Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From a Traveler's Note Book.
indestructible, and it is possible to produce
in this metal work unique designs which
cannot be produced in wood.
Again, each manufacturer has some
THE OLDEST " SUPPLY " HOUSE IN AMERICA PRATT, READ & CO, AN ENORMOUS PLANT A
special designs of his own which are not
RENOWNED PIANO ACTION FACTORY COMSTOCK, CHENEY & CO. NEW ADDITIONS
shown to an}' one else. In this way the
" T H E ANGELUS"
THE WII.COX & WHITE CO. HAVE A WONDERFUL
bronze panels used by any of the firm's
ATTACHMENT—-THE HOMER D. P.RONSON CO. A COMPANY
customers are original and exclusive, and
OF INVENTORS—A VISIT TO DERBY — RUFUS W.
those using them know that the designs
KLAKE:—THE TRADE IN NEW HAVEN.
will not be copied by others, as the Bronson
Co. have the entire control of this class of
work
in America.
HE establishment of P r a t t , signs of the steadily expanding business of
Read & Co., Deep River, this firm is evidenced in the fact that they
The Homer D. Bronson Co. is composed
Conn., occupies an unique are erecting new buildings. Truly a sign of men who are endowed with originality
and distinguished place in of prosperity. At this visit they were just as well as with a large amount of inventive
music trade history. It is the excavating for a new building in which genius. Evidences of the inventive ability
oldest establishment in the will be located the general offices of the of the members of the Bronson family may
United States engaged in that particular company.
be seen by a trip through their plant. There
branch of our musico-industrial affairs
This concern is officered by men who is much in the matter of machinery and ap-
known as the "supply trade." The busi- have been thoroughly alive to the needs of pliances, the'credit of which belongs to the
ness was established in 1808, while the the trade in the matter of piano actions. members of the corporation. They origi-
great West was a wilderness.
The Comstock-Cheney action has steadily nated the continuous hinge used now so
advanced
in the estimation of piano manu- universally in pianos; man}-other improve-
As the music industries in America be-
facturers
until
to-day it is used in enormous ments in special metal work on pianos may
gan to develop this firm began to make a
quantities
by
manufacturers East and be credited to them. In the matter of the
specialty of supplying piano keys, organ
West.
Their
work
is of that character open bronze panels, they hold special
keys as well as organ reeds and reed
boards, couplers, etc. Their business has which has won favorable opinions from patents for this, which practically gives
steadily dcvelcpe,d until to-day the entire manufacturers in all parts of the country, them the exclusive manufacture of this
plant comprises buildings which cover acres and as a result, the augmentation of their class of work.
of ground. . The ivory cutting is an in- trade goes steadily on.
Aside from making a specialty of certain
teresting department of the business. I
parts of the metal work of pianos, they
* *
*
think I am correct in the statement that
manufacture also a large line of bronze
It was over a year and a half ago when I wcrk in panelings, reproductions from
this firm are the largest ivory cutters in
America, and in Europe there is only one first had the pleasure of inspecting the famous pieces of sculpture, and, in fact, a
Wilcox & White piano attachment, which general line of art work wrought in bronze.
firm which surpasses them.
has subsequently been named "The Ange- Seme of their work has gone to foreign
Some idea of the immense business of
lus."
At that time I was much taken countries, where it has met with the ap-
this house may be imagined when I state
with its musical possibilities,but then the proval of connoisseurs, and has been rated
that they carry in stock nearly three-
firm, or rather the inventor, Mr. Edward as high regarding the finish and perfection
quarters of a million feet of selected lumber.
White, was engaged in perfecting his in- of work as that made in Paris, which takes
There are also extensive yards in which
vention. This he accomplished, and the the front rank in the world.
are stored tons of costly ebony.
result is the Wilcox & White Organ Co.
It seems that they have in their own
The machinery used throughout the
have in "The Angelus" an innovation in
family all the ability necessary in modeling
Pratt-Reed plant is from original designs
the matter of piano attachments with which
and chasing, as well as draughting original
furnished by them, much of which is ex-
it is possible to produce wonderful expres-
designs.
pensive, and would be indeed costly to du-
sions, giving the player an opportunity to
plicate.
Realizing this, the firm have
impress his own individuality upon the
erected a substantial brick fire-proof build-
piece which is being played. By an in-
ing, which is isolated from the rest of their
Down at Derby there is the regular whirr
genious arrangement, he at all times can
buildings, in which are stored patterns of
and
hum of machinery from the great
control the attachment so that he may
all their machinery. This arrangement in
Sterling
plant which indicates that there
place a certain tone coloring which is en-
case of fire would prove of inestimable
are
no
dull
times there. What an enormous
tirely his own upon the piece which he is
value to them, as they could quickly re-
industry
the
intelligent and well-directed
playing. This is radically different from
place, without great expense and with but
energy
of
Rufus
W. Blake and his confreres
other attachments where the "machine
little delay, much of the intricate and cost-
has
built
up
at
this point! I recollect
effect" predominates.
ly machinery which is utilized in the pre-
many dealers who have called upon me
The Wilcox & White Co. have been suc-
paration of their stock, throughout their
after their visit to the Sterling plant have
cessful in creating a wide-spread interest
buildings.
been almost unstinted in their praise re-
for "The Angelus," an interest which will
* *
garding the wonderful surprises which
not abate as time moves on. Another
they saw while inspecting the Sterling fac-
It is only a short drive from Deep River
striking point in favor of "The Angelus"
tory, both regarding the magnitude of the
down to the charming little village of Ivory-
is that it is neither unsightly, nor does it
business conducted at that point, and the
ton, where are located the many buildings
r
disfigure an instrument upon w hich it is
skill and perfection manifest in the build-
which comprise the enormous plant of the
placed.
ing of the Sterling pianos.
well-known
action makers, Comstock,
* *
Cheney & Co.—another firm which have
The Sterling piano has fairly won a
played an important part in the develop-
Up in the Naugatuck Valley, at Beacon "place" in the music trade of this country.
ment of the music trade industries of this Falls, Conn., is located an industry which* There are prominent dealers who rely upon
country. Commencing years ago in a very is interesting as it is original. I refer to selling just so many "Sterlings" annually
modest way, their business has steadily ex- the plant of the Homer D. Bronson Co., as the groceryman relies upon disposing of
panded until to-day their factory buildings, who manufacture bronze panels and other a certain number of barrels of flour cf a
together with the residences erected by metal work for pianofortes. In the panel reliable grade.
them for their employees, constitute a very work the Bronson Co. are original, and
The regularity with which the sales of
charming industrial village.
their panels have received strong endorse- Sterling pianos are made has a reflex effect
It seems to me that whenever I visit ment from manufacturers who have used tipon the factory conditions, hence when
Ivoryton that one of the most convincing them. The bronze panels are practically times are generally depressed the Sterling