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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
PIANOS AT ATLANTA.
INTERESTING EXHIBITS OF PROMINENT
MANUFACTURERS.
THE INTERNATIONAL FAIR ATTRACTING MANY
THOUSAND VISITORS—PETITIONING THE RAIL-
ROADS FOR REDUCTIONS—A CENT A MILE THE
PRESENT RATE—HOW TO SHIP PIANOS TO ATLAN-
TA, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS THERE FOR EXHIB-
ITORS—NOVEL ADVERTISING.
CHAT WITH A WELL-KNOWN SALESMAN.
r
T^HE International Fair at Atlanta, Ga., accord-
J_ ing to many trustworthy accounts, is a great
success. Thousands of visitors are beginning to
pour into the State, and the piano makers have a
fine opportunity to advertise the merits of their re-
spective wares. A reporter of THE MUSICAL CRITIC
AND TRADE REVIEW had an interesting chat recent-
ly with P. J. Gildemeester, who spent four weeks
in Atlanta, representing Chickering & Sons, and
looking after their handsome exhibit there. In the
course of the conversation, many important facts
in regard to the Fair were elicited. The Chickering
exhibit is at present in charge of E. G. Gotts-
chalk, but Mr. Gildemeester will return to Atlanta
in December, when it is expected that the crowd of
sight-seers will be greatest.
The Fair was opened October 5th, and it is an-
nounced that it will be closed the last of Decem-
ber. The success of the exhibition, however, has
80 far exceeded the expectations of its projectors,
that it may continue open several weeks in Janu-
ary. The original plan was simply to have a cot-
ton exhibit, but so many applications for space
were received from various commercial interests
all over the country, that they had to be recognized,
and the scope of the Fair has thereby been greatly
enlarged. The general opinion expressed by visi-
itors is that next to the Centennial Exhibition, it is
the most interesting Fair ever held in the United
States, both in the number and qualities of the ex-
hibits.
The Fair is held in Oglethorpe Park, three
miles from Atlanta. The Main Building and the
Industrial and Art Building are the centres of in-
terest. Then there are the Judge's Hall and
buildings devoted to the exhibits of different
States. It is the Industrial and Art Building,
however, in which the musical trade is interested
for there the pianos of prominent manufacturers
are on exhibition.
piano, of Boston ;C. M. Cady, of the Estey Organ
Company, has the Decker piano, a piano manufac-
tured for the Estey Organ Company, and the Estey
organ; Braumuler exhibits the Hardmanpiano, and
New England organs; Stieff looks after the Stieff
piano, and the Loring & Blake organ; the Organina
Company, of Boston, has an exhibit; Behning
represents his own piano, and the Celluloid Key
Boards interests; McMacken represents a portable
pipe organ, and the Carpenter reed organ, showing
the Carpenter action. It was also reported that
Weber would have a piano exhibit at the Fair.
Much satisfaction has been ^expressed at the
management of the Fair in the hands of Director
General Kimball and Secretary Rechman, who
have done everything in their power to assist the
piano men in arranging their exhibits and making
a tasteful display.
The crowds are now daily increasing and it is
thought that before the Fair is closed 600,000 or
700,000 persons will have visited the grounds.
In that case, the cost of transportation becomes an
interesting matter. Some time ago, the exhibitors
held two meetings requesting the railroad com-
panies to reduce their rates. Recently all the
railroads acceded to this request, fixing the rate at
a cent per mile. This reduction has greatly in-
creased the number of visitors to the Fair. The
hotels at Atlanta are comfortably filled and the
people are represented as pleasant and accommo-
dating to strangers.
Goods are shipped to Atlanta by way of Savan-
nah. It takes a traveller about forty hours to
reach the Fair from this city.
•
r
FIGHTING FOR ULMANN'S PATENT.
November 20th, i88t.
" Then there isn't a very large sum of money at
stake in the Boston suit ? "
"No, there is not, but we are under contract with
Ulmann to push the thing, and if we don't tackle
Wilson, Ulmann will probably tackle us. Wilson's
own counsel said months ago, that if it could be
proved that his client had failed to pay the royalty,
and had not made diligent endeavor to find Ulmann,
he would abandon the case. Now Wilson claims
that he has repeatedly hunted for Ulmann, even
going so far as to put detectives on his track, but
has failed to find him. Ulmann, on the other hand,
says he has been to Wilson's place of business, day
after day for a week at a time, but could not get an
interview with him. If we had thought the matter
would have become a question of law, we wouldn't
have taken hold of it for ten times the money in-
volved. We expected to freeze Wilson out, by sell-
ing at one-half his prices, but in spite of his per-
sistency, we still sell the goods to all the leading
Boston nouses."
At this juncture, Mr. Goepel was overwhelmed
with customers, and the reporter withdrew.
ACTIVITY IN THE PIANO TRADE.
VISIT to a number of piano factories during
the past week disclosed the fact that many
firms were as busy as they could possibly be in
finishing up and shipping pianos. Every firm
visited declared that the orders received daily
were far beyond the capacity of their factories and
in several instances the statement was made that
no new orders could be filled prior to January,
1882.
Pianos are in demand all over the country, but
the heaviest orders are coming from the West and
Southwest. As to the styles mostly ordered,
small-sized or large-sized plain-case pianos and
uprights are generally in great demand.
The small upright is coming into much favor.
