienced traveling men, and this combined
with the possibilities of usefulness which this
association represents should make every travel-
ing man proud of being numbered as a member
of this splendid organization. There is one
other point, and it is this—becoming a mem-
ber of the Association is not enough, a healthy
vigorous interest should be manifested to the
end that the Association may become a great
power for goou in the industry.
THEY ADMIRE THE BEHR PIANOS.
The Hobbie Company, of Roanoke, Va., are
great admirers of the Behr pianos, and in an
announcement published in the Roanoke Times
of August 2, 1905, they say:
"A CLEAN-CUT
STATEMENT.
"During the past twenty years we have
handled most of the leading makes of standard
pianos, but have never had a piano in our ware-
rooms superior to, if as fine, in all its appoint-
ments as the new style Behr 'Louis XV Special,'
which we have just received from the factory.
Nothing can be made of better material or finer
finished. It is superlatively perfect in tone and
touch also. We realize the broadness of this
statement, which we make unhesitatingly, as
piano experts. We ask a thorough examination
of this beautiful piano by every musician in
Roanoke. The more cultured the musician, the
quicker the appreciation of the Behr superiority.
"THE
HOBBIE COMPANY,
"Factory Distributors, Roanoke, Va."
This eloquent tribute is in line with other flat-
tering compliments paid the beautiful instru-
ments of this house. The Hobbie Co. are to be
complimented on their good judgment.
THE "PISTON-ROD" OF THE CONCERN.
A piano man who had been up among the fac-
tories of New England was speaking of a cer-
tain general manager who has a reputation for
work.
"There is no doubt," said he, "about that man.
He's the piston-rod of the concern."
A book of business sermons could not have
said more. The piston-rod! That piece of tem-
pered steel that converts power into motion; that
moves and sets the whole machine going, with-
out which it would be an inert mass; that strong,
resistless rod that overcomes inertia and makes
the locomotive walk away with a great load in
its wake.
It's a bad day for a concern when it attempts
to run without a piston-rod.
l to The Review.)
Chicago, Aug. 28, 1905.
Thos. C. Moore, Traffic Manager of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association of
America, has sent out the following announce-
ment to the members of the Association:
The Western Classification Committee has
made the following ruling, effective October 1,
1905, in regard to the loading of shipments of
unboxed, upright pianos and cabinet organs, in
carload lots, destined to points within the terri-
tory of the Western Classification Committee,
i. e., west of Chicago and the Mississippi River
to the Pacific Coast.
Unboxed upright pianos shipped in carloads
must meet the following requirements in regard
to loading:
1st. Each piano to be completely covered
(except bottom) with paper hood and tarpaulin
or rubber cover.
2d. Each piano placed on wooden shoes, not
less than two inches thick, freeing casters from
car floor.
3d. To the back of each piano there must be
attached two cleats not less than one inch thick
and six inches wide, extending not less than
four inches beyond either end of piano—one at
top and one at bottom—each fastened with not
less than 2 1 /.-inch screws, ends of cleats to be
firmly secured to horizontal braces screwed to
sides and ends of car, the whole forming a
frame work running full length and width of
car, and so secured as to absolutely prevent any
end or side motion of pianos.
4th. A sufficient space must be left between
pianos to prevent rubbing or chafing.
5th. All cleats and bracing to be of hardwood
lumber not less than one inch thick nor less
than six inches wide.
Unboxed organs to be securely braced in car
in similar manner except that it will not be
required that cleats be fastened to instruments,
and if casters are removed, it will not be re-
quired that the organs be set on shoes.
One empty box for return of wrappings and
harness may be included with C. L. shipments
of upright pianos and organs.
Please have your shipping department read
these instructions carefully and be governed
accordingly.
LEARNING PIANO TUNING AT HARDMAN'S.
H. I. Paul, son of L. M. Paul, piano dealer,
Pottsville, Pa., has entered the Hardman piano
factory in this city for the purpose of taking a
thorough course in piano tuning and piano mak-
ing in all its branches. Mr. Paul is a very popu-
lar young man, and a musician and vocalist of
note.
The State Department at Harrisburg, Pa., on
Saturday issued a charter to the A. B. Felge-
maker Erie Organ Co., of Erie, with a capital of
$100,000.