Music Trade Review
Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 3-B - Page 11
\
September 5th, 1880
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
13
JARDINE & SONS' CATHEDRAL ORGAN.-INTERIOR.
TEIOKS OF THE TRADE.
THE CENTENNIAL HUMBUG AGAIN.
MY attention has been recently drawn to an advertising circular issued by the
" Schomacker Pianoforte Manufacturing Company," of Philadelphia, in which it is stated
that said company obtained, at the Centennial Exhibition in that city, in 1876, " the
highest possible result for their instruments," and " First Prize Medal and Diploma, with
highest honors ever accorded to any maker in the world, by unanimous verdict of the Jury
of Group XXV." To this are added figures asserted to have been given by the four
Judges on Pianofortes, as expressive of the Tone, Equality (of tone), Quality and Touch
of the Instruments exhibited by that company. The figure 6 denoting highest rank on
each of the several points just named, showing a possible 96, that number denoted the
highest rank in the opinion of the judges. The assertion is untrue. No exhibitor ol
pianofortes obtained 96 points, the nearest thereto being 95 1-2. The total obtained by
the Schomacker company, was 52 1-4 out of a possible 96, and this 52 I-4 only by a very
liberal construction. These advertisements now in extensive circulation, have reached this
neighborhood. They set forth the names of the four judges (one being misspelt), and
beneath these names the figure 6 opposite each of the points above named. By no one of
these judges were such figures of ranking given. The statement is wholly false. There
is also another untruth conveyed in the advertisement of this company that their instru-
ments were placed above all competitors for "powerful, rich, pure tone, elastic, easy
touch, superior construction, exquisite finish, with the greatest volume as shown in all
their styles." All that the judges did say of the instruments this company exhibited may
be found in the printed " Book of Awards of Group XXV, at the Centennial Exhibition of
1876," page 140, No. 36, and is this: " Commended for power/til tone, general good
construction and workmanship."
This book may be seen at the Essex Institute Library,
in Salem, and in other public libraries. It was published by J. B. Lippincott and Com-
pany of Philadelphia, in 1878, and contains the Reports of Judges of Group XXV, and the
language of their Awards.
My name, and that of my associates having been used in apparent endorsement of the
statements made by this company, I deem it a duty to each of us and to the public to con-
tradict these audacious falsities.
The system of awards adapted by the United States Commission in charge of the Cen-
tennial Exhibition, was novel, and differed essentially from those adopted at other similar
exhibitions in Europe. Though, in some features, commendable, it was not without its
faults, one of these being the opportunity afforded for exaggerated advertising. Such op-
portunity has not been ignored, and instances have occurred where the exaggeration has
been carried to the extent of positive falsification.
The instructions given by the Commission to the judges assigned to the several
departments of the exhibition, directed, substantially, that they should make no compara-
tive grades between exhibits of the same kind, designating one as best, another as second
best, one as third best, and so on ; but that they (the judges) should, after careful exam-
ination, determine which among such exhibits possessed such merit as would fairly entitle
them to favorable notice by the Commission, or, in the common phraseology of the
judges, to an award; not distinguishing such award as highest or lowest. In fact, there
was no suck thing as " highest award" assigned to any exhibitor, and any claim made by
any exhibitor that he received the "highest award" at the exhibition, is simply an
untruth and a falsification of the record, adopted as an advertising fiction. To each
exhibitor whose exhibit was deemed sufficiently meritorious, the judges deputed to examine
it recommended to the Commission that an award should be given, specifying in brief, in
what such merit consisted. The successful exhibitors received each a bronze medal, alike
in all respects, and a diploma setting forth the decision of the judges and the reasons why
an " award " was recommended,—said diploma being signed by the proper group-judges
and endorsed by the president and other officers of the Commission. These reasons
varied much in detail, being in some instances very brief, where the merit was only suffic-
ient to justify an award, on the most liberal construction ; and in other instances, quite
elaborately expressed. The awards then, consisting merely of an explanatory diploma
and a perfectly similar bronze medal, there can be no legitimate claim made by an exhibitor
that he received for his exhibit either diploma or medal " above all other competitors."
There was no such point as above or below recognized. The advertisements that have
since, by some exhibitors, been scattered broadcast, are thoroughly deceptive and unscru-
pulously false.
HENRY K. OLIVER,
One of the Judges on Musical Instruments, at the Centennial Exhibition of 187 b.
SALEM, Mass., July 30, 1880.
BEHNINO.—Mr. Henry Behning expects to return to New York on the
Steamer " Moselle," which leaves Bremen September 6.
SOHMBK.—Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have sold two upright pianos to the
New York College of Music.
HEMPSTEAD.—Mr. H. N. Hempstead, of Milwaukee, who is the agent in
that city for Messrs Kranich & Bach, was in town August 30.
HTJTCHINS.—Mr. J. Hutchins, of Springfield, Mass., agent in that town
for Messrs. Kranich & Bach, was in the city last week.
EXPORT TRADE.—Messrs. Kranich & Bach report their trade with Brazil
increasing.
J. & C. FISCHEK.—The late fire in the drying-room of this house did not
affect their business to any extent; they have two factories in separate local-
ities, and, consequently, unless both buildings should burn, their business
could not be stopped altogether. We hear that Messrs. J. & C. Fischer have
lately reformed their drying-room and put in a new steam fire extinguisher.
