Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1881 Vol. 5 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
30
THE
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
MUSICAL CHAT
KALAEAU'S MUSICAL ESTABLISHMENT.
September 5th, 1881.
provide against low water, 1 have ordered a steel
tubular boiler of 70-horse power, besides some 10,-
000 feet of piping for use in the building. When
all the improvements have been made, the factory
will be one of the most complete of its kind in the
country."
Mr. Smith also stated that he had never seen a
season when his business in Brooklyn had been so
uniformly busy. " I have," he remarked, " p u t
on three extra men within the past week and could
employ some more good workmen in my factory if
1 could get them. Every workbench in my factory
is full and my trade in second hand pianos, re-
pairing and renting is very large, the whole busi-
ness showing an increase of from 25 to 30 per
cent, during the past six months. I have from
four to six men constantly at work on repairing
alone and have about 1,000 pianos and organs out
on hire from my various warerooms."
Mr. Smith said that he found the demand for
ebonized cased pianos rapidly increasing in conse-
quence of the prevailing fashion for ebony furni-
ture, During the conversation with Mr. Smith,
Mr. Karr, his efficient superintendent, came in,
and our reporter had the pleasure of an introduc-
tion to him. Mr. Karr, who was formerly of the
firm of Bacon & Karr, has the entire charge of the
Bradbury piano factory, and gives perfect satisfac-
tion in his responsible position.
A CCOKDING to his own account, King Kala-
X J L kau was very inuch pleased with the music
of the Prussian army. The Berliner Tageblatt in-
ABROAD.
forms its readers that his Majesty has a native
Mr. Herbert Reeves will, it is stated, make his
military band, organized by a Prussian, born in
Berlin, and named Berger, who was formally operatic debut at Glasgow in a few weeks. The
oboist in the second regiment of Foot Guards. aims of young Mr. Herbert fly no higher than the
Some eight years ago, King Lunalilo, King part of Arturo in " Lucia," while Madame Valleria
Kalakau's predecessor on the Hawaian throne, will play Lucia, and Mr. Sims Reeves hopes to
applied to the Prussian Minister of War for sing Edgardo. Mr. Herbert will do well to under-
a member of a military band who might organize study, so that in case of possible indisposition he
such a band on the Prussian system in Hono may after all sing the chief tenor role.
lulu. The Minister of War made the request
The Russian composer, Tchaikowski, lias pub-
public, and the successful candidate for the post
was the oboist Berger, who, liberally provided lished twelve new pieces for piano.
with money for travelling expenses, forthwith
Herr Richter is at Wagner's home, at Bayreuth,
started for Honolulu. Several natives blessed, ac- and the two are earnestly going over the score of
cording to Hawaian ideas, with a natural aptitude the operas Herr Richter is to conduct in London
for music, were placed at his disposal, and with next year.
these he began his course of instruction. That his
Anton Rubinstein has been staying some days
task was neither easy nor simple will readily be
believed. Still, it was not long before he had got in Berlin, and has now returned to Russia The
his pupils on so far as to be capable of executing news of the improvement in his eyesight will be
short military signals on the horn and drum. greeted with universal interest. The artist is re-
Other instruments, having then been ordered from ported to have formed the intention of giving up
a Berlin manufacturer; the Hawaian musicians performing in public, and devoting himself solely
were taught how to use them, and initiated in the to composition. Wilhelm Taubert has now com-
secrets of musical notation. The band progressed pleted an important work, " Der Landskeucht,"
and was increased in numbers. The members for male chorus, male and female soli and orches-
were soon able to execute on festive occasions the tra, which will be produced in Berlin next Novem-
national hymns of different coimtries. It is true, ber, under the direction of the composer. Karl
they were rather badly oft' with regard to outward Grammann's new romantic opera, "Das Andreas-
equipment. They had a kind of uniform coat and fest," will be performed in Dresden in November ;
trousers, but were provided with boots only at representations will follow in Vienna, Hamburg,
Notices
the MUSICAL. CRITIC AND
special solemnities; as a rule, they played at con- Cologne, and Augsburg. A small choral work,
certs and during his Majesty's dinner—in their " Adonifeder," and six meritorious songs from the TRADE REVIKW taken from other
musical
inheritance
of
the
late
Adolf
Gensen,
will
feet. This was during King Lunalilo's reign.
newspapers are entirely unsolicited by
The present King speedily adopted measures to appear in the autunm, published by Hermann us. In spite of the editor's large news-
have his natioual band dressed as nearly as possi- Erler of Berlin.
paper acquaintance, he has never asked
ble in accordance with European notions. When
"Frangoise de Rimini," the work of M. Am- a line of encomium from any one.
