Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-08

At the meeting of the Piano Manufac-
turers' Association of America, to be heio
in Chicago next week, the important
place filled by American pianos among
the musical instruments of the world Will
be demonstrated in several ways An
American manufacturer of high standing
last month received a new honor from
King George V of England, who presented
him with a royal warrant of recognition
an honor not awarded TO any English
piano firm The standing of American
pianos is indisputably higher than that
of any other nation. The royal palaces
of Germany Spain. Portugal. Norway,
Sweden, Austria and France all contain
American pianos, while autograph letters
from almost every royal parsonage in
Europe are in possession of American
firms certifying to the musical excellence
of their pianos.
The piano-making industry has de-
veloped incredibly during the past
decade, until piano factories are found
in almost every state in the Union. Some
of the larger cities now have half
dozen piano factories. where perhaps ten
years ago only one or two would be in
operation. The piano has become recos-
nized as almost as important a piece OF
furniture as the family sewing machine.
-
The designing of piano eases has be-
come an important branch of fine art
Pianos are being
Designing of Cases manufactured to
correspond with
an Important Art. every possible
soba,o. of furniture In one of the large
hotels of Chicago four pianos were made
to order for special rooms. In an upper
hall an instrument of Louis AiN oesish
harmonizes perfectly with the other iui-
niture and decorations. In peautliui
s1,ite known as the statesman rooiis'
designed to be occupied by men promi-
nent in national affairs. Is piano OF
ubito enamel, embell!shed with hatlohai
insienias and coats of arms The iadles
nar,or is furnished in Louis XIV style, and
tho niano harmOniZeS. me lafSS white
ond gold ballroom contains grand piano
snished in gold effect. Other pianos less
distinctiye are supplied to dlHereht suites.
Each Of the leading firms keeps a skill
full artist constantly empioysu III ihakiIs
designs for special pianos Ihese afllsts
,,,,.t he students of house furnishings at
every period of the worlds history. They
must be able to distinguish between
Sheraton, Chippendale. the , various
neriods of the European RENAISSANCE
and in fact, any period of history, even
dating back to the time of the Assyrlan.
II was the Assyrian duiclmer winch was
tho real beginning OF the piano, ana an
exhibition of musical instruments in New
York was held recently in a hail FUR
nished after an Assyrian design, where,
In contrast to an ancient Assyrian dulci-
mer. stood it's legitimate descendant,
modern American piano
: !:
Pianos in America are as old as the ma
tim itself, and their manufacture began
at an early date.
First Piano Made The first piano
,rnE manufactured in
hibited in 1775, while France did not put
one on the market until 1777. The up
right piano is an American invention, and
was patented by John Hawkins of Bor-
dentown, N. j., in 1900. Alpheus Bah
cock OF Boston patented the square piano
i'm $50. Jonas Chickering. who was Bah
cocks apprentice, patented an iron frame