HENRY BEHB & BRO.—Messrs. Henry Behr & Bro. report business,
active ; they shipped a carload of cases to Boston Aug. 31,
September 5th, 1880
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
13
JARDINE & SONS' CATHEDRAL ORGAN.-INTERIOR.
TEIOKS OF THE TRADE.
THE CENTENNIAL HUMBUG AGAIN.
MY attention has been recently drawn to an advertising circular issued by the
" Schomacker Pianoforte Manufacturing Company," of Philadelphia, in which it is stated
that said company obtained, at the Centennial Exhibition in that city, in 1876, " the
highest possible result for their instruments," and " First Prize Medal and Diploma, with
highest honors ever accorded to any maker in the world, by unanimous verdict of the Jury
of Group XXV." To this are added figures asserted to have been given by the four
Judges on Pianofortes, as expressive of the Tone, Equality (of tone), Quality and Touch
of the Instruments exhibited by that company. The figure 6 denoting highest rank on
each of the several points just named, showing a possible 96, that number denoted the
highest rank in the opinion of the judges. The assertion is untrue. No exhibitor ol
pianofortes obtained 96 points, the nearest thereto being 95 1-2. The total obtained by
the Schomacker company, was 52 1-4 out of a possible 96, and this 52 I-4 only by a very
liberal construction. These advertisements now in extensive circulation, have reached this
neighborhood. They set forth the names of the four judges (one being misspelt), and
beneath these names the figure 6 opposite each of the points above named. By no one of
these judges were such figures of ranking given. The statement is wholly false. There
is also another untruth conveyed in the advertisement of this company that their instru-
ments were placed above all competitors for "powerful, rich, pure tone, elastic, easy
touch, superior construction, exquisite finish, with the greatest volume as shown in all
their styles." All that the judges did say of the instruments this company exhibited may
be found in the printed " Book of Awards of Group XXV, at the Centennial Exhibition of
1876," page 140, No. 36, and is this: " Commended for power/til tone, general good
construction and workmanship."
This book may be seen at the Essex Institute Library,
in Salem, and in other public libraries. It was published by J. B. Lippincott and Com-
pany of Philadelphia, in 1878, and contains the Reports of Judges of Group XXV, and the
language of their Awards.
My name, and that of my associates having been used in apparent endorsement of the
statements made by this company, I deem it a duty to each of us and to the public to con-
tradict these audacious falsities.
The system of awards adapted by the United States Commission in charge of the Cen-
tennial Exhibition, was novel, and differed essentially from those adopted at other similar
exhibitions in Europe. Though, in some features, commendable, it was not without its
faults, one of these being the opportunity afforded for exaggerated advertising. Such op-
portunity has not been ignored, and instances have occurred where the exaggeration has
been carried to the extent of positive falsification.
The instructions given by the Commission to the judges assigned to the several
departments of the exhibition, directed, substantially, that they should make no compara-
tive grades between exhibits of the same kind, designating one as best, another as second
best, one as third best, and so on ; but that they (the judges) should, after careful exam-
ination, determine which among such exhibits possessed such merit as would fairly entitle
them to favorable notice by the Commission, or, in the common phraseology of the
judges, to an award; not distinguishing such award as highest or lowest. In fact, there
was no suck thing as " highest award" assigned to any exhibitor, and any claim made by
any exhibitor that he received the "highest award" at the exhibition, is simply an
untruth and a falsification of the record, adopted as an advertising fiction. To each
exhibitor whose exhibit was deemed sufficiently meritorious, the judges deputed to examine
it recommended to the Commission that an award should be given, specifying in brief, in
what such merit consisted. The successful exhibitors received each a bronze medal, alike
in all respects, and a diploma setting forth the decision of the judges and the reasons why
an " award " was recommended,—said diploma being signed by the proper group-judges
and endorsed by the president and other officers of the Commission. These reasons
varied much in detail, being in some instances very brief, where the merit was only suffic-
ient to justify an award, on the most liberal construction ; and in other instances, quite
elaborately expressed. The awards then, consisting merely of an explanatory diploma
and a perfectly similar bronze medal, there can be no legitimate claim made by an exhibitor
that he received for his exhibit either diploma or medal " above all other competitors."
There was no such point as above or below recognized. The advertisements that have
since, by some exhibitors, been scattered broadcast, are thoroughly deceptive and unscru-
pulously false.
HENRY K. OLIVER,
One of the Judges on Musical Instruments, at the Centennial Exhibition of 187 b.
SALEM, Mass., July 30, 1880.
BEHNINO.—Mr. Henry Behning expects to return to New York on the
Steamer " Moselle," which leaves Bremen September 6.
SOHMBK.—Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have sold two upright pianos to the
New York College of Music.
HEMPSTEAD.—Mr. H. N. Hempstead, of Milwaukee, who is the agent in
that city for Messrs Kranich & Bach, was in town August 30.
HTJTCHINS.—Mr. J. Hutchins, of Springfield, Mass., agent in that town
for Messrs. Kranich & Bach, was in the city last week.
EXPORT TRADE.—Messrs. Kranich & Bach report their trade with Brazil
increasing.
J. & C. FISCHEK.—The late fire in the drying-room of this house did not
affect their business to any extent; they have two factories in separate local-
ities, and, consequently, unless both buildings should burn, their business
could not be stopped altogether. We hear that Messrs. J. & C. Fischer have
lately reformed their drying-room and put in a new steam fire extinguisher.
HENRY BEHB & BRO.—Messrs. Henry Behr & Bro. report business,
active ; they shipped a carload of cases to Boston Aug. 31,
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).