Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
THE BRAUMULLER COMPANY.
NOW SETTLED IN THEIR NEW FACTORY, WHERE THEY
PRODUCE A NEW AND MOST ADMIRABLE HIGH GRADE
PIANO AT A FAIR PRICE—A BRIEF RESUME OF
THE GREAT AND ORIGINAL IMPROVEMENTS
•BY WHICH
THE BRAUMULLER
IS CHARACTERIZED—A
PIANO
BRILLIANT
CAREER ASSURED.
O rapid is the progress of musical culture at the
present day, that the stimulation of what are
known as the "music industries," by which term
is meant the manufacture of musical instruments, has
reached a point never before attained.
Particularly is this true in regard to the pianoforte.
The increasing demand for instruments of this species
comes not only from the older settlements of the coun-
try—the homes, as some suppose, of greater general
culture and refinement, but from almost every town
and hamlet throughout the land, even such as but yes-
terday had no existence save for the lower orders of
creation. Truly the spirit of music is abroad among
our people.
In consequence of this happy state of things we find
piano factories springing up around us in well-nigh
endless profusion. Some of these factories are built,
we fear, for the production of instruments that are only
" made to sell." Many others, however, are the homes
of honest, skilled labor and legitimate enterprise, in
which brain and muscle are alike developed in praise-
worthy endeavors to place on the market a piano
that shall in some point or points excel every other
kind of piano before known.
Piano-houses of this latter species, especially when
endowed with mental originality, mechanical ingenuity,
and experience in the various departments of their
craft, cannot but be of interest and importance to the
great musical fraternity, whether professional or ama-
teur. They aid materially in keeping the industry up
to a high standard, and in evolving ideas of much value
to the cause of music.
Of this very desirable crder of piano-manufacturers
are the Braumuller Company, whose recent entrance
into the domain of piano-making will be hailed with
satisfaction by all who have at heart the true interests
of piano-makers and piano-players.
The Braumuller Company, manufacturers of upright
pianos, whose new factory of four stories and basement,
located at Eleventh avenue and Thirty-fifth street, N.Y.,
is now exclusively occupied for the construction of the
Braumuller piano, is composed of practical piano men
who have long been identified with the piano business
as constructors of the instrument, salesmen, and dealers,
and who are in every way competent to provide such a
piano as will be welcome to the trade and the public.
Mr. Braumuller, the practical head of the new con-
cern, has for very many years been connected with the
trade in various important capacities. By nature and
experience he is well qualified to judge of the needs of
those whom he serves. Under his intelligent and mas-
terly direction the Braumuller Company are destined to
achieve no little renown. Having ample capital at their
disposal, and being fortunate enough to secure the
services of a superintendent of superior ability, they
have entered upon their career with the confidence that
springs from a knowledge of their possession of great
gifts and advantages.
The first pianos ofjhe new company have elicited high
praise. It is universally conceded that they have ex-
actly met the demand for a high grade piano at a fair
price. They are made in three styles, in rosewood
S
ebony, mahogany and French walnut. Two scales are
used, a large and a small one. The piano is construc-
ted upon entirely new ideas, the scale having been drawn
by the company's superintendent, whose experience
with the leading manufacturers of the country extends
over a period of thirty-six years.
While referring to the subject of styles, and before
dilating briefly upon a few of the more important con-
structive features of the Braumuller pianos, we would
mention with particularity the company's style No. 5.
This is indeed a handsome instrument, the elegance and
completeness of its outward appearance being fully in
accord with the conscientious, original, and finished in-
terior make. It is a large upright, with double-veneered
hardwood case, made in two styles, and having a full
iron frame wnh pin-block exposed; 1%, octaves; the
new Braumuller Harmonic scale; three unisons through-
out; overstrung bass, and copper bass strings; new
patent pressure bar; double repeating grand action;
nickel-plated brackets and hammer-rails, elegantly en-
graved panels and beautifully finished fretwork; elab-
orately carved and ornamented pilasters, connecting
with rich cornice mouldings on top front frame; richly-
carved trusses; nickel-plated continuous hinges on top
and on fall-board; the new Braumuller extension music
desk; ivory keys; and patent pedal guard plate.
We unhesitatingly assert that on examining this ex-
cellent piano we were astonished at the combination of
strength, delicacy, and elegance which it presents. Each
deta ; l, both of the interior and exterior, bears evidence
of most consciencious painstaking. The completeness
of the instrument is striking in the extreme. The dis-
tinctive improvements introduced by the Braumuller
' company are conspicuous. No competent judge of a
piano, after investigating this style No. 5, will hesitate
to pronounce it a noble instrument worthy of all
praise. The tone is wonderfully clear, sweet, pure,
and even. It is also marked by a fine singing quality.
The touch is free, elastic, and sympathetic. The de-
sign is graceful and symmetrical; and the finish is
perfection.
In regard to the points of originality in construction
of the Braumuller piano, efforts were successfully made,
in drawing the scales, to arrange the string lengths
upon scientific and acoustic lines, so as to ensure the
production of vibrations as perfect as possible, in con-
junction with the most evenly balanced strain power.
