Scan 31
Musical Courier 1895-10-16: Vol 31 Iss 815, 1895
122 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026. Printed page 32. See the scan on archive.org.
1wood, with a sparse scattering of brackets. All sorts of wood were used in the endeavor to produce a superior instrument, and the hoops were made considerably deeper than now. Most of the bridges were of enormous size as compared with those in modern use, and the quality of heads and strings was not at all on a par with those of to-day. Charles Morrell was one of the very first established New York manufacturers, and made, taught and played the banjo. It was he who gave the first prize banjo tournament. This was held at the chinese Assembly Rooms, on Broadway, and had as contestants many of the prominent players of the day. The prize was awarded to Charles Plummer, though "Pic" Butler was clearly entitled thereto in the opinion of many competent experts, the manifest injustice of the decision causing Frank Converse to issue a sweeping challenge to all comers, with Plummer preferred, although Converse was not a participant in the original contest.
3A little later on "Dave" Jacobs established himself in Chatham street as a manufacturer and teacher. In point of fact, a firm composed of "Ruby" Brooks' grandfather and uncle (Laban L. Lewis & Co.) were really the makers of his instruments, which were of maple, the necks being scooped out near the hoop, thus making a hiatus of about 4 inches between the termination of the face of the neck and the rim. It was in Jacobs' store that the three brothers-Bryant, Eph Horn, Unsworth and other prominent professionals were wont to assemble of a morning to hear the latest news and tunes going in the banjo world.
5Landers, of Spring street, and Hanning, of Forsyth street were well and most favorably known as makers, especially the latter, who furnished a well finished, compactly made and full, fine tone instrument. Veneering the rim of the banjo with thin German silver was the thought of an early maker by the name of Albert Wilson, a resident of Troy, N. Y. He was an adept in this metal, making many ingenious articles therefrom, which he sold. Although given to fashioning banjos in many odd designs by way of experiment (as did Farnham, another maker, of Albany), he finally adhered to the legitimate instrument, and was deemed the very best of makers. Many of his banjos were profusely inlaid with pearl, silver or fancy woods. Solid bell metal rims were tried, but not retaining their shapes were abandoned.
7Now the silver or nickeled rim banjo, virtually the Wilson, has become the standard, for while aiding to preserve the form of the rim these materials are believed to present a more attractive appearance.
9Formerly banjos with raised frets were very rare. They were possessed by only a few players, notable among whom were Frank Converse and George Swayne Buckley, who, being accomplished musicians, comprehended the capabilities of the banjo and the necessity of frets for the proper expression thereof. Many, less ambitious, retained the smooth finger board as better adapted for conveying the characteristic music of the day. As for the relative merits of these finger boards much that is favorable may be claimed for each. The fretted finger board is now generally preferred, as it greatly facilitates execution and enables the player to produce clearer tones and true notes with less care or difficulty, especially upon the upper part of the finger board.—Sun.
11(To be continued)
13HARRY COLEMAN,
14912 & 914 Race Street,
15PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
16Manufacturer of the
17MISSENHARTER
18… AMERICAN
19Excelsior
20Solo and Military
21Band Instruments.
22Are used by the greatest artists in the profession, who recommend them as being well constructed, correct in tune, easy to play, beautiful in tone, elegant in model.
23Solo Agent for the Celebrated Bertling Clarinets, Flutes, Piccolo, and both Boehm and Ordinary System.
25Jerome Thibouville-Lamy & Co.,
26PARIS. LONDON. SYDNEY. NEW YORK.
27Largest and Oldest House in Europe. Three Factories, 1,000 Men.
28ARTISTIC LUTHERIE-VIRTUOSE VIOLINS,
29Unequaled for Tone and Workmanship.
30Celebrated Ex. Silk Strings No. 1145 and Russian Gut Strings No. 705.
31Sample Gut String furnished free on application.
32AGENTS FOR THE CELEBRATED
33GRANDINI MANDOLINS,
34The best Mandolins for Tone, Justness and Easy Playing.
35Band Instruments, Metronomes, Etc.
3635 GREAT JONES ST., NEW YORK.
38Michael Schuster junior
39Manufacture and Store-House of
40Strings & MUSICAL-INSTRUMENTS
41of all kinds
42MARKNEUKIRCHEN Saxony
43Large and assorted stock of
44Violins, Guitars, Banjos,
45Cellos, Bass-Viols etc. and their Accessories.
