Scan 27
Musical Courier 1893-06-07: Vol 26 Iss 692, 1893
80 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 28. See the scan on archive.org.
1Growth and Development of the Automaton Piano Company.
3Some two or three years back the music trade and public in general were made aware that a self playing piano attachment was being placed upon the market containing elements of practicability that had not previously existed in such a device.
5A small store on Broadway was to be found crowded at nearly all times of the day and evening, the object of interest being a Steinway upright piano fitted with a so-called self playing attachment.
7This consisted of a small drawer placed underneath the keybed of the regular upright piano, and so arranged that it was quite unnoticeable. A sheet of perforated music was placed in this drawer and the drawer closed, and the automaton piano player rendered the composition, whatever it might be, with precision and brilliancy.
9The syndicate controlling this invention perceiving that there was a demand for such a device proceeded to form a company for the purpose of manufacturing the same, and were successful in interesting among others such prominent men as Edmund C. Stanton, president of the Metropolitan Opera House Company; W. J. Arkell, of "Judge;" John A. Cockerill of "The World;" John D. Crimmins, Broadway Cable Construction Company, and A. B. de Frece, the "Mail and Express."
11The company thus incorporated rented a small factory on Seventh avenue, where they commenced to manufacture on a practically experimental scale the attachments that are probably to play an important part in the piano industry of the future. The device there manufactured was a satisfactory mechanical instrument in the accepted sense of the word, but it lacked entirely the power of expression and regulation of tempo that is as necessary to the successful introduction of such an attachment as quality of tone is to a successful piano.
13Another serious objection was the method used for setting the action in motion by means of a hand crank. This was not only inartistic, but gave too much opportunity for comparison with the once popular, but happily disappearing street organ.
15The persevering and energetic manager of the concern, Mr. Emile Klaber, was not long to perceive these facts, and with the knowledge derived from a thorough musical education in the best schools of Europe he set to work to eliminate the mechanical effects of the attachment with results that can be better appreciated by listening to the instrument than any description can convey.
17To-day the automaton self playing attachment, although a mechanical device, is almost human in its performance. All the light and shade that an accomplished musician could infuse into his performance the lover of music is able to produce at will without being able to read a note.
19The keys of the piano being operated by felted fingers, which strike the keys at their back end, thus deflecting the front end as if an invisible hand were playing the piano, the touch being regulated by mechanism, there is no possibility of damaging the piano, as might be the case with a human pounder.
21Electricity was brought in to help solve the problem, and with the assistance of the Wizard of Menlo Park, Thos. A. Edison, a small electric device was adopted which forms part of the attachment placed in a piano, rendering the attachment absolutely automatic, it only being necessary "to touch a button" to obtain the most wonderful results.
23The company soon outgrew its quarters in Seventh avenue, and moved to a more commodious factory at Tenth avenue and Fourteenth street; but so speedily has the business developed that they are again cramped, and are now seeking more room to enable them to fill promptly the orders received.
25Commendable efforts have been made to attain a high plane of excellence in the production of this device. A point worthy of notice is the fact that their music catalogue consists principally of the great masterpieces and operas, ignoring (unless in one or two exceptional cases) the demand for such classics as "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay" and the like.
27The company was not slow to recognize that the success of this enterprise depended largely on the attitude the general piano trade would assume toward their device, and in view of this fact the company pursued the wise policy of securing the good opinion of the entire piano trade by favoring no particular make of piano. For this reason a most favorable proposition made by a well-known Fifth avenue house at the commencement of the company's operations was refused, as it was felt that the ultimate success and adoption of the attachment to all makes of pianos would be jeopardized by the acceptance of such a proposition.
29The Automaton Piano Company does not desire nor does it claim to be in the piano trade. Its business is the selling of self playing attachments and the fitting of same to any make of piano that the purchaser may desire, the pianos shown in the warerooms of the company being principally for the purpose of exhibition.
31The company has placed attachments in almost every make of piano, and its customers number some of the most prominent men in the world of art, literature, music and finance. Some of the orders recently filled are from such representative men as Gen. Lloyd Bryce, Chas. Lanier, John Jacob Astor, G. Tefft, James Gordon Bennett, E. V. Skinner, Lispenard Stewart, H. C. Miner, Leo Spyer, James Everard and Thomas A. Edison, all of whom are eulogistic in their praise, and to whom the company has permission to refer any intending purchasers.
33The company is now making arrangements to have its attachments on exhibition in the warerooms of every piano house in New York city, and among others it can be seen at the following warerooms:
35Messrs. Steinway & Sons, Hardman, Peck & Co., Kranich & Bach, Steck & Co., and others.
37The company's output is from 80 to 100 attachments per week, and by the time provincial agencies are established there is but little doubt that their present manufacturing facilities will be taxed to the utmost.
