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THE pianofortes manufactured in the

United States may be broadly divided into two groups: the small minority, known as "artistic pianos ;" and the great majority, known as commercial pianos."

While many of these commercial pianos are fully worth the price asked for them, and undoubtedly give satisfaction, the question of cost prevents their makers from employing those niceties of scientific construction or fine workmanship which are paramount with the strictly first-class manufacturer.

At the head of the small minority of manufacturers known in the trade as the strictly first-class houses, stands the house of William Knabe & Co., whose instruments bear in every characteristic, whether in improved methods of construction, selected material used, skilled labor employed, tone produced, or durability assured, a distinctive individuality of their own which renders them preëminent over all others.

The production of an artistic piano is as far removed from that of a commercial piano as is a work of art by some great master from a chromo of the same work, however good, that is turned out from some factory by the hundred thousand. It necessitates not only large capital, resources, and extraordinary manufacturing facilities, but special training on the part of the manufacturers, which must

combine the musical knowledge and appreciation of an artist, the knowledge of acoustics of a scientist, and the developed and tried experience of a skilled mechanic. The house of Knabe has been fortunate in combining among its members all these requirements, and has done so to such an extent that a large share in the national development of the pianoforte, as well as in the musical progress of the country, may be justly ascribed to it.

The tone of the Knabe piano is unique. It combines the greatest possible volume and richness with a rare, sweet, singing and sympathetic musical quality that is to be found, certainly to the same extent, only in these instruments. The scale is of a delightful evenness throughout, the bass is deep and resonant, the middle register firm and musical, while the upper notes have a pearly brilliancy which in itself distinguishes them from other instruments.

In touch, these instruments are distinguished by their capacity to permit the widest range of effects, from the strongest fortissimo to the most tender pianissimo, and give the performer, without effort, the opportunity to produce the most delicate nuances and all those varying shades of expression so dear to the artist and musician, and so necessary to the perfect expression of the works of the great masters.

O

NE point in which the purchaser of a pianoforte is intensely interested is the "durability" of the instrument. For this he has no security but the reputation and guarantee of the maker.

This reputation must largely depend not merely on the skill and musical knowledge of the manufacturer, but also on his conscientious use of selected material and skilled labor, as well as on his possession of superior manufacturing facilities.

It is clear, further, if we consider the intricate construction of a piano and the

delicacy of its mechanism, that there must be a large difference between the actual cost of a strictly first-class piano and one of inferior character.

This brings in the element of price to the consumer; and here let us say, that the purchaser of a high-priced piano, like the Knabe, receives far more nearly the real value of his money than he does when he buys a cheap instrument; for the simple reason that even with the finest labor-saving machinery, with all possible care and economy in manufacture, with the greatest facilities and most

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ample capital, there is a point of actual cost below which a strictly first-class piano cannot be made.

A brief description of Messrs. Knabe & Co.'s great factories in Baltimore will perhaps give some idea of the manufacturing capacity required to produce instruments that will warrant the indorsement of the musical world and the public. It will also show the vast difference between such an establishment and those of the cheaper makes of instruments.

The piano factories of Wm. Knabe & Co., situated at the intersections of West, Cross, and Eutaw streets, Baltimore, are the largest as well as the most efficient and finely equipped piano factories among the renowned and first-class piano manufactories of the world.

They employ some seven hundred and fifty mechanics. Labor-saving machinery makes these seven hundred and fifty equivalent to thousands of hand-work

ers.

The buildings, which are massive in character, cover, with the lumber-yards, nearly four acres of ground. They are lighted with the electric light, and are heated by steam. There are seven steam elevators, and three engines and six boilers, aggregating over 700 horse-power.

Messrs. Knabe & Co., in order to secure absolute accuracy and reliability, make in these factories every portion of their instruments themselves, under their own patents and from their own designs, being almost the only house in the pianoforte industry that does so.

To insure the exclusive use of thoroughly seasoned lumber in the manufacture of their pianos, a matter of vital importance for the production of a perfect and durable instrument (which is unattainable by artificial seasoning processes or by depending on the open market for a supply), Messrs. Knabe & Co. have invested a large capital to constantly keep on hand an immense stock of the choicest grades of lumber, which goes through a process of five years' seasoning before it is used. In order to secure the finest and most

perfect quality of wood, and the extra thickness of veneers used in the Knabe pianos (and which is not obtainable in the open market, owing to the general use of thinner sized veneers), Messrs. Knabe & Co. buy the wood in logs, and have it sawed themselves into the requisite thicknesses and sizes.

In the same way they keep constantly on hand in their commodious storerooms large quantities of felt, leather, ivory, strings, cloth, tuning-pins, screws, hardware, varnish, glue, etc., etc., so as always to be independent of the fluctuations of the market, and to be able to assure the use in their pianos of only the very finest material.

In their machinery department is the most complete collection of labor-saving machinery (much of which is the invention of the firm) to be found in any piano factory in the world.

Messrs. Knabe & Co. make their own cases, keys, actions, sounding-boards, and all other parts of the piano, all of which are supplied ready-made to the great majority of piano-makers, even to some who claim to be manufacturers of the first class.

Each instrument is a special care, and receives the best work of eye, hand, and ear to bring it to the highest point of resonance, sympathetic quality, and purity of tone; and no instrument is allowed to pass a single department till it has come up to the highest possible standard.

The entire manufacturing work is divided into many departments. Only skilled mechanics of the highest grade are employed, and on a strict system of subdivision of labor, each man being held responsible for the perfect execution of his allotted work. Each department has its own foreman, who inspects each piece of work as it goes forward.

Over the whole establishment the individual members of the Knabe firm, who are all practical piano-makers, skilled mechanics as well as thorough musicians, exercise the strictest personal supervi

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