New-York tribune., 1878-01-19
TIE CHEAT PIANO FIGHT.
TILE CENTENNIAL AWARDS.

ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
CENTENNIAL COMMISsION-THE wEBER-sTEIN-
WAY CONTRoYERsY-HOw WEBER REGARDS TIE
RESULT
The piano war between A. Weber and Steinway *
Sons has assumed n new phase, the question OF the
correctness of tie award to Mr.. eber having come
up before the Executive Committee Of the Centen-
NAL Commission. Mr. Weber returned yesterday
from Philadelphia, well pleased with the result. lie
claims a complete victory, and in an interview with
a TmBUNE reporter, jublantly expressed his opin-
ions substantially as follows:
have Just returned from Philadelphia. and I am
pleased with the action Of the Executive Committee.
The Weber pianos have had three different awards for
sympathetic pure and rich tone combined with greatest
power showing Intelligence and solidty in the consruc-
ton a plant and easy touch, which answers promptly
to ts requirements together with excellence OF workman
ship
The third award was signed by three Of the four
remaining judges. schicdmaycr. Kupka and Bristow.
Oliver refusing sign because he had already signed
another report. The Centennial Commission gave me m
official certificate covering these very qualities, signed
sealed and delivered.
This report was superior 10 the given 10 the
seinways that caused them to follow the judges over
Europe and America 10 induce them 10 write IN GER
tincale for the Stenway instruments making IL purely
ind vidual opinion. written one year after the close
Of the Centennial and without these gentlemen having
piano before them Ii has no official character what
ever
Some Of the yes asked the Executive Committee to
change the report given TO me by tho Centennial Com
m.sion. This the Executive Committee have declared
they do, being only committee aud not the
full body hut they resolved TO request Of the full Com
mission which meets in May that the original amended
report be accepted aud issued the basis Of the award
in the Weber case aud that all the piano reports be held
back until May
The United states Centennial Commission certainly
cannot give AN award November. $40 aud change II
in May 1873 IN the year after tho reports have
been made and II they do. 1t win not make the
slighes difference to me. but It will place the Commis
sion In a peculiar position. Tho exhibitors believed
that the Commission alone could give official report
II few Judges be manipulated as TO give fifteen
months after the close Of their functions. certificate
and the fun Commission change their Official award then
all their Official reports become simply deluson and
snare.
This matter does not concern me alone but every one
OF the { 900 exhibitors to whom the Centennial Com
mission decreod award aud gave an official report.
The Senways have singled me out of all the piano deal
ers who obtained superior awards because within the
last two three years my business has increased 10 50
great an extent that have become their mos, serious
competitor with them 1t is simply matter Of existence
have not sought n controversy with them. Their own
published statements prove that while II all done
oscnsbly by the Judges 1t was really at the insgation
OF a rival house.