39The company obtained a splendid space and one of the best positions at the Columbian Exposition, and are making a most creditable exhibit of some 15 pianos of various makes in the Liberal Arts Building. In addition to this, at the request of the Edison Company, they will place a piano on exhibition in the Electric Building, having obtained the entire space that was to have been occupied by the New South Wales exhibit, where hourly concerts will be given and seating capacity for 500 people is provided. It was intended to use a Steinway grand for the purpose, but with the view of avoiding all possible friction a magnificent Blüthner grand is being fitted with the attachment for this purpose.
41If merit, push and perseverance command success, it is certainly assured the Automaton Piano Company.
43Dealers and piano men throughout the country should lose no time in viewing this really first practical automatic piano player.
45A Sale of Rare Violins.
47A good number of musical connoisseurs, professional and amateur, was attracted to Messrs. Puttick and Simpson's rooms in Leicester square, London, the other day by a sale of violins and violoncellos, &c., some of which had belonged to the well-known collections of Mr. Richard Bennett, of Southport, and the late Mr. George Acland Ames, formerly of Bristol. The instruments, which varied considerably in their degrees of merit, embraced examples of the work of some of the best-known Italian, French, German and English make; and the sale was probably the first of its kind since the Hulse collection was brought to the hammer about 10 years ago. The competition for a few of the most important lots was spirited, and the prices obtained were, on the whole, good—in some cases, judges thought, in advance of the merits.
49A Gaspar da Salo violin, once in the possession of the grandfather of the present Earl of Aylesford, fetched £75—a price which, considering the rarity of these instruments and the fact that some well-known dealers were present, was somewhat suggestive. A viola of the same maker went for £40. There were two instruments bearing the name of Maganini, one of which was knocked down for £61 and the other (said to have been successively in the possession of De Beriot and the Prince de Chimay) was bought in at £92. For a Peter Guarnerius, for which Mr. Bennett gave 250 guineas, only £125 was offered.
51One of the most remarkable incidents was the brisk bidding for a violin by Joseph Sorsana, a pupil of Straduarius (1732), which was secured by an enthusiastic amateur at the price of £111. It was a rare and attractive looking instrument, with a fine orange colored varnish; and the price at which it sold may be regarded as a proof of the rising value of the best work of some of the less known makers, in consequence of the ambition of amateur violin players—whose number is so rapidly increasing—to possess themselves of instruments of more than commonplace merit.
53In this connection it may be mentioned that a Camillus Camilli fetched £65; a Vuillaume £57 and a Gabrielli £55. one of two readings
54In this connection it may be mentioned that a Camillus Camilli fetched £65, a Vuillaume £57 and a Gabrielli £55. one of two readings
56The most remarkable instrument of the collection was a violin by Straduarius. It bore the original label with the date 1734, and was therefore produced when the great maker had reached the age of ninety. The details of the work indicate with sufficient certainty that the violin was made by Straduarius himself. There are signs of the hand which had forgotten its cunning and of the eye which had lost its power; but for fullness and power of tone it is doubtful whether a finer example of the master's work exists.
58Its state of preservation is perfect, it being without crack or serious blemish, and covered with a glowing varnish of a rich red color—the wood admirable. It is an instrument with which connoisseurs are familiar, as it serves for one of the chief illustrations of Mr. Hart's well-known book on the violin. After a keen competition it was secured by Messrs. W. E. Hill & Sons, of Bond street, for £860, the highest price ever paid for a Straduarius violin in an auction room in England.—Philadelphia "Dispatch."
60INVITATION.
62World's Fair.
64Every member of the music trade of the United States, Canada, Europe or whatever the location may be, as well as everyone directly or indirectly associated in any capacity either as a principal, partner, member, employee; every salesman, tuner, traveler, clerk, bookkeeper, collector, canvasser; everyone engaged in a factory where musical instruments are made, whether superintendent, workman or janitor—in fact every individual in the music trade of the Globe is herewith cordially invited to call at THE OFFICE OF
66THE MUSICAL COURIER,
67226 WABASH AVE., CHICAGO (ground floor), and make it headquarters during his or her visit to the World's Fair.
69For ACCOMMODATION, we have arranged at this Chicago branch a REGISTRATION BOOK, in which you enter your name and permanent address and also your TEMPORARY ADDRESS while residing in Chicago.
71In this REGISTRATION BOOK you will also find the addresses of any members of the trade who may be in Chicago or who have indicated the time of their proposed visit. You will give your friends an opportunity to find you, and you can find them by registering in THE MUSICAL COURIER Chicago office.
73Have all your letters addressed to our Chicago office, 226 Wabash Ave., which is centrally located and where we shall have a postal clerk to attend to your mail and hold it for you.
75You can do your correspondence in the same office and make all your business appointments there.
77No fees will be charged, and nothing in the shape of payment will be accepted for the services rendered to the members of the trade in the Chicago office of THE MUSICAL COURIER, where information on all World's Fair trade and general trade matters will also be furnished.
79You are all welcome.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.