Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-07-13
- (From the New York World. +.
The Great Southern Piano Manufactory.

The Great Southern Piano Mandatory. a
Until about forty years ago Americans were
content to purchase, at large prices, very in
different piano-fortes from England, France,
and Germany. These instruments, never
very good IN themselves, were utterly unable
toistand the excessive variation ofour climate,
and the super-heating of cur parlors gener-
ally, so that after two or three years they be-
came 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
e Co., who commenced business over thirty
years ago IN the Monumental City of Balti-
more. Their beginnings were humble,J for
large Investments in an untried branch Of
trade, which ynust'at once come into compe-
tltlon with the best manufacturers of Europe,
was then,a thing unheard of, since, besides
thecompetition to be overcome, there was a
widespread ,,deeply-rooted prejudice in favor
Of the foreign article to be encountered. The
excellence of the Knabe piano, however,
gradually attracted attention, and it began to
command market elsewhere than in Balti-
more. 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 high price, which could be furn-
ished at home better in quality, and at about
two-thirds the cost. ,s5-n ~
Under these favorable circumstances, the
house Of Knabe gathered, strength and made
Roadway, until to-day their mandatory is
one the largest in the world, and their bust
ness extends all over the United States, South
America, the, West Indies, and even to.
!: This house is the only rival of the few
great piano establishments of the Eastern and
Northern States, and the Knabe instruments
are running a race in popularity, and sue
cessfully competing in the North and East
with the best pianos made there. The enter
prise Of the. firm is noteworthy. aa9s d 10
NJ The present capacity of their mandatory
enables them to. turn out thirty-fve pianos
per week, but the success of their agency in
New York, carried on by j. Bauer & lCos,a
has, SO greatly increased the demand for their
instruments that they have been compelled
to erect a, new wing to their building on Eu-l
taw and West streets, Baltimore, which, with
the lumber-yard attached, occupies two en-
tire blocks. This extensive mandatory is
FIVE stories high, and with the new wing. at
tached, will present frontage of four hun,
dred and thirty-six feet, with depth on all
the floors Of the building of forty feet We
Il {hn,r Poo no,
of;much larger dimensions, All the modern
mechanical aids to labor are contained there
in; their beautiful engine turns a hundred
wheels, and moves a. score of saws; the mo-
tive power, steam, warns the entire build
ing, and a number Of rare and costly ma
chimes, Of extraordinary power and unique
invention, are in constant operation to pro-
duce the beautiful specimens of workmanship
which the Klmbe pianos exhibit. Il Z
The piano of Knabe & c., are sterling in,
struments, thoroughly made of irst-class and
long seasoned, materials, SO that their powers
Of endurance may be entirely relied upon.---
They are not turned out rapidly with a view
only to their sale, but the makers expect that
each piano shall be, an,advertisement, many
years standing, Of the sterling excellence Of
their work. vs{.n4 gaa
There are but few makers of grand pianos
in the country, and in this class of instru
ments the Knabe acknowledges no superior.
Their new scale has produced an instrument
of noble qualities The tone is large and
sonorous, brilliant and sympathetic, round
and belI-like, and it's power of singing or sus
tanning the sound is not exceeded in any in
strun1ent now made The touch is firm yet
powerful, meeting every want Of the player.
tits an instrument Of surprising beauty
grandeur and richness -one that could not
fail to inspire a good player with exquisite
thoughts. a@n s'rf'li' 1s''2r.
The new squares are equally marked in
their general excellence. The popular weak
ness seems now to be in favor of a great body
of tone. This is not in accordance with cor
rect taste. The Knabe square piano has
plenty of tone, BUTTS of a refined and beau
! tiful character, sympathetic and brilliant,
clear and equal in all it's registers, and its
singing quality is but little less than that OF
their grand. Ian pointeof touch it is all that
could be desired, while in finish and exterior
appearance the workmanship is perfect The
purchaser OF a knabe square piano may rest
assured that he possesses one of the finest IN
struments in the sworld. '5Fl ~
The uprights are the best Of their class now
made in the United States. The tone is sweet
and silvery ,trieh and sentimental, and pos
scsses far more power than could be.expectec
from instruments Of that class. They stane
we'll in tune, their small compact form Is
very convenient, the cases elegant, and the,
are everyaway an admirable instrument. -
SUBJECTS 10 THINK oF.--The number O.
languages spoken is 1904. The number O
men is about equal to the number OF women
The average Of human life is thlrty-thref
years, One quarter die before the age o
seven. One-half before the age OF seven
teen. l To every 1000 persons, only, one
reaches 100 years To every 100, only nine
reach sixty five years; and not more Il al
one one in 500 reaches the age Of eighty years