Music Trade Review
Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 7 - Page 12
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12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Christman Business Built Up by Originality
Many Achievements of the Christman Piano Go. Have Brought Them Enviable Success—The Remarkable Studio Grand,
Attachable Player Action and Non-Blockable Action Are Christman Creations—How the
Company Has Progressed and Achieved Success.
One of the New York piano manufacturing
houses in which originality has been the watch-
word since its inception is that of the Christman
Piano Co., 597-601 East 137th street. Since the
founding of the Christman business in 1855 by
George J. Christman, President.
Peter Christman, father of the present members
of the firm, there has been a constant development
along individual lines, which has kept the Christ-
man pianos and player-pianos in the front rank
and established for the house a prestige which has
attracted a large following.
The company has been manufacturing pianos and
player-pianos at the present address since 1902,
when it built the extensive factory it occupies.
Tt is here that many of the distinctive achievements
which has been accomplished by the company were
planned, and nursed into reality. At the outset the
standard of quality which was determined for the
manufacturing of the Christman instruments was
one of the highest, and to-day this same standard
is strictly adhered to, and the Christman pianos
and player-pianos are as well known throughout
the country for their tone quality, artistic appear-
ance and superior workmanship as they are for
their unique and individual features.
Retail Department Maintained.
Besides the factory, the company maintains a
wardroom at 35 West Fourteenth street, under the
name of Christman Sons, which has been located
there for many years, and to-day ranks among the
foremost of artistic piano warerooms in New York.
The Christman Piano Co. was the first concern
to put on the market a five-foot 'baby grand piano.
This instrument, which has many distinctive fea-
tures, has become well known throught the trade
as the Christman Studio Grand. For many years
this piano held the distinction of being the smallest
grand piano on the market, and has been a favorite
with dealers, who have found a ready market for
John Christman, Treasurer.
an instrument of this size. This instrument is also
made as a player-piano, in which is incorporated
the Christman player action, which is one of the
most unique actions of its kind.
The Attachable Player.
It is known as the Christman attachable player
action inasmuch, unlike other player mechanisms,
it is constructed for use in any piano, regardless
of shape or size, and can be placed in an old piano
as well as a new one. Dealers all over the country
have found it a most satisfactory mechanism in
many respects, and it has been installed in many
pianos of the highest grade and best-known makes,
some of these having been shipped from the West
to the factory and reshipped to the customers
after installation of the player.
The patents on this action are exclusively con-
trolled by the Christman Piano Co., and it has many
distinctive merits which are individual to that in-
strument. It is equipped
with an automatic music
roll adjuster, resilient at-
tachment and the doors
open, and the pedals
drop into place automat-
ically when the spool
box is placed in position
for playing.
Besides,
there are the usual sus-
taining pedal, soft and
loud buttons and tempo
lever. The mechanism
is compact and can be
easily installed in any
piano without altering
the case.
This house also takes
great pride in its art
cases in Circassian wal-
nut. The designs of the
instruments, which are
original with the house,
have always been attrac-
tive, and in the finishing
of these Circassian wal-
Superintendent Breitenbach Demonstrating Christman Player Grand. nut instruments great care
and time have been devoted to the selection of
veneers, which are beautiful in effect when matched.
On many of these instruments figures of dogs, bears,
rabbits and even human features have been seen,
owing to the peculiar and artistic matching of the
veneers. The finish, the process of which has been
studied for sometime by the members of the firm,
has been mastered to such a degree that it brings
out these figures in strong relief and renders the
case more beautiful, while the finish itself is ab-
solutely permanent.
The Christman Non-Blockable Action.
The latest accomplishment of the members of
the company has been the perfecting of the Christ-
man Non-Blockable Piano Action, which is now
being used in Christman pianos and player-pianos.
This action is constructed without bridle wire or
Henry Christman, Secretary.
tape, and takes up less space in the piano than the
ordinary action. It is made strongly for the hard
use actions are subjected to when used in a player-
piano, and permits of greater repetition. This ac-
tion has been on the market but a few months, but
has become a success with rapidity, dealers having
been strong in their demand for it in the Christman
pianos and player-pianos owing to its many salient
features. In one of the accompanying illustrations
is shown the action as it appears in the piano.
Standing at the left, Louis H. Brietenbach, super-
intendent of the Christman factory, is explain-
ing the merits of the new action. This is the lat-
est achievement of the house of Christman, and is
fast progressing in the same manner as the many
other individual characteristic products of the com-
pany.
The Personnel of the Company.
The executive heads of the company are men who
have been students of the piano manufacturing-
business since their boyhood. George J. Christman,
president of the company, has for many years had
under his supervision the retail department, and
makes his headquarters at the Fourteenth street
store. In the accompanying illustration he is seen
seated in his private office, which has just been
newly fitted up during the last month. The retail
business has always been kept under the name of
Christman Sons, which was the original name of
the company when the present generation took hold
of il. and until they incorporated in 1911. George
Christman is a man of keen business foresight, and
under his wise supervision his department has
progressed with rapidity.
