The New York herald., 1876-07-19
EXPLANATION OF sTEINwAY & SONS.
NEW York July lS 1870

NEW loRk, July lc 1910
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
We read in your issue of Sunday last h communica-
ton from your special correspondent In Philadelphia
headed "Flagrant Charges Against the Judges IN the
Panoiortc Department." based upon the er pare
mcnt Of an insignificant piano manufacturing company
in Philadelphia, in which Mr.. julius Schiedmayer, of
Germany; Mr.. Kupka, Of Austria, and Mr.. George +.
Bristow of the United States three members of tho
jury musical instruments, are charged with conduct
unbccomlng the high character Of their office, and
while other piano manufacturers who, for best
known to your correspondent arc not named coup
led with Messrs. Brisvw and Kupka, tho firm OF Stem
way singled out IN connection with Mr. Schicdmaycr
Knowing as we do, the natural anxiety that small con-
cern htherto unknown beyond the limits OF Chestnut
street. Philadelphia must naturally have to force itself
INTO notoriety by q controversy With US, would not
have replied to their uniounded and utterly ridiculous
charges against had they appeared so nuenal
and widely read journal as the HERALD IL Is not our
purpose to defend the members OF the jury or the other
panomak whose alleged transactions are severely
criticised by your correspondent; wo intend strictly 10
conlne ourselves TO tho charges brought against
firm, which are briefly as follows:
Firs-That 81 is believed by many that Mr. Schied-
mayers appointment at Philadelphia procured
mainly for the purpose OF taking advantage OF his pref
ofences and 10 render moro Certain favorable report
for the Steinway piano"
.second--That Mr schiedmayer is said to be the pri-
vate agent OF tho Slcinways IN Europe"
7hird-rhat 'Mr. Schiedmayer's pianos arc copied
after those OF tho Stcinways and are declared to bo
made after q scale furnished by them"
These charges one and ail as absurd rs they
untrue AS regards the rs the TACT that the German
government, known tor tho extreme care with which
II selects lis representatives, should have appolnted Mr.
Schedmaycr Juror at The London Exhibition, 1862, in
Paris 1867 in Vienna IN 1873 where by tho way, did
exhibit at al aud ia Philadelphia in 1876 surely
Of itself sufficient proof that his appointment was not
procured To "render more certain favorable report
Tor the Stcinway piano, unless firm be credited
not only with the ability OF influencing the piano trade
but the politics OF tho world " With respect to the
second charge, beg to say that Mr.. Schlcdmaycr is
not only not our AGENT but that hc is OF the nrgest
manufacturers OF pianos and organs In Germany, and
such active competitor In the European South
American and Canadian markets In this ncction
may add that the idea that man like Mr. Schied
business career Of iorty years standing at his back,
OF unsullicd reputation combined with practical
knowledge OF the history OF the panoorto and every
existing system OF its construction and mechanism
ton, that such should be unwor,hily Influenced
or dream for one moment of making an
local pianoiorte factory that ho could buy
The third and last charge would have been made
this President Of Philadelphia piano company q
practcai piano maker. Ii SO, he would have known
that, although MIR. Schiedmayer's instruments arc
generally constructed on the Steinway system (Which
by tho by, also the with his OWN, there
many and essential points OF difference size shape
and construction between thcm and those OF make
In conclusion allow US 10 say that the fact that this
piano company havo not brought specific charges
Though asked to do SO by the Centennial Commission
fully six weeks ago) until now and then only through
newspaper correspondent, when the jury has con-
cluded its labors aud dispersed and the Centennial
Commission have adjourned until September O. to-
gcther with the further fact that the same people
created similar newspaper controversy at late local
fair of the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, WILL prob
ably, sufficiently show the anlmus Of tho attack
much space IN your valuable journal, we remain, vory
respectfully, STElNWAY SONS.