The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-09-08
OUR CENTENNIAL LET-rER.

OOE6 CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 4, 1876.
A finer collection of pianos, melode- |
ons and organs were probably ever |
brought together than are now on
exhibition at the Centennial. The
number, variety of size and elegance |
finish, of exceed all belief. The prices
range, on pianos, from $500 to $4,000,
and on melodeons from $50 to 5000.
l believe that it is universally conced-
ed that Steinway has the finest pianos
that are made in America, but there
are several other manufacturs whose
instruments are so little inferior, that
between them. Weber has on exhibit
ton grand piano, the frame of which
is most deliberately inlaid with ebony
hollywood, red Spanish cedar and
mahogany, and is valued at $4,000
The legs are each made out of a solid
block of rosewood, and with their
carvings are worth S125 each. Scho-
macker also has a piano, the frame
OF which is made of rosewood, and all
around this frame, in bold relief, are
carved vines and figures. On the front
of the cover is an elegant bust of Jen-
ny Lind, which is so perfect that any
one at all acquainted with her face, re-
cognizes it at once. The beauty of this
carving is, that it is solid with the
frame, not single portion of the bust,
vines, or birds, being glued or stuck
on. This piano has been in use 26
ears, originally sold for $4,000 and is
almost as good now as when new.
Several of the manufacturers have en-
closed their pianos in one large glass
frame or cover, SO that the sounds of
other pianos can be closed out while
thew are being used. This is an ex-
cellent idea, as there are half a dozen,
at least, being used all the time, and
the sounds are very conflicting, and
often very annoying. Between twelve
and one o'clock nearly every manu-
facturer has performer who gives 8
concert" Some of these gentlemen
for there are no ladies that l have
seen-play very elegantly and with a
great deal of taste, but others appear
only to try to see how much noise they
can make. One, especially, who parts
his hair in the middle of his intellect,
and whose hands are as big as the
hands of Providence, rocks from side
to side and bangs away as if he had
spite against somebody or thing. One
feels tempted all the time To tell him
VIII en- he gets tired of practicing and
making a fool of himself to try and
play something.
One would scarcely think that there
would be much difference between
English and American pianos, but
there is q radical difference in the
construction of frames, and theory in
regard to the stretching of the strings,
and of course both sides contend that
they are right, and that the other will
sOonerlor later come to see the error
of their ways. The English are repre-
sented by Brinsmead & Son, of Lon
don, and have but four pianos on eX-
hibition, while the French have but
six or seven.
The Americans make more square
pianos than any other shape, while
French and English Go not make the
the square frames at all as they only
cost more and take up more room.
On all the finer frames the Americans
put on two coats of veneers, one of
which is diagonal and horizontal, and
on the outer veneer is put nine coats
of varnish, the last one of which is
rubbed down with rotten stone and
water, and then finished with the palm
of the hand alone. The English and
French put on but single coat OF
veneer, and then simply polish it up
without putting a single coating of
Varnish on it. In looking at an Amer
loan niannR Vnn SaR the VaFniSh instead
of the granting of the wood, while in
the French and English, you see the
granting of the veneer alone. The
Americans always cross their strings,
and use three treble keys for which no
music is hardly ever written, while
the French and English do not Use
these three extra keys at all, and do
not cross their strings. BY crossing
the strings q longer string can be
used, and greater vOlRme OF sound
can be obtained, but the English and
French contend that this is wrong, as
the bass in American pianos is always
out of proportion to the treble. The
Americans use a bridge which is made
up of thin strips that are glued togeth-
er, and the turning pin board is made
! in the same way, thus enabling them
to always tune half, or whole pitch
higher, while the English and French
say that this is also wrong, and gives
noise and volume of sound rather than
harmony. Not being an expert my
self, in these matters, l must leave
each one to judge for themselves
which country is right, but certainly
the English piano, which costs but
$500, gold, is as sweet in tone as al
most any one on exhibition. NIX.