BRITISH PIANOS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 10

BRITISH PIANOS

F. J. PINNY, LTD

I'". J. Pinny, Ltd., whoso showrooms are in Willis Street, is the oldest piano and organ firm in Wellington, having been established about 35 years ago by Mr. F. J. Pinny. Liko many other big concerns, it has grown from small beginnings, and a feature of its development has been tho consistent pushing forward of British goods. German pianos were stocked to a limited extent prior to the war, because thero was a demand for them, but the management has always urged upon buyers the fact' that the British piano is, and always has been, better tlian the Gorman. For years the British instrument had not a fair chance; its career was.a chequered one owing to tho unscrupulous compotition of German makers. But the British piano of to-day, such as is'sold by F. J. Pinny, Ltd., excels the highest grade of German piano, arid there has been no loss at all in tho quality of instruments supplied, by tho lirni since the Gorman has been wiped out.

A handsomo British piano is the Marshall and Rose. Marshall, the original designer, laid himself out to make a piauo which would beat the best German ; that was long before the war, and l that ho 6ucceedcd is evident after a trial of ouo of his instruments in the firm's showroom. Marshall's pianos havo been in successful competition with the foremost German makes;, and the maker, who was Mayor of Leicester on the occasion of a visit paid to that city King Edward VII was knighted by that monarch.

The Chappell piano almost speaks for itself. It has been so long before the public and has stood the test of time, A beautifully modelled variation of this maker's standard instrument is the Chappell Player piauo, which combines a pianola attachment with the ordinary upright piano. All tho mechanism is inside the case, and the pianist may eithor manipulate the levers and keys which govern tho expression, or, by moving two levers, bring tho "autopedal" into operation. The music-roll then puts in its own expression. _ Another striking innovation is embodied in the George Itussell, a higli<rade instrument, which has a transposing keyboard. By using this, any vocalist or instrumentalist who finds that the koy of the composition he wishes to yng or play is too high or too low to be accompaniod by the piano ; can alter the pitch three semitones 'higher or lower. This is done by moving the wliolo keyboard to tho right or the left, a- lever between the pianist's knees causing the movement. The action of the piano is not altered by the change. The note C, for example, would become 0 sharp, and so on. In the case of a piano which is below pitch tlirough lack of tuning, the Russell transposing keyboard would remedy tho defect. ■ The Collard and Collard pianos sold by F. J. Pinny, Ltd., arc of special designs made expressly for this firm. They embody all tho latest qualities of the finest instruments. Like tie Chappell, the Collard and Collard is well known as a splendid instrument. Tho Gilbert piano wn; under a cloud for some time, but it has emerged with brilliant prospects before it. ihe models offered by F. J. Pinny, Ltd., will meet the best requirements of the class of purchaser. This latter quality i 6 shared by the Shipman and Shipman, though this instrument has always been thoroughly consistent. It has been manufactured for a number of years, and is unpretentious, but represents full value to the purchaser all the time. An instrument made exclusively for Pinny's is tho_ Alsen. Anyone who is on tho lookout tor the best value foi tho lowest price should certainly find what they requiro in the Alsen. The firm also carries large stocks of the Columbia-Rena gramophones, one of the best makes on the market, together with complete supplies of records, in-

eluding many by the best Italian and English singers. These records range in price from 2s. 6d. to 17s. 6d., the prices right through being moderate. F. J. Pinny, Ltd., olaim tho attention of prospective purchasers, because it is tho oldest piano firm in Wellington, it has consistently pushed forward British pianos during the 35 years of its existence, it is a British company, and its capital was subscribed in New Zealand.