Music Trade Review
Issue: 1904 Vol. 39 N. 8 - Page 15
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
FROM THE GREAT WHEAT BELT.
Piano Dealers Expecting a Big Trade This
Fall—The Big Price for Wheat Will Help
Things
Out Tremendously — Wonderful
Growth of Minneapolis—Demand for Stein-
way Pianos—Henry Dreher in Town—Good
Cable Business.
(Special to The Review.)
Minneapolis and St. Paul, August 15, 1904.
Early in the summer St. Paul seemed to have
the advantage of the sisteF city in the way of
business, more activity in the piano trade being
reported in that city than in Minneapolis. Con-
ditions now seem to have been reversed to some
slight extent. The last two weeks were reported
as "quiet" in St. Paul while in Minneapolis the
tendency was generally reporterl upward.
Big things are expected for this fall, however.
The dealers all anticipate a rushing business.
Not alone is this so in the piano trade, but in
all other lines as well. While complaining that
the general trend of the trade has been quiet for
at least a year, business men are compelled to
admit that they have been holding their own
with a prospect of pulling out in nice shape on
the right side of the ledger at the end of this
year.
The first eight months of 1904 have witnessed
intense activity in building operations in Minne-
apolis. The city is growing so rapidly, however,
that even with 300 new flat buildings erected
this year and thousands of dwellings it is diffi-
cult for a newcomer to secure a suitable home.
A compilation of vacant flats and houses showed
last week that there were not over 300 fiats and
the same number of houses of all kinds, even
down to one-room shacks, available for rent. This
speaks well for the future of Minneapolis and
the prosperity of the piano trade
A. B. Hush, manager of the Cable branch in
Minneapolis, and in charge of the sub-branches
in this territory, reports quite an improvement
for August. The city business has picked up,
and the sales are heavier than at this time in
July. The country business has been more than
maintaining its own, with the result that the re-
ports from the Minneapolis office show a big in-
crease over a year ago.
S. E. Moist, with the Minneapolis Music Co.,
made a sale, last Monday, to the St. Joseph
Catholic institution in St. Paul, of four Henry F.
Miller uprights and one Henry F. Miller grand.
One style B Steinway rrand was among the
sales made by the Metropolitan Music Co., last
week. The purchaser was a prominent Minneap-
olis musician. This company is preparing for a
big business this fall. Plans are being made to
make some changes in the main salesroom on
the second floor, and large orders have been sent
in for new stock, particularly Steinway and
Emerson pianos.
The W. W. Kimball Co. is continuing its sum-
mer sale of second-hand instruments with fairly
good results.
Henry Drehr honored {.he Twin Cities with a
visit the first of the week, leaving here for a
short fishing trip in northern Wisconsin.
REVIEW
LATE PATENTS OF TRADE INTEREST.
(Specially Compiled for The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Aug. 15, 1904.
PIANO DAMPER-ACTION.
Charles F. Blinn, Bos-
ton, Mass. Patent No. 767,100.
This invention relates to pianoforte-actions, es-
pecially to that part of the action operated by
the loud or damper pedal. An upright piano-ac-
tion usually has a rail or rod which is connected
with the damper-pedal and when actuated by the
latter is caused to hold the dampers out of con-
tact with the wires or strings after the releasing
of the keys. In some movements a single elon-
gated rod is employed adapted to lift or displace
all the dampers simultaneously. Other move-
ments have a divided rod or two rod sections, one
of which co-operates with the bass and the other
with the treble dampers, the two sections being
operated from opposite ends of the action. The
arrangement of the sections is such that the inner
end of the bass section overlaps the inner end of
the treble section, so that while the bass section
of the divided rod can be moved independently
of the other to displace only the bass dampers,
the treble section of said rod cannot be operated
independently. This division of the rod in the
middle impairs the effectiveness and rigidity of
the rod when all the dampers are to be displaced,
because the springs which hold the dampers
against their respective wires are always stronger
ill the bass section than in the treble section, and
consequently the greatest resistance is at the
weakest part of the lifting rod.
The principal object of this invention is to di-
vide the series of dampers into groups and to con-
trol each group independently of the other or
others, and still enable all the dampers to be dis-
placed simultaneously.
A secondary object of the invention is to so or-
ganize the damper-actuating mechanism that the
greatest resistance to the lifting rods will be at
the strongest or most rigid parts of said rods.
15
used otherwise; second, to provide such a device
as will illustrate the diatonic scale in all the
major and minor keys used in practical music,
and, third, will show the relation between major
and minor music, with the principal chords of
each, as commonly employed in piano and organ
accompaniments, and illustrate the circle of fifths.
MANDOLIN ORCHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS,
ORGANS, ETC. Nels Efraim Nelson, Stromsburg,
Neb., assignor of one-half to M. A.Makeever, same
place. Patent No. 766,512.
