Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1907 Vol. 44 N. 19

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
will now be everything east of the Mississippi,
and will leave the factory at New Castle, Ind., this
Political Campaign Has Very Little Effect on week on a four weeks' trip, during which time
he will make some of the largest Eastern cities.
Piano Sales—Business Good—Annual Meet-
ing of Wm. Knabe & Co. Held May 1 ; Had J. A. Greenstreet, sales manager for the Krell-
Prosperous Year—The Stieff Pianos at the French Piano Co., will accompany Mr. Brainerd
on this trip with a view of becoming personally
Jamestown Exposition—Other Houses Re-
acquainted with the trade.
port Satisfactory Trade.
TRADE IN BALTIMORE.
11
PIANO ART CRITICISED.
W. Dale in London Lecture Claims Modern
Piano Is Not an Artistic Object—18th Cen-
tury Squares of Better Design—Matter of
Evolution—Prefers Dull Finish and Advo-
cates Painted Panels—George Rose of Broad-
wood's Replies.
In a recent lecture before the London Society
NEW DECKER CATALOG
of Arts, W. Dale ventured some caustic criticism
Baltimore, Md., May 6, 1907.
upon the modern piano as an art product when
Contrary to expectations the windup of the Will Soon be Ready for the Trade -Will Show
called upon to speak on the artistic treatment of
municipal campaign in this city has had very
All Their New Styles.
the exterior of the pianoforte.
little effect on the piano business during the past
"I am fully aware of the difficulties which beset
week, and from all appearances the trade will
Decker & Son, manufacturers of pianos at
the
path of the pianoforte maker who may be
continue active right along, notwithstanding the 971-973 East 135th street, are compiling a new
fact that the to-morrow will, to some extent, be catalogue and expect to have it ready for dis- artistically inclined. The public will have iron-
a holiday in consequence of the election of a tribution early in July. The volume will have framed and powerful sounding instruments, and
Mayor and other city officials. Good orders are twenty-four pages, fully illustrating in half-tone such require cases of a certain amount of mass-
coming in at the various factories, and the work- cuts all the. new creations that are to be added to iveness. Herein largely lies the difficulty of
men have their hands full to get them out on the regular line, and what is most important treating them artistically," said Mr. Dale. "The
time. This is very pleasing to the dealers and the descriptive text which appears opposite each modern piano is not an artistic object. The in-
manufacturers who for a while were led to be- illustration will enable a dealer to study each in- exorable law of evolution is responsible for this.
lieve that the business during the spring season strument at a glance. The text referred to will The square pianos of the eighteenth century were
would not be up to the standard of that in past also denote the size and finish of each case, and well proportioned, and admitted of some deco-
years. The retail business has taken a boom the point will be fully appreciated by every rative treatment, which, though simple, was
since the first of the month, and the salesmen buyer. The catalog will be printed in two colors, often most happy. But as the construction of the
are a busy lot in their efforts to show each and and the front cover will have a new and original square piano improved, to meet the musical re-
every customer the style of piano they desire.
design that will be most pleasing to the eye; in quirements of succeeding generations, its size
and unwieldiness increased, until it was finally
William Knabe & Co. report business to be fact, the catalog will be one of the most ornate improved off the face of the earth. The grand
excellent. Charles H. Keidel, Jr., a member of ever issued by this enterprising concern.
pianos of the eighteenth century were built so
the firm, has just returned from a trip to Cleve-
nearly upon the lines of the old harpsichords
land, O., where he went to look after some im-
J. R. PENN'S UNIQUE CONTEST.
that you could not tell the difference until you
portant business for the house. The annual
opened them.
meeting of the firm was held May 1, and the re-
J. R. Penn, the piano dealer of Sandusky, O.,
"Early in the nineteenth century their form be-
ports of the secretary showed that the firm had a who handles among other makes the Mehlin,
most prosperous year in every respect during Bush & Gerts, Bush & Lane, and Schaeffer pianos, gan to deteriorate as their interior construction
altered. The frame, or stand, with its familiar
1906.
has started a unique contest, offering a prize of
The Charles M. Stieff house is jubilant over $10 to the person bringing in the number of his stretcher, was abandoned for legs, and the pedals,
the fact that the Auditorium they occupy at the square piano which is nearest to the number instead of being attached to the front legs, were
Jamestown Exposition is among the few build- of pianos sold in the United States during 1906. disposed of in a lyre-shaped construction depend-
ings at the fair that have been completed. From Just how Mr. Penn expects to discover the actual ing from the body of the instrument. As iron
the opening day the firm have been giving two re- number of pianos sold in 1906 and how he will bars and iron framing came in, and the tension
citals daily.* On Wednesday, May 1, a special re- prove his figures should any dispute arise be- of the strings largely increased, the case of the
cital was given for 250 school teachers, and the tween claimants for the prize, is not stated in piano had to be made increasingly strong. Its
elegant proportions vanished, and the legs soon
representatives of the Railways of America. On connection with the offer.
became elephantine in size. A tendency has lately
Friday, April 29, President Roosevelt was enter-
sprung up to revert to the smaller-sized grands.
tained by a delightful concert given under the
M0NTENEGR0-RIEHM PUBLICITY.
