New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-09
IMPORTANT MUSICAL INVENTION.
The CycIoid Piano.Foric.


forte During the past twenty years great changes
have taken Mace in the internal construction OF the in
htrumert especially as regards the SCALE which has
Seen ENLARGED so Is TO admit Of greater length OF
wiring. The instrument is now strung with heavier
wire an increase of nearly double over the old style OF
strngins the case is also, generally, larger both III
enh and length 1t would be useless TO chronicle the
Thousand small inventions which claimed posi-
tive Improvements upon the piano but which Were rad
scay OF but little importance Sound boards have been
crumped up the plea that increased yibraory sur
face Obtaned plates have been insulated and com
yetely detached; bottoms have been taken ont Sec
ond sound board has been added; hammers have been
made to strike downward the case has been halt
filed wifi blocks Of wood and again the case has been
left entirely empty the obque strain of the strings is
claimed So have been remedicd iron has been snbsti
tuted FOR wood for the cases; the keyboard has
been arranged with semi-oircular sweep;
tuning forks. or metallic tongues. have been sub
etituted for strings but Of these infnitessima
invention have succeeded In establishing their claims
as permanent improvements. The Improvements which
base really been accomplished in the past twenty years
are. first the enlargement Of the SCALE second the III
creased length Of tie string; third tic heavier string
inc fourth the increased Of the sounding board
fifth the increased power Of Che cotton and heavier
plate combining the utmost possible strength with
tghtness and seventh tho system Of over strings In
she bass.
These ocepted and permanent Improvements ore now
adopted ~ every maker and the superiority Of any one
Instrument is dependent upon Ortutous circumstances
such a. the best-seasoned material. the most skiinl
artisans the various departments and The aH>nni OF
bonest ere bestowed upon tic manufacture. The
Desf that the best instruments we pcas OF course
Of square and upright Iilnoiores) can only be made
by the gest manufacturer is popular falacy that
shoold be exploded. There are many small makers In
This city whose instruments are olnnenty beautiful
and yho.e work is faithful and sterling in every re-
spec. Zero is another ialacy which is rapidly eX'
rloding itself namely, the value Of professional tes
,nonias. 80 long as professional players and teachers
whether 'or a consideration not Is point between
themselves and the manufacturers, gave their tesno
malls or written opinions, TO all good makers they were
OF vsiue each according 10 his g means sadreti'
Gle facts 70 che cord; but as certain players
and teaehers bind themselves TO certain houses, and
declare Tat what they have testified 10 Tor other houses
before is all foldefo, or tissue Of no-snch'things
their so iled testimonials become Of less value than
The paper which they written and their motives
are left open TO very grave suspicion The public be-
Gins to understand the value OF testimonials Good
wine. tho7 say. needs no BUSH neither docs good
piano need testimonials from professional gentlemen.
Your dths of whom profoundly ignorant Of io con
struction of the instrument of what constitutes its
zeal merits.
The Cyclod piano made and patented by yindewan
Sons Of this city presents radical change in IL,
form of q piano. and while adopting all the improve
meats which have resulted from pas! experience exhb'
ats novelty IN construction which adds value 10 all
Eat has gone before and presents increased advantages
Of such importance that they cannot be Overlooked
The form Of the Cycloid may lie described square
pano with the back corners rounded OIL The sweep
s. very graceful and the Ugly square box is transformed
snto on elegant piece Of furniture beautifully finished al
rourd forming ornament TO the paror and taking mp
much less space than the ordinary square piano.
The object designed be obtained by this change OF
form is elegance, compaciness aud strength In tie
square piano the sides and back glued together and
90 sreng these weak points heavy blocks of wood
are inserted that the whole space Of the two back
corners l. utterly useless for revebcTatins purposes
9hey are simply wasted wood, and are only valuable
snasnuch as the blocking they contain strengthens tie
inherent weakness Of the square case.
The Cyelod piano achieves the fors Of The arch, which
IL recognized the type Of strength. and is in fact
cold case in piece. with no weak spot about H. By
the system Of constructing the case strength is
out out or bent 10 the cycod FORM The case in fact
consists Of from twenty four TO twenty six yencer, one
fourth of IN inch thick Of mapewood glued together;
these are placed in press Of the cycod form to which
are affixed screws Of great power This forceis applied
equally to every part which forces out the supeTfuous
glue, and when cold, these yeneers come out solid
mass having the required cyclod form, with al the
s.repcth Of all arch and capable Of sustaining any
strain If strinVa that can be applied 10 IT., with
out "giying" a hairs breadth. The scale of the
instrument follows the circle OF the case, 80 that
not an inch Of space is lost; and there is not angle
in the terror 10 break the continuous flow Of the
sound The theory Of acoustics in Us general laws as
laid down by Clladni and others may be looked upon
a. exact and thorough but individual seem TO
defy all rule and set the most wclconsdered theories
AT defiance Whether the cycoid form or tho square
form Is she better ia theory is point for Swans to
decide mon but the result Of the two forms is papa
bic 20 every ear learned unleaned The tone OF the
ovcloid is as solid as TINT Of grand pianoorte II Is
not merely oudncss which is always liable 10 impure
and loose vibrations but il IS tie largest amount OF
sorority with the greatcft purity in quality OF tone
A powerful player Il as he would grand. and
he cannoi break the tone; h. cannot thin it or confuse
II by forced dyergng vibrations. Gottschalk tested
in every way 10 Tie utmost and acknowledged that it
,riumphed over the test that he had applied
But II is not in force alone that the purity Of tie
Cyclod Is prominent; in the medium tone and in file
panissulo it is surprisingly beautiful and even The
soft pedal can be used without destroying the pure end
individual quality Of the tone. In addition to this
while each tone is round and distinctive. in close or
spread harmony no tone predominates, but per
feet accord Of combined tones sweS up 20 the fingers
and die. out without one dominont vibration. The