Music Trade Review
Issue: 1896 Vol. 22 N. 26 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
At the Berlin Exposition.
SOME INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE MUSICAL EXHIBIT THE FIRMS REPRESENTED
KNOWN NAMES PIANOS IN GREEN AND GOLD.
INCE last writing you the strike of Ber-
lin piano-workers has come to an end.
Its principal feature was the active part
played by the Social Democratic leaders
and their mouthpiece,' the "Vorwaerts"
(Forward), which latter excelled in the mis-
construction of facts to an extent quite un-
precedented. However, the association
formed by the leading Berlin manufactu-
rers proved itself equal to the occasion, and
strong enough to suppress the work of the
wirepullers, whose prestige was crushed in
the combat to such a tune that all those
workmen who took an active part in the
conduct of the strike are now unable to find
work. A list has been gotten up by the var-
ious manufacturers belonging to the asso-
ciation of all those men who joined the
strike. Those who took a leading part in
it, or made themselves particularly obnox-
ious by their speeches or actions, are
marked with one, two, or three stars for
future guidance. This action of the Berlin
piano manufacturers shows again that union
makes strong, not only the workman, but
also the masters. Since the end of the
strike, and also a week or two before, writes
a correspondent to the " Piano, Organ and
Music Trades Journal," London, the bulk of
the Berlin factories showed already signs of
returning life, and one firm after another
commenced to fill the place in the Exhibi-
tion allotted to them. Entering the great
Cupola Hall of the Industrial building,
adorned with huge pictures, the impression
of the ensemble of the Exhibition is huge.
Going straight through the Lange Hall,
you arrive at the Machinery Hall, where
steam, gas, and electric machines of all
the latest types are on view; also sew-
ing machines, mangles, and bicycles of
Berlin make. Returning again to the great
Cupola Hall, there is, at the right of the
entrance, the exhibit of the Royal porcelain
manufacture, the exhibits of which have
already gained great appreciation at Chica-
go, and where very expensive pieces of
china are on view. Through the portal
forming part and parcel of this exhibit you
wander into Group XII., representing the
musical instrument department. Strolling
round I discovered several well-known
names, such as C. Bechstein, Gors & Kall-
mann, Biese, Schwechten, Duysen, Roese-
ner, Ecke, Neumayer, Barthol, Grand, Hein-
dorff, Matz, Nieber, Plaffi, Quandt, Weber,
Westermayer, etc. Looking over the ex-
hibits in general I was somewhat disap-
pointed—only very few of the models are
externally different to the every-day styles,
and very few novelties are on view.
S
SOME WELL
one of which represents by its carvings a
scene out of Wagner's Rheingold—i.e.,
Albrich chasing the Rhinedaughters. This
grand is finished in white and gold: the
cheeks represent swans.
A second grand is in walnut, green and
gold, also with cheeks representing swans;
a third grand is in walnut and hand painted.
All three grands are masterpieces of design
and sculpture, painted and designed by
Professor Max Koch and carved by C. Tau-
bert. Altogether the firm of Bechstein
shows twenty-two pianos—i.e., five grands
and seventeen uprights. Besides the above-
described grands there is one in Queen
Anne style, with six legs, and another,
specially adapted for tropical climates,
in solid mahogany. Among the upright
pianos are several new styles—i.e. (i) Up-
right old mahogany with cupboard, two
flaps open, and sconces, which are fixed
inside, open out, also the desk folds open;
(2) old English mahogany; (3) Indian life
in teak; (4) Sheraton style in satin; (5)
piano in oak, painted by Professor Koch;
(6) conductor's piano, of which the firm
has supplied some to conductors of leading
German theatres; (7) old English upright
in Empire style with gilt ornaments in
bronze; (8) piano in Japanese style in solid
walnut; (9) piano in Louis XVI. in carved
walnut.
A good many pianos especially made for
the British market are shown by C. Bech-
stein, which shows that the firm does a very
large proportion of their trade in your
country.
