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Musical Courier 1892-06-15: Vol 24 Iss 643, 1892
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1McCammon Patents.
2JUDGE HERRICK has granted an order allowing Allan R. Macdonald, as receiver of the McCammon Piano Company, to transfer to George B. Sherer two patents formerly owned by the McCammon Company, but which passed to Dudley Farlin by virtue of a judgment. The facts are as follows: Mr. Farlin obtained a judgment against the company and secured among other things two patents obtained by Edward McCammon and transferred to Hattie McCammon. Mr. Farlin transferred the patents to George B. Sherer, but he cannot come into possession of them, as they are in Hattie McCammon's name. The order is granted to give Mr. Sherer legal possession.—Albany "Journal."
4The Jews-Harp.
5LOCATED in a small village near Albany, N. Y., is carried on an industry of which but little is known to the outside world.
7Mr. John Smith, an Englishman, came to this country some 10 years ago and began in a very small way the manufacture of jews-harps.
9Previous to his coming he had been employed in the large factories of the old country and was a thorough mechanic at his trade.
11His instruments have attained a reputation in nearly every portion of this country as being of a superior quality, and are used for concert and professional work.
13One peculiarity is that they are hand made throughout; the advantage of a hand made jews-harp is in the forging of the tongue from steel wire instead of stamping from a sheet, as is the usual process employed.
15The tongue is the tone producing member of the instrument, and when forged and tempered and filed and fashioned it produces a clear, sweet musical tone very different from the coarse twang of an ordinary jews-harp.
17Although hardly recognized as a musical instrument, but rather as a toy for children, yet the time was—less than a hundred years ago—when it was the only instrument used by some nations.
19Prefixed to the Rev. Patrick MacDonald's collection of Highland airs (1781) is a dissertation by the Rev. Walter Young, in which he states that the natives of the island of St. Kilda, being great lovers of dancing, have a number of reels which are either sung or played on the Jew's harp or trumpet, their only musical instrument.
21That it was made much of as a musical instrument in the early part of this century is evident from the fact that the "Musical Gazette," of London, gives an account of one Eulentstein, a native of Württemburg, who made a sensation in London in 1827 by playing on no less than 16 jews-harps at the same time, combined as one instrument in such a manner as to produce a complete scale, and further publishes several pieces of music suited to it. The antiquity of the jews-harp is beyond question.
23In the Himalaya journals one of the travelers mentions that he procured a jews-harp from Thibet.
25The name jews-harp one authority states was originally jaws-harp, an instrument played upon in derision of the national instrument of the Jews, referring probably to the trumpet. This is disputed, however.
27The English word jews-harp seems, from another authority, to be merely a corruption of the French words jeu and trumpet.
29From descriptions and cuts in ancient works on musical instruments the shape of the jews-harp has remained almost identically the same to the present day.
31A Valuable Set of Band Instruments.
32BARGELT, the agent for the Hanover L. Silver Cornet Band, of Hanover, Pa., placed with Harry Coleman, the manufacturer of the Missenharter band instruments, an order for as fine a set of their horns as could be produced. The set was completed and placed on exhibition last Saturday and they were certainly very elegant.
34The finish was in silver and gold elaborately engraved, and the tone was, as expressed by an authority, beautiful.
36The set attracted much attention. Mr. Missenharter, the superintendent of the Coleman factory, is an expert brass instrument maker, one of the most skillful probably in this country, and especially in French horns has he attained an enviable reputation. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and nearly every large band and orchestral combination in the country have in use specimens of his handiwork in these instruments.
38The doublephonium (euphonium and trombone in one) is an improved solo instrument for artists, invented by Mr. Missenharter.
40A. Raffayolo, soloist of Gilmore's 22d Regiment Band, writes of this instrument:
42"I have most thoroughly tested the new improved instrument called 'doublephonium.' It is a most beautiful instrument—'two in one.'"
44"The tone of the baritone is rich and like the human voice; the tone of trombone is superb and of immense power."
46The Coleman factory at 203 East Twenty-third street is being run to its full capacity, and their business is very satisfactory.
48Same Old Trick.
49BELLEVILLE, N. Y., May 31, 1892.
50Editors Musical Courier:
51I WAS advised by Thos. H. Knollin, of Syracuse, to present my experience with Daniel F. Beatty to you and seek your advice.
52I am a music teacher, and wishing several cheap instruments to rent bargained with Beatty for four organs, price of the four to be $100; so sent my check on the Adams Bank for the amount.
53After writing several letters, wishing to know if the money was duly received, there came a shipping bill of one organ, shipped.
54I then wrote him I should not accept one organ, and to this I received this answer:
55WASHINGTON, N. J., May 17, 1892.
56Mrs. T. D. Kenny:
57We find we sent the $500 parlor pipe organ for the $100. If you don't want it get it sold for $100, as I have got judgments against me. I could have kept the $100 and sent you nothing, but I sent you a splendid organ well worth all you paid for it.
58Yours truly,
59MRS. T. D. KENNY.
60We can only advise Mrs. Kenny to consult a lawyer and to notify the Postmaster General at Washington of a fraud conducted through the mails.
62Moving Westward.
