Music Trade Review

June 5th 1881.
MUSICAL
CRITIC AND -- TRADE
REVIEW.
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139
3b
DOMESTIC
VOL. IV.
.AJ>TE> E X P O R T
TRADE.
No. 9.
NEW YOKE, JUNE 5TH, 1881.
CONDITION OF TRADE.
IGNORANCE, OR MALICE ; WHICH ?
OR the past two weeks the music trade in this city has been undeniably-
E reprint the following extract from the London and Provincial Music
quiet, and the spring "boom" which everybody anticipated last winter
Trades Review, because it is remarkable for presenting statements,
•did not arrive, although taking into consideration the large increase in capa- hardly one of which is in accordance with the facts of the case:
city for production as compared with last year, we may safely say that the
" To pass to the particular libel in point. It seems that Mr. Welles is
spring business has been a fair one.
in the habit of traveling through the States to interview dealers and manu-
The reasons why the trade has not been very active this spring may be facturers in various towns. Many of his contemporaries do the same thing,
readily found in the fact that the winter of 1880-81 was an exceptionally and we trust the game is found worth the candle. Among other places Mr.
hard one for the whole country, except the far Western States and those Welles visited the city of Buffalo, and called upon a manufacturer named
bordering on the Pacific coast; the losses of the farmers and others in stock Christian Kurtzman. Mr. Kurtzman, for reasons which do not appear, and
and goods, on account of the severe winter and the floods in the early which do not particularly signify, walked away and refused to see him,
spring, have been very large and as luxuries are the things which can be whereupon Mr. Welles Avrote, signed, and published in his paper the libel
most easily dispensed with, pianos and organs are the first to feel any in question He declared Mr, Kurtzman' had allowed himself to drop from
diminution in the surplus at the disposal of the people after their necessities a fair position among the makers of cheap instruments to one where he is
have been supplied.
scarcely noticed by the trade and the public;' that his factory was ' a queer,
The losses experienced during the hard winter while they had their dusty looking place, giving one the impression that everything was run on a
effect in diminishing the numbar of instruments sold have not been severe slipshod principle;'that Air. Kurtzman 'was a rather dilapidated looking
enough to affect the commercial standing of the trade, which is in as good old individual;' that when Mr. Kurtzman denied himself he ' was guilty of
condition as it was twelve months ago, and although we have heard much an unnecessary lie;' that a worxman was meanwhile ' tinkering an old worm-
croaking about what will happen if trade continues to be as dull, and col- eaten piano;' and that the reason Mr. Kurtzman refused to see him was be-
lections as slow as they have been during the past thirty days, we have yet cause he owed money for advertisements to a defunct periodical and mis-
took Mr. Welles for a representative of that journal. From an English point
to see any positive grounds for such forebodings.
The past season has been an exceptionally fine one for the growing of view the libel is strong enough in all conscience, and, whether true or
crops. All the indications point to an enormous surplus when they are har- not, its obvious bias would be quite sufficient to prove legal ' malice.'
vested, and as a prosperous season is always discounted at the earliest
" The course adopted was, however, most extraordinary. A warrant
moment, we may soon expect to see a revival of general activity in the was applied for, of course ex parte, and Mr. Welles was arrested, hurried
trade.
from the presence of his wife, and taken to the police office. No particulars
were afforded him of the indictment, but Mr. Welles was thrown into prison.
After an interval he was taken before the police justice, again remanded, and
SOHMER Ss CO.'S PROGRESS.
remained all night in prison, tasting prison diet, and being otherwise treated
HPHE house of Sohmer & Co., although it is not one of the oldest in the with scandalous indignity. The next day a habeas corpus was applied for,
_L piano trade, yet it has won an excellent reputation, both by the quality and Mr. Steinway became bail for 100/. Were the vagaries of American law
of its goods, and the integrity of its business dealings. It has never played not so notorious as they are, we should marvel that a man of some position,
the laggard, having always "kept abreaat of the times in the improvement and at any rate a man who could easily be found when he was wanted,
of its pianos, and using only legitimate, enterprising means to push its should in a free country, and on an ex parte indictment, be treated like a
instruments into every quarter of the country where good pianos are sought political offender in a country under martial law.
after and appreciated.
" Whatever may be the result of the present case, we, however, hope
By untiring energy, and close attention to the smallest details of their that it will give a check to the system of gross personalities in which a few
large manufactory, they have won for themselves the respect of their com- of the American papers indulge. It is indeed monstrous that because a man-
petitors, the admiration of the general music trade and of the musical pro- ufacturer, in the exercise of his undoubted right, refuses to see a newspaper
fession, and the esteem of the public.
interviewer, he should be subjected to such remarks as those we have
A particularly admirable thing about this house, in our eyes, is the un- quoted. Such a libel would, if printed in England, subject the writer and
ostentatious way in which they go about their business. You never hear of publisher to a common law action or a criminal information."
