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THE
RARE FINDJN_OLD PIANOS.
One of the Very Few Uprights Made by Haw-
kins, of Philadelphia, Dated 1801, Has Turned
Up in New York—Such an Early Example
of American Piano Making Deserves Preser-
vation for Posterity.
In the show window of the Wissncr store at
Fifth avenue and Fifteenth street, New York,
stands a modest-appearing little case of inlaid ma-
hogany, with the marks of old age and painstaking
hand-workmanship all over it. Closer inspection
reveals a panel in the upper part, which pulls down
at right angles, revealing a keyboard. Within an
ivory label bears the revered name "Hawkins, Phil-
adelphia," the date 1801 and the serial number 6.
There seems to be no doubt that the piano is a
genuine Hawkins, one of the few made by that un-
fortunate genius, who is recognized by historians
to-day as the inventor of the upright piano. It is,
indeed, a rare treasure that stands so modestly in
the window. The only other Hawkins piano of
which we have any trace is that described by Hip-
kins and standing in the museum of the Broadwood
House, in London.
The present specimen would be about one year
older than the London instrument, and, rather un-
fortunately, has been "restored." New strings and
tuning pins have been fitted within recent years as
well as a new action. The original wooden keys
have been retained, however, and the soundboard
and case construction have escaped the hands of
the improver.
From examination of the piano one may see that
Hawkins' ideas as to iron bracing were indeed very
much in advance of his time. On the other hand,
his foresight is justified by the fact that the piano,
after 109 years and much not always judicious
"restoration," is still in playable condition, and
even has a very fair tone.
The Hawkins pianos are extremely rare and
hence very valuable. But, even apart from this,
they represent the first practical attempt at building
what is now called an "upright" piano. Hawkins
himself managed to produce a most remarkable lot
of new ideas in practical shape while building his
instruments, and everything which he devised has
in later days been developed and claimed as novel
and revolutionary. The piano has four octaves
compass, and is without pedals. There is, however,
a Venetian swell arrangement in the bottom panel,
which apparently would be operated by a knee-
lever, although the latter is no longer to be seen.
Such an instrument as this is a historical curi-
osity of considerable artistic and antiquarian value.
Its place is in a museum, and it is to be hoped that
it may come under the notice of the Metropolitan
Museum authorities, provided that the owner, H. S.
Praetorius, of the Wissner house, would care to
part with it. So few really interesting old Ameri-
can pianos are in existence that such a treasure as
this should by all means be preserved to posterity.
MUSIC TRADE
miles from Nassau. The farm is being conducted
by himself and his sons, who, in addition, have re-
established the factory for the manufacture of
jew's-harps that was formerly conducted in this
place. Mr. Smith is an Englishman and is credited
with conducting the only establishment of the kind
in the United States.
AUSTRALIA'S DUTY ON PIANOS.
Despite High Tariff Foreign Musical Instru-
ments, Notably Those of German Creation,
Continue to Find a Large Market.
In Australia they now have a duty of 30 per
cent, on foreign musical instruments and of 25
per cent, on those of British origin—a preference
of 5 per cent, in favor of the mother country.
What is the result? asks the London "Truth." The
answer given by it is: "Are foreign pianos kept
out? Not a bit of it. The vast bulk of the pianos
sold to-day in Australia are still imported. More
striking still, although there is a preference in
favor of the British trade, the Germans still carry
off an overwhelming proportion of the total amount
of business." In free-trade England, on the other
hand, the value of the foreign pianos imported fell
from £706,061 in 1906 to £613,759 in 1908.
ORDERS FOR 465_PIANOS IN ONE DAY.
These Were Received by Smith, Barnes &
Strohber on Monday of Last Week—Who
Said Business Was Bad?
f
REVIEW
OUTSIDE SALES FORCE DISMISSED.
W. C. Mellor Can't Trace Results to Outside
Sales Forces and Inaugurates New P o l i c y -
How Prospective Customers Will Be Reached.
