Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 62 N. 11 - Page 51
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NEW STRINGED INSTRUMENT BRIDGE.
Chicago Inventor Patents Improved Bridge
Which Holds the Strings Securely.
THE ORIGINAL HAND=ORGAN.
Street Piano Is a Descendant of German Lyre
—Originally Used at Holiday Celebrations.
The New York Tribune published recently an
interesting article describing the ancestor of the
No.
modern hand-organ, or street piano. According to
1.170,999 was last week granted to William J. F. the Tribune, the early type of hurdy-gurdy orig-
Schultz, Chicago, for a bridge for stringed instru- inated in Germany during the ninth century, and
ments, such as guitars or the like, and is designed under the name of bauren-leyer (peasant's lyre?)
to provide an improved bridge whereby the ends attained great popularity throughout Europe, fall-
of the strings will be securely held and which is ing into a decline only at the beginning of the last
provided with a rigid adjustable strip to hold the century. Even to-day a slightly modernized type
strings properly spaced from the top of the in- of this instrument may be seen upon the streets
strument.
of the smaller towns of Savoy.
It has heretofore been proposed to fold a piece
The instrument consisted of a violin-like frame
of sheet metal to form the base of the bridge and and sounding board, provided with from three to
to slidably connect the bridge piece to the base and six strings. The music was produced by a small
secure it by screws. In devices of this character crank-actuated wooden wheel, whose rosined edge
it is important that the bridge shall be of sufficient bore against the strings. The two outer strings
strength to securely hold the ends of the strings were keyed in unison, and when the wheel was re-
in spaced relation without pulling the base away volved gave forth a bass note which served as a
from the top of the guitar because any looseness musical background. The remaining strings were
will cause the bridge to sing or vibrate and affect attached to keys, by means of which their tension
the tone of the instrument.
and their tone might be varied. This adjustment
One object of the invention is to provide an im- was the only control possessed by the player.
proved bridge which serves to effectively connect
Needless to say, the hurdy-gurdy was suited only
tlie strings to the instrument, which is provided to the most elementary of selections. While orig-
with a bridge strip, means for adjustably, rigidly inally much used at fetes and celebrations, it later
and securely connecting said strip to the base of
was used only by itinerant street musicians, a posi-
the bridge, and which is adapted for steel as well tion now occupied by its successor—the hand organ.
as gut strings.
A very good specimen of this ancient musical in-
strument, bearing the date of 1458, is in the private
BRITISH SOLDIERS MAKE VIOLINS.
collection of a prominent business man in this city.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—Patent
British violins are being manufactured in Lon-
PATENTS CORNET MUTE.
don at a factory established a few months ago,
Leroy W. Allen, Berkeley, Cal., was last week
where none but disabled soldiers and sailors are
granted Patent No. 1,171,163 for a cornet mute, or
employed. The factory is under the supervision of
the Government and was established to enable sol- muffler, for wind instruments and it is especially
diers to earn their livelihood after they had become adapted to aproximating the sound of the French
horn with a cornet.
unfit for further army service.
MUSIC
Made of Highest
Quality Gut
STRINGS
Large Stocks —
Prompt Delivery
Full
Bench
Desired in Decision
$25,000,000.
Involving
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—The Supreme
Court to-day reassigned the 5 per cent, cases for
reargument. When* they were argued last week
only six justices sat, and it is believed the court
was closely divided on the issue and it was deemed
advisable to hear the arguments repeated before a
full bench.
The case is brought to test the validity of the
action of the Secretary of the Treasury in refusing
to allow a 5 per cent, rebate to importations
brought into the United States in American ships.
About $25,000,000 is held in the Treasury awaiting
decision in the case.
FIDDLED FORJ,659 PARTIES.
The Fifty-three Years' Record of a Wisconsin
Dance Musician.
(Special to The Review.)
AMHKRST, W I S . , March C>.—John Een, at Am-
herst has filed a claim to a world's record for
providing music for dances, for he has computed
his record of the past fifty-three years as being
1,(>59 dances, a record he defies any musician in
America to equal.
His career dates back to January 1(5, 18(>2, when
he came with his violin to Amhcrst, then a village
in the heart of the pine woods. In those days he
was the only musician who could be obtained for
triles around, and he was in constant demand.
His banner year was 1880, when his record was
-l*iO dances, or an average of more than one a day
for the entire year. Since then the country has set-
tled and he has had more competition.
