Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
A "CROWN"
OF SUCCESS.
The New Orchestral Attachment—Won-
derful Effects Possible.
.cWT'S simply wonderful—marvelous !—and
^ capable of wonderful possibilities in the
hands of a good musician. This contrivance
will enable lovers of the noble compositions of
that great master, Bach, to give them that
peculiar charm which is only possible on the
Spinet. It furthermore gives the musician an
opportunity of displaying a variety of tone color
and instrumental effects hitherto thought im-
possible in a piano." So said Mr. S. B. Mills,
the celebrated pianist and teacher, who made
a thorough examination of the new patent
'' Crown '' Orchestral Attachment and Practice
Clavier while we were visiting Mr. Geo. P. Bent
last Monday at the Union Square Hotel, where
he had a handsome '' Crown '' piano with the
new attachment on exhibition.
The numerous musicians and others present
on the occasion re-echoed Mr. Mills' eulogy of
this latest evidence of Western ingenuity.
The '' Crown '' Orchestral Attachment is cer-
tainly bound to take its place in the piano world
as an innovation of marked merit. It has every-
thing to commend it—originality, utility, novel-
ty, and after a thorough examination we can
safely predict for it a great popularity.
The "Crown" piano of today is in itself
an instrument which Geo. P. Bent should feel
proud of, and in addition to its regular functions
the new Orchestral Attachment renders delight-
ful additions of harp and mandolin, and by a
mere changing from stacatto to legato playing,
and by using a tremola effect we have almost
any string instrument in popular use—zither,
guitar, banjo, etc. These effects are capable of
the finest shading from fortissimo down to an
almost inaudible pianissimo.
The Practice Clavier is another important
feature of the attachment. By this means
students can get finger practice with the regular
and perfect piano touch without any tone from
the instrument, or, if desired, only the very
slightest one. This in itself is of special value
to teachers who favor the practice clavier as a
means of aiding technique, for with the '' Crown ''
Orchestral Attachment and Practice Clavier
pupils get the genuine and not the artificial
touch. On these grounds it will meet with
special consideration from teachers and students,
and it is bound to sound the death-knell of the
so-called Practice Clavier, for here we have a
perfect Practice Clavier and piano without addi-
tional cost.
Mr. McChesney was kind enough to explain
the invention to the numerous musicians who
were present during our visit, and it is, as he
characterized it, " a very simple affair '' in ap-
pearance, but, simple as it is, it has taken Mr.
Kunze, the superintendent of the Bent factory,
Mr. McChesney and Mr. Bent almost eighteen
months to render it what it is to-day, an abso-
lute success.
He said: "As you will observe, the harp,
mandolin and other effects are produced by
leather tongues, some two inches in length, in
the tips of which are encased pieces of wire.
These are attached to a two inch strip of wood,
and so adjusted that the leather tongues, by
the use of a pedal attachment, can be made to
fall behind the hammers of the piano so that
when any key is struck the hammer before hit-
ting the wire comes in contact with the leather
tongues, which are controlled by the pedal
which produces the many effects enumerated."
Mr. Geo. Steck, the well known manufacturer
and inventor, and one of the judges of musical
instruments at the World's Fair, was among the
visitors to Mr. Bent's sanctum while we were
present, and he paid tribute in very compliment-
ary words to the ingenuity and practicability of
the contrivance, and had no hesitation in char-
acterizing it as an exceedingly clever and suc-
cessful invention.
There can be no doubt but Mr. Geo. P. Bent's
Orchestral Attachment and Practice Clavier is
destined to have a great future. It will often
take the place of the harp in orchestras, and as
Mr. Mills remarked, the compositions of the old
masters which were written for the precursors of
the piano can be interpreted on the new
" Crown " piano with its Orchestral Attachment
as correctly and as effectively as on " ye olde
Spinet.'' Then the value of the Practice Clavier
cannot be over estimated either in teaching or
home circles, and the variety of effects are such
a novelty on the whole that the entire thing
ought to bring its inventors wealth and fame
and a new popularity for the '' Crown '' instru-
ments.
Mr. Bent had the instrument on exhibition in
Washington last week and he was overwhelmed
with complimentary tributes from dealers and
musicians who examined the new attachment.
During his stay in Philadelphia, Mr. Hugh A.
