Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-02-22
Tho Great Southern Piano Manufac-
tory.
From Tie Mee York World, Dec. 81.

ferea. piano-fortes from England, France an1
Germany. These Instruments, never very
good in themselves, were utterly unable Il
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
could manufacture for herself, and whose efforts
were successful in diminishing the importation
of pianos. was that Of Knabe & Co., who CON-
menced business over thirty years ago In th7
Monumental City of Baltimore. Their begin
ings were humble, for large investments in an
untried branch Of trade, which must at once
come into competition with the best manufac-
lures of Europe, was then a thing unheard of,
since, besides the competition to be overcome,
there was widespread, deeply rooted preju-
dice in favor of the foreign article to be encoun-
tered. The excellence of the Knabe piano,
however, gradually attracted attention, and 1t
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 it
was worse than folly to import an article at a
high price, which could be furnished at home
better in quality, and at about two thirds the
cost.
Under these favorable circumstances, the
house of Knabe gathered strength and made
headway, until to-day their mandatory is one
of the largest in the world, and their business
extends 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 North
ern States, and the Knabe instruments rerun-
ming 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 manufactory
enables them to turn out thirty-fve 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 instru-
ments that they have been compelled to erect
new wing to their building on Eutaw and
West streets Baltimore, which with the lum-
ber-yard attached, occupies two entire blocks.
This extensive munufactory is five stories high,
and with the new wing attached, will present a
frontage of four hundred and thirty-six feet,
with depth on all the floors Of the building of
forty feet. We doubt if there is piano fac
tory in the world of much larger dimensions.
All the modern mechanical aids to labor are
contained therein their beautiful engine turns
al Hlndred wheels, and moves score of saws ::
the motive power, steam, warns the entire
building, and number of rare and costly
machines, of extraordinary power and unique
invention, are in constant operation to produce
the specimens Of workmanship which the Knabe
pianos exhibit.
The pianos Of Knabe & Co., are sterling in
struments, thoroughly made of first-class long
seasoned materials, so that their powers Of en-
durance may be entirely relied upon. They
arc not turned out rapidly with view only to
their sale, but the makers expect that each
piano shall be an advertisement, Of many years
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 acknowledges no superior. Their
new scale has produced an instrument of noble
qualities. The tone is large sonorous, brilliant
and sympathetic, round aud bell-like, and its
power of singing or sustaining the sound is
not exceeded in any instrument now made
The touch is firm, yet elastic; light, yet pow
eriul, meeting every want of the player. 1t is
an instrument Of surprising beauty, grandeur
and richness-one that could not fail toinspire
good player with exquisite thoughts. The
new squares are equally marked in their gene
raj excellence The popular weakness seems
now to be in favor of great body Of tone.-
| This is not in accordance with correct TASTE
| The Knabe square piano has plenty of tone,
but is of a refined and beautiful character,
sympathetic and brilliant, clear and equal in
all its registers, and its singing quality is but
little less than that of their grand. In point
of touch it is all that coull be desiied, while
in finish and exterior appearance the workman
ship is perfect. The purchaser of Knabc
square piano may rest assured that he possesses
one of the finest instruments in the world.
The uprghts are the best Of their class now
made in the United States. The tone is sweet
and slvery, rich and sentimental, and possesses
far more power than could be expected from
instruments of that class. They stand well in
time, their small, compact form is very conve-
nient, the cases elegant, and they are in every
| way an admirable instrument.
THE following is the conclusion of an cpitaph