Music Trade Review

Issue: 1881 Vol. 4 N. 7

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
May 5th 1881.
113
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
She
DOMESTIC
VOL. IY.
A1STID E X P O R T
TRADE.
NEW YORK, MAT 5TH, 1881.
Fl^EE
No. 7.
TRADE
CHAT.
A well-known firm of pianoforte-makers complain to us that retail deal-
S the clown says in the circus, ers have two special grounds of grievance—(1) that professors, tuners, and
and, as he has said froin the "hangers-on " are supplied with pianofortes by many good houses at trade
first days of clowns and circuses— prices, so that the dealer, who invests capital in stock, risking bad debts,
somewhere back in the times of the bad trade, &c, is placed on a level with men who are, litterally, commission
ancient Greek games—down to the agents, risking neither capital nor interest; and (2) that credit is too readily
" greatest shows on earth" of given to frothy and insecure starters in trade, who get cheap foreign and
English stock, and cut it at almost any price, trusting to the chapter of acci-
Barnum and Coup:—
dents entirely whether the result is to be failure or not.—London Musical
" Here we are again."
Opinion and Trade Review.
By the way, I hare been told by
A. M. McPhail, the Boston piano manufacturer, has recently gotten
several parties that D. F. Beatty, out a Mr.
magnificent specimen of his "Imperial Cabinet Upright." It is a noble
Mayor—[with a salary of $10 per instrument.
year, which he gives to the poor
of his village]—has had a man
Mr. Turner, of the American Automatic Organ Company, goes to Europe
watching at the Hoboken ferry for next week, to be gone nearly two months. He will visit London, Paris, Saxony
the past three or four weeks to ar- and St. Petersburg.
rest the editor of this paper.
Mr. Spaulding, of the Massachusetts Organ Company, will soon sail for
Of course, this may not be true, Europe in search of novelties in the musical instrument line.
as the parties who told me only had
Messrs. Vose & Sons, of Boston, have about the handsomest piano
Beatty's word for it.
Nevertheless, it is true that warerooms in that city. There are doing a fine retail business in addition to
Beatty has threatened to "raise their large wholesale trade.
the Dickens" with me, if he
A subscriber in Fentonville, Mich., wishes to know whether the Baker
" catches me out in Jersey."
Upright Piano, of Boston, is a good instrument, and also asks our opinion
This reminds me very much of of the patent tuning pins used in the Baker Upright. We can say that this
the threat used by the small boy: " Just wait till I catch you down in my piano bears an excellent reputation, and that, although we have had no per-
alley, and I'll punch your head."
sonal experience with the patent tuning pin alluded to, we have examined it
Is Mr. Beatty anxious for justification or vindication, or is he seeking and should say that it possesses numerous merits.
for revenge ?
Messrs. Dyer & Hughes, the organ manufacturers of Foxcroft, Maine,
*
are having a splendid trade; they have doubled their capacity of last year!
I understand that an eminent (?) Boston piano manufacturer will add They make organs on which they stencil names for parties in the trade.
largely to his facilities for piano making in the neighborhood of that city.
Professor Ernst Eberhard, Director of the Grand Conservatory of Music,
It is confidently stated that in order to have everything of the very best 21 East Fourteenth street, New York city, has composed and published a
quality he will have an elephant yard attached to his new factory, where charming Valse de Concert. Price, $1.00.
elephants will be cultivated for their ivory under his personal supervision.
A correspondent writing to us from Tamaqua, Pa., wishes to know
His eldest son is earnestly trying to procure slips of a felt tree which he be-
lieves grows somewhere in India, and which he hopes by careful cultivation which piano we should choose, in selecting from Chickering, Knabe, Stein-
way, Decker, Steck, Steiff, Fischer and Beatty. We reply that it would
will enable him to surpass the felts of Dolge, Ranft, and others.
depend upon which piano we preferred, and the price we wanted to pay.
*
The list includes some of the best pianos that are made. We never
The illustrations on another page showing the editor of this paper as recommend a special make of piano under any circumstances, but we
he is represented, and as he actually exists, contain a world of truth. The can say this, the first five names speak for themselves, the next, that of
little curs that are snarling at his heels in the lower picture are supposed to Steiff, of Baltimore, is not so generally known, but we believe it to be an
be the editors of dead-beat newspapers in this city and about the country excellent instrument at a moderate price. The Fischer piano is made in
that strive to draw attention to themselves by yawping at the MUSICAL CKITIC New York city, and is a low priced instrument. The Beatty piano is made
by Mr. Joseph P. Hale, of New York city. Our Tamaqua correspondent
AND TRADE REVIEW.
also wishes to know whether an upright piano has a quality of tone different
* *
from and superior to a square piano. There is a variety of opinion on this
*
subject, and anyone who desires to ventilate his ideas may do so in
I was in Boston last week, and found that musicians were disposed to this paper.
smile at the Tremont Temple concerts recently given by Mr. Sherwood.