John Christman, treasurer of the company, de-
votes his interests to the factory, and is considered
one of the shrewdest financiers in the piano indus-
try. A man, quiet in nature, his decisions are al-
ways, respected owing to his farsightedness. He,
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Christman Business Built Up by Originality
Many Achievements of the Christman Piano Go. Have Brought Them Enviable Success—The Remarkable Studio Grand,
Attachable Player Action and Non-Blockable Action Are Christman Creations—How the
Company Has Progressed and Achieved Success.
One of the New York piano manufacturing
houses in which originality has been the watch-
word since its inception is that of the Christman
Piano Co., 597-601 East 137th street. Since the
founding of the Christman business in 1855 by
George J. Christman, President.
Peter Christman, father of the present members
of the firm, there has been a constant development
along individual lines, which has kept the Christ-
man pianos and player-pianos in the front rank
and established for the house a prestige which has
attracted a large following.
The company has been manufacturing pianos and
player-pianos at the present address since 1902,
when it built the extensive factory it occupies.
Tt is here that many of the distinctive achievements
which has been accomplished by the company were
planned, and nursed into reality. At the outset the
standard of quality which was determined for the
manufacturing of the Christman instruments was
one of the highest, and to-day this same standard
is strictly adhered to, and the Christman pianos
and player-pianos are as well known throughout
the country for their tone quality, artistic appear-
ance and superior workmanship as they are for
their unique and individual features.
Retail Department Maintained.
Besides the factory, the company maintains a
wardroom at 35 West Fourteenth street, under the
name of Christman Sons, which has been located
there for many years, and to-day ranks among the
foremost of artistic piano warerooms in New York.
The Christman Piano Co. was the first concern
to put on the market a five-foot 'baby grand piano.
This instrument, which has many distinctive fea-
tures, has become well known throught the trade
as the Christman Studio Grand. For many years
this piano held the distinction of being the smallest
grand piano on the market, and has been a favorite
with dealers, who have found a ready market for
John Christman, Treasurer.
an instrument of this size. This instrument is also
made as a player-piano, in which is incorporated
the Christman player action, which is one of the
most unique actions of its kind.
The Attachable Player.
It is known as the Christman attachable player
action inasmuch, unlike other player mechanisms,
it is constructed for use in any piano, regardless
of shape or size, and can be placed in an old piano
as well as a new one. Dealers all over the country
have found it a most satisfactory mechanism in
many respects, and it has been installed in many
pianos of the highest grade and best-known makes,
some of these having been shipped from the West
to the factory and reshipped to the customers
after installation of the player.
The patents on this action are exclusively con-
trolled by the Christman Piano Co., and it has many
distinctive merits which are individual to that in-
strument. It is equipped
with an automatic music
roll adjuster, resilient at-
tachment and the doors
open, and the pedals
drop into place automat-
ically when the spool
box is placed in position
for playing.
Besides,
there are the usual sus-
taining pedal, soft and
loud buttons and tempo
lever. The mechanism
is compact and can be
easily installed in any
piano without altering
the case.
This house also takes
great pride in its art
cases in Circassian wal-
nut. The designs of the
instruments, which are
original with the house,
have always been attrac-
tive, and in the finishing
of these Circassian wal-
Superintendent Breitenbach Demonstrating Christman Player Grand. nut instruments great care
and time have been devoted to the selection of
veneers, which are beautiful in effect when matched.
On many of these instruments figures of dogs, bears,
rabbits and even human features have been seen,
owing to the peculiar and artistic matching of the
veneers. The finish, the process of which has been
studied for sometime by the members of the firm,
has been mastered to such a degree that it brings
out these figures in strong relief and renders the
case more beautiful, while the finish itself is ab-
solutely permanent.
The Christman Non-Blockable Action.
The latest accomplishment of the members of
the company has been the perfecting of the Christ-
man Non-Blockable Piano Action, which is now
being used in Christman pianos and player-pianos.
This action is constructed without bridle wire or
Henry Christman, Secretary.
tape, and takes up less space in the piano than the
ordinary action. It is made strongly for the hard
use actions are subjected to when used in a player-
piano, and permits of greater repetition. This ac-
tion has been on the market but a few months, but
has become a success with rapidity, dealers having
been strong in their demand for it in the Christman
pianos and player-pianos owing to its many salient
features. In one of the accompanying illustrations
is shown the action as it appears in the piano.
Standing at the left, Louis H. Brietenbach, super-
intendent of the Christman factory, is explain-
ing the merits of the new action. This is the lat-
est achievement of the house of Christman, and is
fast progressing in the same manner as the many
other individual characteristic products of the com-
pany.
The Personnel of the Company.
The executive heads of the company are men who
have been students of the piano manufacturing-
business since their boyhood. George J. Christman,
president of the company, has for many years had
under his supervision the retail department, and
makes his headquarters at the Fourteenth street
store. In the accompanying illustration he is seen
seated in his private office, which has just been
newly fitted up during the last month. The retail
business has always been kept under the name of
Christman Sons, which was the original name of
the company when the present generation took hold
of il. and until they incorporated in 1911. George
Christman is a man of keen business foresight, and
under his wise supervision his department has
progressed with rapidity.
John Christman, treasurer of the company, de-
votes his interests to the factory, and is considered
one of the shrewdest financiers in the piano indus-
try. A man, quiet in nature, his decisions are al-
ways, respected owing to his farsightedness. He,
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