Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Paderewski's New Instrument.
A few weeks ago Paderewski's new instrument
for imitating thunder was used for the first time
in the Sinfonie concert in London. The new
instrument is known as the Tonituone, and Is
All Branches of Industry Working at High Pressure—Business Men in Optimistic Frame of
said to reproduce the rolling of thunder better
Mind—Growth of German Trade with Foreign Countries—Civil Service Clubs and Special
than any instrument so far known. Thunder
Rebates—Piano Dealers Protect Themselves—Hard to Get Men to Head School for Piano
plays an important part in Paderewski's new
Building in Stuttgart—Paderewski's Thunder Machine—Hamburg's Organ Described.
Sinfonie, which was conducted by Dr. Richter,
and
as the composer was not satisfied with the
The struggle in this respect does not confine
(Special to The Review.)
itself to the purchasers, but has spread to the effect produced by the thunder instruments al-
Berlin, Ger., Dec. 24, 1909.
At the present moment all branches of our in- business houses, which endeavor to obtain the ready at his disposal, he set to work to Invent
advantage over each other by offering a higher something which would give better results. He
dustry are working at high pressure. This, of
worked along the lines of the well-known theater
course, is to be directly attributed to the close rebate.
Unfortunately, the piano trade has surpassed idea of hammering a large swinging piece of
proximity of Christmas. It is, however, a very
welcome sign that the idea is gradually gaining all others in this. In the journal of one of the sheet-iron. Paderewski's object was to produce a
larger clubs there appears the name of a firm more refined and more musical effect. He devoted
ground that no very great relapse is to be feared
after New Year. It is also interesting to note dealing in pianos which allows a rebate of 15 a great deal of time to testing different metals and
that the Secretary of State to the Treasury, when per cent., and in addition 5 per cent, for cash. compositions of metal, and finally adopted a
introducing the budget into Parliament, gave ex- Further, if the purchase is made through the composition of steel and copper rolled out fine
pression to his optimistic view that an improve- medium of a teacher of music (as is nearly al- and swung in a brass frame. When struck with
ways the case), an additional allowance of 10 per a kettle-drum stick this device produces the
ment was everywhere noticeable.
effect of thunder with really remarkable reality.
cent, can be obtained, which makes' a rebate of
Growth of Foreign Trade.
The tonituone was used by Dr. Richter during
25
per
cent,
in
all.
Naturally,
the
only
way
in
Apart from the home demand the German
the
rehearsal and gave general satisfaction.
piano trade depends almost exclusively on the which such a rebate can be allowed is by fixing
Hamburg's Great Organ.
the
catalog
prices
correspondingly
high.
The
consumption in Great Britain and Australia. Of
A
new
organ
Is being built in Hamburg which,
the total German exports in pianos one-third goes result is that whereas the firm in question can
when finished, will be the largest in the world.
scarcely
suffer
as
a
result
of
this
policy,
the
ill-
to Great Britain and one-sixth to Australia (ex-
eluding New Zealand). These countries thus ac- effects are felt by other firms which have fixed On July 3, 1906, St. Michael's Church, one of the
count for one-half of the total exports. How- fair and reasonable catalog prices, because the landmarks of the city, was burned to the ground.
The parish of St. Michael and also the Senate
ever, during the last few years the export trade public demand the same ridiculous rebates of
and people of Hamburg generally regarded it as
to Australia has come to a standstill. This is them.
a sacred duty to rebuild the church in its orig-
not due to any increase in the Imports from
Dealers' Association Combatting Nuisance.
other countries, but to the fact that the local
The local piano dealers' associations in Ber- inal form and to provide it with a monumental
industry in Australia is steadily developing. lin and Hamburg have decided to take organ, which is to be built on the same general
The competition for the Australian market for steps to • combat this nuisance, first of all lines as the old one, but will be fitted with all
the present, at all events, will rest between a by arranging that no factory i s to men- the latest Improvements and accomplishments in
factory in Sydney, established some years ago tion a definite rebate in any of the printed the art of organ building. This work has been
and now turning out about 1,500 instruments a lists issued by the employes' clubs, but entrusted to the well-known firm of B. F .
year, and a large German concern in Melbourne, is to restrict itself to such general expressions Walcker & Cie, Ludwigsburg. Ample funds are
the Wertheim piano factory. At the commence- as "Special concessions to members" and the available, thanks to a munificent bequest, and it
ment the latter factory will reach an output of
like. If all piano dealers were members of the has therefore been decided to build a gigantic
about 1,000 instruments a year, but this quantity above societies the trouble would soon be organ with 140 stops. This instrument will sur-
can be doubled or trebled without difficulty, es- stamped out, but as the matter actually stands pass anything of the kind which has yet been
pecially as, with the exception of the iron frames it would seem as if this resolution will only be known, both as regards size and splendid gen-
eral arrangement. There will be more than
and rough wooden parts, all accessories will be to the detriment of firms who are members of
obtained from Germany as far as possible, half- the societies, if non-members again announce 11,000 pipes. The lowest note of the foot-pedal
will be produced by a pipe 11 meters high and
finished. This factory should prosper, because in definite rebate rates.