These concerts weae a comical combination of Schuberth, Schumann, Bach,
The project for a World's Fair in this city in 1883, seems to be, at pre-
Beethoven and the Miller grand.
sent, in better hands than formerly, and nothing further is to be made public
At the first concert I learned that there was hardly anyone present in regard to the matter until there is some definite progress made. The sky
besides the five Miller families. At this rate Mr. Sherwood might better is brightening a little but there is no sunshine to be seen yet.
have made his admission 10 cents and furnished free beer as an additional
Mr. W. M. Y. Maxwell, of Messrs. Steinway & Son's London branch
attraction.
house, sailed for England in the steamer Adriatic, on the 4th inst., after hav-
*
ing paid a flying visit of about ten days to the United States. We under-
I wonder if it does not strike many parties in the trade that the firm of stand that in addition to other business, Mr. Maxwell left a large order for
Decker & Son in this city are subjected to a great deal of what might grand pianos in anticipation of the busy season in London, which extends
very properly be called persecution, by a rival piano house. Messrs. from about the middle of May to the middle of August.
Decker & Son do excellent work, yet efforts are constantly being made
Mr. Lowell Mason, of Orange, N. J., has invented and patented a Table
to stigmatize them as frauds. I think there is such a thing as carrying the
hostility against Decker & Son too far, and I believe that if the subject were Reed Organ. The patent is numbered 239,521, and was filed Dec. 11th,
flooded with a little of the electric light of impartiality, Messrs. Decker & 1880. It has been assigned to the Mason & Hamlin Organ Company of
Boston, Mass.
Son would be very suddenly and decidedly left alone.
It is reported that seven thousand pianos were sold in Chicago last year
and ten thousand organs.
WOODWAKD & BROWN.
The United States received the largest proportion of awards at the
N another page will be found an advertisement showing two styles of
pianos—grand and upright—mamifactured by Woodward & Brown, Australian World's Fair, as well as the largest percentage of the first order of
of Boston. These instruments will make known their merits even after very merits. New England received over 40 per cent, of the awards, New York
slight investigation. They are original in design, finely made in every 26 per cent., the Middle States 19 per cent., the Western States 6 per cent.,
respect, present many novelties in construction and stand in the very front and the Southern and Pacific Coast States 3 per cent. each.
rank as far as tone and lasting qualities are concerned.
Cory Bros., of Providence, R. I., agents for the celebrated Chickering
pianos, have taken the exclusive agency in Rhode Island for the Calenberg
& Vaupel pianos.
At the Melbourne Exhibition the Smith American Organ Company, of
The old organ factory of George A. Prince & Co., Buffalo, has been sold
Boston, Mass., was awarded the first degree of merit for cabinet organs.
The second degree of merit for cabinet organs was awarded to the Taylor & by auction and converted into a wall paper manufactory. The machinery was
Farley Organ Company, of Worcester, Mass., and to Messrs. Peloubet & disposed of in lots to various organ makers, who sent their representatives
to the sale. Some of the old instrumants were sold at high prices.
Company, of New York city.
A
O
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
114
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
May 5th, 1881.
The situation 'at Ernst Gabler's piano factory in East 22d street still dred years, and all the zither makers who have established themselves in
continues to be encouraging for Mr. Gabler's ultimate success in his struggle Munich, Vienna and other cities first learned the trade in this village.
with the Trade Union. He haa now eighty-five good workmen employed,
An amusing scene was enacted at Mayor Beatty's office Wednesday.
several of whom are from the ranks of the Trade Union, they having aban- Mr. G. W. Hawkins, of Latonsville, Md., happened to see the Beatty adver-
doned that organization since the commencement of the strike. Some little tisement in the New York World, and made up his mind that he would have
violence has been attempted on the part of the striking workmen but nothing an organ. Mr. Hawkins had never been on board of either cars or steam-
serious. Mr. Gabler shipped last week, to our certain knowledge, twenty- boat in his life before, so his family were immediately filled with terror and
one pianos,.and is at present, making about twenty instruments per week, discouraged him in every way possible. But Mr. Hawkins said he would
and trade generally being quiet, he finds himself able to fill his orders with- have an organ or die in the attempt. So he loaded his boot-leg with money,
out much trouble or delay. His present working force of men is about two- started, reached Washington in safety, was delighted with the organ, pulled
thirds of that which he had when the strike commenced, and it is increasing off his boots in the presence of an admiring audience, paid for the organ and
every week.
went on his way rejoicing.—" Washington, N. J. Star."