An important feature of the Braumuller scale is the
harmonic complement. The harmonic scale, in its ar-
rangement, is quite new. Its main peculiarity is that
the length of the hitch extends from the treble end to
the centre bar, so that every one of the upper notes has
from one to five sympathetic vibrators. This improve-
ment is very valuable, and clearly evidences the skill
and care that have been devoted to the Braumuller
piano. In conjunction, a plate is incorporated, the con-
struction of which gives special strength to the centre
of the instrument and forward of the line of greatest
strain and tension. This object is accomplished by a
thorough brace system, consisting of a centre bar, so
arranged as to possess great strength over and forward
of the bridge on the sounding board, and obviating the
necessity of cutting away the portion of the bridge
under or opposite to the iron bars.
As a rule the notes on either side of the iron bars in
upright pianos differ in tone quality, this difference
being due to the practice of indenting the sounding-
board bridge where the bars cross it. In the Braumul-
ler piano this defect has been removed owing to the
construction of the plate, which is not connected by the
usual nose bolts to the posts in the back, but by a series
of connecting braces is made sufficiently firm to rest
independently in the case. The upper part of the
plate, being extended to the top of the pin block, has
a ridge bar running the full length of the piano, with
which the ribs of the plate are connected. Thus is ob-
tained a powerful brace wherewith to meet the natural
tendency of the pin block to press forward.
Another improvement in the Braumuller piano is a new
arrangement whereby the action is freed from the influ-
ence of atmospheric changes, and can be regulated with-
out being taken out of the case. Another is a trapwork
attachment simplified by the use of short damper rods
running only from the key bed line to the action, the
entire contrivance having about one-third of the usual
centres or bushing points, and reducing squeaking and
other defects to a minimum. This is a most excellent
and ingenious innovation.
Further, the top of the piano is screwed on, instead
of being glued, so that it can be easily removed and re-
placed by car-men.
The sides of the plate are screwed to the side of the
case.
The bottom panel frame goes in on corner guides in-
stead of dowels, so that it can be easily taken out, and will
not in any way mar the bottom rail. The case bottom
is screwed to the pate, so as to obviate the influence of
climatic changes. The back of the key bottom is also
screwed to the plate.
A word must also be said for the new extension
music desk used in the Braumuller Company's upright
grands, and for the swing desk of their Boudoir uprights
—both being decided improvements upon the desks in
general use.
*
The cases, which are exclusively of hard wood,
double veneered, are finished in rosewood, ebony,
mahogany, and French walnut.
All of these innovations and improvements bear the
stamp of originality. They cannot fail at once to lift
the Braurnuller Company into the front rank of high-
grade piano-manufacturers. The confidence of the
company in their instruments is indeed well-grounded.
Their success is assured. No long period can elapse
ere the energies of the firm will be taxed to the utmost
in the effort to meet the demands that will be made
upon them by an extensive and delighted body of
customers.
THE EIGHT HOURS* MOVEMENT.
MR. WILLIAM STEINWAY WRITES TO THE MORNING JOUR-
NAL DEMONSTRATING THE PRESENT IMPRAC-
TICABILITY OF THE " E I G H T - H O U R "
WORKING DAY.
"EIGHT HOURS" IMPRACTICABLE.
I
READ with great interest the different opinions and
arguments of the leaders in the eight-hour move-
ment, which were published in TIIK JOURNAL in
reply to my article.
While I believe that these arguments and the eight-
hour agitation spring from the purest motives an the
part of these gentlemen, they show that not one of them
can be or ever could have been a business man. A
question like this must be viewed altogether from a
practical standpoint.
#
Now, in the first place, as to their argument that "the
great army of unemployed would find work." This is
entirely fallacious, from the fact that at the present
time every skilled workman is employed and the great
army of the unemployed who have not learned anything
practical must take their chances of eight hours' or ten
hours' work.
In watching the papers I find that the actual move-
ment for an eight-hour system is confined to New York
city. Now, New York manufacturers are already suffer-
ing from enormously high rents, or, if they are owner?,
from enormously high taxes, which the people in
smaller towns do not dream of. The moment that the
hours of production, with the large capital employed in
our trade for instance, are reduced to eight per day we
shall be compelled to raise our prices and the demand
for our instruments will fall to less than one-half, unless
at the same time all the manufacturers in other centres
like Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia adopt the
movement. Even then the cost of the manufactured
articles would be so enormously increased that they
would be out of the reach of people of moderate means.
Besides, the highest tariff could not protect against
destroying competition by the importation of cheaper
European instruments, as the vast majority of the Am-
erican musical public do not understand that European
instruments are not constructed to stand the American
climate.
In the second place, an eight-hour system at present
is really an utter impossibility, and all New York manu-
facturers in self-defence will have to fight a movement
which would simply ruin their business. If there is to
be a short hour movement at all it must be exceedingly
gradual.
Great writers may say what they like and brilliant
speakers may theorize as they please, but they fail to
advanfe a single argument to prove that the eight-hour
system would bring about the millennium they so fondly
hope for. They might go farther and say that by re-
ducing the hours of work to two per day they would
bring the millennium still nearer, but alas, this world is
a practical one, and cold facts would knock the bottom
out of their theories.
WILLIAM STEINWAY,
Of Steinway & Sons, piano manufacturers.