This invention relates to an attachment for
pianos or organs; and the object thereof is to
provide mechanism for producing the tone and a
musical vibration imitative of a mandolin or simi-
lar stringed instrument which may be operated
at will either simultaneously with or independ-
ently of the organ or piano and controlled from
the keyboard of the instrument to which it is
attached.
Another object of the device is to provide
means for mechanically throwing one or more
picks into vibrating contact with the strings of
the attachment and for releasing the picks at
will.
Another object is to provide means for mut-
ing the mandolin or piano each independently of
the other.
RECORD MEDIUM.
Edwin D. Casterline, Los An-
geles, Cal., assignor to Casterline-Tally Co., same
place. Patent No. 766,666.
This invention relates to a device which may
be used in the operation of automatic music
boxes, pianos, organs, or other instruments,
whether operated pneumatically, electrically, me-
chanically, or otherwise, or which may be used
in the operation of keyboards, strings, or stops,
or other moving parts which may be used in the
operation of moving picture machines.
One, object of this invention is to provide a
device which does not require rewinding, as in
the case of rolled record-strips, tune-sheets, films,
or the like after the record has been run over,
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. Nicola Turturro, New
but which may be practically instantaneously
York, N. Y. Patent No. 767,023.
This invention relates to stringed instruments shifted to its starting point to accommodate or
of that class having a hollow sounding-body and which may be instantaneously shifted to any
a neck extending from the body and having a intermediate point of its length to com-
Thus the de-
head to which the outer ends of the strings are mence at a definite point.
vice may contain a series of consecutive records,
attached.
The invention aims to provide an improved in- and the whole series may be run out sequentially,
strument of this class, and especially an instru- or, if desired, any individual record in the series
ment resembling a mandolin in the shape of its which may be selected may be worked out from
body portion and the tone of the instrument, beginning to end.
Another object is to provide a record medium
which shall be capable of giving a largely-in-
creased volume of sound while retaining the pecif- which secures a large amount of continuous work-
ing surface with extreme compactness, which
liar tone quality of the mandolin.
PEDAL ATTACHMENT. Henry C. Ross, Piru, Cal. may be made of a large number of thin planes or
connected sheets, which may be arranged hori-
Patent No. 767,247.
This invention relates to a pedal attachment for zontally to occupy a very small vertical space,
pianos, the object being to provide a simple and which latter is Of great value when the device is
sure means for closing the slots in the front used in connection with musical instruments and
boards of upright pianos and similar musical in- long selections of operas and songs are to be ren-
struments to prevent mice and other vermin from dered, as it does not require the periodical chang-
ing of the tune-sheets.
gaining access thereto.
Another object is to provide a record-sheet con-
To this end is suspended from each pedal a re-
movable hinged plate which closes that part of sisting of a series of detachably-connected indi-
the slot below the pedal, and as the pedal is vidual sheets which collectively form a continu-
operated rises and falls with it, being guided in ous record and which may be readily detached.
its movement by passing through a slot in an The sheets may be arranged in any desired order,
angular extension from the pedal-plate beneath which is a valuable feature in making pro-
LIKES THE RAYMOND.
grammes, as it provides for the desired selections
the piano.
MECHANICAL MUSIC-CHART. Samuel B. Turner, to be arranged in the order in which they are to
There is a dealer located in a certain Ohio
be rendered.
Chicago,
111. Patent No. 766,979.
town who recently remarked to The Review:
Another object is to provide a record sheet or
This invention relates to improvements in a
"There is a piano made out our way that is con-
strip
which may be used as an index and carry
mechanical
music-chart,
and
it
consists
in
certain
sidered a magnificent creation. T have been han-
dling it ever since the firm manufactured pianos. peculiarities of the construction of the various records—such, for instance, as required in librar-
ies or which might be employed for cataloguing
I began with them in the organ business many parts thereof.
The principal objects of this invention are, first, items for any use.
years ago, and I knew if they built pianos as
The record strip or sheet may comprise a body
well as they did organs, they would be fine. They to provide a mechanical music-chart for students
are, and I want to say to you that the Raymond and teachers of vocal and instrumental music in the form of a helix, and for most uses to which
piano manufactured by the F. L. Raymond Co., which shall be simple in construction and opera- tne sheet is applied it will be constructed of thin
Cleveland, O., is a profitable instrument for deal- tion, being usually arranged, designed, and in- material, preferably which is self-supporting—
to prevent the sheet
ers to handle; I have sold It for a good many tended to be used with a piano, organ, or similar i.e., of a sufficient stiffness
x
instrument, but may be constructed an.d may be falling out of shape.
years.
LESTER PIANOS
Upright and Grand.
High Grade, Great Durability, Fine Tonal Quality
The Price U Right.
OHfc»«
Factories t LESTER, PA.