Prince Heinrich, on his tour round the world, broise
Thomas,
will
be
brought
out
next
winter
at
landed at Honolulu, he was surprised at his recep- the Paris Opera.
The usual method of obtaining- large
tion by the strains of the national hymns, executed
numbers of putting- notices for a critical
quite correctly: " Heil dir im Siegerkranz " and
" H e n r i VIII.", the libretto by MM. Armand or art paper is to offer to send such pa-
"Ich bin ein Preusse," executed with almost uni- Silvestre and Detroyat, music by M. Saint Saens,
per to country editors for a year free
form precision and correctness; to his astonish- is also to be produced next season.
"ii tliey will kindly publish the enclosed
ment, moreover, the instruments were in the hands
Undeterred by the fate of " T h e Demon," M. lines "—written in the office of the paper
of colored performers, and it was not until band-
master Berger, the Berlin oboist, was presented, Rubinstein is about to perpetrate a new opera to to be puffed—and the value ot the critic-
the libretto of " D e r Sohn des Wojowden" by
that the matter became clear to him.
al paper is just about equal to the value
Berger is very much respected and liked by the Herr Notel. Now that the two Italian opera houses ot the pufl in the obscure country sheet.
are
supposed
to
be
amalgamated,
the
chances
are,
Court at Honolulu, and by the European colony in
the place. Several years since, he visited his however, in favor of opera-goers.
TATTING US ON THE HEAD.
mother in Berlin, but stopped only for a short
Handel's "Messiah" has just been performed
THE
MUSICAL,
CKITIC AND TRADE REVIEW would
time before returning to Hawai.
as a novelty at Christiania, where it has not been gain considerably in usefulness if it would confine
heard for many years. Enviable city.
itself to legitimate criticism, and give up its bitter
Great preparations have been made by M. Jules attacks,—sometimes, we fear, not wholly justifia-
STRADIUARIUS.
Cohen for the next operatic season at the magnifi- ble, on those who have offended it. I t is newsy
A LTHOUGrH Stradiuarius made violins down cent theatre erected in Monaco by M. Ch. Gamier and readable but seriously marred by this fault.—
XA. to the last year of his life, still after 1730, for the late M. Blanc. Fears are entertained by Springfield Republican, Springfield, Mass.
[The writer of the above does not specify which
feeling his hand and sight beginning to fail, he some persons that the recent death of Mad. Blanc
seldom signed his work. We can catch one, may interfere with the realization of the present particular " bitter attacks" he refers to; so we can
and only one, glimpse of him as he lived and moved programme, but it is generally believed it will be not be positive as to what has called forth these
and had his being at Cremona in 1730. He was carried out by M. Edmond Blanc, who will pro- remarks. Can it be that he alludes to, and feels
high and thin, and looked like one worn with bably succeed his mother in the management of sorry over, our exposures of Beatty, who is gener-
much thought and incessant iudustry. In summer the gaming tables and subsidiary establishments. ally a liberal advertiser in country papers.—ED.
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW. 1
he wore a white cotton night-cap, and in winter
Report says that Mad. Albani is engaged to open
one of some woolen material. He was never seen
the
season
at
the
Royal
Opera
House,
Berlin,
with
without his apron of white leather, and every day
The man who does not advertise has it
was to him exactly like every other day. His series of performances, after which she is to make
mind was always rivetted upon his one pursuit, and a concert tour though Germany.
done tor him finally under the head of
he seemed neither to know nor to desire the least
•'failures in business."
change of occupation. His violins sold for four
THE BRADBURY PIANOFORTE FACTORY.
golden livres apiece, and were considered the best
^HE recent purchase, by Mr. F. G. Smith,
in Italy; and as he never spent anything except
manufacturer of the " B r a d b u r y " piano,
upon the necessaries of life and his own trade, he
saved a good deal of money, and the simjile-minded of the case making factory at Leorninster, Mass.,
Cremonese used to make jokes about his thrifti- formerly occupied by Messrs. Steinway \- Sons,
neas, and the proverb passed "As rich as Stradiu- led one of our reporters to visit Mr. Smith's factory
arius." Mr. Haweis says in Good 'Words that a at the corner of Raymond and Willoughby streets,
traveler who lately visited his house, still stand- in Brooklyn, to obtain details in regard to the
ing in the square of Cremona, remarked that it was Leominster factory as well as any other matters
heated through with the sun like an oven. He concerning the Bradbury factory and business,
BOSTON, MASS.
said you sit and sweat there as in a Turkish bath. which might prove of interest to our readers.