But the exigencies of modern compass require
Stieff auspices. The artists engaged by the firm
the keyboard to be wide, and the result is a
are nearly all New Yorkers, .and they include Ed-
Tile Montenegro-Riehm Music Co., Louisville, horizontal instrument almost square. These
win M. Shonert, pianist; Joseph Maers, pianist; Ky., are meeting with much success in their
Earl J. Pfouts, violinist, and Mrs. Cecilia Niles, original and unique advertising in the news- pianofortes, although called by endearing titles,
are ugly in inverse proportion to the sweetness
soprano.
papers of giving a $350 Haines Bros, piano away of the names they bear."
Sanders & Stayman Co. have done a good busi- to the person having the oldest piano in actual
On the subject of decorations, the lecturer main-
ness during the week just ended.
use in Louisville, New Albany or Jeffersonville, tained that the dazzling surface of French polish,
H. R. Eisenbrandt & Sons have had an un- Ind. Several hundred names are now on «the
usually heavy amount of spring business in the list, showing the great interest the public is like carriage varnish, was not beautiful, but to
dull wax polish there can be no objection. If
sheet music and talking machine trade. The taking in the offer.
hand-carving be employed, the carvings should
piano business in so far as this particular firm
be
left from the chisel. Quiet inlays of wood had
are concerned has not been so good because of the
PURCHASE BIG ESTEY PIPE ORGAN.
a beautiful effect, likewise ormolu, if not over-
closeness of the summer holidays.
done. Plaques and medallions of the eighteenth
Unlike the other dealers the Kranz-Smith
The Methodist Church, of Rocky Ford, Col., century might be reverted to with advantage.
Piano Co., according to members of the firm, has contracted for the installing of a mammoth
Some makers had already copied the beautiful
have had a rather poor work week. They are pipe organ. The instrument is to cost $2,100
strap
hinges of brasswork; but much more might
hopeful of better results within a week or two.
and will be built by the Estey Co., of Brattle- be done in this direction. But he felt that the art
boro, Vt. It will be of the two-manual and
of painting was most neglected in the piano. The
pedal variety and will contain 567 pipes of full panels of the cottage piano and the surface of
BRAINERD WITH KRELL=FRENCH
compass through the various registers. A water the grand piano lent themselves to such deco-
Will Cover the Territory East of the Mississippi
motor is to furnish power. The instrument, rative treatment.
— H e Leaves This Week on an Extended
which will be 125 feet in height and 17 feet in
George Rose, of John Broadwood & Sons, re-
Trip Accompanied on His Tour by J. A. width, will be placed in the choir loft.
plied
to the lecturer's question—why is the piano
Greenstreet.
the thing we see it? The answer to that was
TO HANDLE PIANOS.
that the piano was what the makers found they
Charles W. Brainerd, who formerly represent-
were able to sell. If the piano maker were to
ed the Krell-French Piano Co., covering the terri-
Having moved into new quarters at 740 Broad
work upon the lines Mr. Dale had suggested, he
tory. we?t of the Mississippi to the Pacific Coast, street, where they have a very large store, with
would be utterly unable to pay his way. If their
has returned to their employ after a year's ab- room to spare, the Manhattan Phonograph Co., of
clients could only be educated, the manufacturers
sence, during which time he was selling the same Newark, N. J., announce that they will in future
would be only too glad to make what they knew
line as manager of the St. Louis house of the 0. carry a large line of pianos, though the make
to be things of beauty. Though constantly talk-
K. Houck Piano Co. Mr. Brainerd's territory has not been stated.
ing about education in art, as in other things,
the public were not yet able to appreciate always
what was really beautiful. It was no use asking
why the piano was always made of rosewood and
polished like a boot. It was simply because the
Saves Time and Money to Every Business Man
public wanted it, and would not buy it if it
LEX ME TELL YOU HOW IX DOES IX
were made of anything else. With regard to the
questions as to the shape of the grand piano, and
the suggestion that it might be made vertical, the
idea might, doubtless, be carried out, for the
COMMERCIAL TALKING MACHINES
clavicitherium, or upright spinet, a very rare
320 BROADWAY
-
-
.
