Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-29
AoLA.sIo INsrRUmENr.

A Curiosity In the shape OF an Early .
Piano Now In Exhibition at N. |
Sseinert,s-It II OF the Classic Period !
and Has Been owned In one Fami. i
~ Since is was Made Moro Than |
one Hundred and TWENTY-FIVE Years
Ago-Some Interesting Facts.
There is on exhibition at present at the
warerooms of MS Steinert & Sons most
curious and interesting sample OF the work
done in the early days of piano making. The
instrument in question, now, after having
undergone most careful and minute treat
ment at the hands of Mr.. Steinert, presents
an appearance of beauty that Is equalled by
few Of those of a modern make. It Ia the
property of Mr.. Charles Benner, esq,
prominent lawyer of New York city, and
was brought over from Holland by his fore
fathers 1875 or more years ago. 1t has been
in his family ever since, bat through age 1t
became in a dilapidated condition and re-
manned so for many years. 1t was worm
eaten in the woodwork, and the strings and
hammers of the instrument were either part.
" missing or broken: In that
steinert of this city who has
made it a specially for a number of years to
study the construction and history Of clavi-
chords, spinnets, harpsichords and primitive
hammerclaviere, such as were made during
| the eleventh century down to the tore part
of the present century. In his travels In
Europe and in the researches made In this
country Mr.. Steinert has collected large
| number of specimens of all these instru-
ments, and as they we're generally found by
him in dilapidated condition he undertook
to repair and restore them to their original
state. William Brown, the owner OF the in
strument In question, was informed through
Steinway & Sons of New York of Mr.. Stein
ert's authority in such matters, and accord
ingly he intrusted this, his much cherished
family instrument, to him for repairing.
| After three months of careful labor and deep
study the instrument is now finished and
appears in the condition as it did when 1t
left the Workshop of the artists who designed
it more than 1875 years ago.
1t was made by ''Reinke Meyer ct Pieter
Meyer" in Amsterdam, Holland. It has five
octaves and two pedals, one loud and the
other celeste. The instrument rests upon q
frame instead Of legs, as the modern instru-
ments. The case is made of mahogany, and
is richly inlaid. There are brass ornaments
in addition. The tone is very soft and sweet
and Of peculiar mellow quality, superior to
piano, and is especially adopted
to the old classic school Of the
Bach, Haydn and Mozart compost
ms. It requires light, elastic and sympa.
thetic touch, and when played in that style
cannot be excelled in sweetness and feeling
The instrument is highly priced by its own
or, and Mr.. Steinert, when asked the ques.
ton, thought that 81 900 could not buy it
1t is now and will remain on exhibition II
his warerooms during this week, then II
will be shipped to its owner in New York.
Business evidently Good.
John W. Dooly, propriety of the New Ha
ven pretzel bakery, on account of the grea
increase in business will soon remove to ,
new factory on Hine Place. He also has tn
plans drawn for handsome new residence
to be built soon on Bishop street.
Settled for s4OO, ana Left.
MIDDLErowN, July %. - William Ra.
Heath, jr., arrested Saturday night TO
wronging Miss Ida Barrows, settled his cas-
this morning by paying over to Miss Barrow
$500. He then left for Kansas City. Heatl
was member of the incoming senior class o
Wesleyan college, and formerly preached a
Rocky Hill. t.
|, AFormer Resident.
Rev. E. H. Byrons of California, q we'll
known former resident of this city, has bee,
here visiting friends for the past few days
Mr.. Byrors has many friends in this CITY VIII
will be pleased to hear that he has Q lsrg
and fourishing passionate in that state. HI
will start in few days for Boston, and Of
the return homeward will visit Montreal ant
other points of interest. He will Cross tn