The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-14
The Groatssou.hern Piano nInnus.c-
tory.

Until about forty years ago, Ame-
r1cans were content to purchase at
large prices very Indifferent piano
fortes from England, France and
I, Germany. These Instruments. never
very good in themselves, were utterly
unable to stand the excessive variation
of our climate, and the super-heating
of our parlors generally, SO that after
two or three years they became mere
rattle-traps, fit only for kindling-
wood. One Of the first houses to
assert that America coul,i lnanufuc-
ture for herself, and whose efforts
were successful in diminishing the
Importation OF pianos, was that of
knabe d Co., who commenced bust
ness over thirty years ago in the
Monumental City" of Baltimore
Their beginnings were humble, for
large Investments in an untried
branch of trade, which must at once
come into competition with the best
manufactures of Europe, was then a
thing unheard of, since, besides the
competition to be overcome. there
was widespread, deeply rooted pre-
judice in favor of the foreign article
to be encountered The excellence
OF the knabe piano, however, gradu-
ally attracted attention, and it began
to command market elsewhere than
IN Baltimore. Pianos made in the
Eastern States also began to claim
attention, and the fact came to be
realized that instruments worthy of
that name could be made in America.
and that 1T was worse than folly to
import an article at a high price,
which could be furnished ut home
better III quality, and at about two
thirds the cost.
Under these favorable circum-
stances, the house Of Knabc gathered
strength and made headway, until
to-day their manufactory is one of
the largest III the world, and their
business extend all over the United
States, South America, the West
Indies, and even to Europe.
This house is the only rival of the
few great piano establishments of the
Eastern and Northern States, and the
hnabe instruments are running a
race in popularity, and successfully
competing in the North and East with
the best pianos made there. The
enterprise of the firm is noteworthy.
The present capacity OF their manu-
factory enables them to turn out
thirty-five pianos per week, but the
success of their agency in New York.
carried on by j. Bauer & Co., has so
greatly increased the demand for
their instruments that they have been
compelled to erect q new wing to their
building on Eutaw and West streets.
Baltimore, which, with the lumber
yard attached, occupies two entire
blocks. This extensive manufactorv
Is five stories high, and, with the new
wing attached, will present frontage
of 436 feet, with a depth on all the
floors of the building of forty feet.
We doubt if there is piano manu-
factory IN the world of mach larger
dimensions. All the modern mocha
nical aids to labor are contained
therein; their beautiful engine turrs
a hundred wheels, and moves a score
OF saws; the motive power, steam.
warns the entire building. and Il
number of rare and costly machines.
OF extraordinary power and UNIQUE
invention, are in constant operation
to produce the beautiful specimen of
workmanship which the Knabc pianos
exhibit.
The pianos of Knabe & Co. ar.
sterling instruments thoroughly mad,
OF first-class and lg-scasoned ma
terials, so that their powers of el>
durance may be entirely relied upon.
They are not turned ont rapidly with
view only to their sale, but the
makers expect that each piano shall
be an advertisement, of many wears
standing, of the sterling excellence of
their work
There are but few makers of grand
pianos IN the country: and in this
class OF instruments the Knabe ac-
knowledges no superior. Their new
scale has produced an instrument of
noble qualities. The tone is large
and sonorous, brilliant and sy,npa-
thetic, round and bell-lke, and its
power of singing or sustaining the
sound is not exceeded in any instru-
ment now made. The touch is firm.
yet elastic; light, vet powerful meet-