Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-16

Estey interests on the continent of Europe
for the past quarter of century. Other
trips in the interest of the Estey Organ
company were made by Mr.. Fuller subse-
quently, and as a result the trade in Great
Britain and on the continent was devel-
oped to very considerable proportions.
His Work in the Celebrated Organ Suit.
In the early seventies a suit was begun
.Iagsinst j. Estey & Co., by Riley Burdett
aSS5-, Others, for infringement of a reed
hoarA patent. The ensuing litigation ex-
tended Aver a period of twelve years, and
Snr;n1 tbSs time Mr.. Fuller rendered very
important sser5Siitcee'Py reason q his expert
knowledge of the construction ofNSeE ",
struments, and at this time he entered up
on an exhaustive study of the science of
Acoustics in order to more successfully
demonstrate what was felt by the company
to be the right view of the case. AS is
well known, very many other firms were
in the same position as the Estey Organ
company, in regard to the peculiar design
of reed-boards and their methods of con-
s'ruction. Had the suit proved successful
for the plaintiff, substantially the whole
music trade would have been laid under
tribute. Believing, however, in the JUS
tice of their position, the Estey Organ COM
pany refused to compromise, or in any way
acknowledge that they were infringers, but
in order to prove this beyond the possibility
of doubt, a great amount of research be-
came necessary, and upon Mr.. Fuller de-
volved this labor also; and so well was it
performed that the ultimate result proved
the strength of their position. A very
large amount of money was expended on
both sides during this litigation, and it is
well known that the music trade have, dur
ing all these years, felt a sense of obliga-
tion to Mr.. Fuller for his very able re-
search, which had so much to do with the
outcome.
International Pitch.
AS a result of this scientific study and re-
search, Mr.. Fuller became, perhaps, the
best equipped member of the music trade
so far as a scientific knowledge of acous-
tics is concerned. In 1890 there came to
the front, as a matter of great interest
among piano manufacturers, the question
of the most approved standard for the
pitch of their instruments. 1t is well
known that, prior to that time, the pianos
of almost all the manufacturers in the
country were tuned to a very high pitch
what was commonly known as Concert
pitch"-although there never was any real
standard for that term. Scarcely two
manufacturers had the same standard of
pitch, but all of them were extremely high,
so much so that soprano and tenor singers
of note always demanded that the instru-
ments should be lowered in pitch before
they would sing. This was true not only
of pianos, but also of orchestras, and the
French diapson, so called, came to be the
standard among the foremost orchestras of
fhio cttah ba
the Boston Symphony, and others.
In 1891 this movement began to take
shape, and eventuated in dinner given by
the Piano Manufacturers association of
New York, at which Mr.. Fuller was an in
vited guest. He was at that time under
the care of physician, and on his way to
Lakewood, N. j., for recuperation. He at
tended the dinner with the understanding
that he was not to speak, but simply to
listen. After remarks had been made by
various manufacturers Mr.. Fuller was
called upon, and in the brief remarks
which he made he evinced such a wealth of
knowledge and exact information on the
subject that it came as a surprise to all
present, and secured at once the interest of
all who were lukewarm in the subject
prior to that time. Mr.. William Steinway,
who was presiding at the dinner, in the
most enthusiastic manner conceded to Mr..
Fuller an exact knowledge of the subject
which he, personally, had never dreamed
Of As a result of that social gathering, a
committee was appointed to take under ad-
visment the whole subject, and Mr.. Stein
way was elected chairman, but would ac-
cept the Office only on condition that Mr.
Fuller would accept position on the COM
mittee also. Recognizing the Importance
of the subject, and also the need of energetic
and intelligent development of the interest
already secured, Mr.. Fuller accepted and
was Immediately elected secretary of the
committee, all the members recognizing
that upon him would devolve the principal
work of securing the cooperation of all the
prominent manufacturers of the country.
AS soon as tnOsstate of his health would
permit, Mr.. Fuller took up the matter with
his well known zeal and intelligence, and