The above is one of the extremely rare cases of the Hon. D. F. B.'s
Mr. H. Bodmer, of Pittston, Pa., the agent for Sohmer & Co., of this
city, was in town last week and ordered quite a number of Sohmer pianos. advertising which bears on its face evidences of truthfulness. A man who
Messrs. Sohmer & Co., report trade to be in a satisfactory condition although has never traveled on a steamboat or a railroad in his life would naturally be
the business so far this spring has not come up to the expectations of those a very unsophisticated person and eminently fitted by education if not by
nature to be the purchaser of a Beatty organ.
who anticipated a great " boom " like that of the preceding one.
Guillermo E. Freudentheil, of Hamburg, Germany, has patented a
We do not hear any complaints of a scarcity of pianoforte workmen as piano frame. No. of patent, 239,949. Application filed June 11th, 1880.
was the case last year, more men are applying for work at the various piano Patented in Germany Feb. 13th, 1880.
factories than has been the case before in a year.
Herbert P. Brown, of Minneapolis, Minn., has patented a device for
Mr. John L. Given has arrived in London, representing the Automatic stringing pianos. No. of patent, 240,573. Application filed Nov. 9th, 1880.
Music Paper Company of Boston, Mass. His object is to ascertain whether
George W. Turner, of Boston, Mass., and Oliver W. Arno, of Wilming-
it will be desirable to start factories for the automatic music paper in Eng-
ton, assignors to the American Automatic Organ Company, of Boston, Mass.,
land and Germany.
have patented a Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. of patent, 240,787.
Messrs. Neumeyer & Co., pianoforte makers of Neumeyer Hall, Hart Application filed Feb. 8th, 1881.
street, Bloomsbury, London, England, have been appointed sole agents for
Two or three trucks were busy on Thursday of last week shipping
England and the colonies for the organs of the Bell Organ Company of pianos from Messrs. Hardman, Dowling & Peck's factory, corner of Fifty-
Guelph, Canada.
seventh street and Tenth avenue, this city, and the sidewalk on Tenth avenue
There are fresh rumors that Prince Bismarck intends shortly to abolish was blocked up with cases full of squares and uprights waiting their turn to be
the exclusive privileges of Hamburg and Bremen as free ports. The altera- shipped. A Western dealer of prominence takes the occasion, while remit-
tion will be of benefit to the English trade, for not only will it drive fac- ting about $2,000 to the above named firm, to write: " We are selling your
tories (like those of Messrs. Steinway and Messrs. Pohlman) to England, but pianos as our first-class instrument and are pitting them against the Stein-
it will make England the mart for those goods which are now shipped to the way and Decker." A Hardman upright piano, specially ornamented, has been
ordered from the firm by the Williams & Guion Line for their new steamer
free ports for transhipment from America and elsewhere.
Alaska, this being the eight piano ordered from this house by them. There are
Trade in England says the London and Provincial Music Trades Review, now 235 men employed at the Hardman factory, and an outfit is reported of
can by no meant be considered good, and, as is usual at this time of the year, forty
pianos per week.
most of the shops are running at short time or have discharged hands. The
former system seems to us the kinder to the men and the fairer for both
THE NEW ENGLAND ORGAN COMPANY.
parties. One large firm has, however, it is said, temporarily discharged
HIS enterprising concern is making extensive preparations for the spring
nearly a hundred hands, who bid fair in this dull season to be out of employ-
trade, as their advertisement in another part of this paper will demon-
ment for a considerable period. Happily the export trade is good, but tra- strate. They are making popular styles of organs that are in great demand,
velers complain that it is difficult to obtain good paying orders from the and they are making almost as many new agents as they are organs.
country.
Monthly Price, 6d., by Post, 7d., Subscription, $1.75 a Year.
Mr. J. Baptiste Wolf, for upwards of thirty years managing partner of
the English house of Messrs. Schott & Co., 159 Regent street, London,
England, died at his residence on March 25th.
PUBLISHED ONJTHE 1st OF^ EVERY MONTH.
The partnership heretofore existing between Messrs. Francis William
THE ORCHESTRA, which has been established nearly twenty years,* has during that time been
Spring and Henry Charles Gowland, pianoforte dealers, of 56 Seven Sister's
held in high esteem for its thoroughly independent tone, its just and unbiassed criticism, and its
Road, London, England, was announced on the 5th of April.
aim to promote the objects of all who are interested in the development of High Class Music.