Clarke, Mus. D., University of Pennsylvania,
and one of the judges of awards on pianos and
organs at the World's Columbian Exposition,
was one of Mr. Bent's visitors, and the following
letter in this connection explains itself:
PHILADELPHIA, PA., Oct. 18th,
1894.
MR. GEO. P. BENT.
DEAR SIR :—I find
it a difficult matter after
so short an examination of your remarkable
piano to express an opinion of its merits that
would do it justice. The more I think of it the
greater its possibilities for the production of new
effects seem to be. As a piano simply the
" Crown " is too well known to require any dis-
cussion of its many excellencies, but the "Or-
chestral Attachment " has made it a new instru-
ment, endowing it with a variety of tone color
that has hitherto been one of the great wants of
the piano. One of the chief merits of the At-
tachment is that it does not in the least interfere
with either the action or the ordinary piano tone
quality. Another great merit is its simplicity
and its durability. While like all new de-
partures it may meet with some prejudice, I am
convinced that it will rapidly rise, not only in
popular favor, but also in the estimation of musi-
cians. I received so much pleasure from the ex-
hibition of its capabilities which you favored me
with that I will take every opportunity to com-
mend it most heaitily. S ncerely yours,
H. A. CLARKE.
Mr. Bent left for Boston on Tuesday where he
is bound to have as great a success as in the other
cities visited. The "Crown" Orchestral At-
tachment is a noted contribution to the possibi-
lities of the American piano, and the members
of the firm who have helped in the consumma-
tion of this invention are to be congratulated on
its great success and its brilliant future.
The Trade Journal " Ad."
f
HE advertisement in a trade paper, read by
people he wishes to reach, has a value to
him above merely the orders it directly brings.
He does not figure the value of the sign above
his door merely on the basis of the patronage it
happens to attract. It is there to tell everybody
who passes, whether patrons or not, where his
place of business is—it is a " sign "that he is in
business there, so the " ad " in the trade journal
is a " sign," year in and out, to those he wishes
as patrons, that he is still in business —Maritime
Journal.
WITH THE
TRAVELERS.
NEVER told you about that amusing
little incident which occurred on the
train bound from St. Paul to Tacoma, did I ? "
said Kochmann, the other day, as he gracefully
crossed his pedal extremities under the mahog-
any and prepared to give his order to the waiter
whose ear was turned slightly Kochmannward.
" No, this is not another of those ' polyga-mis-
takes,' is it ? " said THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
man.
" Not a bit of it—yes, you may put in a dash
of vermuth and bring some perfectos."
"Go on, Reinhard."
"Well, you see, a group of commercial travel-
lers was seated in the smoking compartment of
a sleeping car discussing business, expense
accounts and the various lines of merchandise
sold by them. After awhile they were joined by
a quiet individual, who listened to the conversa-
tion, but took no part in it. He smiled, how-
ever, at the jokes and sallies, and appeared to be
thoroughly in sympathy with the company.
The attitude of the newcomer was such that at
last one of the party turned to him and said,
" May I inquire what line you represent ? "
"Certainly," he replied. " I am a clergy-
man, I travel for the house of the Lord."
" Well, that's a new one on me," responded
the drummer, and then, not at all abashed, he
asked, " Are the expense allowances liberal ? "
A Handsome Baby Grand. "
Jgfr HANDSOMELY decorated baby grand
© ^ piano, which is destined to merit no
little attention, has just been added to the regu-
lar stock of instruments in the warerooms of
Steinway & Sons. Something like six months
have been spent in the elaboration of this gem
of the pianomaker's art, and it must be con-
ceded that the artist acquitted himself with
credit.
A striking feature of the artist's brush are the
medallions of Handel, Haydn, Schumann, Weber,
Beethoven, Mozart and Wagner which are placed
around the case. Under these celebrities runs a
continuous band or scroll bearing pertinent quo-
tations. The cover is a study in flowers and is
exceedingly pretty. This artistic baby grand is
certainly a credit to the house of Steinway &
Sons.
THE EDNA PIANO AND ORGAN COMPANY, of
Monroeville, Ohio, report a very excellent busi-
ness. They have added many new customers to
thtir old-time list of agents, all of whom speak
highly of the selling qualities of the "Edna "
Organ,