Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-02
HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS.
The COuntry's Old Pianos Find Il Mar
ket in Philadelphia.
From the New York Tin

What becomes of old pianos?'' was the
question Put to large New York manu-
facturer the other day. WELL" was the
rather unexpected reply. "the most of ours
go 10 Philadelphia" The manufacturer
could not explain this fact exactly to his
own satisfaction. He thought perhaps it
was because 50 many persons owned homes
good people of the Quaker town are much
given to attending concerts and love music
more than the New Workers.
There ought to be several hundred thou
sand Old square pianos slowed away some
where in the United States" said dealer
in speaking of the subject. II have been sin
the business twenty years and personally
have seen but three of them cut into kim
ding wood. 1t is indeed a rare occurrence
that one OF these massive old rosewood af-
fairs meets with such an unworthy fate.
"A biography of a good plano is some
times very interesting. They generally
start off in life gaily, having the most con-
spicuous position in the rarlors of the
wealthy. and receiving courteous treatment.
Thirty years ago good square piano was
an object of much greater Importance and
commanded vastly more respect than any
piano nowadays. This is still TO be seen
Wnen we go 10 remove an old piano to
exchange it for a new one. 1t is purely a
matter or mercantile interest to US, but not
SO with the owners. l have seen old folks
who had bought a piano in the days of
their honeymoon fairly overcome when they
"a" tite familiar Oh instrument, which had
been with them through days of joy and
sorrow. hustled out OF the house by irrev-
erent hands and conveyed to the ware
house. 1t Is the custom for piano firms
now to take away the old instruments and
allow fair price for them, deducting the
amount from the price of the new one. 1t
is absolute loss to us, for we have the
greatest difficulty in disposing of these
ian no. which have seen better days.
1T is quite amusing to hear the old folks
say, as they always do. when making a
selection of new piano: Our old piano IL
1t We're only tuned up. would have a much
better tone than any of these
"A great majority of these old pianos
md their way to the homes of compare
lively poor people. They may be bought
for mere song. There Is a class of men
old pianos. A secondhand dealer dropped
In here the other day. and said he had inst
bought six for $50: Some firms are almost
willing to pay for having them taken away.
out, after going through three or eyea
four, hands. New strings and new ham
mers are put in, and the old instrument is
tinkered up, so that it will oftertimes have
a better tone than the cheap piano of to-
day CITY boarding houses. where the only
object is to have an instrument capable
OF emitting noise are extensive harborin 9
places for these old has beens.' Many are
shipped to the west and to country towns
a number find their way to museums
where they are exhibited as the piano on
which George Washington was wont 70
play. Throughout New England, Ohio. ant,
| in New York city 1 have seen them used
as tables for kitchen purposes, the works.
In many cases, being removed to allow a
place for slowing away jars of fruit MANY
are dispo sed of at auctions too, and some
! very good bargains are to be secured in
that way"
At the present time according to The
dealer, there are about $4,000 pianos manu-
factured annually in America. The same
number is produced by German manu-
| facturers, while France and England have
an annual output Of 10000 each There
Is very little business in the exporting of
pianos. This is due to the fact that the
| charge In climate makes it impossible for a
piaro' when shipped to a foreign country,
to keep it's tone. Only $40 were exported
from this country last year. They went
to South America and Germany The lat
ter country ships quite number to Aus
tralia ard South America.