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TH
the web, or face of the plate; the tendency being
to spring the bar from the web, which always
impairs the tune of the piano and often breaks
the bar or plate. Furthermore, if constructed of
cast metal or otherwise, it is important that the
lower or inner edge of the bar present a some-
what rounded edge or bead under which the
strings draw and that a similar bead be pie
sented on the face of said web over which the
strings are drawn between the vibrating portion
of the string and the tuning pin.
Usually a somewhat rounded rib or bearing
Is cast on the face of said web and on the under-
side of the capo tasto bar and these are shaped
by casting and filing for the strings to draw over.
When constructed as above, sand or blow holes
always are present, though frequently these are
not discovered in shaping the ribs, and, in con-
sequence, an imperfect or buzzing tone is pro-
duced when pressure is applied by the strings
being drawn to pitch. This pressure may break
down the thin walls of the blow holes, thereby
destroying the tone character.
It is an object of this invention to provide a
cast metal piano frame of great strength in which
the capo tasto bar is integrally connected with
the frame, especially with the intermediate bars
and brace bar at a plurality of points and in
which a'.so said bar is provided at intervals in its
length with lugs adapted to receive bolts where-
by the bar is rigidly engaged to said web at short
intervals, thereby equalizing the opposite pres-
sure on web and capo tasto bar when the strings
are drawn to pitch and absolutely preventing
either springing away from the other.
It is a further and important object of this
invention to provide on the pressure-sustaining
faces of the bar and the web, ribs or bearings
of steel or other suitable metal, preferably rolled,
which are reduced to the exact form required
before application and thus insure a perfect bear-
ing face for the strings as against the blow holes
where an attempt is made to cast these ribs or
bearings on the web or the capo tasto bar.
It is finally an object of the invention to afford
an exceedingly strong, simple and durable device
of the class described, by the use of which a
piano will usually remain longer in tune, and in
which breakage or springing of parts is impos-
sible.
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
13
TRADE NOTES FROM BALTIMORE.
The Usual Summer Quietude Prevails in Trade
Circles—G. Fred Kranz Entertains the May
Democratic Convention Much Discussed—How
Term
of Grand Jury at Musical Art Club—
Piano People View the Situation—Lucien
Otto Mehlin a Visitor—G. Wright Nicols on a
Wulsin Returns from Europe—D. F. Sum-
Tour of the Pacific Coast—Other Items of
mey, of John Church Co. Secures Good Re-
Interest.
sults from Trip—Howard Spear Bound East.
VSpecial to The Review.)
(Special to The Review.)
Baltimore, Md., July 7, 1908.
The dull season which has prevailed since
the latter days of June was augmented by the
Fourth of July holidays. The result is that very
little to brag of has been doing with the local
dealers the past week. Most of those engaged
in the trade took advantage of the two off days
last week by taking short trips by water and
rail in and around the State, while a number of
the others went as far as Atlantic City. The
indications at the present time are that no real
spurt in the trade will occur until the summer
is over, but everybody is making preparations
for the advent of cooler weather.
President G. Fred Kranz, of the Kranz-Smith
Piano Co., local agents for the Chickering, stated
that local business has not been just what it
should be, but he is confident that things will be
better by September or October.
Mr. Kranz, who is also president of the Musi-
cal Art Club of this city, was the host at a most
delightful entertainment which was held at the
Pimlico Club, last Thursday. His guests were
members of the May term of the Grand Jury and
members of the Musical Art Club. During the
course of the dinner Mr. Hobart Smock, on be-
half of the Art Club and his friends, presented
Mr. Kranz with a beautiful silver loving cup.
The party was taken to the club in a special car.
Dinner was served promptly at six o'clock. After
each toast the Art Club sang appropriate selec-
tions. After eating and the completion of the
toasts the guests sat on the porch where they
smoked, talked and sang until the ladies put in
an appearance. The guests were then entertained
President Lucien Wulsin, of the Baldwin Co., with a soprano solo by Miss Beulah Orem. The
returned to the city this week from a six weeks' soloists during the evening were Joseph C. Mil-
absence in Europe. He looks the picture of
ler, Fred H. Supplee, Harry C. Williams, Hobart
health and will do all he can to inject some Smock, Grant Odell and William Groppel.
momentum into business, which, generally
Members of the grand jury present were: J.
speaking, is lagging woefully, either due to the
Albert
Hughes, foreman; Charles L. Hutchins,
summer's heat or to conditions.
BRASS WIND INSTRUMENT. Issued May 19, 1908,
assistant foreman; Joseph C. H. Benjamin, Dan-
Manager
H.
B.
Lewis,
of
the
Cable
Piano
Co.,
to C. C. Conn, of Elkhart, Ind. Filed April 27,
iel Cloud, Jr., John H. Deckman, Henry J. Fard,
speaking of local trade, said: "It's the little
1907.
Patent No. 887,921.
