Scan 43
Musical Courier 1892-05-25: Vol 24 Iss 640, 1892
82 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 44. See the scan on archive.org.
1Stettner & Koch Win a Case.
2MESSRS. STETTNER & KOCH, the musical instrument dealers, yesterday gained a victory in Justice Gallagher's court. Dr. J. A. Wilson bought a Boehm flute for $50 and brought suit, claiming it was not the latest improved flute of this well known type. Professor Howe and other experts testified that the flute was just as represented and a Boehm flute that was cheap at $50, but that one of the Boehm flutes of the improved pattern would cost much more than that amount. The decision was therefore against Dr. Wilson and in favor of the dealers. Messrs. Stettner & Koch have been selling standard articles at popular prices, and it is found on the evidence of professional musicians, notwithstanding their low prices, that the instruments are just as they are represented.—Columbus "State Journal."
4Reminiscence.
5THE Phonograph man called on Mr. E. B. Robinson the other day. Mr. Robinson is the oldest piano dealer in Maine, and in all probability the oldest in the country now in active service who commenced business at the same time he did.
7Mr. Robinson was born in the town of Dorchester, Mass., in 1820. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to the firm of L. Gilbert & Co., piano manufacturers, Boston. They were then located near the Boylston Market. In 1837, at the end of his apprenticeship, he left Gilbert and went to Chickering's factory, then opposite the Adams House. He remained there until 1847 in the capacity of tuner, when he came to Portland and taught music. He also played the organ at the First Parish Church until 1851, when Mr. Kotschmar came.
9Mr. Robinson then went abroad and remained somewhat over a year, when he returned to this city.
11"In 1853," said Mr. Robinson, "I formed a partnership with William Andrews, of Norway, Me., and we went into the piano manufacturing business on Federal street, in the brick block a short distance above the 'Globe' office and on the same side of the street. The firm name was Andrews & Robinson. We turned out about three pianos a week, and they were sent all over the State and some to New Hampshire and Vermont. Only last week I saw a piano with our firm name on it. At that time there was only one other firm in the city, and I might say in the State, which manufactured pianos, and that was Calvin Edwards, whose factory was on Market (then Lime) street. Mr. Edwards, if I remember rightly, was a native of Gorham.
13"In 1857 I sold my interest in the firm to Mr. Andrews and went to Boston, where I tuned pianos until 1865, when I returned once more to this city and started in teaching music. From that I drifted back into the piano business again and soon gave much more attention to that than to the music lessons, until finally I dropped them altogether. In 1887 I sold out to Woodward & Sumner and went into the bicycle business, later on taking up the piano business once more."
15"Can you tell me something about the piano business in general?" I inquired.
17"It was established in this country on January 10, 1789, by John Jacob Astor in New York, who had imported a number of English pianos and put them on sale at warerooms on Queen street. This firm subsequently changed hands many times and is now known as Francis Bacon. But Boston is the seat of the piano manufacturing business in this country. The first piano ever made in the United States was manufactured at Milton, Mass., about 1811, by a Mr. Crehore, a distant connection of mine. In 1825 the big firm of Chickering was established in Boston, and about the same time Gilbert commenced his manufacturing. There was no New York manufactory established until some time later. Steinway, I believe, was the first New York house who manufactured them."
19"How does the American compare with the imported piano?"
21"I think the American product is far ahead both in tone, finish and durability. There are very few pianos imported now. Whether or not this is due to their inferiority or to the heavy tariff placed on them by the McKinley bill I am unable to state."
23"What style of piano is the most popular?"
25"The upright, by all odds. We sell 5 uprights to 1 of any other style. We are continually having people exchanging their grands and squares for uprights, but it is no easy matter to dispose of a square now. They take up too much room."—Portland (Me.) "Globe."
27Parlor Upright Organ.
29THE Weaver Organ and Piano Company, of York, Pa., have placed upon the market a parlor upright organ to meet the demand of musicians for an instrument containing an action of sufficient compass of keyboard to enable them to render piano music, that would be easy treading, instantly responsive and elastic to the touch and at the same time powerful, sweet and smooth in tone.
31To meet the demand they combined all these qualities in a six octave action, with F scale, the entire sixth octave being placed in the treble, thus bringing the length of the keyboard within half an octave at either end of the compass of the piano. This action has been placed in a beautiful and massive case, resembling the upright piano in appearance.
33The ends are securely framed into two panels finished with genuine walnut burl.
35The side brackets are ornamented with fine hand carving.
37"Mr. Robinson doesn't know what he is talking about. If that is all he knows about the history of the piano business he ought to join the staff of the 'Art (?) Journal.'"
39and the front above the pedals is finished the same as the ends.
41The swinging music desk is arranged in a novel and most convenient manner and can be adjusted by means of a spring to different angles for the accommodation of the music, and underneath is a receptacle for music, &c.
43The dimensions are 4 feet 7 inches high, 4 feet 6 inches long and 2 feet wide.
45The action used is the Weaver No. 630.
47TREBLE.
48One set of viola reeds, 4 octaves, 8 foot tone.
49One set of aeolian reeds, 4 octaves, 8 foot tone.
50Treble coupler, coupling right, 4 octaves.
52BASS.
53One set of diapason reeds, 2 octaves, 8 foot tone.
54One set of principal reeds, 2 octaves, 4 foot tone.
55Bass coupler, coupling left, 2 octaves.
56Ten stops, viola, vox celeste, aeolian, vox humana, treble, coupler, diapason, dulcet, principal, echo, bass coupler.
57Grand organ swell and knee swell; 146 reeds in all. Also double reeds and coupler and three or four sets reeds in the treble and sub-bass can be had if desired.
59There are a great many persons who, not caring to invest the large amount necessary to purchasing a piano, will find that this instrument meets their requirement in every particular and at a very moderate price.
61—Emil Wulschner will open a branch house at Fort Wayne, Ind., in place of giving his line to an agent.
63—The Farrand & Votey organ formerly handled by Samuel Hamilton, Pittsburgh, has been transferred to the Hendricks Music Company.
65—A. R. Denike is the new manager of the San José, Cal., branch of the B. Curtaz & Son Company, of San Francisco. Mr. Denike is considered a very competent man for the place.
67—Messrs. Mason & Risch have just perfected the new transposing piano. By a simple device the pitch of the instrument can be raised or lowered at will to suit any voice without a change in the key of the accompaniment. It is an-undoubted boon to vocalists and is now on sale at 32 King street, West.—Toronto "Mail."
69MALCOLM LOVE PIANOS.
70A High Grade Piano, equal to any!
71MANUFACTURED BY
72WATERLOO ORGAN CO., Waterloo, N.Y.
74We invite correspondence from Dealers in localities where we are not represented.
76PACKARD ORGAN
77MANUFACTURED BY
78FORT WAYNE ORGAN CO.,
79FORT WAYNE, IND.
81All Parlor Styles furnished in both Five and Six Octaves, and with Mirrors if desired.
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