In the old days he would not only play, but would
call off the square dances, and many is the time
when he would make up a missing set on the floor
by taking his fiddle to the dancing floor, and dance,
call and play at the same time. He is still playing
for the country dances, and says he will continue
to play as long as he can finger the strings.
Send for Price Ll«t
Ashland Manufacturing Co.
4I00S
dA
A* hl ™ ILL
"
CHICAGO,
Manufac-
turers of
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributors
1010 Chestnut Street,
TO REARGUE FIVE PER CENT. CASES.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Established over half a century-
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
lational Musical String C».
New Brunswlok, N. J .
EXCELSIOR
DRUMS ™ STANDARD
Som* dealers may say that they cost more than
others.
Excelsior drums cost more because they are
worth more. Cost more to make.
We could make them cost less by using' cheaper
material, use less care in making 1 them, and dis-
pense with the new patented Improvements.
If we did, however, Excelsior Drums would not
be the Standard as they are to-day. Write for
catalogue.
EXCELSIOR DRUM
WORKS
A. a. SOXSTXAjr, Vioe-Pres. and Cren. Manager,
Vemtk an« Market Street*.
OaJCDBW, W. J.
The oldest and
largest musical
merchandise house
in America ~ -
SEND FOR
CATALOG
C.Bruno & Soiunc
351-53 4? Ave. Newark
PATENTS MUSICJOOK HOLDER.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—A music book
bolder, Patent No. 1,171,943, has been invented
by George Gunderson, Grand Forks, N. D.,
which is primarily adapted to be attached to string
instruments such as the guitar, banjo and man-
dolin, and it comprises a supporting bracket
adapted to be secured either to the side of the
linger board or to the head of the same and a rack
operatively associated with said bracket.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
OLIVER DITSON CO
BOSTOxV. MASS. i«.
Manufacturers
Importers and Jobbers of
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
ESTABLISHED 1834
S3EGELEISEN
& IACOBSON
113- 115 University" Place
•"""' YORK
MUSICAL
Merchandise
Cincinnati
Chicago
Largest Jobbers in America
ODERN
USICAL
ERCHANDISE
W .CAT;
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NEW STRINGED INSTRUMENT BRIDGE.
Chicago Inventor Patents Improved Bridge
Which Holds the Strings Securely.
THE ORIGINAL HAND=ORGAN.
Street Piano Is a Descendant of German Lyre
—Originally Used at Holiday Celebrations.
The New York Tribune published recently an
interesting article describing the ancestor of the
No.
modern hand-organ, or street piano. According to
1.170,999 was last week granted to William J. F. the Tribune, the early type of hurdy-gurdy orig-
Schultz, Chicago, for a bridge for stringed instru- inated in Germany during the ninth century, and
ments, such as guitars or the like, and is designed under the name of bauren-leyer (peasant's lyre?)
to provide an improved bridge whereby the ends attained great popularity throughout Europe, fall-
of the strings will be securely held and which is ing into a decline only at the beginning of the last
provided with a rigid adjustable strip to hold the century. Even to-day a slightly modernized type
strings properly spaced from the top of the in- of this instrument may be seen upon the streets
strument.
of the smaller towns of Savoy.
It has heretofore been proposed to fold a piece
The instrument consisted of a violin-like frame
of sheet metal to form the base of the bridge and and sounding board, provided with from three to
to slidably connect the bridge piece to the base and six strings. The music was produced by a small
secure it by screws. In devices of this character crank-actuated wooden wheel, whose rosined edge
it is important that the bridge shall be of sufficient bore against the strings. The two outer strings
strength to securely hold the ends of the strings were keyed in unison, and when the wheel was re-
in spaced relation without pulling the base away volved gave forth a bass note which served as a
from the top of the guitar because any looseness musical background. The remaining strings were
will cause the bridge to sing or vibrate and affect attached to keys, by means of which their tension
the tone of the instrument.
and their tone might be varied. This adjustment
One object of the invention is to provide an im- was the only control possessed by the player.
proved bridge which serves to effectively connect
Needless to say, the hurdy-gurdy was suited only
tlie strings to the instrument, which is provided to the most elementary of selections. While orig-
with a bridge strip, means for adjustably, rigidly inally much used at fetes and celebrations, it later
and securely connecting said strip to the base of
was used only by itinerant street musicians, a posi-
the bridge, and which is adapted for steel as well tion now occupied by its successor—the hand organ.
as gut strings.