William J. Chapman, Charles J. Griffith, Henry
things
in
the
trade
that,
count
during
this
busi-
MECHANICAL
MUSIC LADDER FOR TEACHING
S. Hartogensis, William T. Henry, Israel B.
NOTES. Issued May 19, 1908, to L. A. Jaros, of ness lassitude. Small cash sales that hereto- Jones, Jr., Talbott W. Jenkins, Edwin W. King,
fore
would
not
be
considered
so
important
are
Chicago, 111. Filed Jan. 17, 1908. Patent No.
Joseph Lamb, John T. Mooney, Horace Noble,
a large part of the present way business comes
887,811.
Henry W. C. Meyer, Joseph J. Merrefleld, James
in.
Collections
are
fair.
That
trade
isn't
what
PIANO PLAYING MECHANISM.
Issued May 19,
G. Stanley, Edward W. Tudor, Leonidas G. Tur-
1908, to G. H. Davis, of West Orange, N. J. Filed we desire is certain, but we manage to keep ner and Charles Hogendorp.
moving."
Sept. 21, 1905. Patent No. 887,774.
Members of the Art Club: David E. Melamet,
D. F. Summey, manager of the John Church
director; G. Fred Kranz, president; W. H. Tau-
SPIES CREDITORS TO MEET.
Co.'s country retail trade, spent the week visit-
bert, H. C. Mathieu, J. S. Edwards, Charles G.
A second meeting of creditors in the Spies ing Dayton, O.; Indianapolis, Ind., and St. Louis, Scheuerman, Joseph C. Miller, Felix McNally,
Piano Manufacturing Co. bankruptcy matter, set Mo., out in a search for business. He frankly Fred H. Supplee, Harry C. Williams, Hobart
for Tuesday, July 7, has been postponed until states that business is very quiet, but why it Smock, W. W. Tingle, John P. Tingle, A. Cook-
Tuesday, July 28. The meeting will be held at should be, with conditions prevailing that place man Leach, James M. Blake, William G. Horn, J.
the office of Referee M. H. Willis, 80 Wall street, the farmer high and dry in plenty and comfort, Carroll Clark, Grant Odell, Lee W. Summer,
yet can't see any business with a spyglass, keeps
Trustee Joseph N. Courtade presiding.
James A. Clayton, Charles N. Parrish, William
him wondering. He says the farmers and many
city
people,
having
the
cash,
won't
buy,
and
LTJDWIG REMINDERS.
give the reason: "We are just waiting to see
Ludwig & Co., piano manufacturers of New what's going to happen." He wonders what this
York, are sending out some illustrated post cards means for the politicians.
showing designs of their instruments, accom-
J. E. Humes, of Columbus, Ga., was a John
panied by a suitable slogan. One showing their Church Co. visitor during the week, looking for
Style R Rococo cabinet upright has this quota- pianos.
tion: "Ludwig quality is everlasting." These
B. S. Porter, of Lima, O., was here during the
little reminders are a happy idea.
week calling on Smith & Nixon and John
are conscientiously made, good
Church Co.
CLOSING OUT HIS STOCK.
instruments;
in other words, the
Joseph I. McCourt Piano Co., at 30 West
sweetest things out.
R. L. Berry, who handles the Lutz and Schiller Seventh street, is the newest addition to the
pianos in Springfield, 111., intends retiring.
local piano dealers.
Nugent & Gillham are another new firm of
piano dealers in this city. They will handle the
Kurtzmann as their leader.
Howard Spear, manager of the Aeolian Co.'s
warerooms, leaves next week for the East on a
short business trip. He states that the local
RUDOLF PIANO CO.
store's fiscal year ended Tuesday of last week,
458 E. 144th Street,
NEW YORK.
ami in the light of existing conditions, makes
a good showing.
Cincinnati, O., July 7, 1908.
The local piano trade has gone on a vacation,
if the dealers' summary of the situation be true.
They are frankly of opinion that the piano busi-
ness is hibernating.
The Democratic national convention is in the
minds of the piano men, and many were free in
discussing the probable nomination of Mr. Bryan
and of his chances for election. The adherents
of each side, Bryan or Taft, appear to be about
evenly divided. In one of the largest of our
piano houses the president and secretary are
firm believers in Taft and the good he will do
the country, while two of the heads of depart-
ments, who are feeling the shoe pinch most and
who are in close touch with the laboring man
are equally certain that Mr. Bryan will be elect-
ed. One of these men gave as his reason for
supporting Bryan that he believes conditions
can't be worse, and that Mr. Bryan will more
truly represent the great middle class of this
country, as Roosevelt has done, than will Taft.
The argument that the prosperity and salvation
of the country lies only in placating and appeas-
ing the monied powers doesn't satisfy the work-
ing man, who still believes in a free government.
These managers of men in the piano business
see the situation in a more practical light than
the heads of the firm, and it may be a good indi-
cation of the probable line-up of Taft and Bryan
men, the heads of firms seeing only prosperity
through Taft and the salesmen and workingman
only through some change in administration.
This is the situation among our piano dealers.
RUDOLF
PIANOS