Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
[Prepared especially for The Review.]
Pianoforte Action. Luther A. Barber,
Buffalo, N. Y. Patent No. 604,136, dated
May 17th, 1898.
The object of this invention is to pro-
duce a novel action applicable to either
upright, square or grand piano.
It comprises a novel mechanism for ad-
justing and taking up the lost motion in
an action by means of a key-lever jack so
mounted as to be raised or lowered by ad-
justment and to be at all times maintained
in parallelism with the key-lever without
rocking.
It further comprises a novel adjustable
connection between the pedal-rail and the
buffer-rail where the auxiliary levers are
connected to and swing upon the pedal-
rail, and also where the auxiliary levers
are mounted and swing upon the key-lever
jacks. In either case this connection is
operative as a part of the soft-pedal move-
ment, the buffer-rail being directly con-
nected to the soft-pedal mechanism.
It further comprises a novel mechanism
for operating the jack-lever by the direct
engagement of the key with the auxiliary
jack-lever, interposing the push-rod or
sticker between the two levers and con-
necting it to both of them, a novel mech-
anism for adjusting the relation of the
key to the key-lever jack, a novel mount-
ing of the pedal-rail in alinement or sub-
stantially in alinement with the keys, and
mounting the auxiliary jack-levers upon
this rail to engage with the key or upon
the key to be engaged by the rail when the
soft-pedal is operated.
Cithern. Chas. T. Menze, St. Louis,
Mo.
Patent No. 603,699, dated May 10,
1898.
This invention relates to citherns, and
it Consists of the novel construction, com-
bination and arrangements of parts for
which the following claim is made :
The combination with a cithern having
an offset formed in the top side of its front
end, of a block slidingly mounted in said
' offset, which block is provided with keys
for sounding the strings of the cithern.
Reed Organ. Wm. S. Moses. Tracy,
Minn.
Patent No. 604,070, dated May
17, 1898.
This invention relates to reed organs,
and is an improvement upon the patent
granted the inventor Nov. 29, 1895, in
which a movable, supplemental keyboard
is employed for transposing music into
different keys.
The present invention is designed to ac-
complish the same purpose by the peculiar
construction and arrangement of the parts,
whereby the tone mechanism can be
shifted either to the right or the left with
relation to the regular key-board, which
contemplates simplifying the mechanism
of the organ and obviating the use of the
supplemental key-board.
The invention consists in the improved
construction of the tone mechanism and in
the manner of shifting the same with re-
spect to the regular key-board. It fur-
ther consists in combining with the two in-
dependent sets of reeds certain mechanism
by which one set can be thrown out of
operative engagement, with the tracker-
pins of the key-board, and in improved
mechanism for operating the coupler-
boards and in the mechanism for tilting
the supporting-frame of the key-board to
regulate the depression of the tracker-pins.
Ludwig & Co.
THE SUCCESS OF THEIR UNDERTAKING IN PHIL-
ADELPHIA TWELVE MONTHS' TRIAL DEM-
ONSTRATES THE WISDOM OF THE MOVE.
In the course of conversation with Mr.
John Liidwig, of Ludwig & Co., this week
the Philadelphia branch store was referred
to, concerning which he said:
"On discontinuing our relation with
the Estey house, who handled our pianos
for several years, we decided to open re-
tail stores at Philadelphia, Pa., having
been influenced by the request of quite a
number of friends of our pianos, whose
support promised a fair share of sticcess,
we further considered that, a market hav-
ing been created there for our goods, (the
Esteys having bought for the Philadelphia
house about two hundred and fifty pianos
during the last year) we were justified in
working the territory ourselves, as the
houses applying for our agency carried
already large lines of other makes and we
could not expect that either one would
push our pianos to the extent, which we
should have considered as doing justice to
us under the circumstances.
"What looked at first a formidable un-
dertaking, has proven a genuine success.
This will be seen from the fact of our hav-
ing sold during twelve months 301 pianos
in addition to some second-hand pianos,
organs, and a fair renting trade.
" We operate two stores at Philadelphia,
under the management of Messrs. Jos. F.
Allen and H. C. Schoeppy respectively, to
whose faithful work the success of the new
venture is due to no small extent; in addi-
tion we have a branch store at Wilming-
ton, Del., where the firm of George Dear-
born had been handling our pianos for six
years previous.
" O u r new ' Octave Duplex Piano ' has
been very favorably received by the musi-
cians at Philadelphia, who commented in
very complimentary terms upon its tone
qualities, and we have sold quite a num-
ber of them already."
Albert Krell, Jr., of the Krell Piano Co.,
reached the city on Thursday and left
yesterday for Boston.
S. Hubbard, secretary of the Weber-
Wheelock Co., has been called to active
shore war service as Inspector of Ordinance
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Fischer Facts.
In a recent announcement concerning the
merits of the Fischer uprights, some very
good points are made under the headings
"Individuality ", " Integrity " and " Repu-
tation ". They are well worth quoting—
the more so,because every point is well
taken:—
Individuality—the Crystallization of En-
deavor.—Every Fischer Piano possesses a
charming individuality. It is different in
many ways from a piano of any other make.
It is unmistakably a Fischer Piano,—new,
or after a life-time of service, it proclaims
it at every turn, at every feature. Fischer
Pianos are built upon fixed principles, and
every instrument is judged by an unswerv-
ing standard before it leaves the factories.
Integrity—for over half a century.—An
article of merchandise that has not tran-
scendent merit cannot live and prosper
from generation to generation. It must be
honest clear through.
Every claim put
forth must be founded upon absolute truth.
The Fischer Piano was never in as great
demand as to-day—after over half a century
of public test and trial.
Reputation—a source of satisfaction.—
When a piano is not being played upon it
is in use nevertheless. If you doubt this
statement attempt to completely ftirnish
your parlor without a piano, and note the
result. Then every acquaintance naturally
associates you with your piano. Let it be
one that you may well be proud of. If it
is a Fischer Piano, you can feel that it is
beyond criticism—its reputation is more
than local—the Fischer is known north,
south, east and west, and in every land.
The Waldorf Piano.
Brief reference was made in the last is-
sue of The Review to the merits of the
Waldorf piano, a product of the Waldorf
Piano Co., 552 West Twenty-ninth Street.
This instrument proves beyond all ques-
tion, the possibility and entire practica-
bility of producing a reliable and durable
instrument, attractive in style and of good
tone, at a price placing it within the reach
of persons who are not at liberty to ex-
pend a large amount in the purchase of a
piano. The Waldorf has already won an
excellent reputation in the trade.
The re-decorating of the Wilcox & White
warerooms at 146 Fifth Avenue, has just
been completed.
The general effect is
highly artistic, reflecting great credit on
Mr. Keeley, under whose orders and
supervision the work has been carried out.
Visitors at the warerooms are frequent and
orders numerous.
The Kranich & Bach report this week is
satisfactory.
Mr. O'Brien, one of the
firm's most active traveling representa-
tives, is at Bay City, Mich., enjoying a
brief rest.
Joseph Shoninger made a brief visit
to New Haven this week. He is expected
back to-day.
Fred T. Steinway and Nahum Stetson
spent the early days of the week in Chicago.