Music Trade Review

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20th, 1881.
THE
MUSICAL
CRITIC AND TRADE
REVIEW.
130 Music Trade Review
The items which have heretofore caused the most trouble to manufac-
terers has been ivory and steel wire. The Emerson Company have fore-
stalled all possibility of future scarcity of the first of these, by having ar-
ranged to raise their own elephants on their immense African possessions,
INTERESTING STATEMENTS.
which have been secured by fencing in and cultivating the great desert of
Sahara. The animals are shipped to this continent alive, having been
HOW THEY CONSTRUCT MILLER PIANOS AND HOW THEY CONSTRUCT previously
fattened on nightingales and lily white, which renders the ivory
EMERSON PIANOS.
specially desirable for musical instruments. The elephants' skina are sold
N the third of last April an advertisement appeared in the Cleveland to rival companies for hammer coverings, the waste cuttings being largely in
(Ohio) Sun, supposed to emanate from J. T. Wamelink, a piano agent demand by parties who make night caps, adapted to the use of aged and
in that city. It was said to contain "an interesting statement regarding played out piano manufacturers. The ears are also sold to the same parties,
the construction of the Henry F. Miller piano." The "statement" was and are the only artificial ones which can be obtained large enough to take
read in mild amazement by the inhabitants of Cleveland, but by piano the place of the original ones, which have finally dropped off through con-
men, as a copy of the paper was passed from hand to hand, it was read stant listening to bad quality of tone.
with great hilarity.
The Company have contracted for the entire production of all the manu-
We reprint this statement below, and also give an account of the methods facturers of steel wire of Europe, and have adopted a novel mode of freight-
employed by the Emerson Piano Company of Boston. Which is the fun- ing it to this country, which is simply to reel it directly from the mills
nier statement of the two we shall not pretend to decide, but shall leave it through the Atlantic, winding it around the end of Cape Cod until required
to the six male members of the Miller Family, (with a capital F.), who with for use. The passage through the salt water occasions no inconvenience
" ample experience," and " commercial sagacity Yecognized throughout the com- whatever, as all the Emerson strings are plated half inch thick with pure
mercial world," are obliged to employ a superintendent for their business. gold, which effectually prevents rusting. The amount of capital required,
QUERY.—If the superintendent superintends, what do the six male however, to carry the value of wire constantly in ocean transit is immense,
MiUers do?
approaching nearly $10,000,000.00, which fact above would prevent any
ANSWER.—Fly about and flutter their wings.
other than the Emerson Company from engaging in a work of such magni-
tude. It is probable, however, that wires will be rented to the cable com-
THE MILIiER STATEMENT.
panies for ocean telegraphing, for a sum which will not only cover all cost of"
The cases are chesnut (not whitewood) veneered crosswise with walnut manufacture, but will possibly in the near future enable the Company to
(to prevent checking or splitting), then veneered outside of that with sawed give their pianos away to good agents and artists.
(not shaved) rosewood, and finished with 9 coats of varnish, 7 being the most
and pedal feet have always been so plenty that no trouble is antici-
used in other makes. All the bent portions of the case are formed of thin pated Liars
from any scarcity in that direction.
strips of wood, steamed and bent to shape, then glued together. The
Their new Grand Scale and Concert Cabinet Grand Upright will be con.
Upright cases are " separable," dividing the entire piano through the center, structed
on an entire new principle, 10 and 1-3 octaves, with automatic sound-
thus admitting them through a space of 14 inches, and enabling two men to ing
board with the bell telephonic table hermetically sealed to prevent accident
easily carry them up any flight of stairs, however narrow or winding.
to the artist, and will be illuminated with the electric light, and will have a
The Pin Blocks are made up of 40 veneers of maple, glued together, polyform vibrator attached. There will be seven strings in the treble. Hot
with the grain running in all directions, thus preventing all possibility of and cold water throughout, and will be provided with the new patent double
splitting, and avoiding the slipping pins which cause Uprights of many electro magnetic indicator and attractor, by which attachment a slip of paper
makes to get so often out of tune. The Sounding Board Bridge (the back- full of holes compels the performers fingers to go to the right place automa-
bone of the piano) is composed of nine (9) strips of maple, steamed and bent tically. The Company, at a great expense, have secured the services of one
into shape, glued together, and the 10th piece glued on top, with the grain of the largest exporters of pianoforte material, while in Europe, to secure for
of the wood running still in another direction. The Sounding Board is them the sole agency of the electric lights manufactured in Paris and Lon-
" crowned " as in a violin, and automatically adjusted to change of tempera- don, in order to give all the light to the trade in America possible.
ture. Throughout the action, all parts requiring strength and solidity are
The Company will soon complete its 50,000,000,000th piano, which will
made of an odd (never even) number of pieces of wood glued together, the be made
of pure gold, resting on diamonds seven inches in diameter. This
grains running in all directions to prevent warping. The Hammers are instrument
has already been engaged by the enterprising proprietor of the
formed of the finest grained felt, costing $5.50 per lb. (2d quality costing Schaum House,
at Rockaway.
