Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-06-24
THE OLDEST PIANO.

For at least century ana half the
town Of Salem has stood, a veritable
cold curiosity shop to the American
people. Its weird traditions took root
and domicilc much earlier, but were not
valued at par until time had given the
sure appreciation. 1t is doubtless sup
posed at present that research has OBJ
tained its final victory, and that odd
salem is before the public in complete
undress
The present research leads into IN old
Salem dwelling, not an ancient house
nor structure yelled in any romantic
mystery, but a genuine museum Of rare
commercial trophies of the old-tIme
trading ventures when Salem and Sal
lem ships were known wherever Yankee
enterprise could find a wharf, Il land
inc. ora market There may be q good
many such houses in Salem. At any
rate this is one OF them. On its cN-
terror it is n massive, unpretentious old
mansion, built 50 long ago that the
work was done "pon honor and yet
not long enough in lang syne to admit
it into the categOy OF ancient houses.
It snot more than q century old, and q
century in Salem gives nothing a re-
spectacle AGE.
one of the most interesting articles in
the house, which is the old Rogers
home, is the old piano, which is quite
likely the oldest musical instrument OF
its kind in the United States, which is
now fit for use. The Inventor of the
first American piano, which was
brought out i'm Salem according to more
than one chroniclcr, would not have
cared TO have the fact generally known
that he spent hour after hour at differ
cnt times Studying the Rogers piano,
and that he copied the essential points.
This venerable instrument is a surpris-
ing revelation TO those who ponder on
the "suidcs made in the manufacture
of pimofoucs in this country. This
musical relic Of we olden time is a
pretty convincing bit of testimony to
the TACT that there have been no as
tonishing Improvements in pianos for a
hundred years. The essentials of the
modern splendid piano are all in that
old instrument. and its notes are std
surprisingly excellent, while the "ac-
ton is almost n marvel of mechanical
achievement, when the remoteness of
the production is taken into account.
The Cause is u costly one, tillets OF rare
inlaid work profusely diYersifying the
beautiful rosewood and mahogany,
while the keys, though varying slightly
from the present pattern tire about as
good as those now standard. IN size
this instrument is i'm 10 wise to be COM
pared with the modern piano. 1t is so
dimiuutyc that it's real excellence is OBJ
scured. IT. is G6 inches long, 233 inches
wide, and 33 inches high Its legs, SIX
in number, are as slim and of the shape
as those of % stand or small table Ine
legs are square, tapering to the bottom,
slightly beaded. -Four of the Ices are
ON the front of the piano. At each end,
underneath the piano proper, are small
music closets with door opening to the
front, while still nearer the player and
underneath are shelves with gracefully
rounded corners. just above the legs
handsome brass r0scttes are set upon
the body of the instrument There are
two pedals one being used to prolong
the notes, and the other serving a dou-
bile purpose. One of its uses is TO in-
crease the volume of sound somewhat
bv lifting a section of the top OF the
piano or ljd near the front. The other
Use OF this pedal is TO produce an imlta-
ton Of tine iirng oil cannon, in this case
81 slam-bang operation, rs the player
suddenly lifts the section of the top re-
ierred to and as suddenly lets it fall
Boston HayuiT