1306 Chtttaut SU PHILADELPHIA, PA
THE MUSIC TRADE
FROM THE GREAT WHEAT BELT.
Piano Dealers Expecting a Big Trade This
Fall—The Big Price for Wheat Will Help
Things
Out Tremendously — Wonderful
Growth of Minneapolis—Demand for Stein-
way Pianos—Henry Dreher in Town—Good
Cable Business.
(Special to The Review.)
Minneapolis and St. Paul, August 15, 1904.
Early in the summer St. Paul seemed to have
the advantage of the sisteF city in the way of
business, more activity in the piano trade being
reported in that city than in Minneapolis. Con-
ditions now seem to have been reversed to some
slight extent. The last two weeks were reported
as "quiet" in St. Paul while in Minneapolis the
tendency was generally reporterl upward.
Big things are expected for this fall, however.
The dealers all anticipate a rushing business.
Not alone is this so in the piano trade, but in
all other lines as well. While complaining that
the general trend of the trade has been quiet for
at least a year, business men are compelled to
admit that they have been holding their own
with a prospect of pulling out in nice shape on
the right side of the ledger at the end of this
year.
The first eight months of 1904 have witnessed
intense activity in building operations in Minne-
apolis. The city is growing so rapidly, however,
that even with 300 new flat buildings erected
this year and thousands of dwellings it is diffi-
cult for a newcomer to secure a suitable home.
A compilation of vacant flats and houses showed
last week that there were not over 300 fiats and
the same number of houses of all kinds, even
down to one-room shacks, available for rent. This
speaks well for the future of Minneapolis and
the prosperity of the piano trade
A. B. Hush, manager of the Cable branch in
Minneapolis, and in charge of the sub-branches
in this territory, reports quite an improvement
for August. The city business has picked up,
and the sales are heavier than at this time in
July. The country business has been more than
maintaining its own, with the result that the re-
ports from the Minneapolis office show a big in-
crease over a year ago.
S. E. Moist, with the Minneapolis Music Co.,
made a sale, last Monday, to the St. Joseph
Catholic institution in St. Paul, of four Henry F.
Miller uprights and one Henry F. Miller grand.
One style B Steinway rrand was among the
sales made by the Metropolitan Music Co., last
week. The purchaser was a prominent Minneap-
olis musician. This company is preparing for a
big business this fall. Plans are being made to
make some changes in the main salesroom on
the second floor, and large orders have been sent
in for new stock, particularly Steinway and
Emerson pianos.
The W. W. Kimball Co. is continuing its sum-
mer sale of second-hand instruments with fairly
good results.
Henry Drehr honored {.he Twin Cities with a
visit the first of the week, leaving here for a
short fishing trip in northern Wisconsin.
REVIEW
LATE PATENTS OF TRADE INTEREST.
(Specially Compiled for The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Aug. 15, 1904.
PIANO DAMPER-ACTION.
Charles F. Blinn, Bos-
ton, Mass. Patent No. 767,100.
This invention relates to pianoforte-actions, es-
pecially to that part of the action operated by
the loud or damper pedal. An upright piano-ac-
tion usually has a rail or rod which is connected
with the damper-pedal and when actuated by the
latter is caused to hold the dampers out of con-
tact with the wires or strings after the releasing
of the keys. In some movements a single elon-
gated rod is employed adapted to lift or displace
all the dampers simultaneously. Other move-
ments have a divided rod or two rod sections, one
of which co-operates with the bass and the other
with the treble dampers, the two sections being
operated from opposite ends of the action. The
arrangement of the sections is such that the inner
end of the bass section overlaps the inner end of
the treble section, so that while the bass section
of the divided rod can be moved independently
of the other to displace only the bass dampers,
the treble section of said rod cannot be operated
independently. This division of the rod in the
middle impairs the effectiveness and rigidity of
the rod when all the dampers are to be displaced,
because the springs which hold the dampers
against their respective wires are always stronger
ill the bass section than in the treble section, and
consequently the greatest resistance is at the
weakest part of the lifting rod.
The principal object of this invention is to di-
vide the series of dampers into groups and to con-
trol each group independently of the other or
others, and still enable all the dampers to be dis-
placed simultaneously.
A secondary object of the invention is to so or-
ganize the damper-actuating mechanism that the
greatest resistance to the lifting rods will be at
the strongest or most rigid parts of said rods.
15
used otherwise; second, to provide such a device
as will illustrate the diatonic scale in all the
major and minor keys used in practical music,
and, third, will show the relation between major
and minor music, with the principal chords of
each, as commonly employed in piano and organ
accompaniments, and illustrate the circle of fifths.
MANDOLIN ORCHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS,
ORGANS, ETC. Nels Efraim Nelson, Stromsburg,
Neb., assignor of one-half to M. A.Makeever, same
place. Patent No. 766,512.
