Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
The makers of the Foster & Co. piano praise it very
warmly in their catalogue. Can the dealer and user put
complete faith in the statements printed hy enthusiastic
makers of a piano? Let us look into it.
A reliable piano presupposes the existence of sound,
foundation principles, else the superstructure will be use-
less. Ah examination of the Foster & Co. piano discloses to
REVIEW
Utmost care is exercised in surfacing the sound-board
so as to produce varying degrees of thickness, which tend
to yield the best tonal results. It 'is secured firmly—im-
movably—to the edge of the frame work already described,
and once fixed, is fixed forever. It cannot twist or cave in,
because its convex surface is unyielding.
All this is then placed in a handsome case, and receives
the application of action, keys, pedals and other parts. With
the accurate adjustment of all, the piano is ready for play-
ing. Such, in brief, is the untechnical routine in making"
a Foster & Co. piano.
Will it last? Nearly forty thousand have been used in
the last sixteen years and have afforded untold delight to
thousands. Their endurance is beyond question.
Their
tone is evidently most pleasing, else Foster & Co. would not
Style 19 Made by Foster & Co.
the trained eye substantial reasons for its prolonged
existence.
The back is built of heavy Canadian, thoroughly sea-
soned maple, mortised and framed beyond any possibility
of shrinkage or shirking of its duty. It is built for a life-
time, and this gives confidence, so that we may examine the
next important part with assurance.
We find a heavy iron plate, skillfully patterned to Have
man)' openings for the escape of sound, yet ribbed to with-
Style 27 Made by Foster & Co.
—could not—go on making larger numbers each year. It is
one of the leading Rochester industries, and was the first
piano factory of any importance in the city.
Foster & Co. have published a very complete, descrip-
tive Catalogue, showing several elegant case designs. One
especially, known as Style 29, is probably one of the most
attractive piano cases shown in any regular catalogue.
.Branch salesrooms are located at 1106 Republic Bldg.,
Chicago, and 15 East 14th St., New York City, where deal-
ers will receive the same accommodations, attention, quota-
tions, etc., as at the factorv offices in Rochester, N. Y.
Style 23 Made by Foster <£. Co.
stand the strain of more than twenty tons of steel and copper
strings. Every precaution is taken in bracing at vital points
to prevent the least shrinkage or movement.
With the
maple back and iron plate we have everlasting endurance.
No doubt about it.
The sound-board, with its ribs and bridges, next occu-
pies our attention. Here the life tone of the Foster & Co.
piano is found, for in this splendidly seasoned spruce board
we find an arch or dome similar to the face of a violin;
capable of resisting the down-pressure of the strings and
resounding the tone indefinitely.
Style 29 Made by Foster & Co