Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 28 N. 17 - Page 9
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HOW THIS WONDERFUL INVENTION HAS ADVANCED IN POPULARITY DURING THE
YEAR A PHENOMENAL MUSIC CUTTING MACHINE AN ELECTRICAL BANJO.
PAST
11
operation of musical instruments. That
he has succeeded is now beyond question.
His busy factory at 46-48 East Houston
street is a remarkable sight. All of the
machinery used therein is built from Mr.
Davis' own designing, and we may add
that the electric batteries used in the piano-
phone are all made there. They probably
will rank as the most perfect small motors
in the world.
Mr. Davis said recently: "Considerable
prejudice has been aroused against the use
of batteries to operate piano attachments
owing mainly to the failure of crude arid
primitive devices. I can prove that we
have overcome every objection, and my
battery is a success in every way. Every
one is manufactured here under my own
personal supervision, and in operating our
attachment but a small quantity of the
electrical energy created is necessary to
operate the piano. I can operate the entire
piano attachment with our small battery at
a trifling cost—less than three cents an
hour. With our attachment applied to any
piano one can play any piece of music de-
sired without having passed years to obtain
a musical education. Hence I claim that
the Pianophone is an educator. It does
not deface the piano and is in every respect
durable, The material throughout is metal,
and there is no liability to get out of repair,
and the sale of one means the sale of others
in the same locality. It will perform with
unexcelled technique and accuracy of tem-
po any musical composition ever written."
An advantage which will readily recom-
mend itself to dealers is that the piano-
phone can be placed in any instrument
without defacing the piano in the slightest,
and it is not necessary to have it shipped
to the factory, as it is only a morning's
work toadjust the entire attachment. Thus
Mr. Davis has opened with the pianophone,
an avenue to a tremendous business,
because, as far as piano attachments are
concerned, we have only reached the initial
stage in their sales.
It has been said that this is in truth the ly arranged music rooms in the two great
age of electricity, and during the past few stores.
years we have seen and heard much of
Leading hotels throughout the country
electrical appliances in every branch of have purchased pianophones for the enter-
manufacture. The music trade has had its tainment and instruction of their guests.
full quota, and one man who stands out We are enabled to present a photograph of
prominently as an inventor of electrical in- one recently taken in the Imperial in this
novations, as applied to mus'cal instruments city. We may add that this is one of three
is George Howlett Davis, whose research which have been placed in this famous hos-
in the field of electricity has elicited hearty telry.
applause from thousands who have been
Mr. Davis is an electrical wizard, and to
pass hours daily over the development and
perfection of some electrical appliance is
to him the delight of his life. He has now
perfected and has ready for the market, a
self-playing electrical banjo, destined to
become one of the most popular creations
of the day.
Another specialty which Mr. Davis has
is his music cutting plant, an illustration
of which appears herewith. This is an
electrical perforating machine which will
cut music at the rate of thirty feet per
minute. The cost of operating this ma-
chine is very slight, so that it can be
readily understood that the earning capa-
city of the electrical perforating machine
is very great. It is an interesting sight to
see this machine operating in such a man-
ner that it mathematically perforates the
prepared paper in such a way that there
can be no possible error in the reproduc-
tion of a composition.
Mr. Davis saw years ago the tremendous
field, then undeveloped in this trade, for
PIANQPHONE IN HOTEL IMPERIAL.
electrical inventions as applied to the
enabled to enjoy delightful home music
through his mediumship.
It was something over a year ago that in
commenting upon the success of the piano-
phone we mentioned the fact that Col.
John Jacob Astor had purchased one of
these marvelous inventions for use in his
New York palace. In the latter part of
last December he ordered another one for
his famous yacht the " Nourmahal."
When we consider that Mr. Astor has
been interested for a number of years in
piano attachments, it is indeed a high com-
pliment that he has again paid to the piano-
phone—an invention which is acquiring
wider reputation with the passing of days.
George Howlett Davis, the inventor, has
perfected his attachment so that to-day its
execution is something marvellous. He
has won the highest praise Irom dealers
and musical experts. A compliment paid
him recently was the selection of the piano-
phone by John Wanamaker to be used in
his Philadelphia and New York stores.
For the former city Mr. Wanamaker has
secured the exclusive sale, and it forms no
VIEW OF MUSIC ROLL FACTORY, 44-46 WEST HOUSTON STREET,
PERFORATING MACHINE.
small feature of attraction in the splendid-
N. Y., AND ELECTRIC
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HOW THIS WONDERFUL INVENTION HAS ADVANCED IN POPULARITY DURING THE
YEAR A PHENOMENAL MUSIC CUTTING MACHINE AN ELECTRICAL BANJO.