.
-
_
-
-
NEW YORK
instrument, was of this form.
(Special to The Review.)
The Commercial Talking Machine
HENRY P. ROBERTS
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
DEPARTMENT OF PATENTS.
Issued to R. S. Bowan and F.
H. White, April 30, 1907. Patent No. 851,646.
This invention consists in the application to
Conducted and Edited by Wm. B. White.
the grand piano action of the metal hammer-butt
changed for anything else of equal value, except flange, well-known as applied to the upright ac-
THE PIANO PLAYER AND THE TUNER.
perhaps the technic of a Rosenthal. We cannot tion. The inventors point out the desirability of
I suppose that the average member of our all have Rosenthal's technic in our hands, but applying the metal flange system to the grand
craft would strongly dispute the implication that the player gives it to us. The music-lover who action, but state that such application has hither-
tuners as a rule are reactionaries, yet the state- may possess temperament, taste, appreciation to been impossible on account of the impossi-
ment is strictly true. The whole history of piano and every other qualification of the musician ex- bility of maintaining in true position the repeti-
development, if read from the inside, shows how cept developed technic, finds his solace in the tion lever regulating screw that must pass
strongly the piano tuners, upon whose shoulders player. Then who shall say that it is merely a through the hammer flange. The inventors,
therefore, use a metal flange wherein the center-
rests the responsibility of caring for the piano fad?
pin is secured by a removable metal cap plate
after purchase, have invariably adopted an atti-
Regarding the second objection, I can also say (as in the usual metallic flange for uprights) and
tude of hostility to new inventions and improve-
ments. To begin at the beginning, the introduc- from personal experience that it is equally in- arrange this plate so that it can be extended at
tion of the equal temperament in tuning pianos valid. Cheap and faulty players, rushed on to one end and bent over on to the repetition lever
met with the greatest opposition, and there are the market in the eagerness of their makers to regulating screw, locking it in place against acci-
still tuners in obscure parts of the world who get into the field, may indeed give trouble con- dental rotation.
adhere to the old mean tone system. Again, the tinually; but the tuner ought to rejoice rather
In the specification the inventors says: "We
present standard form of tuning hammer was than lament over this, for it surely means more provide means for locking the regulating screw
not successful until a large amount of time had money in his pocket if he can undertake the from accidental or undesired turning movement.
been spent in overcoming the prejudices of the remedying of the troubles; but, as a matter of Preferably, in carrying the invention into effect
old-fashioned tuners in favor of the obsolete T- fact, there is no more trouble to be apprehended we utilize a portion of the cap-plate for the pur-
hammer. Still later the high-minded attempt of from a good player than from a good piano which pose of thus locking the regulating screw. In
Mason & Hamlin to popularize a scientific method has an equal amount of use from day to day. order to afford ready access to the securing screw
of stringing met with defeat, principally on ac- Moreover, any tuner who is familiar with organ for the cap plate, we form the hammer flange
count of the general opposition of the tuners, repairing, and who will take the trouble to mas- with the lug thereof inclined obliquely toward
who hated to trifle with any invention that dis- ter the principles of player operation, can have the strings, and apply the cap plate and screw
turbed them in their time-honored methods and absolutely no difficulty in doing any and all re- to the said lug in such manner that in the nor-
devices, and this in spite of the extraordinary ad- pairs on these instruments that can be done out- mal retracted position of the hammer the head
vantages that the system possessed; in fact, wher- side of a factory. Here again I speak strictly of the said screw shall be exposed between the
ever the inventor or reformer has intruded him- from personal experience.
hammer stem and the springs. In the case of
The third objection relates to the interior play- the grand piano, the said lugs extend toward the
self into the piano business he has had to deal
with the forces of obstruction represented by the er and appears at first sight to have far more upper side of the hammer stem."
weight than the others. But even this one fades
tuners.
PIANO ACTIONS. Issued to M. Miller, April 30,
away under criticism, for the modern interior 1907. Patent No. 851,894.
The invention consists of a new means for at-
The latest example of this sort; of thing is player is so built that all of the mechanism can
found in the curiously illogical spirit of hos- be removed from the piano case in a few minutes, taching a jack between hammer butt and key of
tility that is being manifested by many in the leaving the instrument in precisely the same con- an upright piano action. The jack is directly
craft toward the piano player. It is perfectly dition as before the player was placed within it. pivoted to the key, which latter is balanced in
true that the handling of these instruments re- So that the old objections regarding the difficulty a novel manner upon a transverse rod, which
quires extra knowledge and no little experience, of putting in strings, regulating the piano ac- replaces the usual balance pins.
but it is not true to suppose that this knowledge tion and so on, fall to the ground when minutely
PIANO PLAYER MECHANISMS. Issued to H. K.
is not worth acquirement. On the contrary, but examined.
