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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
March 20th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
office, unless one was provided with an ear-trumpet; so our reporter sought
a partial refuge from the din in the small office which adjoins the main room
of the factory, where he was shortly afterwards joined by Mr. Smith, when
MB. HOLMSTROM TALES ABOUT PIANO-MAKING IN RUSSIA AND
the following conversation, interrupted many times by the demands of the
STRING-MAKING- IN AMERICA.
business, ensued.
NE of our reportorial staff, while going the rounds of the trade on the
Reporter—Mr. Smith, it is some time since a representative of THE
east side of New York city, a few days since, visited the factory of MUSICAL CRITIC AND TEADE EEVIEW has seen you, and the paper would be
Messrs. James & Holmstrom, at No. 233 East 21st street, and was fortunate pleased to hear how business is progressing, and to be informed of any other
enough to .find both Mr. Ja,mes and Mr. Holmstrom in the factory, Mr. news of interest to the trade or the public.
James engaged on the books and correspondence in the office, and Mr.
Mr. Smith.—Well, there is nothing especially exciting going on; business
Holmstrom directing the mechanical part of the business in the factory.
is pretty good, and we look for an active demand throughout the year.
After a few minutes' talk with Mr. James, our reporter, on the arrival of
Reporter—When I last saw you your men had just gone to work again
several gentlemen to see Mr. James on business, sought Mr. Holmstrom and after their strike.
commenced a conversation with him, the substance of which is as follows:
Mr. Smith—Yes, we acceded to their demands, and were obliged to advance
Reporter—I understand from your partner that there is some prospect the prices of our goods to the piano-makers in consequence.
of your being obliged to move your office and factory this spring, Mr.
Reporter—Have you succeeded in maintaining the prices then made for
Holmstrom; do you know anything positive about it yet?
your goods?
Mr. Holmstrom—No, I cannot tell yet whether we shall move or not. Mr. Smith—No, I cannot say we have; we have been obliged to reduce
There has been some talk about the owners of this property selling it, and prices somewhat on account of* the present comparatively quiet state of trade
in that case we should probably be obliged to move; but I hardly think that and because of the effort which the trade is forced to make to economize in
the property will be sold, and the chances are that we shall remain here.
some direction on account of the extraordinary high prices they are paying for
Reporter—How do you find business now?
labor. You understand that we have reduced prices in spite of the fact that
Mr. Holmstrom—I think it has beon improving a little during the past we are paying more for our raw material.
two weeks, and I think it will continue to improve if we have no more
Reporter—Is the lumber you use costing you more now than it did last
trouble about cold weather and snow blockades.
Fall?
Reporter—Are you making many pianos?
Mr. Smith—Yes, at least 33 per cent, more; and, not only that, but we
Mr. Holmstrom—About ten a week, at present ;^but of course we shall have been subjected to many vexatious delays, because the severe weather
make more if the condition of trad;e warrants it.
has prevented the prompt delivery of stock which we ordered; in addition to-
Reporter—What styles of pianos are you making principally?
this, the lumbermen have been taxed to supply the demand, and the natural
Mr. Halmstrom—We make about as many squares as uprights—perhaps tendency seems to be toward higher prices, anyway.
a few more squares.
Reporter—You spoke about quiet trade a little while ago; do you refer to
Reporter—Does your firm do much of a retail business?
this city in particular, or to the trade generally? You seem to be very busy.
Mr. Holmstrom—Very little; our trade is mostly wholesale; we have not Mr. Smith—The piano-makers in this city are not ordering very liber-
been seeking for the retail trade at all. Nearly all our pianos are sold to ally just now, but we are kept busy by orders from Baltimore and Philadel-
agents outside of the city, and, so far, we have found that to be the best phia houses which seem to have plenty to do, or else are stocking up in
method of conducting the business.
anticipation of an active spring demand.
Reporter—I suppose you have noticed in the English papers something
Reporter—Do you think their expectations will be realized?
about the imports of foreign pianos to this country?
Mr. Smith—I see no reason to think the contrary. The country is in a
Mr. Holmstrom—Yes, I have seen something of it, and also your article healthy financial condition, and, if we have good crops, and a good market
commenting upon its absurdity. Foreign countries cannot send pianos here for them, there is no reason why this should not be an exceptionally pros-
to any extent at a profit under our existing tariff, and I do not think we can perous year for the music trades.
send many of our pianos abroad.
Reporter—Do you anticipate any further trouble with the workmen?
Reporter—Why not? Don't you think we have any advantages over the
Mr. Smith—There is no telling what they may take into their heads to
foreign manufacturer?
do, but if they are wise they will not push their demands so far as to com-
Mr. Holmstrom—No, I cannot see that we have, as regards cheapness of pel manufacturers to leave the city, which will surely happen if the thing;
manufacture. We make a better piano here than they can on the other
side, because we have a different method of carrying on the business. Here
At this point in the conversation our reporter thought that he had kept
we subdivide the labor to a greater extent, and each workman becomes Mr. Smith long enough from his business, and with a kind invitation from
more expert in his particular branch; one class of men works at cases, that gentleman to call and see him again, our reporter took his leave pon-
another class at actions, another at regulating, and so on; while on the dering as he left on this conundrum.
other side a piano-maker is obliged to know how to make all parts of the
How can a man be a manufacturer of lyres and yet be carrying on a leg-
piano, and it is only in rare cases that he becomes an expert in every detail, itimate business?
though it is comparatively easy for our workmen to master at least one
branch.
THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION—THE AWARDS.
Reporter—You speak like one who has had practical experience in the
T
the
moment
of going to press (Feb. 26th, 2 p.m.), no official informa-
piano trade abroad.
tion
had
arrived
in London, nor is there likely to be for a day or two,
Mr. Holmstrom—Yes; I worked at piano-making in Eussia before I came with regard to the awards,
Eumour was rife, and the decision, arriving as it
to this country.
did in isolated telegrams, caused some amount of talk and interest amongst
Reporter-—Do they make many pianos in Eussia? I had an idea that the firms concerned, and the music trade in general. The following letters
they imported from other European countries nearly all the pianos they use. need no further introduction, as they sufficiently explain themselves. From
Mr. Holmstrom—Oh, no. There is a large factory in St. Petersburgh, Messrs. Challen and Son, of Oxford Street, we have received the following:—
conducted, I think, by Schroeder, or a name sounding like that, and he
SIB,—A telegram has just been received by us, through Eeuter's agency,
makes a very good piano and gets good prices. The upper classes of stating that the jury have awarded us the First Prize (Highest Award) for-
Eussians are a music-loving people; they are rich and can afford to pay a Upright Pianofortes.
good price. Pianos there are not made to sell to all classes of people, as
We are, yours, &c,
CHALLEN & SON.
they are here. Money is harder to make in Eussia, and when a lower-class
Oxford Street, Feb, 25th.
Kussian accumulates money enough to buy a piano, he hoards the money
Messrs. Challens' exhibits are as follows: Pianofortes, and models or
instead of spending it. Here, everybody feels so sure of making more patent
a boudoir pianoforte, with full iron-strung frame; a vertical
money that they spend it freely, and will buy a piano almost as soon as they cottage, action;
or "Colonial" model, in ebony case; a grand cottage, with
will a suit of clothes.
extended scale and greatly increased obliquity of bass strings; and a grand
Reporter—I see by your catalogue that you have invented something in cottage, double overstrung.
connection with the key board of a piano.
Messrs. Brinsmead we have received the following telegram:—
Mr. Holmstrom—Yes; we call it a transposing key board. Here is one From
" Two first prizes awarded to us; we are advised that this is the highest
(opening a very handsome upright veneered with butternut wood). The accorded
to any house for pianos."
key board is made with a greater number of keys than in the ordinary piano,
BBINSMEAD & SONS.
and by a simple mechanism it can be moved either way; and by this means
. Wigmore Street, W., Feb. 26th.
the relative position of the keys to the hammers, which remain stationary,
Brinsmead's exhibits are as follows:—A full concert grand, in oak
is changed, thereby transposing the music played on the instrument. Its case, Messrs.
various patented improvements, including the check repeatei*
range is over seven different keys, and there is nothing about it that can get action, with
the sostenente sounding board, and a sound-sustaining pedal; a.
out of order; it costs very little more to make a piano in this way, and we grand, suitable
for drawing-room use; a short iron grand; a grand oblique
find it a very popular improvement.
piano; an overstrung grand oblique piano and an upright iron grand.
Reporter—There has been considerable talk of late about the stringing
Palmer, of Brighton, the British agent for the Smith Organ Com-
of pianos, and the difficulty of getting straight strings which will not rattle pany, Mr.
writes as under:—
when in use.
SIR,—I have this day received a cable message from my Company, stat-
Mr. Holmstrom—We do not find much trouble about strings. The main ing that
their organs have been awarded First Prize at the Melbourne
thing is to have them wound tight enough, so that they won't rattle; and, as Exhibition,
above all competitors.
for their being straight or crooked before they are put on the piano, that
I remain, yours truly,
does not make much difference, because when they are put on and drawn up
THOMAS PALMEB,
the twist is taken out of them. I think the kind of wire of which they are
General Agent, &o., British Departments
made has more to do with the quality than anything else.
Brighton, Feb. 23rd.
Reporter—Well, I won't detain you any longer, Mr. Holmstrom, and am
From Messrs. Chas. Stiles & Co. we have received as under:—
much obliged for your information.
have received a telegram, per Eeuter, informing us that M.
Mr. Holmstrom—Not at all. Come and see me again in a couple of Bord, SIK,—We
of Paris, has received the first prize for pianos at the Melbourne
weeks, and we may be able to tell you whether we are going to move.
Exhibition.
We are, &c,
TRADE IN NEW YORK.
O
A
CHAS. STILES & Co.
THE LEG AND LYRE BUSINESS, AND WHAT ITS MOST BRILLIANT
EXPONENT THINKS OF TRADE.
42, Southampton Eow, Feb. 24th.
—London Musical Opinion and Music 7rade Review.
NE day recently our reporter called at the factory of Messrs. B. N.
The case-makers employed by Messrs. H. Behr & Bro., of Eleventh
Smith & Co., the leg and lyre manufacturers, at No. 22 Commerce
O
street, this city. Everthing about the place indicated an active business, Avenue, this city, struck week before last for an advance of ten' per cent, on
much lumber was being unloaded and taken into the factory, the whizzing their wages. Messrs. H. Behr & Bro., acceded to the demands of their
of the machinery and flying chips made conversation difficult outside of the workmen and 'they resumed.