MANUFACTURERS.
Mr. Smith was ftnuid at his factory busily
That was how the Cremona makers dried their
UTOMATIC MUSICAL PAPER CO. Music Paper for Mechan-
wood; and so it was their oils distilled slowly and engaged with his customers, but took time to
ic
ical Musical Instruments.
227 to 2!i3 Cambridge Street,
remained always at a high temperature, their answer a few questions.
varnish weltered and soaked into the pine bellies
In regard to the* Leominster case factory he said "T^MERSON PIANO CO., manufacturers rs of Grand, Square and
an
Upright Pianos,
and sycamore backs beneath the tropical heat of that his business had long felt the need of a larger
595 Washington Street.
those seventeenth century summers.
capacity for case making, hence the purchase,
which was consummated about Aug. 1st, the sale
WORCESTER, MASS.
MANUFACTURERS.
The plans of the Metropolitan Opera House, being a cash transaction.
" The factory," said Mr. Smith, " is well adapted
which is to be built of Belleville brown-stone,
/"i
W.
INGALLS
&
CO., Organ Reed Boards, Parker Tremolos
and Octave Couplers,
brick, and terra cotta on the block bounded by for its purpose and will have a capacity for about
50
cases
per
week,
aud
those
which
I
do
not
25 Hermon Street.
Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets and Broadway
a. KETTELL,
and Seventh avenue, have been filed at the Bureau require for my own use I will dispose of to piano
Piano Punchings,
of Buildings. It will cost $500,000, and the archi- makers requiring a first-class article. I am laying
6 Lincoln Square.
in a large stock of lumber to be in readiness to
tect is J. Cleveland Cady, of No. I l l Broadway.
begin
work
as
soon
as
the
machinery
is
ready
AGENTS AND DEALERS.
Mr. Ernst Eberhard, Director of the Grand w T hich I intend shall be of the most perfect de-
B.
LELAND
ft CO., dickering. Knabe, Hallett, Davis &
scription.
The
factory
includes
a
water
power
of
Conservatory of Music, returned recently from
. Co., and Fischer Pianos : Peloubet & Co. and Smith
50 horses, and to supplement this, and, also to American
Europe.
Orgaus, Shoet Music and Band Instruments.
KIND WORDS
I
DIRECTORY
MUSICAL °PROFESSION
MUSIC ^TRADES.
A
D.
S
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
September 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
31
Sk
DOMESTIC
VOL. V.
.AJSTO EXPORT
TRADE.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1881.
No. 3.
workman who committed it, and the foreman hall and library, and a store at which can be
who permitted it. • We do not hesitate to say procured all the necessaries of life at the most
that we have never seen more scrupulous care moderate prices. At the club house, no drinking
exercised in the selection and treatment of lum- of any kind is allowed except a German tea, other-
ber, nor in the manner of its construction into wise known as "beer." At the factory not even
URING the past eighteen months the editor sounding boards, neither^have we known more cau- beer is allowed to be'drank during working hours.
of the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW tion observed, and more pains taken in the manu-
Mr. Dolge's ability is shown in another way,
has received cordial invitations from Mr. Alfred facture of felt than we found at Brockett's Bridge. independently of the business system, and the
Dolge to visit his sounding board and felt factories Where one machine is commonly thought suffi- regulating of an enjoyable social life. It is in the
at Brockett's Bridge, in the county of Herkimer, cient for the " carding " or "combing " operations, selection of men who are not to be surpassed in the
New York State. It seemed impossible during Mr. Dolge cannot be contented with less than six, positions that they are called upon to fill. Those
this time to find leisure for the trip which ap- and the consequence is that when the wool leaves who are acquainted with the New York store in
peared to combine so many elements of pleasure the last of these machines it is as fine, and white, 13th street, will not need to be informed that
that serious business would be interfered with. and pure as flakes of driven snow. II-, is in cer- Messrs. Karl Fink and L. Cavelli, the salesmen,
That was where we were mistaken, and, as from tain of these carding machines that the peculiar are geniuses in their line. But they are not the
time to time, accounts reach us of the important "taper," so indispensible to hammer-head felts, only ones. At Brockett's Bridge Mr. Dolge has
interests that centered in Brockett's Bridge, and is given in a manner that can be made to suit the equally able assistants in Mr. Paul Grass, who is
the admirable manner in which those interests idiosyncracies of each customer. The " taper " is at the head of the counting room ; Mr. J. Breck-
were managed, we felt that it became a part of our due partly to the ingenious mechanical contrivan- woldt, who has charge of the manufacture of
duty in connection with a trade paper to make an ces devised by Mr. Bruno Dolge, and partly to mouldings ; Mr. T. Sandford, a felt man from
individual examination and report.