This invention relates to an attachment for
pianos or organs; and the object thereof is to
provide mechanism for producing the tone and a
musical vibration imitative of a mandolin or simi-
lar stringed instrument which may be operated
at will either simultaneously with or independ-
ently of the organ or piano and controlled from
the keyboard of the instrument to which it is
attached.
Another object of the device is to provide
means for mechanically throwing one or more
picks into vibrating contact with the strings of
the attachment and for releasing the picks at
will.
Another object is to provide means for mut-
ing the mandolin or piano each independently of
the other.
RECORD MEDIUM.
Edwin D. Casterline, Los An-
geles, Cal., assignor to Casterline-Tally Co., same
place. Patent No. 766,666.
This invention relates to a device which may
be used in the operation of automatic music
boxes, pianos, organs, or other instruments,
whether operated pneumatically, electrically, me-
chanically, or otherwise, or which may be used
in the operation of keyboards, strings, or stops,
or other moving parts which may be used in the
operation of moving picture machines.
One, object of this invention is to provide a
device which does not require rewinding, as in
the case of rolled record-strips, tune-sheets, films,
or the like after the record has been run over,
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. Nicola Turturro, New
but which may be practically instantaneously
York, N. Y. Patent No. 767,023.
This invention relates to stringed instruments shifted to its starting point to accommodate or
of that class having a hollow sounding-body and which may be instantaneously shifted to any
a neck extending from the body and having a intermediate point of its length to com-
Thus the de-
head to which the outer ends of the strings are mence at a definite point.
vice may contain a series of consecutive records,
attached.
The invention aims to provide an improved in- and the whole series may be run out sequentially,
strument of this class, and especially an instru- or, if desired, any individual record in the series
ment resembling a mandolin in the shape of its which may be selected may be worked out from
body portion and the tone of the instrument, beginning to end.
Another object is to provide a record medium
which shall be capable of giving a largely-in-
creased volume of sound while retaining the pecif- which secures a large amount of continuous work-
ing surface with extreme compactness, which
liar tone quality of the mandolin.
PEDAL ATTACHMENT. Henry C. Ross, Piru, Cal. may be made of a large number of thin planes or
connected sheets, which may be arranged hori-
Patent No. 767,247.
This invention relates to a pedal attachment for zontally to occupy a very small vertical space,
pianos, the object being to provide a simple and which latter is Of great value when the device is
sure means for closing the slots in the front used in connection with musical instruments and
boards of upright pianos and similar musical in- long selections of operas and songs are to be ren-
struments to prevent mice and other vermin from dered, as it does not require the periodical chang-
ing of the tune-sheets.
gaining access thereto.
Another object is to provide a record-sheet con-
To this end is suspended from each pedal a re-
movable hinged plate which closes that part of sisting of a series of detachably-connected indi-
the slot below the pedal, and as the pedal is vidual sheets which collectively form a continu-
operated rises and falls with it, being guided in ous record and which may be readily detached.
its movement by passing through a slot in an The sheets may be arranged in any desired order,
angular extension from the pedal-plate beneath which is a valuable feature in making pro-
LIKES THE RAYMOND.
grammes, as it provides for the desired selections
the piano.
MECHANICAL MUSIC-CHART. Samuel B. Turner, to be arranged in the order in which they are to
There is a dealer located in a certain Ohio
be rendered.
Chicago,
111. Patent No. 766,979.
town who recently remarked to The Review:
Another object is to provide a record sheet or
This invention relates to improvements in a
"There is a piano made out our way that is con-
strip
which may be used as an index and carry
mechanical
music-chart,
and
it
consists
in
certain
sidered a magnificent creation. T have been han-
dling it ever since the firm manufactured pianos. peculiarities of the construction of the various records—such, for instance, as required in librar-
ies or which might be employed for cataloguing
I began with them in the organ business many parts thereof.
The principal objects of this invention are, first, items for any use.
years ago, and I knew if they built pianos as
The record strip or sheet may comprise a body
well as they did organs, they would be fine. They to provide a mechanical music-chart for students
are, and I want to say to you that the Raymond and teachers of vocal and instrumental music in the form of a helix, and for most uses to which
piano manufactured by the F. L. Raymond Co., which shall be simple in construction and opera- tne sheet is applied it will be constructed of thin
Cleveland, O., is a profitable instrument for deal- tion, being usually arranged, designed, and in- material, preferably which is self-supporting—
to prevent the sheet
ers to handle; I have sold It for a good many tended to be used with a piano, organ, or similar i.e., of a sufficient stiffness
x
instrument, but may be constructed an.d may be falling out of shape.
years.
LESTER PIANOS
Upright and Grand.
High Grade, Great Durability, Fine Tonal Quality
The Price U Right.
OHfc»«
Factories t LESTER, PA.
1306 Chtttaut SU PHILADELPHIA, PA
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