Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
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Washing-ton, D. C , Nov. 28, 1898.
Indicator for String- Musical instruments.
John C. St. John, Boston, Mass., assignor
to the Flagg Mfg. Co. Patent No. 614,775.
This invention is applicable to a cithern
or like instruments in which the strings are
arranged in groups, (one or more,) each
group being tuned to the intervals of a
common chord; and the object of the in-
vention is to render it possible for a person
unacquainted with musical notation and
with the tuning of the instrument to play
a tune upon the instrument, and not only
play the simple melody, but also to play
chords in connection with the melody,
which chords make the music much richer
and more effective.
To this end the invention consists in a
sheet with characters, which in themselves
signify sequence, arranged with reference
to definite points on the sheet in columns,
which columns are arranged relatively to
correspond to the relative arrangement of
the strings in a group of strings tuned to
the intervals of a common chord, and with
supplemental characters in connection with
certain of the sequence characters, which
supplemental characters, when each supple-
T
HE
mental character is taken in connection
with its sequence character, show when, as
well as which, other strings are to be
sounded simultaneously with the string in-
dicated by the sequence character—that is,
a sequence character and its supplemental
character together form a compound char-
acter, which shows not only what strings
are to be sounded together, but also when
those strings are to be sounded together.
Piano Attachment.
Alvin F. Florey,
Washington, N. J., assignor to Cornish &
Co., of same place. Patent No. 614,456.
This invention relates to attachments
for pianos and has for its object to provide
a combined mandolin or cithern and
muffler attachment adapted for varying
the string tone produced by the operation
of the handles, the parts being so disposed
as to adapt them to produce either a light
metallic tone, analagous to that of a mando-
lin, zither, harp or similar instrument, or
to muffle the tone while practicing and anal-
agous purposes according to adjustment.
Musical instrument. Oliver Pederson,
of Nashua, N. H. Patent No. 614, 755.
This invention relates to improvements in
musical instruments, and more particularly
to that class of musical instruments in
which sounding-boards are employed and
free strings adapted to be played upon
by the hand. The instrument which has
been devised is termed the "zimboleen."
It consists of a musical instrument hav-
ing a sounding-board and free playing-
strings strung across the surface of the
said board and means for changing the key
of the said strings as desired, the mechan-
GRAPHOPHONE.
ism holding the said strings in the desired
key automatically.
James K M. Gill.
After The Review had closed its forms
last week we received the intelligence that
James K. M. Gill, vice-president of the
Straube Piano Co., Chicago, had died on
the previous Wednesday night. Mr. Gill
had been suffering from an illness of a
most insidious character, diabetes, for the
past twelve months, which he made every
effort to conquer. For a time he partially
recovered from his ailment, but the first of
November he was stricken, and from that
date until his death was confined to bed.
Mr. Gill was born in 1862 in Pittsburg,
and about eight years ago made his first
appearance in the piano trade as a sales-
man for A. H. Whitney Co. of Quincy, 111.
whom he later succeeded in the business,
making his mark as a piano man of ability.
He later represented the Mason & Hamlin
Co. in Kansas City and in Chicago. On
the first of January, 1898, when the
Straube Piano Co. was incorporated he
was elected to the office of vice-president.
Mr. Gill was widely known and respect-
ed in the trade and his many friends will
sincerely mourn his death. The funeral
ceremonies occurred on Friday of last week
from his late residence, the interment be-
ing in Oakwoods Cemetery.
We under-
stand that he leaves his family well pro-
vided for, having carried a $7,000 life in-
surance, besides an interest in the Straube
Piano Co.
Lyon & Healy, the great Chicago dealers in
musical instruments and supplies, 'write:
'' F o r s e v e r a l y e a r s w e h a v e n o t e d a n
ever
increasing
public
interest
in . . . .
The Graphophone*
This has been brought about on the one
hand by reason of the many
features
delightful
necessarily inherent in a sound-
reproducing machine, and on the other hand
by the great improvements in the machines
themselves.
The Graphophones which we
now offer to the musical world do not need
the charm of absolute novelty to command
attention.
They have outgrown the expensive
experimental
stage
incidental
to
novelties and
to-day challenge
admiration, as perfect mechanical productions offered at a wonderfully reasonable price."
« j ^ MUSIC DEALERS CAN PROFIT. _2>
This fall and winter there will be a great demand for Graphophones and Graphophone supplies. The goods are easily
handled and attract customers. Write to our nearest office for Catalogue M, and for discounts granted dealers.
COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
NEW YORK, 143 and 145 Broadway.
Retail Branch, 1155, 1157, 1159 Broadway, N. Y.
PARIS 3 4 Boulevard des Italiens.
CHICAGO, 211 State Street.
ST. LOUIS, 7 2 0 - 7 2 2 Olive St.
. a
PHILADELPHIA, 1032 Chestnut St.
W A S H I N G T O N , 919 Pennsylvania Ave.
BALTIMORE, 110 E. Baltimore St.
BUFFALO, 313 Main St.
SAN FRANCISCO, 7 2 3 Market St.