G. Schwechter, one of the oldest piano-
makers of Berlin, with great local reputa-
tion, manufactures one of the most sub-
stantial pianos in Germany. This firm ex-
hibit about twelve instruments, remarka-
ble among which is a grand piano in buhl,
tortoise-shell, and brass, and of magnifi-
cent appearance. Considering that the
instrument has been manufactured by this
firm a matter of thirty years ago, and after
being "done up " is as good as any brand
new grand, they have every reason to be
proud of it. A magnificent grand in ma-
hogany Renaissance, a grand in white and
gold rococo, also several rococo upright
pianos in light walnut are likewise exhib-
ited by G. vSchwechter.
Duysen, another high-class maker of
Berlin, exhibited four grands and several
pianos in black walnut, and one in white
rococo style. Mr. Duysen has on view a
small boudoir grand, the tone and touch of
which, and elegant finish, deserve the high-
est praise.
The firm of C. Bechstein makes, how-
Messrs. Gors & Kallmann exhibit nine
ever, an exception, as really great efforts pianos and three grands, one of which is
have been made by them to show some fine only 5 ft. 7 in. long, overstrung in carved
imposing instruments which have been walnut. The veneer is cut in chess-board
specially made for this Exhibition. There fashion. Amongst their upright pianos
are in particular three grand pianos, very there is one in mahogany and walnut and
remarkable for their external construction, one in Chippendale style. Th^y also show
I 1
pianos made specially to suit the Russian,
the South American, and the Indian cli-
mates.
Roesener.—Amongst the exhibits of this
firm there is one piano in mahogany stained
in Kali, English Empire styles, with
Wedgewood jasper-cameo-reliefs in the
upper panel and with electric lamps—a
very effective instrument, but hardly suit-
able for trade purposes.
Messrs. Matz show, amongst others, a
Gothic piano in solid walnut, and one in
rococo style in richly-carved walnut.
Amongst the novelties I notice a very
clever invention by Dr. Eisemann, exhib-
ited by the firm of Westermayer, Berlin,
•called " electrophonic " attachment, which
produces an organ-like tone, throughout
the scale of a piano, and is not unreason-
ably dear.
Messrs. Heilbrunn Sohne have patented
a piano and organ combined, self-playing
alternately or both instruments together,
by a contrivance similar to the Alestina.
The instrument is shown at the Exhibition,
with a penny-in-the-slot arrangement.
Amongst the action manufacturers I no-
tice Ernst Jacob, Fritz Kruger, Lexow,
Oscar Kohler, and Gustav Wiesener. The
firms Edward Macther and Cov. Rohden
exhibit machines for spinning covered
strings, castors, pressure-bars, tools, etc.,
for manufacture of pianos; Henrich Buch-
holz, keys, and Carl Leuschuer, pianoforte
hammers; L. Beyer, wood carvings and
trusses.
The small-goods industry of Berlin con-
fines itself to few factories as yet, and
these are not fully represented at the exhi-
bition. The Berlin Musical Instrument
Fabrik, late Pietschmann, exhibits accordi-
ons, manopans, herophons, and their celes-
tas; Helbig & Co., their Mignon organs;
E. Rittershausen, flutes (Bohm system);
C. W. Moritz, all kinds of brass instru-
ments, as supplied to the German Army;
Heinrich Meissner, manufacturer of drums,
a magnificent group of historical drummers,
forming an interesting part of the exhibi-
tion.
Few of the Berlin manufacturers of vio-
lins have patronized the exhibition. Jos.
Hornsteimer shows a case of violins and
cellos ; Oswald Mokel, also violins and
cellos; E. Hiese, ocarinas; Otto Heinrichs,
a Streichzither violin, also a lap violin (new),
old lap-violin one octave below ordinary
violin.
WE are in receipt of an invitation from
Chas. M. Stieff of Baltimore to attend the
54th anniversity and picnic of his employees,
which will be held on Monday, July 20th,
at 4 o'clock, at Darley Park, Hartford
Road, Baltimore. The annual picnics of
the Stieff firm have become decidedly pop-
ular in Baltimore. Prof. Weber's Fifth
Regiment Band will render a military con-
cert next Monday.
MELBOURNE A. MARKS, superintendent of
the Everett piano factory, Boston, Mass.,
has been tarrying a few days in town.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
At the Berlin Exposition.