(Special to The Review.)
Pittsburg, Pa., July 18, 1910.
W. C. Mellor, head of the C. C. Mellor Co.,
agents in this city for the Steinway, Weber,
Steck, Stuyvesant and other well-known pianos,
has inaugurated a new policy. He has discharged
the entire outside sales force on the ground that
their services were no longer necessary, inasmuch
as business could be conducted with profit and more
effectively by their absence.
Mr. Mellor, when seen about the move, stated
that he believed that customers should enjoy the
same freedom in buying a piano as they do in buy-
ing other lines of merchandise, and added: "They
should not be influenced by unscrupulous commis-
sion fakers. The intelligent buyers of to-day ap-
preciate clean and straight-forward methods, a
strictly one-price policy for every one, and with
no outside solicitors to annoy patrons."
"We have gone into this matter very carefully,"
said Mr. Mellor, "and after going over the books
have come to the conclusion that the amount of
business brought to us by the outside sales force
did not pay for the business secured. In the future
we intend to secure most of our business through
advertising and through the mails and by making a
personal appeal to the individual whom we believe
there is a chance to do business with."
The Mellor move, which, of course, will save
thousands of dollars in salaries annually, has
caused considerable discussion among the trade
throughout the city, and it is generally believed that
Mr. Mellor is taking a step which he believes to be
for the best.
CUNNINQHAMJX). COMPLAIN.
Appeal to State Railroad Commission for Penn-
sylvania Siding.
(Special to The Review.)
Harrisburg, Pa., July 18, 1910
The Cunningham Piano Co., of Philadelphia,
have notified the State Railroad Commission that
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. have refused a sid-
ing for the complainant at their factory, on the
Main Line, at Fiftieth street and Parkside avenue.
The respondent insists that a siding would inter-
fere with the shifting of freight cars into the re-
pair shop.
WEAVER ORGANS FOR HOLLAND.
(Special to The Review.)
York, Pa., July 16, 1910.
The Weaver Organ & Piano Co. have just re-
ceived an order for 12 organs of special style from
one of their customers in Holland. The instru-
ments will be shipped within the next few weeks.
The plant is being operated to its full capacity.
JOHN M. GALLUP RETURNS.
John M. Gallup, of John M. Gallup & Co., agents
for the Chickering, Mehlin, Vose, Behning, Kroeger
and other well-known pianos, returned from Europe
last week by the "Kronprinzessin Cecilie." He
enjoyed his trip on the European continent im-
mensely, and is now in splendid trim for an active
business campaign.
CHAS. H. BROWN IN CHARGE.
Chas. H. Brown has succeeded the late J. George
Sharker as manager of the Cable-Nelson Piano
Co.'s establishment in Kalamazoo, Mich. Mr.
Brown has been associated with the Cable-Nelson
house for the past four years.
We are now located in our NEW FACTORY,
KINGSTON, N. Y.
and with added facilities we are in a position to
give our customers better service than ever before.
In view of the fact that the Smith, Barnes &
Strohber Co., of Chicago, 111., received orders on
Monday for 465 pianos, there is little room for
complaint regarding general business conditions.
This, however, is not the largesc six days' business
transacted by this well-known institution, but, in
view of the general quieting up of trade and the
pessimistic utterances in some quarters, it indicates
that there are still orders to be had if business is
properly developed. It speaks eloquently, too, of
the values that the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co.
are giving the trade.
Ramsey's Silent All Steel Trap Work.
It has no equal.
SMITH MOVES HIS JEW'S-HARP FACTORY.
(Special to The Review.)
Rensselaer, N. Y., July 18, 1910.
John R. Smith, who for many years conducted
a small factory for the manufacture of jew's-harps
on Sixth street, this town, has sold out the prop-
erty and located on a farm of 110 acres about two
^—
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Office and Factory,
Ghas. R a m s e y Co., Kingston, N. Y.
MANUFACTURERS PIANO HARDWARE AND SPECIALTIES