Sandell, April 30, 1907. Patent No. 852,299.
The same answers can be given, substantially,
little thought is needed to discern the self-evi-
The invention consists of a new device for en-
dent fact that the use of the player means ulti- to any other objections that are from time to suring true feeding of the perforated roll. Taut-
mately more pianos sold, and also that each piano time urged against the piano player. The best ening means are provided in connection with the
will need more frequent tuning, on account of test, after all, is time, and certainly the ten years feed spools, acting upon the perforated roll.
the vastly greater amount of playing which will that have elapsed since the first putting of these
be continually done upon it. In other words, devices on the market has witnessed such an ex-
RIEDLING PIANO CO. INCORPORATED.
the player, far from being a detriment to the traordinary increase in the business as amply to
The Riedling Piano Co., Plymouth, Wis., who
tuner, is a positive benefit, and it therefore be- justify the belief that the player has not only
hooves him to take notice of the fact that it is proved its right to exist, but has come to stay recently incorporated with a capital of $30,000
here, and to busy himself with the task of ac- permanently, therefore, brethren, get busy, and to engage in manufacturing, have purchased a
factory building on Appleton street, that city,
quiring the knowledge necessary to become com- join the procession.
and will shortly begin operations.
petent to remedy the various ills attendant upon
Tools and outfits for piano tuners multiply
these devices.
yearly, and yet it is a remarkable fact that there
BR0UGHT0N OPENS THIRD STORE.
The objections most frequently heard among has never been devised a kit of tools that will
tuners to the piano player and its allied instru- be at once adequate for purposes of extensive re-
R. L. Broughton, a music dealer of Clay Cen-
ments may be easily stated. One is that the pairing and sufficiently compact to be easily
player merely represents a fad, and that it will portable. A number of excellent kits have been ter, Kan., and with a branch store in Manhattan,
soon die out. Another is that the instrument is devised, which are in every way satisfactory for that state, has opened a third store in Abilene,
so complicated that it can never give satisfaction city work, and there is no criticism to be made Kan. He enjoys a very successful business,
after a short period of use. A third is that the of these. I refer, rather, to the needs of the which is continually increasing.
interior player actions are a nuisance within the tuner whose practice is largely in the country
J. T. Reese, a piano dealer, formerly of Weir,
piano, and make more trouble for the tuner than districts, and who is continually called upon to
his customers are willing to pay for. And so on, undertake comparatively extensive repairs. Such Kan., has moved to Pittsburg, Kan.
ad infinitum.
a man needs a tool assortment varying largely
from that which suffices for his city colleague.
Now, as a matter of fact, not one of these ob- His case, for example, must have room for piano
jections is in the least valid. It is no more cor- wire, punchings, center-pins, glue-pot (not liquid
THE BEST IN THE WORLD
rect to suppose that the player will prove to be glue), hammer heads and shanks, springs, bush-
Simple,
Durable and Absolutely Noiseless
merely a fad than it would have been for a ing cloth, felt, leather and many other things.
NOT
AFFECTED BY CLIMATE
harpsichord player or maker to say sneeringly All these above and beyond tools. The latter,
that the new-fangled piano would prove to be too, besides turning hammer, wedges, tuning fork
merely a passing fancy among musicians. The and regulating irons, must include drill, bits,
makers and merchants who deal in players have small saw, plane, monkey wrench and similar
succeeded in convincing the public that the play- tools. All these are continually called for in re-
er is a great educational factor, and that a cours? pair work. Add to this a polishing outfit, and
in musical appreciation can be undertaken no- the total equipment is of considerable size and
where with little trouble and with such complete- weight. There is a demand, therefore, for an
Annoyance and Expense
ness as through the medium of one of these in- outfit specially designed to combine this com-
Saved Dealer and Purchaser
genious devices. Speaking from practical expe- pleteness with portability. When such an outfit
Manufactured and aold only by
rience, I can say that my own player has done is designed, I, for one, want to enter an order for
more to familiarize me with a very large num- immediate delivery.
ber of great pianoforte works than all the re-
citals that I have ever heard, while the personal
ALBERT F. NORRIS
CLIFTON H. NORRIS
Communications for the department should be
sense of musical production, always present with addressed to the Editor Technical Department,
3 Appleton Street, Boston, Mass.
a fine player well played on, can not be ex- The Music Trade Review.
PIANO ACTIONS.
The Standard of America
T
f MORRIS PATENT
* IHOISELESS|EDAL ACTION
Norris Noiseless Pedal lotion Go.

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