| MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. JUDGES: | |
| CHARLES J. CAPEN, | LOUIS C. ELSON, |
| GEORG HENSCHEL. | |
PIANOS.
This exhibit consists of nine grands, twenty-four uprights, and fourteen squares. The number of exhibitors is eleven. The number for inspection at the display of 1878 was twenty-five, viz., two grands, fourteen uprights, and nine squares ; and this access of interest is quite gratifying.
After the exhaustive historical survey presented by Gen. Henry K. Oliver, in the report upon musical instruments at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, no statistics need be presented by us that antedate that period. But it would be quite proper, and even our duty, to record in this report any new inventions which may have come under our notice, and to make such comments upon them as their importance seems to demand.
29. CHICKERING & SONS, Boston, Mass. - Pianofortes. - Two improvements in grands, and one very important and valuable one in the mechanism of their uprights, in the specimens exhbited by these contributors, are, in the opinion of your committee, worthy of special notice and award. First : The head block in grands is made so much more solid, by means of a combination of wood and iron, that it is quite impossible that the slightest twisting or wrenching, or any disturbance whatever, can occur. This is a very important and desirable feature in the grands, especially when we consider the immense draft, to be reckoned only by tons, upon this part of the instrument, and that its ruin may be caused in the lifting of the head block by merely the thickness of paper. Secondy : By a new invention, on which a patent has lately been secured, the plate no longer beds continuously upon the sides and ends of the frame or case, but rests upon "rabbets" (so called), placed at certain intervals calculated with reference to the nodes ; thus securing a more effective resonance, the plate being free, and coming in contact with the bed only at the nodes. Thirdly : These manufacturers have adopted a metallic action in their uprights, and this we consider the most important and valuable improvement lately introduced into the mechanism of this popular class of instruments. This device obviates the liability to impaired action on account of atmospheric changes, and eliminates one of the greatest difficulties in the construction of uprights. We are unanimous in the opinion that these improvements, especially the last mentioned, are very valuable and meritorious, nad we therefore award a
Gold Medal.
For a small grand of great power and brilliancy, exquisite sweetness and sympathetic quality, and of easy and responsive action, we award the same house a
Silver Medal.
The uprights of this celebrated firm stand in the front rank in the exhibit of works of this class, and possess all the charming and admirable qualities so prominent in their grands and squares, while the superior workmanship and elegant finish of the uprights give them a claim to special commendation. The ornature of the cases, and the effort to relieve the sharply defined figure of this class of instruments by recourse to rounded forms and a nearer approach to the beautiful, are steps in the right direction. For this class of pianos, we award the same firm a
Silver Medal.
286. A. M. MCPHAIL & CO., Boston, Mass. - Pianofortes. - We observe that the action in these instruments is easy and responsive to the touch, and very prompt in repetition ; and that the imperfect damping in the bass, which has, up to this time, been recognized as a great defect in uprights, has been completely remedied by their plan of double dampers. The action of the strings is counteracted by a system of compensating rods, whcih have the effect to diminish the strain upon the plate. For these improvements, which we [] we award a
Gold Medal.
196. CHAS. M. STIEFF, Baltimore, Md. (S. A. Ellis, Lawrence, Mass., Agent.) - Pianofortes. - For superior finish and fine quality of tone in the various classes of instruments, and especially for square grand No. 6032, we award a
Silver Medal.
We consider the cross-bridge pins, designed to hold the strings more firmly, as worthy of especial notice.
308. KRANICH & BACH, New York, N. Y. (Horace W. Berry, Agent, Boston.) - Pianos. - For improvements in agraffe adjustment, in securing the sounding board, and that for bracing the action (styled the "New Patent Action Rack"),
Silver Medal.
932. O. A. GAMAGE, Boston, Mass. - Pianos. - Baker Uprights.
81. GUILD & CHURCH, Boston, Mass. - Pianos. - For general excellence of exhibit, and for improvements in plate in uprights, a
Bronze Medal.
567. C. C. BRIGGS & CO., Boston, Mass. - Pianos. - For a good instrument for a moderate price, a
Bronze Medal.
800. W. A. LAWRENCE & SON, Boston, Mass. - Square Pianos.
219. HARWOOD & BEARDSLEY, Boston, Mass. - Julius Blüthner's German Concert Grand, Parlor Grand, and Upright Pianos. - We desire to mention these instruments as possessing fine singing quality and excellent capacity for accompaniments. They were entered for exhibition only.
622. DECKER BROTHERS, New York, N. Y. - Cabinet Grand and Upright Pianos. - Entered for exhibition only.
466. WOODWARD & BROWN, Boston, Mass. - Grand, Square and Upright Pianos. - Entered for exhibition only.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
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1059. MOSES N. GAGE, Hyde Park, Mass. - Device for Stringing and Tuning Pianofortes. - Secures invariableness of pitch and facility in tuning.
Silver Medal.