SI.65) and as the tone is formed by the crowned board, they are made ex-
The immense expenditures occasioned by all the enterprises above
tremely hard to prevent cutting by contact with the strings which gives to
some pianos, that have a soft hammer, the thin tinny tone so disagreeable. mentioned will prevent any immediate reduction in prices, nevertheless the
Company will steadily keep in view the object for which the "business wa»
Pohlman's German Patent Steel Music Wire is exclusively used, costing inaugurated, viz., to furnish employment for young men, and to furnish
$8.00 per lb., and stands a uniform strain of 441 lbs., while the American instruments gratuitously to all who may need them. When they are able to
wire used on most pianos costs 90 cts. to $1.65 per lb., and breaks at a strain begin upon the gratuitous distribution, announcement will be made in print,
of from 176 to 342 lbs. These are official figures from tests made by Stein- simultaneously from all their houses in North and South America, Europe,
way's testing machine before a committee of judges at Philadelphia, June Asia, Africa and Rhode Island.
12-16, 1876.
Per order of the
MANAGER.
Of the felts used in actions, first quality costs $4.50 per pound (low
Boston,
Mass.,
May
1st,
1881.
grades can be bought for $1.00); other cloths in proportion. Finest maple
wood, $60 per 1,000 feet; inferior sells at $17 to $25. Best German im-
ported Tuning Pins, $5.50 per mille; $1.40 for cheaper grade, used in many
makes. Russell & Erwin's screens, finest quality. Ivory, $9.50 per sett,
celluloid being used on many cheap makes. Baeder, Adamson & Co. 's A 1
THE CHICAGO MUSIC COMPANY.
glue, 40 cents per pound (cheap glue can be got at 6 cents). The iron plate
is composed of parts old and new iron, with other materials which make a
Albert H. Wood. La Princesse. Mazurka Elegante for piano. 60 cts.
tough composition, something of bell quality, and capable of standing great
Fred. L. Morey. Gavotte Imperiale for piano. 35 eta.
tensile strain. All the hardware used is of the finest quality and most ap-
proved pattern. The most intelligent, skilled labor is employed, many of
Alfred M. Fletcher. " The Boys in Blue" are growing gray. Song,
the employes having been with the house from five to twenty years. There Quartette and Chorus for mixed or male voices. 40 cts.
never was a strike of the workmen at this factory, nor have they ever lost a
Miss Carrie Varney. "May Breezes " for the piano. 50 cts.
day's work through any misunderstanding. Never since the house began
business have they failed to pay off every man in full each Saturday night
M. GRAY, SAN FRANCISCO.
The house is composed of father and five sons, making the strongest com-
bination in the piano trade. With years of experience, ample capital, a
Frank Lavarnie. " Hush-a-bye, Baby." Song and Chorus. 35 cts.
superintendent acknowledged to stand at the head of his profession, who has
S. M. S. "Life." Song for mezzo-soprano. 35 cts.
been connected with the house since its birth, commercial sagacity and integ-
rity known and recognized throughout the commercial world, and manufac-
F. Dellepiane. " Where is Heaven?" Transcription for piano. 50 cts-
turing facilities second to no house in the trade, they stand at the head of
Louis Schmidt. " Vogel Waltz." Transcription for piano. 35 ctsi
piano manufacturers in Boston, the great center of music in this country.
We have just received a new lot of these justly celebrated pianos,
Jas. A. Kerr. "Father's at Sea !" Waltz for piano. 50 cts.
squares, uprights and grands, and invite the inspection of buyers and the
J.
A. Barney. " How soon I'll be Forgotten." Ballad. 35 cts.
public in general.
FACTS! FACTS! FACTS!
O
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE EMERSON PIANO CO.'s STATEMENT.
G. D. RUSSELL, BOSTON.
The following was suggested after reading the piece in the Cleveland
W. J. D. Leavitt. Theme and variations in E flat for the organ. $1.00.
Sun, April 3rd, 1881, as many of its readers might think that the day for
Fred. J. Eustis. "Torpedo and the Whale." Fantaisiede Concert for
improvement either ended or began on that date:
The Emerson Pianoforte Company takes pleasure in announcing their piano. 60 cts.
plans for the coming season, that their agents may compare the opportunities
Ed. Sands. "Two Hearts," as sung in "Ingomar," with portrait of
thus offered with those of the many inferior and unreliable concerns with Mary Anderson. 40 cts.
which the country is infested.
Mass. Delia Rovere. Song. " Salve Maria," with portrait of Tom KarL
Many leading dealers are already aware of the experiments heretofore
made by the Company in the use of St. Jacob's Oil, with a few of producing 50 cts.
more complete instruments, but the process was discontinued, and the
Marquis de Leaville. " A Cry of Love." Song, with portrait of Emma
electric hair brush adopted, on account of the impossibility of obtaining good C. Thursby. 50 cts.
specimens without hair. They have, however, after repeated endeavors, suc-
Auguste Mignon. "Adrift." Song. 40 cts.
ceeded in interbreeding the spruce with the glue plant (the first start having
been made in pots), so that their bridge stuff comes from the tree glued up
BRENTANO'S LITERARY EMPORIUM, NEW YORK CITY.
in layers ready for use. It is estimated by mathematicians that a single inch
contains upwards of 723,460,491,855 of these layers, and there is reasonable
Otto C. Baake. " Tout a la joie." Quadrille for piano. 50 cts.
hope that this peculiar product may be so improved that the bridge pins will
Florence Hooper Baker. Obelisk March for piano. 40 cts.
also be found in the natural growth, as well as the wrest pins. They have
also a large corps of scientists investigating the possibilities of an entirely
Otto C. Baake. Canoe Club Galop for piano. 50 cts.
new material, composed of saw dust and pianists' blood, which promises to
F.- de Leauhodu. Bazouk March for piano. 40 cts.
work an entire revolution in the matter of sounding boards.