Music Trade Review

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capable of constructing an excellent piano and one
that will sell upon its own merits. The following Is
what the firm claim :
•' We do not propose to revolutionize the art of
pianoforte making with some newfangled idea,
simply to mystify the public and bother the tuner.
We do claim, however, to make a practical Upright
Piano-forte; an instrument that an artist will delight
to play up< n ; an aotion with a proper dip, and one
that can be adjusted easily by the tuner; an action
where the touch has some relation to the tone > and tin
instrument that can be tuned without driving the
tuner frantio over harmonic tones and false strings."
The firm intend to push their pianos before the
public, and have already secured some valuable
agents. Mr. P. L. Horner has been engaged as
traveling salesman, and as he has had a great deal
of experience on the road, will no doubt meet with
good success.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
same number of vibrations, played upon the violin
instrument. So in reference to pianos. All are not
or piano, is readily distinguished by the par-
ticular quality of "clang tint" peculiar to each
alike; distinctive tones belong to certain instru-
ments ; those in which iron frames or backs are used
are recognized as possessing a quality of tone dif-
ferent from that of instruments in which wood alone
is used. Now the peculiar tone of iron pianos is
decidedly metallic ; ihere is an absence of that sweet-
ness so much appreciated in the wooden instruments
of our best makers. Effects follow cause, and the
iron piano produces iron tone; this is invariably the
case. It may vary in degree, but not in value. The
material employed is in quality dense ; the tone pro-
duced in connection with it is necessarily hard.
We are aware that, in the manufacture of the
harp, iron is sometimes employed to construct the
sounding board itself, and with very good result;
but it must be remembered that the strings used
for that instrument are principally gut, and possess
IRON AND WOOD IN PIANO-FORTES.
very little density. Their direct association with iron
may therefore be found advantageous ; in the em-
ployment of steel wire, however, we need iho con-
{Musical Opinion).
juction of some material of less density, which, by
HE natural characteristic of Englishmen has amalgamation, may tend to soften the tone. Wood ful-
been well illustrated in this matter; we have fills this requirement; hence in wood pianos, es-
an inherent dislike to anything new, and it is pecially when first made, that pure, sweet, highly
a long time before we can be persuaded to forsake musical quality.of tone.
old ways and things for fresh ones ; but when this is
Iron and wood, then, possess distinct qualifica-
accomplished, and the new is adopted, we are prone tions for producing tone; both have claims for use
to take a directly opposite course, and treat the old in the manufacture of the piano-forte; neither can
as though it had never possessed merit. Extreme well be used to the exclusion of the other. We go
views are rarely good. In the case in point we be- even further, and say that, beyond a certain point,
lieve them to be particularly bad; partiality and
you cannot increase one except at the expense of the
prejudice have prevented the settlement of an other-
other. As you do without iron, you gain in sweet-
wise easy question. Before a just verdict can be
ness ; but you at the same time enlist weakness;
given, we must hear the evidence on both sides;
prejudice must not be allowed to iniluence our deci- you improve in quality, but diminish in quantity.
sion. The claims of both must be considered, for Make the piano of iron, and the announcement of the
both have claims, and those distinct and unique; material it is made of shall advertise its tone. This
they can never be altered or substituted the one for cannot be altered. Makers may tell us the fault
the other. This must be recognized ; the province does not exist in their instruments ; we can only
of each must be admitted and supported ere the answer that experience teaches us otherwise. There
question can be fairly and satisfactorily dealt with. may be some who, while admitting the peculiarity of
In considering this question, we think it desirable tone in iron pianos, declare a liking for it. We
to call attention to the reason for iron being used should not be surprised at this. It would not be the
in the manufacture of the piano-forte. It was intro- first time we had heard vices spoken of as virtues on
duced for the purpose of strengthening. As long as account of unwillingness or inability to alter them ;
instruments were lightly strung, the wood support but you cannot talk facts away, or alter faults by
was found sufficient, or at any rate no immediate saying you like them. We are far from suggesting
need was felt for the adoption of other material; that the introduction of iron is in itself a fault; but
but when heavier strings were used, it was necessary we do maintain that, connected with its use, there
to Increase the strength of the framework; this was are many things.both undesirable and faulty. Wo
done by introducing iron in various ways. All the think that, instead of trying to see how much metal
efforts made with metal had for their primary ob- can be crammed in or on an instrument, effort should
ject an increase of strain-resisting power. Iron be directed to see how little will answer the purpose.
bracings, iron tubes, plates, fronts, backs—all have The province of iron is to strengthen; let this be our
been adopted to augment the stability of the instru- guide in its use. Having provided for the strain
ment. Iron, then, is to be associated with strength upon the instrument, further introduction of metal is
in reference to the piano-forte; it is not to be re- hurtful and cumbersome.