PAST
11
operation of musical instruments. That
he has succeeded is now beyond question.
His busy factory at 46-48 East Houston
street is a remarkable sight. All of the
machinery used therein is built from Mr.
Davis' own designing, and we may add
that the electric batteries used in the piano-
phone are all made there. They probably
will rank as the most perfect small motors
in the world.
Mr. Davis said recently: "Considerable
prejudice has been aroused against the use
of batteries to operate piano attachments
owing mainly to the failure of crude arid
primitive devices. I can prove that we
have overcome every objection, and my
battery is a success in every way. Every
one is manufactured here under my own
personal supervision, and in operating our
attachment but a small quantity of the
electrical energy created is necessary to
operate the piano. I can operate the entire
piano attachment with our small battery at
a trifling cost—less than three cents an
hour. With our attachment applied to any
piano one can play any piece of music de-
sired without having passed years to obtain
a musical education. Hence I claim that
the Pianophone is an educator. It does
not deface the piano and is in every respect
durable, The material throughout is metal,
and there is no liability to get out of repair,
and the sale of one means the sale of others
in the same locality. It will perform with
unexcelled technique and accuracy of tem-
po any musical composition ever written."
An advantage which will readily recom-
mend itself to dealers is that the piano-
phone can be placed in any instrument
without defacing the piano in the slightest,
and it is not necessary to have it shipped
to the factory, as it is only a morning's
work toadjust the entire attachment. Thus
Mr. Davis has opened with the pianophone,
an avenue to a tremendous business,
because, as far as piano attachments are
concerned, we have only reached the initial
stage in their sales.
It has been said that this is in truth the ly arranged music rooms in the two great
age of electricity, and during the past few stores.
years we have seen and heard much of
Leading hotels throughout the country
electrical appliances in every branch of have purchased pianophones for the enter-
manufacture. The music trade has had its tainment and instruction of their guests.
full quota, and one man who stands out We are enabled to present a photograph of
prominently as an inventor of electrical in- one recently taken in the Imperial in this
novations, as applied to mus'cal instruments city. We may add that this is one of three
is George Howlett Davis, whose research which have been placed in this famous hos-
in the field of electricity has elicited hearty telry.
applause from thousands who have been
Mr. Davis is an electrical wizard, and to
pass hours daily over the development and
perfection of some electrical appliance is
to him the delight of his life. He has now
perfected and has ready for the market, a
self-playing electrical banjo, destined to
become one of the most popular creations
of the day.
Another specialty which Mr. Davis has
is his music cutting plant, an illustration
of which appears herewith. This is an
electrical perforating machine which will
cut music at the rate of thirty feet per
minute. The cost of operating this ma-
chine is very slight, so that it can be
readily understood that the earning capa-
city of the electrical perforating machine
is very great. It is an interesting sight to
see this machine operating in such a man-
ner that it mathematically perforates the
prepared paper in such a way that there
can be no possible error in the reproduc-
tion of a composition.
Mr. Davis saw years ago the tremendous
field, then undeveloped in this trade, for
PIANQPHONE IN HOTEL IMPERIAL.
electrical inventions as applied to the
enabled to enjoy delightful home music
through his mediumship.
It was something over a year ago that in
commenting upon the success of the piano-
phone we mentioned the fact that Col.
John Jacob Astor had purchased one of
these marvelous inventions for use in his
New York palace. In the latter part of
last December he ordered another one for
his famous yacht the " Nourmahal."
When we consider that Mr. Astor has
been interested for a number of years in
piano attachments, it is indeed a high com-
pliment that he has again paid to the piano-
phone—an invention which is acquiring
wider reputation with the passing of days.
George Howlett Davis, the inventor, has
perfected his attachment so that to-day its
execution is something marvellous. He
has won the highest praise Irom dealers
and musical experts. A compliment paid
him recently was the selection of the piano-
phone by John Wanamaker to be used in
his Philadelphia and New York stores.
For the former city Mr. Wanamaker has
secured the exclusive sale, and it forms no
VIEW OF MUSIC ROLL FACTORY, 44-46 WEST HOUSTON STREET,
PERFORATING MACHINE.
small feature of attraction in the splendid-
N. Y., AND ELECTRIC
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