the skill and experience of the operators. The Danbury, Conn., who looks after the carding and
About a year ago, there was presented in this ability to produce this " t a p e r " in any propor- combing department of the felt factory ; Mr. F .
paper an elaborate account of the trip to Brockett's tion in various sheets of felt is of immense advan- Engelhardt, who superintends the sounding-board
Bridge, a description of the local scenery, and an tage to Mr. Dolge, for it enables him to vary department, and Mr. Bruno Dolge, of whose
elaborate review of the costly and ingenious his sheets of felt exactly in accordance with the merits we have already spoken.
machinery with which Mr. Dolge's factories are so wishes of each customer without being obliged to
We also met in the sounding-board factory, Mr.
fully equipped. In the present article we shall take the chances of leaving something on hand Edwin Bechstein, son of Mr. C. Bechstein, of
not weary our readers with a repetition of dry that will happen to supply a demand at the time Berlin, and one of the most celebrated piano man-
mechanical details, but shall review the system of making a sale.
ufacturers in Germany. Young Bechstein is a
which, fully as much as men and machines, gives
To return to the question of the general system splendid specimen of the frank, hale and hearty
life and breath to Mr. Dolge's business enter- observed; the foreman of each department has a German. His father has sent him to this country
prises.
direct interest in the business. He does not re- to study Mr. Dolge's methods and machinery, and
It must be remarked, however, that one of the ceive a certain percentage of the proiits, but with this end in view he is going through the fac-
most interesting features of a trip to Brockett's receives each year in addition to his wages a sum tory like an ordinary workman.
Bridge by the manufacturer in the music trades of money in proportion to the ability with which
In conclusion we may say that though we had
will be found in the inspection of the machinery, he has conducted, stimulated, or developed his formed some idea of Mr. Dolge's business we found
for, especially in the manufacture of the felts for department. There are four foremen of depart- that it was impossible to get an idea of its extent,
piano hammers and dampers, the manufacturer, ments in the felt factory, five in the sounding- importance, and admirable system by merely visit-
although well posted in every detail of his business, board factory, and one in each of the two water ing the New York office. From what we saw at
may not have such another opportunity within power saw mills and the steam saw mill. The the Bridge we were convinced that the genial
twenty years. We have piano, organ, action, string three saw mills are situated at a considerable dis- Fink, though often upbraided for tooting his melo-
and other factories conveniently at hand, but not a tance from Brockett's Bridge, deep in the spruce dious horn BO loudly, had in no wise over-estimated
single factory especially arranged for the manufac- forests, and do the heavy sawing for the factory, the quantities of sounding-boards and felts which
ture of felts as used in the music trades.
and for the supplying of lumber to the piano this concern supplies to the leading manufacturers
of the United States, Germany, England, and
Brockett's Bridge we found to be a quiet, strag- trade abroad.
gling little town, eminently rustic in its simplicity,
Outside of the factories, we had abundant op- other countries. For we saw with our own eyes
far removed from the bustle of railway traffic, and portunities, during our three days' stay at Brock- the patterns of these manufacturers for sounding
looking north to where the blue line of the Adiron- ett's Bridge, to study two forms of social life: boards and also for felts, which last cannot be
dack Mountains stretched across the horizon. I t one, that of the workman in his home, or at the made like cloth and cut to suit the order of the
lay simmering in the summer sun, and the east club house, which the liberality and wisdom of customer, but must be made after a special pat-
Canada creek which flowed by its side brawled Mr. Dolge has provided for his entertainment; the tern.
forth its complaint that the long continued drought other, that in which the head of this business and
was laying bare its rugged rocks. Here Mr. Dolge his friends participate. Of the qualities of Mr.