Sohmer & Co. interfering with other people. They make no effort to dis-
turb competitors or detract from their standing. They do not stand upon
the street corners, and loudly proclaim their own merits to the passer by,
yet they are always pushing their pianos into the market, and they keep
their name before the public in a quiet and instructive manner.
F. A. NORTH & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
Messrs. Sohmer & Co. 's trade has never grown so rapidly during an
Louis Meyer. A Schuylkill boat song. Barcarole for piano. 50 cts.
equal space of time, as during the past year. So great has been the in-
creased demand made upon them, that not long ago they were obliged to
Louis Meyer. "A Twilight Vision." Song for soprano or tenor. 40
increase their facilities very extensively. A large number of their new cents.
agencies are in Canada where their piano is taking a high rank.
Louis Meyer. "Baby Sleep, Softly Sleep." Lullaby. 35 cts.
A notable fact is that many of Sohmer & Co. 's agents are not only men
of high standing in business, but they are excellent musicians and are able to
Louis Meyer. " Forest Echoes." Idyl for the piano. 40 cts.
judge conclusively of the qualities of a piano. Among the dealers who have
Louis Meyer. " Mountaineer's Song of Home." For the piano. 50 cts.
been especially successful with this instrument are Mr. A. Bruenn, of Oak-
land, California, who is a musician of local note; Lavigne & Lajoie, of Mon-
Louis Meyer. "Thro' the Valleys Green I Roam." A home song.
treal, Canada, Harwood & Beardsley, of Boston, both of whom are fine 35 cts.
musicians, and Winters & Nelson, of Chattanooga, who are earnest, pushing
T. B. HAKMS & CO., NEW YORK.
representatives and sell the "Sohmer" pianos in Alabama, Georgia and
Tennessee. Mr. Beardsley, of Harwood & Beardsley, Boston, remarked to
R. H. L. Watson. Te Deum in E flat. 25 cts.
some of the firm just before his recent departure for Europe that the
GRAND CONSERVATORY PUBUSHING CO., 2 1 EAST 14TH STREET, NKW YORK.
"Sohmer" upright was the most artistic of all uprights.
The latest style of instrument which has been offered to the public by
Ernst Eberhard. " So We'll Go no More a Roving." Song. 50 cts.
this house is their " Baby Grand," and since its first appearance they have
SCHREINER'S MUSIC HOUSE, SAVANNAH, GA.
been hardly able to keep a sample in their warerooms, as each instrument is
generally sold before it is finished.
Herman L. Schreiner. Central Rail Road Waltzes. Price 75 cents.
The illustrations given with Sohmer &, Co. 's advertisement on another
Azariah H. Hastings, of New York city, has patented an upright piano-
page afford an idea of the various styles manufactured by this firm. Their
square and upright instruments are too well-known and appreciated to need forte frame. No. of Patent, 241,212. Application filed June 24th, 1880.
any special description here. Their concert grand pianos are much admired
Dietrich, of Baltimore, Md., has patented a machine for shaping
by artists and have been used during the past season at a large number of piano William
legs. No. of Patent, 241,316. Application filed March 18th, 1881.
concerts, on which occasions the musicians performing upon them heartily
Mr. John W. Trainer, of Fort Wayne, Ind., has patented a reed organ
praised their excellent qualities.
stop action. No. of Patent, 241,757. Application filed Feb. 12th, 1881.
A fire on the morning of May 23rd, in Cleveland, Ohio, damaged the
Mr. Albert Weber is to be married to Miss Merrie Clowes of this city on
Whitney & Raymond organ factory.
Tuesday evening, the 7th inst.
Our correspondent, " Hornet," writes from Des Moines, Iowa, that W.
The New England Piano Co. is the latest candidate for public favor in
H. Lehman, agent for Story & Camp of Chicago, has sold his stock of small
Boston.
goods and musical merchandise to J. H. Goodrich, who will continue the
Mr. Jas. B. Woodford, Secretary and Treasurer of the Loring & Blake business. P. T. Locke, the general agent for Kimball of Chicago has added
Organ Co., Worcester, Mass., is reveling in the fact that trade with his firm a fine stock of sheet music, books and general musical merchandise to his
is steady, and that the demand keeps so nearly abreast of their capacity to list of goods. He expects to visit the East soon. Trade in the section of the
supply.
country from which our correspondent writes is rather quiet.
F
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NEW
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