THE

NINTH EXHIBITION

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

Charitable Mechanic Association,

AT

FANEUIL AND QUINCY HALLS,

IN THE CITY OF BOSTON,

SEPTEMBER, 1860

The following instruments were offered for examination, in competition for awards, viz : -
Thirty-nine Pianos, fifteen Melodeons, one set Organ Pipes, two Banjos, one Violin, one Bugle, one Bell, one Guitar, on Model exhibiting grand piano-dampers as first adapted to squares ; all of them were examined by the Committee.

The Piano-Fortes were contributed as follows : -
1[] CHICKERING & SONS, Boston. Five full Grands, two Semi-Grands, four Uprights, four Squares.
1596. TIMOTHY GILBERT & CO., Boston. Two Full Grands, two Parlor Grands, two Squares, one having the AEolian attachment.
1539. WM. P. EMERSON, Boston. One Semi-Grand, two Squares.
1570. HAZELTON BROTHERS, New York, by C. R. ADAMS & CO., Boston. Two Squares.
1552. N. M. LOWE, Boston. Two Squares.
1601. G. A. MILLAR & CO. do.
1575. J. W. BRACKETT, one Organ Piano, having an organ pedal attachment, for organ practice.
1597. WENDALL P. MARVIN, one Square.
1611. WM. BOURNE, four Squares.
1604. JOHN E. McNEIL, two Squares.

In this department the Committee recommend the following awards : -

The instruments from the factory of Chickering & Sons, in the opinion of the Committee, fully maintained the high superiority which their instruments have hitherto held ; and judged from whatever point of view, musically gave the most satisfactory proof of their right to be ranked among the very best of the kind.

Your Committee desire especially to call attention to No. 23,302, a Square, with over-strung base, and to express their unanimous and decided opinion that in this instrument, the makers have made direct step in advance, over all their previous exhibitions. It stood out in contrast with the others of its kind, in bold relief, and was as near to what a perfect piano ought to be, as can well be made. It is to be hoped that the makers will more thoroughly cultivate the department of their work, since in so doing, they send out a class of instruments, which, at a comparatively low price, will fill the place of any but the first quality of Grand Pianos.

Your Committee also desire to record their commendation and pleasure for the degree of excellence which has been gained by this firm, in the manufacture of Upright Piano-fortes. It has long been a desideratum in this country to produce good instruments , which would sustain themselves in time and tone. They are elegant as articles of furniture, a consideration, which, secondary though it be to the chief end of the mechanism, is nevertheless to be duly weighed ; and occupying much less now than any other form of the piano, they are advisable in many places where neither a Square nor a Grand could be put. Your Committee felt that the utmost encouragement should be given for what has already been accomplished, and are hopeful that future exhibitions will show an increased improvement.

The Grand Piano, No. 7,306, contributed by T. Gilbert & Co., is a remarkably fine instrument, and , but for the fact that in a competition but one can stand at the head, would have been pronounced worthy of the highest rank. But, while it was much better than some of its kind on exhibition, there were others which were really its superior, and for this reason your Committee feel obliged to award it the second prize, but as being only a little less perfect instrument than the very best. Judged by an absolute scale, it will stand as an instrument of great excellence, and equalled by few. The Parlor Grands were also excellent instruments, and in all respects worthy the reputation of their makers.

Before leaving the subject of pianos, the Committee would refer to a patented invention exhibited by Mr. N. M. Lowe, and which was adopted in the piano-fortes exhibited by that maker. It perhaps does not come exactly within the province of this Committee to decide upon its merits as an invention any farther than it seemed to them to increase the command of the player over the keyboard, and give power of expression. The effect of the improvement was perceptible in the greater clearness gained in and other passages, which depend for their brilliancy upon the readiness with which the key responds to the touch of the player. Believing that it is a meritorious improvement, your Committee commend it to a favorable notice, with the hope that by a more general use its excellence may be established, and cause it to meet the anticipations of the inventor.

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