THE PIANO NOT A LUXURY.
has two large buildings, in one of which the man- Alfred Dolge, and his esteemed wife, as host and
ufacture of sounding boards and mouldings is car- hostess, it would seem fulsome and misplaced to SHOULD IT NOT BE CLASSED AMONG THE NECESSAR-
IES OF LIFE ?—ITS PLACE IN THE HOME CIRCLE,
ried on, while the other is devoted to felt making. speak in the terms they deserve in such an article;
—WORK OF ONE OF OUR LEADING FIRMS OF MAN-
It needed but a hasty inspection of either place to but, whoever has made the visit will understand
UFACTURERS.
note the perfection of the machinery, all built, we the feelings of regret experienced by Mr. Nem-
were informed, on the spot by Mr."Bruno Dolge, bach, of Geo. Steck & Co., and the editor of the r T^HE pianoforte is generally classed in trade
brother of the head of the firm, and a true mechan- MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW on this oc- X circles with articles of luxury ; something
ical and inventive genius, especially in the felt casion, when the genial Fink announced that it that will be bought by a man for himself or some
business, which he has made the study of his life. was time to take the carriage to meet the train at member of his family when the house has been
Many of these machines, both for wood working Little Falls, and, snatching up their little grip well supplied with the necessaries of life ; when
and felt making, were not only constructed at sacks they were obliged to bid farewell to those the furniture, carpets, and the bedding, etc., have
Brockett's Bridge by Mr. Dolge's machinists, but with whom friendship seemed to have ripened been put in, the larder well supplied and gotten
were invented !>v Mr. Bruno Dolge, and cannot be from an acquaintance to be remembered by months into good running order, when the schooling has
found in any other factories in the world. The rather than by days.
been provided for the childern, and when some-
appearance of the factories was [clean and orderly
The social life at Brockett's Bridge is closely thing beyond the money for these necessaries has
in the extreme. Every machine was kept as bright allied with the business life. Mr. Dolge has been laid by in the savings bank.
and worked as smoothly as a pet " steamer " in gathered about him many of his relatives. His
the New York fire department, and upon the in- father, Mr. August Dolge, a venerable but rugged
PIANO BUYERS.
stant we recognize the first effects of that perfect man, an old and experienced piano manufacturer
There
is
another
that enters into the
system which characterizes Mr. Dolge's business in Germany, came to this country about a year consideration of the element
purchase of a piano by the
methods.
ago, and now manages the fine farm which is a part man of modei-ate means. There must be a decid-
The work, as in most other factories, is divided of his son's possessions. There are sisters, ed musical taste, even if of an inferior order, in
into departments, each in charge of an able direc- brothers, and brothers-in-law also. The male his family before he will purchase a piano. The
tor, every department keeping a complete rec- members of tiie families are being engaged in con- wealthy man, who makes the slightest pretention
ord of each sheet of felt and every sounding ducting the business. Out of business hours to live in the world, will of course include a piano
board, or the materials of which they are com- social intercourse is unrestrained and is enjoyed to among his household furniture, though there is not
posed, from the time they are received in the an extent that is seldom known among us Ameri- a soul in his household who can distinguish
crude state until they are delivered into the pur- cans, who never find time by day or by night to "Yankee Doodle" from "Old Hundred." He
chasers' hands, and these concise but truthful his- lay aside our business cares. In the homes of has it partly as a matter of show, for no drawing-
tories are preserved for two or three years after the workmen everything is in the best shape, room is considered complete without a piano, and
the sounding board or felt has gone to the con- houses, fences, surroundings, all look neat, partly because it may afford pleasure to his guests.
sumer, so that should complaints of defects arise comfortable and orderly. There is a park for To such a man a piano is a necessity ; to the man
within that time the matter can be thoroughly in- their use now in process of being laid out, a club of moderate means, such as has been described
vestigated, and the fault brought home to the house, with bowling alley, billiard room, concert above," it seems more of an article of luxury, and
A VISIT TO BROCKETT'S BRIDGE.
LIFE AT A MANUFACTURING SETTLEMENT. CONTENTED
WORKMEN AND HAPPY 'FAMILIES.—A BUSINESS SYS-
TEM WHICH IT WOULD BE WELL TO COPY.
D

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