Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-13
UNIFORM MUSICAL PITCH,
n STANDARD ADOPTED BY THE
NEW YORK PIANO MAKERS.

Handsome Recognition of the work
and investigation Of BrattIrborO
Man.
At the adjourned meeting of the Piano
Manufacturers association of New York,
held in that city last Friday, it was unani-
mously voted to adopt a uniform musical
pitch, in accordance with the report OF the
committee presented at the meeting held
Oct. -. The standard thus alopte is
that which gives 43j double vibrations
in a second of time. At So Farenheit. AMI
this will hereafter be the standard for this
country. There was a full attendance al
this meeting Of the leading piano makers
of the country. The New York Recorder.
in its report of the meeting. says:
Col. Fuller Careful InvestigatiOn.
Eight months ago a committee consisting 81
William Steinway. Col Levi X Fuller Of the Estey
organ company, II. Paul Mrhliu Ernest Knlbe
William T Miller. Thomas Stanton and C.. e Els
bree was appointed to consider the question Of
standard uniform pitch. AIr Steiuway was aI-
pointed chairman. As secretary OF the 60 mint
tee Col Fuller went abroad last summer and col
lectei at his own expense vast amount of valua-
bic information bearing ou tine subject President
Whe'lpcs opened the m sting by reading the com
mitte'' report recommending the adoption of tn"
giving 43l double vibrations, after which Col
Fuller requested to explain the results of his
investigation.
ON behalf Of the committee Chairman Steinway
said that the association was under the deepest
obligations tO Col Fuller who. he slid knows
more about musical pitch than any other man in
America. Il thought remarked Mr. Steiuway,
that ! knew all about pitch, but ] have since
learned that / know but little, and for even that
l am indebted almost entirely to Col Fuller "
Col Fuller brought with him a large collection
Of forks. both Of the standard and commercial
type. which he used in Illustrating his talk He
sketched the history Of the tuning fork. which he
said was invented in III by Sergt Trumpeter
John Shorr. trumpeter in the service Of George
! OF England The colonel exhibited and sounded a
! copy of Handles fork Of pitch OF A 422 40
copy ~ Mozart : fork A i2i go. fork presented
/ T. him 10y Wagner ami used by the great compos
/ err in the preparation of his music since 49, a
/ fork used 10y Mime Patti, the fork used by Sankey
! and Stebhins IN the preparation Of their hymns,
and forks OF various pitches. Us 81 at various pe-
/ riod, 10y the Philharmonic society Of London
! One of these was the original fork ordered by the
/ Duke Of Cambridge a. the standard for the Brit
/ iSh army which is the same as the Philharmonic
standard
other forks exhibited were the new stnudar 0
/ forks made 10y KONG Of Paris. whom the colonel
pronounced the only in the world who con
| s;ructs a fork which is precisely what 1t Vup0rt-
to be- and commercial forks also Of the new stand
ard pitch made M Sheffield. England These wer,.
placed ia comparison with the best American
forks and shown TO be UNNECESSARILY superior.
/ 50 far - firms have given orders for the large
standard forks, which cost Sl2 including duty
In conclusion the colonel called attention 10 the
fact that the standard is Identical with that
established 10y edict in France and already adopt
| 81 by Thomas, Cappa and other eminent baud
leaders. The pitch at present in general u.s. Ia
New York Is \ i52 bat rises occasionally to \ AGO.
Throughout the country IL is estimated that a.
many as lO) different pitches are in use Pr.si
dent whe~-lock authorized to adopt a device
70 ~ stamped all the new forks which viii ~
future h. known as the International pitch. and
it was de,idrd that all Instruments sent out by the
members Of the association after July J. lsst2
shall conform TO that pitch.
A vote OF thanks rendered to Col Fuller
who in reply congratulated the association tina
discord has at last been turned into harmony.
The important action thus reached is one
in which Col. Levi X. Fuller, of the Estey
Organ company of Brattleboro, and OF the
Estey Piano company of New York, has
borne a very prominent part, as recited
above, and the unanimous action of the as
ISOLATION is complimentary TO him in a very
high degree. As has been already stated
in these columns, Col. Fuller, who held the
place OF secretary on the committee appoint
ell by the association to investigate the
question OF uniform pitch, took the laborinl
oar in the work. and has prosecuted hi,
researches with great vicor and ability
He has familiarized himself with the whole
subject, both in this country and in Eu
rope, and has issued from time to time
series of important circulars of intorma
ton. Ii is pleasant 10 his Brattlebop
friends 10 see the results of his work thu
cordially recognized and approved by hi
fellow manufactures