63THE Boston Piano Company have closed arrangements with the board of trade of Wooster, Ohio, by which they are benefited by these inducements: A desirable location, five years' rent free, expense of transportation of machinery and material, $1,000; remodeling the building, $500, and a loan to the company of $15,000. The work of moving has already commenced, and some of the machinery is expected to reach Wooster next week. About 50 hands will be employed in the piano factory.
65The Lawrence & Sons Piano Company have decided to locate at Marietta, Ohio, but definite particulars are lacking. The press dispatches state that the piano company and the Mystic Rubber Company closed arrangements at the same time and that the citizens subscribed to $25,000 worth of stock, but whether to each company individually or between them we do not know.
67—A. M. Greer has opened a piano room over his store in Iowa City, where he will sell the Decker Brothers and Emerson pianos.
69Stratton's Russian Gut Violin Strings.
71Imitators and Followers, but No Competitors!
73OUR GUARANTEE.
74Every one of our "RUSSIAN GUT STRINGS" is put up in a separate trade mark wrapper, and every string so wrapped is thoroughly warranted by us. If a dealer receives a complaint (which he believes to be honest) from any musician to whom he has sold one of these strings, he is authorized by us to give him another string without charge, and all such loss will be made good by us to our customers without quibble or question. If there is any other violin string which is endorsed by its importer to this extent, we are not aware of it. We are not responsible for any strings which are sold as
76"STRATTON'S RUSSIAN GUT STRINGS."
78Dealers, please send for Descriptive Catalogue and Wholesale Price List.
80JOHN F. STRATTON & SON,
81Manufacturers and Importers of and Wholesale Dealers in
82MUSICAL MERCHANDISE OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
8343 and 45 WALKER STREET, NEW YORK.
85WHAT some of the Leading Musical Directors in the United States think of them.
87Dave Braham, the popular Composer and Director of Music at Harrigan's Theatre, says:
88NEW YORK, March 1, 1892.
89Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
90Dear Sirs—I have given your Russian Gut Violin Strings a thorough trial, and am pleased to state that they are the best toned and most durable strings I have ever used.
91Yours respectfully,
92DAVE BRAHAM.
94Theodore John, with Anton Seidl's Orchestra:
95NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 1892.
96Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
97Dear Sirs—I was very much surprised when a short time ago I tried your Russian Gut Strings to find a tone of such excellence to me. I have been a violin player for twenty years and to speak candidly I find them superior to any strings I have ever used, and am only sorry that I was unfortunate enough not to have had them before. I shall certainly use no other hereafter.
98Yours truly,
99THEODORE JOHN.
101W. Lloyd Bowron, Musical Director Fourthteenth Street and Bijou Theatres:
102Fourthteenth Street Theatre, I
103New York, Feb. 15, 1892.
104Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
105Dear Sirs—I have never used any strings equal to your Russian Gut for durability and tone. Last week I played at six performances on a single length which retained its quality of tone until it broke. I have not found one false, and take great pleasure in recommending them to violinists as a perfect string.
106Truly yours,
107W. LLOYD BOWRON.
109Chas. F. Dittmar, Musical Director Florence Bindley Pay Train Co.:
110New York, Dec., 1891.
111Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
112Dear Sirs—With the Pay Train Company I have traveled all over the United States, my strings being subjected to all climate, hot, cold, dry and damp. It gives me great pleasure in saying that your Russian Gut Strings are the only ones I have found that will stand the racket. I have recommended them to many musicians during my travels and find that all who have used them are as well pleased as I am.
113Stratton's Russian Gut stands at the head both for tone and durability.
114Yours truly,
115CHAS. F. DITTMAR.
117Percy Gaunt, Musical Director, Hoyt's Madison Square Theatre:
118New York, March 2, 1892.
119Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
120Gentlemen—For absolute brilliancy and endurance I heartily recommend your Russian Gut Strings, having arrived at this conclusion after thoroughly testing them in my orchestral work, with the members of the orchestra. Wishing you success, I remain yours truly.
121PERCY GAUNT.
123Louis Mollenhauer, Director Henry Mollenhauer's College of Music:
124Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1892.
125Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
126Dear Sirs—I am using your Russian Gut Strings, and must say without flattery that I never used a more durable or perfect string. I have had one length of E on my violin five days and it to-day just as good as when I put it on, and I have a set of A's which I use daily. The sale of these strings should be enormous. Send me at once two bundles E strings.
127Yours truly,
128LOUIS MOLLENHAUER.
130Wm. Bayne, Musical Director, Windsor Theatre Orchestra:
131New York, March 7, 1892.
132Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
133Dear Sirs—Your Russian Gut Strings I must candidly admit are the best I ever used. Their unusual endurance and brilliancy of tone are features rarely combined in other strings.
134Yours truly,
135WM. BAYNE.
137C. Richter Nicolai, Solo Violinist:
138New York, Jan. 24, 1892.
139Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
140Dear Sirs—I am now using your Russian Gut Violin Strings and must say I am highly pleased with them, as are also all my pupils, to whom I have recommended them. Accept best regards of yours very truly,
141C. RICHTER NICOLAI.
143Carl Ernst, first violinist Mozart Quartette:
144New York, Feb. 5, 1892.
145Messrs. John F. Stratton & Son:
146Dear Sirs—Your Russian Gut Strings are certainly the best I have ever played on, and I cannot praise them enough. I have been using one length for the entire week and it is just as good as when I put it on. I highly recommend them.
147Yours truly,
148CARL ERNST.
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