Mr. James Patterson, of the Bridgeport, Conn., Organ Company says
SCALE OF CHARGES FOR~ADVERTISEMENTS.
that he believes business is pretty good with his firm; that is they are work-
5s. 6d. per Inch in Column.
ing straight ahead without slackening up at all, but he is not able to give a
REPEATS:—Four Insertions charged as Three if prepaid in one amount.
very correct idea of the state of trade, as his time has been principally taken
£ a. d.
up lately in fighting off the agents of some two or three hundred musical
4 4 0
Ordinary Page,
and trade papers; each one of which, according to its agent, has a circnila-
2
10 0
Column,
.
.
.
-
.
.
.
-
-
tion that would strike the New York Herald dumb with wonder. Mr. Pat-
WILLIAM
REEVES,
185
FLEET
STREET,
LONDON.
terson asked us to accompany him around the corner behind a pile of lum-
Office of "Reeves' Musical Directory."
ber, where there was a nice secluded spot, while he gave us an account of
his woes. " For," said he, ' ' I see the agent of a musical paper coming down
NEARLY 40,000
the street now after me. This man hasn't been able to catch me for his musi-
cal paper yet, for I have demonstrated to him completely that it has not a cir-
culation of over one hundred copies. So what do you think he has done, now?
He has just started a paper called the Peanut Trade Gazette, which he says
every musician in the country is bound to read on accout of the well-known
Organs have been made and shipped to all parts of the World.
affinity of music for peanuts, and on the strength of this assertion he is try-
CHAPLAIN McC ABE'S OPINION.—" There can be no mistake
ing to get an advertisement for his Peanut Trade Gazette. At any rate," said
made in purchasing a Burdett Organ, A poor organ—like poor
Mr. Patterson as he crouched out of sight behind the pile of lumber, " I am
art—is good for nothing. A rich, full-toned organ, like *he Bur-
having a very fine Gatling gun made. It is capable of killing a great many
dett, ' is a thing of beauty and joy forever.' The Celeste stop
KiveB a wierd effect to the music which is well nigh enchanting.
men at a single discharge," and for an instant a bright smile lighted up his
I would say to all our people: Be careful to avoid purchasing
weary face.
poor organs that you will tire of in a week. I might mention
some that make me shudder every time I sit down before them.
A law suit in which the defendant was Mr. Albert Weber, the well-
C. C. McCABE, D. D.,
Asat. Cor, Sec'y of Board of Church Extension of M. E. Church.
known pianoforte manufacturer of this city, was decided last week. Mr.
BUBY, QUEBEC, CANADA, April, 14,1880.
Thomas Flaherty, of Boston, assignor to one Joseph Kelly of this city,
DEAR SIRS—I ought long ago to have written to say that the
brought suit against Mr. Weber for alleged damages of $8,000, caused by
organ I bought from you (as Church Warden) for St. Paul's Church
in this place far surpasses our expectations in every respect. Its
the transfer of the Weber agency in Boston, which Mr. Flaherty formerly
beautiful appearance, sweetness and strength of tone; its numer
possessed, to another party. Mr. Flaherty it appears held the agency for
ous combinations, from which the kind of music required can be
so easily obtained, render it a great acquisition. I know no organ
four months, bought in that time five pianos and paid for four. Upon
in
the neighborhood that can begin to compete with it, though
the transfer of the agency by Mr. Weber a snap judgment was procured
there are several that cost nmeh more than I paid you.
in Boston against him for $2,300, and the present suit was to obtain
Faithfully yours.
THE BURDETT OROAN CO.
ROBERT C0WLE8.
from the estate of Albert Weber the amount of the Boston judgment. The
Organs
for
the
Parlor,
School,
Lodge, Church, etc., are
jury gave a verdict of $600 against Mr. Weber which he refused to pay, and
made by the
will take the case into the higher courts.
BURDETT ORGAN CO., Limited, ERIE, PENN'A.
.The legislature of the State of Texas has recently made a law taxing
commercial travelers. By the terms of the law which took effect March 24,
1881, every commercial traveler, drummer, salesman, or solicitor of trade,
by sample or otherwise, is required to pay a personal occupation tax of $ 0
per annum in advance to the State Comptroler.
In the quaint little town of Mittenwald, in Bavaria, 8,000 violins are
made every year for export to all parts of the world. The inhabitants work
in their own homes and receive but very scanty pay for their labor. Until a
short time ago the only agent they had was an old man who went about from
place to place with a box on his back containing specimens of their work.
A boy can learn the trade without any pecuniary assistance, as the Bavarian
government started a school for violin making some years ago. Other kinds
of instruments are made there besides violins, the chief among them being
the zither, which is so popular in Bavaria and the neighboring countries.
According to report zithers have been made in Mittenwald for the last hun-
T
The Orchestra and The Choir,
"Matchless" Burdett

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