The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-11-25
Pianos and Their Nrsnufac,nro

(which do you consider the best
strument is the one made by -?''
These, and similar questions are most
daily asked of me in person, or through
letters. The answers 1 have given to
these inquiries were naturally very brief.
and perhaps for this reason to many I'M
satisfactory. have, therefore, thought
best to embody my opinions, founded on
an experience of over twenty years. in "A
more explicit statement, prefacing the
same with a positive assurance of being
based on solid facts and given only from
a strictly musical standpoint, indepen-
dent of every business interest in any
particular instrument.
pianos are now the best instruments
made in the world. Thirty years ago
numbers were imported from Europe;
to-day the best American manufacturers
have agencies on the other side. Pianos
may be classified into several grades, ac-
cording to the workmanship, tone, and
solidity of construction, "a well as to the
scientific arrangement of the Scale, the
"Soul'' of the piano.
Steck, Chickering. Gabler, Decker
Bros, Steinway and Weber have become
household words through their inStru-
ments. There is legion of other less re-
putable makers, who cannot, of course,
be rated Us best manufacturers. The pur-
chaser, however, can be guided by the
above mentioned manufacturers.
My principal object is to speak of GER
tain class of Instruments, thousands of
which are made and distributed over the
entire country. They are the so-called
Cheap Pianos. With very few exceptions
the manufacturers of these have no ware
rooms, doing only an exclusive wholesale
business direct from the factory, and as
soon as the pianos are done they are pack
ed and shipped. Many of these cheap
pianos bear fictitious names, and for this
reason are known among the trade as
Stencil Pianos. The manufacturers stem
eli them either with their own or any
other desired name, a. the purchaser may
prefer. visited lately two OF the larg-
est factories of this class Of instruments,
and noticed 4 number of instruments in
the various stages OF construction with
no two names alike, unless made for the
same dealer. Everything about them is
on IA cheap scale. Cheap cases, cheap var
nish, cheap actions, cheap ivory, cheap
workmanship, in fact, they are made 20
sell at low price without regard to their
durability. You can find them in any
auction store in New York.
Among the stenciled pianos have no.
ticcd and examined are: .Souther5a Gem,
Pdrl0r GEN, Conservatory. FdrOrite, Dirie,
AeHdelssoAR, 7Haibeyg, Windsor, Gate CITY,
KdthUsek. etc. Many of these cheap pIa-
no-makers buy the case, action. iron
frames, keys. in fact, all the principal
parts of n piano ready made, and stick
them together.
The New York NtssicaI Critic and Trade
Rerier, in its last issue, states the follow
ing: "a Low Priced Pianos.-A Canadian
dealer has been looking for pianos at 800
each. He don't care if they are made OF
pine boards with coat of black varnish
provided they are cheap enough. He
ought 10 have found plenty OF such instru-
ments by this time"
First class manufacturers are proud OF
their productions, and none but their OWL
names appear on their pianos.
All improvements have been made by
first class makers. They devote their en-.
ergies, time, labor, stock of seasoned lum.
Der, the most improved machinery, and
most skilliul workmen to produce the best
instruments, and, of course, can not com
pete with cheap makers no more than q
first class Broadway merchant would com
pete with Chatham street clothing house
The majority of persons can not, per
haps, afford TO purchase a first class in
sirument, but their misfortune is that
many pay for the ''cheap piano" as much
az they could get good, eligible and du
rable instrument, and many person be
lieves he's got value received when he
paid three hundred dollars for piano
when it is actually not worth half that
amount.
have, after dealing in pianos and mer.
chandisc over twenty years, chosen the
agency for what / consider the very best
! pianos: The 'Steck." "Chickering" anC
"Gablcr." The 'Steck" in my estimation
Is the best piano made. and 1 have re-
peatedly been solicited to accept thJ
agency for all the other first-class pianos
and have been profered extraordinary
inducements to give up the "Steck'
agency for that of other first-class plan os
but have not done so, as | know it pays
to sell the best. ] can sell the "cheaI
piano" as cheaply as they can be bought
anywhere, but person buying them vii
have to take them with no guarantee from
me. Any instrument recommend vii
guarantee that 1t will give satisfaction.
C.. t. SIssoN.