A very good specimen of this ancient musical in-
strument, bearing the date of 1458, is in the private
BRITISH SOLDIERS MAKE VIOLINS.
collection of a prominent business man in this city.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—Patent
British violins are being manufactured in Lon-
PATENTS CORNET MUTE.
don at a factory established a few months ago,
Leroy W. Allen, Berkeley, Cal., was last week
where none but disabled soldiers and sailors are
granted Patent No. 1,171,163 for a cornet mute, or
employed. The factory is under the supervision of
the Government and was established to enable sol- muffler, for wind instruments and it is especially
diers to earn their livelihood after they had become adapted to aproximating the sound of the French
horn with a cornet.
unfit for further army service.
MUSIC
Made of Highest
Quality Gut
STRINGS
Large Stocks —
Prompt Delivery
Full
Bench
Desired in Decision
$25,000,000.
Involving
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—The Supreme
Court to-day reassigned the 5 per cent, cases for
reargument. When* they were argued last week
only six justices sat, and it is believed the court
was closely divided on the issue and it was deemed
advisable to hear the arguments repeated before a
full bench.
The case is brought to test the validity of the
action of the Secretary of the Treasury in refusing
to allow a 5 per cent, rebate to importations
brought into the United States in American ships.
About $25,000,000 is held in the Treasury awaiting
decision in the case.
FIDDLED FORJ,659 PARTIES.
The Fifty-three Years' Record of a Wisconsin
Dance Musician.
(Special to The Review.)
AMHKRST, W I S . , March C>.—John Een, at Am-
herst has filed a claim to a world's record for
providing music for dances, for he has computed
his record of the past fifty-three years as being
1,(>59 dances, a record he defies any musician in
America to equal.
His career dates back to January 1(5, 18(>2, when
he came with his violin to Amhcrst, then a village
in the heart of the pine woods. In those days he
was the only musician who could be obtained for
triles around, and he was in constant demand.
His banner year was 1880, when his record was
-l*iO dances, or an average of more than one a day
for the entire year. Since then the country has set-
tled and he has had more competition.
In the old days he would not only play, but would
call off the square dances, and many is the time
when he would make up a missing set on the floor
by taking his fiddle to the dancing floor, and dance,
call and play at the same time. He is still playing
for the country dances, and says he will continue
to play as long as he can finger the strings.
Send for Price Ll«t
Ashland Manufacturing Co.
4I00S
dA
A* hl ™ ILL
"
CHICAGO,
Manufac-
turers of
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributors
1010 Chestnut Street,
TO REARGUE FIVE PER CENT. CASES.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Established over half a century-
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
lational Musical String C».
New Brunswlok, N. J .
EXCELSIOR
DRUMS ™ STANDARD
Som* dealers may say that they cost more than
others.
Excelsior drums cost more because they are
worth more. Cost more to make.
We could make them cost less by using' cheaper
material, use less care in making 1 them, and dis-
pense with the new patented Improvements.
If we did, however, Excelsior Drums would not
be the Standard as they are to-day. Write for
catalogue.
EXCELSIOR DRUM
WORKS
A. a. SOXSTXAjr, Vioe-Pres. and Cren. Manager,
Vemtk an« Market Street*.
OaJCDBW, W. J.
The oldest and
largest musical
merchandise house
in America ~ -
SEND FOR
CATALOG
C.Bruno & Soiunc
351-53 4? Ave. Newark
PATENTS MUSICJOOK HOLDER.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 6.—A music book
bolder, Patent No. 1,171,943, has been invented
by George Gunderson, Grand Forks, N. D.,
which is primarily adapted to be attached to string
instruments such as the guitar, banjo and man-
dolin, and it comprises a supporting bracket
adapted to be secured either to the side of the
linger board or to the head of the same and a rack
operatively associated with said bracket.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
OLIVER DITSON CO
BOSTOxV. MASS. i«.
Manufacturers
Importers and Jobbers of
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
ESTABLISHED 1834
S3EGELEISEN
& IACOBSON
113- 115 University" Place
•"""' YORK
MUSICAL
Merchandise
Cincinnati
Chicago
Largest Jobbers in America
ODERN
USICAL
ERCHANDISE
W .CAT;
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