THE

FOURTH EXHIBITION

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

CHARITABLE MECHANIC ASSOCIATION,

AT

QUINCY HALL,

IN THE CITY OF BOSTON,

September 16, 1844

CABINET FURNITURE, PIANO-FORTE CASES,
FANCY CHAIRS AND UPHOLSTERY.

The Committee remark, that the specimens of Cabinet Furniture, Fancy Chairs and Upholstery, offered for their inspection, with but few exceptions, consisted of a low grade of workmanship ; and such as did not furnish a fair specimen of the manufacture in these various branches of our mechanical arts. In the other class of specimens offered for their inspection, - Piano Forte Cases, - there was a large number of twenty-five ; the greater proportion of which were of a high order of workmanship, showing an advanced state of the arts in this department.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

THE committee on Musical Instruments, be leave to say, that they have given to the examination of the department of skill and industry assigned to them, all the attention which its importance claimed, and which circumstances permitted. It will readily occur to any one, who thinks at all on the subject, that the embarrassments of this Committee are peculiar and multiplied. Amid the Babel of sounds perpetually arising, both within and without the Exhibition Hall, it is merely pain to the ear, and confusion to the head, even to attempt to listen to a musical instrument ; and the Committee were therefore compelled to resort to the still hours of the night, after the company had retired, in order to perform any part of their duty, in a manner which would approach to being satisfactory to themselves or others. And even then, they are sensible, that neither they, nor the instruments of which they were to judge, were in a proper condition for the decision. A perfectly-fair opinion can be formed, only when the place, the atmosphere, the instrument, and the critic, are in harmony with each other, and with the purpose ; and if the Committee should be thought to have erred, (as is so probable that they cannot but regard it as certain,) they beg that the error may not be attributed to prejudice or perverseness, but rather to the untoward circumstances attending the examination. If it were possible, on a future occasion, to give the musical instruments a suitable, separate, and quiet, apartment, it would add greatly to the probability of a just decision.

The most costly and magnificent, in the Exhibition of 1844, is the large Organ, by THOMAS APPLETON, (No. 12.) to which the Committee, with one voice, decided that a Gold medal ought to be awarded...

The next instrument in importance, is the Piano ; and here, the Committee felt the embarrassment of deciding between the merits of instruments, so nearly equal, in some cases, that the most careful inquisition, led only to doubt ; and the longer they examined, the farther they were from decision. There is one manufacturer, however, (No. 755,) whose instruments take precedence of all the others, with so unquestionable a preeminence, that the Committee felt not the slightest hesitation in recommending the award, to him, of a Gold Medal. And this they did, on two grounds ; not only for the decided superiority of his Square Pianos, but for the uncommon merit of his Grand Pianos, which, it is no exaggeration to say, may be fearlessly placed in competition with the best that Europe can produce. Mr. Chickering's Pianos, of both kinds, are of so delightful a tone, so delicate action, and so firm and enduring construction, that they need no medals to give them celebrity ; and it might seem superfluous, to give encouragement to one, who has already received the highest commendations. But the Committee were appointed, not simply to give encouragement to any persons, but to decide, according to their ability, upon the relative rank of the instruments presented to them ; and it would be nothing short of glaring injustice, to lay aside the claims of the instruments acknowledged to be the best, because the maker of them had always produced the best. So much the more does he deserve the highest reward, for his skill, enterprise, and industry ; especially when he is seen to go on, diligently and steadily, in the course of improvement, and his competitors find, ads they arrive at one point, where he has long stood before them, that he has reached another yet, and that, without much more than common speed, they cannot overtake one, who unites, with all their ambition, a perseverance, which may be equalled but not surpassed. Mr. Chickering's manufacture is an honor to the community, in the opinion of the Committee ; and they would omit no proper opportunity of bearing testimony to an excellence, which makes them feel more proud of their City.

All this, be it remembered, may be said, without disparagement to other manufacturers, and without forgetting their really high merits. It is no disgrace to them, that they cannot surpass Mr. Chickering, though it might be so, if the merits of his instruments were not as great as they are represented. On the contrary, there are other manufacturers, whose works the Committee are delighted to praise, and to two of whom, they recommend the award of Silver Medals. This they do, on the ground, that the excellence of their instruments were so nearly balanced, that the Committee could not determine between them, with any satisfaction to themselves. For purity and evenness of tone, and pleasantness of action, the Pianos of Messrs. Hallet, Davis, & Co., (No. 761,) and Mr. George Hews, (No. 925,) were esteemed equal, while there was a slight preference given to the one, for power, and to the other, for liquid sweetness, and between these qualities, the Committee were too doubtful of their preference, to say that either was unequivocally the superior Piano. The Committee take pleasure, also, in advertising the manifest and great improvement of these manufacturers.

The next best Pianos, in the judgement of the Committee, were those made by I. Woodward & Co., (No. 639,) and to whom the Committee recommend a Diploma, in token of their estimate of the merits of their instruments.

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