SOME INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE MUSICAL EXHIBIT THE FIRMS REPRESENTED
KNOWN NAMES PIANOS IN GREEN AND GOLD.
INCE last writing you the strike of Ber-
lin piano-workers has come to an end.
Its principal feature was the active part
played by the Social Democratic leaders
and their mouthpiece,' the "Vorwaerts"
(Forward), which latter excelled in the mis-
construction of facts to an extent quite un-
precedented. However, the association
formed by the leading Berlin manufactu-
rers proved itself equal to the occasion, and
strong enough to suppress the work of the
wirepullers, whose prestige was crushed in
the combat to such a tune that all those
workmen who took an active part in the
conduct of the strike are now unable to find
work. A list has been gotten up by the var-
ious manufacturers belonging to the asso-
ciation of all those men who joined the
strike. Those who took a leading part in
it, or made themselves particularly obnox-
ious by their speeches or actions, are
marked with one, two, or three stars for
future guidance. This action of the Berlin
piano manufacturers shows again that union
makes strong, not only the workman, but
also the masters. Since the end of the
strike, and also a week or two before, writes
a correspondent to the " Piano, Organ and
Music Trades Journal," London, the bulk of
the Berlin factories showed already signs of
returning life, and one firm after another
commenced to fill the place in the Exhibi-
tion allotted to them. Entering the great
Cupola Hall of the Industrial building,
adorned with huge pictures, the impression
of the ensemble of the Exhibition is huge.
Going straight through the Lange Hall,
you arrive at the Machinery Hall, where
steam, gas, and electric machines of all
the latest types are on view; also sew-
ing machines, mangles, and bicycles of
Berlin make. Returning again to the great
Cupola Hall, there is, at the right of the
entrance, the exhibit of the Royal porcelain
manufacture, the exhibits of which have
already gained great appreciation at Chica-
go, and where very expensive pieces of
china are on view. Through the portal
forming part and parcel of this exhibit you
wander into Group XII., representing the
musical instrument department. Strolling
round I discovered several well-known
names, such as C. Bechstein, Gors & Kall-
mann, Biese, Schwechten, Duysen, Roese-
ner, Ecke, Neumayer, Barthol, Grand, Hein-
dorff, Matz, Nieber, Plaffi, Quandt, Weber,
Westermayer, etc. Looking over the ex-
hibits in general I was somewhat disap-
pointed—only very few of the models are
externally different to the every-day styles,
and very few novelties are on view.
S
SOME WELL
one of which represents by its carvings a
scene out of Wagner's Rheingold—i.e.,
Albrich chasing the Rhinedaughters. This
grand is finished in white and gold: the
cheeks represent swans.
A second grand is in walnut, green and
gold, also with cheeks representing swans;
a third grand is in walnut and hand painted.
All three grands are masterpieces of design
and sculpture, painted and designed by
Professor Max Koch and carved by C. Tau-
bert. Altogether the firm of Bechstein
shows twenty-two pianos—i.e., five grands
and seventeen uprights. Besides the above-
described grands there is one in Queen
Anne style, with six legs, and another,
specially adapted for tropical climates,
in solid mahogany. Among the upright
pianos are several new styles—i.e. (i) Up-
right old mahogany with cupboard, two
flaps open, and sconces, which are fixed
inside, open out, also the desk folds open;
(2) old English mahogany; (3) Indian life
in teak; (4) Sheraton style in satin; (5)
piano in oak, painted by Professor Koch;
(6) conductor's piano, of which the firm
has supplied some to conductors of leading
German theatres; (7) old English upright
in Empire style with gilt ornaments in
bronze; (8) piano in Japanese style in solid
walnut; (9) piano in Louis XVI. in carved
walnut.
A good many pianos especially made for
the British market are shown by C. Bech-
stein, which shows that the firm does a very
large proportion of their trade in your
country.