46First quality warranted
47Apply for the illustrated Price-List.
49WM. F. HASSE,
50Successor to T. F. KRAEMER & Co.,
51… Symphonion,
52POLYPHONE AND REGINA
53MUSIC BOXES.
54107 East 14th St., New York.
55ADJOINING STEINWAY HALL.
56Complete stock of Instruments and Disks of all sizes always on hand.
57… WRITE FOR LATEST CATALOGUE …
59CARL FISCHER,
606 & 8 Fourth Ave., New York,
61Sole Agent for the United States for the famous
62F. BESSON & CO.,
63LONDON, ENGLAND,
64Prototype Band Instruments, the easiest blowing and most perfect instruments made. Band and Orchestra Musicians, both foreign and Domestic, made a specialty of, and for its completeness in this line and music department, no house stands unapproached in this country. Catalogues will be cheerfully furnished upon application.
65Musical Merchandise Department, wholesale and retail, complete in all its appointments. Everything is imported and purchased direct, and greatest care is exercised to procure goods of the finest quality only. My Instruments and Strings are acknowledged to be the best quality obtainable.
66Some of the many Specialties I Represent: E. Ritter & SIESEN (Berlin), Boehm System Flutes; COLLIN MEZZIN, Paris, Celebrated Violins, Violas and 'Cellos; BUFFET PARIS (Evette & Shaeffer), Reed Instruments; CHAS. BARIN and SUSS celebrated Violin Bows.
68S. S. STEWART, Manufacturer of FINE BANJOS.
69Publisher of BANJO MUSIC and BOOKS.
70Also the "BANJO AND GUITAR JOURNAL."
71SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
72STORE AND FACTORY
73221 & 223 CHURCH ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA.
75HARMONICUM,
76Latest Reed Organ like Instrument with Pull and Push Tone, tuned in the usual Bandonion Pitch as well as Chromatic, of 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 Octaves.
77E. BRENDEL & M. KLÖSSER,
78MITTWEIDA i. S., GERMANY.
79Price Lists gratis, mailed free.
81POLLTER'S TROMBONES
82Are World Renowned in Consequence of their Excellence
83TESTIMONIAL:
84"The trombones of the firm of OTTO POLLTER & Co., Leipzig, are as I was able to convince myself, modelled exactly after the celebrated Penzel trombones; they are distinguished through solid and ringing construction, purity of tone, easy and even speaking in all positions, as well as sure working of the slide."
85—PAV. HEROLD,
86Royal Prussian Staff Oboist (retired),
87formerly trombone player at the Royal Academy of Music of Berlin.
88OTTO POLLTER & CO., Leipzig,
89Manufacture as specialty the acknowledged best
90SLIDE TROMBONES,
91as well as Cornets, Trumpets, Horns, Tenor Horns, Tubas, &c. Catalogue on demand.
93OTTO H. REICHELT,
94BRUNNDEBRA, SAXONY,
95MANUFACTURER OF
96Accordions, Bandoneons and Concertinas
97in only the best of workmanship and of the best material at the cheapest prices. Only self-manufactured goods.
98Any style desired will be made according to description.
99Export of Reichelt's Accordzithers.
101FURNISHED AT LOW PRICES.
102WENZL STOWASSER SÖHNE,
103Factory of Musical Instruments,
104FOUNDED 1824 AT GRASLITZ, AUSTRIA.
105Branch House at Verona, Italy.
106Purveyors to first-class military and other orchestras. Illustrated price list free of charge.
107The "Stowasser" instruments enjoy especial favor among artists by reason of their grand tone as well as their elegant and correct style.
109"GOOD ENOUGH."
110THE ANN ARBOR ORGAN.
111THE ANN ARBOR ORGAN CO.,
112Manufacturers,
113Ann Arbor, Mich.
115WEICHOLD'S
116TESTED VIOLIN and 'CELLO STRINGS
117Guaranteed in perfect fifth. Acknowledged the best in the world. Best quality of Violin Strings
118E A A G Silver
119B'dl's of 30, $7.25. $5.50. $7.25. Doz., $3.60
120SPECIALTY: FINEST BOWS.
121RICHARD WEICHOLD, Dresden, Germany.
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