The question then is, not which is best, but in with
garded in the light of a musical sound producer, or
in any way immediately connected with good quality proportions shall wood and iron be combined. The
of tone. That it affects the quality of the tone con- best is neither on one side nor the other, but between
siderably we admit; but it is only in an indirect man
the two; the best instruments are those in which
ner beneficial. Its direct results (of which we shall both are used, but neither abused ; in which firmness
speak more fully presently) is most undesirable; and freedom, sweotness and strength, are combined
the benefit it confers is principally in relieving the in right proportions. Let us remember that ours is
wood of a strain which that material is incapable a musical trade, and that we are engaged in the
of bearing. Take the sounding-board as an manufacture of musical instruments. May mere
illustration. It is well known that the tone of an noise never usurp the place of musical sound, or the
instrument depends upon the belly being maintained power of producing sonorous tone simply be mis-
in a position which allows of free vibration. Cripple taken for an advance in the art of musical instru-
the sounding board, and, like a man with his lungs ment making!
diseased, the power of producing volume or sweet-
ness of sound is gone. Now the ordinary wooden in-
KIND WORDS.
strument, strung with heavy metal, is, in consequence
of the enormous tension, gradually drawn end toward
end ; the belly is the first to suffer by this contrac-
WASHINGTON, N. J., July 13, 1886.
tion, and being forced out of its arched shape, loses MESSRS. WELLES & BILL :
its power of free vibration : here iron is introduced
GENTLEMEN : Enclosed please find check for sub-
with good effect. The iron front takes the strain off scription to THE Mtrsic TRADE REVIEW, which we
the weaker vessel, which, thus relieved, is in a posi- are always glad to receive in our mails.
tion to do its duty in increasing and transmitting
Yours truly,
the vibrations of the strings. This is the right use
C. P. BOWLBY.
of mental in the pianoforte, not to take the place
of, but to support, the weaker and decidedly more
CHICAGO, July 0, 1886.
music producing material with which it should al-
J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
ways be combined.
DEAR SIR : On the following page please find " ad "
It may not be generally known that iron and wood for your valuable paper. Have same set up in ct nter
pianos have a distanct quality of tone. Apart from of page, as neat and tasty as may be, and oblige
Very respectfully,
all differences of a sustaining or sympathetic char-
cter, there is a distinction of timbre. A note of the
STORY & CLARK.
T
Kl^EE LfflTOE.
THE Musical Courier still continues its abuse of
the GROVESTEEN & FULLER PIANO CO. and MR.
GEORGE W. CARTER.
NOW, everybody in the trade
knows that the GROVESTEEN & FULLER CO. makes
an excellent instrument—an instrument far superior
to some that the Musical Co* rier, in its usual syco-
phantic style, is constantly praising up. The arrows
and shafts of vituperation hurled by the Courier at
this firm lie broken and shattered at its feet, for the
Courier's motive for its attacks is too palpable to
have any effect. The word malice is stamped upon
every paragraph which the Courier grinds out in
these unmanly assaults.
A PIANO-FINISHER HUNTED DOWN.
M
RS. HOLTZ, wife of Edward Holtz, the man
who attempted to commit suicide by cutting
his throat and jumping from a train into the
Assanpink Creek, at Trenton, was found in an almost
hysterical condition on Friday of last week, at her
rooms, No. 340 East Twelfth street. She said that
her husband was a piano-finisher, and that he had
been employed at the factory of Behr Brothers &
Co. At the last piano-makers' strike he went out
with the other union men, and when the trouble was
over he went back to work. The proprietors refused
to tak« back two other workmen who happened to
live in the same house, at No. 7 Martin street, West
New York, N, J., because, they said, those men were
Socialists and Anarchists. These men were Brem-
ich and Marvarm. They called Holtz a scab, and
threatened him with violence. One day, while at
work in the factory, some of the workmen dangled a
noose before his face and threatened to hang him.
One gray-bearded man was in the habit of following
him from work" in the street-car, and using threats
all the way until he reached home. Holtz became
alarmed, and to avoid his gray-bearded persecutor
he moved to this city ; but the workmen continued
their persecutions, and told him that he would be
followed wherever he went. Ho became distracted,
and on Thursday of last week he said that he would
go out West in search of work. He expressed fear
of violence from his fellow-workmen, and told his
wife that if he were killed she should know that it
was the Socialists that did it. Mrs. Holtz did not
hear from her husband until she was told that
he had tried to commit suicide.—American Art
Journal.
Our esteemed contemporary is in error as to the
facts of the above case. Wo are in formed by a mem-
ber of the firm of Messrs. Behr Bros, that Holtz was
himself a Socialist, and was not persecuted in the
manner stated above, and that from the time Holtz
came bact to work to the time of his attempted
suicide, both Bremich and Marvarm were sick at
home, and are at the present time. As to the dang-
ling of a noose before him while in the factory, there
is no truth whatever in that statement.
In justice to the workmen of Behr Bros., it should
be stated that Holtz was regarded by them as being
of unsound mind, and was known to be so before he
left his native country, some years ago.
HUYETT BROS., St. Joseph, Mo., claim their sales
for the first six months of 1880 are fifty per cent, in
excess of same poriod for 1885, and that pianos are
sold at less margin than in any other city of the
Union, on account of sharp competition. Indications
were never better for a large Fall trade. Small gmin
all harvested, and considerable above an average
crop.
TRADE specially quiet. Even the usual amount of
renting of instruments which is done at this season
of the year seems to be lessened this season, per-
haps on account of a growing inclination to take
more frequent and longer vacations. The unusual
number of people going to Europe may also exert
some influence in the direction of dull times until
Fall. Twenty years ago, the Fall commenced on
September 1st; now, it is much nearer October lbt.
Till then,
.