55 centimeters in diameter. This pipe, which
this way it takes advantage of the cheap German
Two New Inventions.
will be made of English tin, will weigh about
labor so far as accessories are concerned. These
Two new inventions have of late been dis-
accessories will be admitted into Australia free cussed in the trade papers. Even if they are not 11 hundred-weight. All the metal pipes of the
of duty, whereas finished pianos are subject to calculated to lead to any radical changes or de- organ will be made of No. 14 English tin.
The pipes which will be visible in the front of
a duty of 25 to 30 per cent, ad valorem. It
velopments, they are nevertheless worthy of
is therefore not without misgivings that the fu-
the organ will be for an open 32-inch, 16-Inch
notice. The one refers to a reduced size alto-
ture of the Australian piano industry is regarded
and several 8-inch stops. For these pipes No.
viola, the neck of which has been shortened so
from this side.
15 English tin will be used. About 76 hundred-
that young people and ladies can play the in-
weight of English tin will be used for these pipes
strument comfortably. The inventor is the vio-
Employes' Societies and Retail Trade.
alone. The organ will have five keyboards and
The very numerous employes' societies in Ger- lin virtuoso, Heinrich Dessauer, of Linz a.D.
will be provided with a foot-pedal with a com-
(Austria). He has not applied for any patent
many have a very prejudicial influence on retail
pass of 32 notes. The necessary air will be pro-
trade in this country. These societies were orig- protection, so that the instrument can be made
vided by means of two air-forcing machines, each
inally formed of employes in the service of the by any violin builder.
of which will be driven by an eight-horse-power
State, and came into existence on account of the
The second invention is a device for holding
motor. Only electric power could come into con-
very large number of civil servants to be found the pianist's burning cigar while he is playing.
in Germany. These men, although they draw Cigars are generally laid to the right or left of sideration for this purpose on such a large organ.
but very low salaries, are people to whom con- the keyboard, and this often leads to the latter The new organ will be ready and will be taken
siderable credit can be safely allowed, owing to being damaged. The new cigar-holder is ar- into use early in 1912.
their incomes being assured and on account of
ranged in such a way that it cannot fall down on
the dependent positions they occupy. This led to account of the vibration of the instrument when STEINWAY ART GRAND FOR SHEVLIN.
the establishment of numerous clubs for the pur- it is being played, and so that it cannot damage Metropolitan Music Co. Make Important Sale
pose of improving the positions of the members the lid when the same is being closed.
—Increasing Call for Art Pianos.
from an economic point of view. These clubs,
Hard to Get Head for Technical School.
which often had a membership of many thou-
The technical school for piano builders In
(Special to The Review.)
sands, then approached the larger firms with the Stuttgart, about which I have already reported,
Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 29, 1909.
request that they should allow members a special will be opened on April 1, 1910. The greatest
The Metropolitan Music Co. last week sold a
rebate on all purchases made there. Many firms difficulty has been to find a competent director, Steinway art grand piano to Thomas L. Shevlin.
considered it to their interests to comply with who must not only be a thorough master of the This is only one of a number of Steinways of
this request and allowed such an extra rebate, trade, but must also possess organizing talent. special design which have been sold to people
generally 5 per cent. Up to this point no excep- The engagement of a suitable man will, without of means in this locality recently. Nowadays
tion whatever could be taken to the scheme. Be- doubt, be attended with considerable expense, as those who can afford special music rooms desire
fore long, however, the civil service clubs, for the a man with the necessary qualifications will cer- pianos of exclusive designs; they can afford to
sake of obtaining more members and of exercis- tainly not be found out of a position.
buy them, and dealers like to get the orders.
ing a greater influence upon the tradesmen,
Ibach Opens Branch in Berlin.
opened their doors to people who were not civil
CHANGES IN FORT WORTH, TEX.
The well-known piano factory of Ibach, which
servants at all. Later on there sprang up clubs
has its headquarters in Barmen, has now opened
H.
L. Finn, of H. L. Finn & Co., who has
for teachers, officers, musicians, bank employes,
a branch factory in Berlin, where only grand been in charge of the business of the Manufac-
etc. In short, every profession which had a club
pianos will be built. The luxuriously fitted sales- turers' Co. in Fort Worth, Tex., and vicinity, and
with a large membership applied to the trades-
rooms have also been transferred to the new has also been conducting a retail piano business,
men for concessions, so that at the present time
premises. Elegance marks everything which this has retired from that field and has been suc-
a very considerable percentage of all purchases
firm undertakes, and even the actual workshops ceeded by W. E. Husselman, formerly of Okla-
are made with "extra rebate."
are no exception to this.
homa City, Okla., a piano man of wide experience.
MUSIC TRADE NEWS FROM GERMANY