G. Schwechter, one of the oldest piano-
makers of Berlin, with great local reputa-
tion, manufactures one of the most sub-
stantial pianos in Germany. This firm ex-
hibit about twelve instruments, remarka-
ble among which is a grand piano in buhl,
tortoise-shell, and brass, and of magnifi-
cent appearance. Considering that the
instrument has been manufactured by this
firm a matter of thirty years ago, and after
being "done up " is as good as any brand
new grand, they have every reason to be
proud of it. A magnificent grand in ma-
hogany Renaissance, a grand in white and
gold rococo, also several rococo upright
pianos in light walnut are likewise exhib-
ited by G. vSchwechter.
Duysen, another high-class maker of
Berlin, exhibited four grands and several
pianos in black walnut, and one in white
rococo style. Mr. Duysen has on view a
small boudoir grand, the tone and touch of
which, and elegant finish, deserve the high-
est praise.
The firm of C. Bechstein makes, how-
Messrs. Gors & Kallmann exhibit nine
ever, an exception, as really great efforts pianos and three grands, one of which is
have been made by them to show some fine only 5 ft. 7 in. long, overstrung in carved
imposing instruments which have been walnut. The veneer is cut in chess-board
specially made for this Exhibition. There fashion. Amongst their upright pianos
are in particular three grand pianos, very there is one in mahogany and walnut and
remarkable for their external construction, one in Chippendale style. Th^y also show
I 1
pianos made specially to suit the Russian,
the South American, and the Indian cli-
mates.
Roesener.—Amongst the exhibits of this
firm there is one piano in mahogany stained
in Kali, English Empire styles, with
Wedgewood jasper-cameo-reliefs in the
upper panel and with electric lamps—a
very effective instrument, but hardly suit-
able for trade purposes.
Messrs. Matz show, amongst others, a
Gothic piano in solid walnut, and one in
rococo style in richly-carved walnut.
Amongst the novelties I notice a very
clever invention by Dr. Eisemann, exhib-
ited by the firm of Westermayer, Berlin,
•called " electrophonic " attachment, which
produces an organ-like tone, throughout
the scale of a piano, and is not unreason-
ably dear.
Messrs. Heilbrunn Sohne have patented
a piano and organ combined, self-playing
alternately or both instruments together,
by a contrivance similar to the Alestina.
The instrument is shown at the Exhibition,
with a penny-in-the-slot arrangement.
Amongst the action manufacturers I no-
tice Ernst Jacob, Fritz Kruger, Lexow,
Oscar Kohler, and Gustav Wiesener. The
firms Edward Macther and Cov. Rohden
exhibit machines for spinning covered
strings, castors, pressure-bars, tools, etc.,
for manufacture of pianos; Henrich Buch-
holz, keys, and Carl Leuschuer, pianoforte
hammers; L. Beyer, wood carvings and
trusses.
The small-goods industry of Berlin con-
fines itself to few factories as yet, and
these are not fully represented at the exhi-
bition. The Berlin Musical Instrument
Fabrik, late Pietschmann, exhibits accordi-
ons, manopans, herophons, and their celes-
tas; Helbig & Co., their Mignon organs;
E. Rittershausen, flutes (Bohm system);
C. W. Moritz, all kinds of brass instru-
ments, as supplied to the German Army;
Heinrich Meissner, manufacturer of drums,
a magnificent group of historical drummers,
forming an interesting part of the exhibi-
tion.
Few of the Berlin manufacturers of vio-
lins have patronized the exhibition. Jos.
Hornsteimer shows a case of violins and
cellos ; Oswald Mokel, also violins and
cellos; E. Hiese, ocarinas; Otto Heinrichs,
a Streichzither violin, also a lap violin (new),
old lap-violin one octave below ordinary
violin.
WE are in receipt of an invitation from
Chas. M. Stieff of Baltimore to attend the
54th anniversity and picnic of his employees,
which will be held on Monday, July 20th,
at 4 o'clock, at Darley Park, Hartford
Road, Baltimore. The annual picnics of
the Stieff firm have become decidedly pop-
ular in Baltimore. Prof. Weber's Fifth
Regiment Band will render a military con-
cert next Monday.
MELBOURNE A. MARKS, superintendent of
the Everett piano factory, Boston, Mass.,
has been tarrying a few days in town.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).