One of the largest houses stated that its city sales
of pianos were now about equally divided among
squares and uprights. Formerly "the orders for the
West only comprised a limited percentage of
uprights, while with this season there are about 33
per cent, of uprights shipped. This is an evi-
dence of the increasing popularity of that style of
piano.
Orders will be received as fast as they can come
in for the next four weeks, but it appears that
Western and Southwestern houses who have not
taken time by the forelock will not be able to get
the goods they need for the holidays. There
never was a period of greater activity in piano
manufacturing than there is at present.
A
T^HE controversy of A. Hammacher & Co., of
_L New York, with Mr. Wilson, of Boston, over
the respective right of these parties to sell Ulmann's
Patent Pedal Feet in the latter city still continues.
A humorous phase of the case is that while Mr.
Ulmann claims that Wilson is in arrears for a year's
royalties, and cannot be found, Mr. Wilson says
he has been working like a beaver to see Mr.
Ulmann and pay up like a little man. A reporter
of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW called
recently at the store of A. Hammacher & Co., No.
293 Bowery, to ascertain the true inwardness of
the matter. There was such a lively rush of cus-
tomers in the store, however, that the reporter had
to work his way gradually to the private office of
the firm. Hammacher & Co. were evidently enjoy-
ing ample profits from the hardware interest. In
the manufacture of piano pedals of various kinds
they turn out 25,000 a year. They are said to
THE CHICKERING EXHIBIT.
make one-third of the piano pedals manufactured
Chickering & Sons have sent their best grand in
A resolution is said to have been passed recently
country. Mr. Hammacher is in Europe,
and finest upright pianos and these instruments and this
by the exhibitors at the Atlanta Fair to the effect
the
pedal
case
has
been
in
the
hands
of
Charles
hare'deservedly attracted a great deal of atten- F. Goepel, a member of the firm who has been to that •' this is the greatest exhibit of American
tion. They have two fancy uprights on exhibi- Boston twice looking after the matter. The latter industry and natural resources ever held." The
tion, which from their elegant finish and musical on
being asked the news in regard to the contro- Philadelphia Bulletin finds only wormwood and
qualities have received general commendation. versy,
gall in that statement and squares off in the fol-
replied :
They have also on exhibition several other pianos
lowing fashion: " I t is, of course, all right for the
"
Well,
we
expect
to
sue
Mr.
Wilson
for
dam-
more modest in appeai-ance, but excellent instru- ages. Just now, however, things are at a stand- Atlanta exhibitors to regard their fair with en-
ments for tone and durability.
The case has been in the hands of our Bos- thusiasm and to trumpet to the world its great-
The firm have inaugurated a novel method of still.
ton
counsel
months, but unfortunately he is ness. Truly, it is a most excellent and remark-
advertising which will undoubtedly bring them Secretary of six
the
Mechanic's State Exhibition now able display of American resources and American
very handsome returns, simply from calling special being held in that
and he has so far been industry; but in this particular it cannot compare
attention to their instruments. Every adult who unable to attend to city,
our
As soon as with the Centennial Exhibition."
visits the Fair and calls on the • representative of I can gain possession of the interests.
papers
in
the
case we Following are the awards in the musical instru-
the firm can have, his or her name enrolled in a
employ other counsel and proceed vigor- ment department of the Ninth Cincinnati Exposi-
register kept for that purpose, and will receive in shall
tion: Best square grand piano, silver medal, to
return a coupon ticket with a number. The ously."
Haines Bros., New York, through D. H. Baldwin
"
How
did
the
trouble
arise
originally
?"
coupon will be detached from the ticket and de-
& Co.; best violin, gold medal, and best quartet of
"
Mr.
Wilson,
who
makes
piano
frames
and
deals
posited in a strong box. No charge is asked for in small hardware, obtained from Mr. Ulmann stringed instruments,' silver medal, to Albert
this enrollment.
ago, the right to sell these pedal feet in Krell.
The result is, as the firm have expected, that four years
State. According to Mr. Ulmann, he failed
Charles Dury, of Cincinnati, a veteran piano
they have already secured a large list of persons every
pay the stipulated royalty for a whole year. The maker, claims to have made the first iron frame that
who are either contemplating the purchase of a to
contract
was
to
the
effect
that
should
he
fail
to
pay
piano, or who may at some time in the future be the royalties within thirty days after the quarter was ever put in an American piano.
purchasers. At the close of the Fair, one hun- had expired, he would forfeit his right to manu- France is troubled with an epidemic of strikers,
dred tickets will be drawn from ' the box and de-
the goods. Well, about a year ago, our firm not only carpenters, sawyers, coopers and the rest,
posited iu a separate box. After a thorough facture
obtained
the same contract from Mr. Ul- but pianoforte makers and brass instrument makers
shaking up, one ticket will be drawn, the holder mann that invariably
Wilson
had.
We have the right to sell are on the qui vive for better pay.
of which will become the owner of one of Chick- all over the country, including
Boston, of course." We received a pleasant call recently from S. R.
ering's pianos, listed at $1,000.
"But why do you sue for damages in Boston Leland, of Worcester, and Mr. Gorham, of this
Thousands of visitors have already been enroll- only
city.
? "
ed and still they come. Chickering & Sons have
" Simply because Mr. Wilaon lives there. We Edwin P. Carpenter, Worcester, Mass., has
realized the beneficial effects of this system of adver- would
to have him sue us in New York, as patented a Cabinet Organ. Application filed July
tising even at this early day. The crowds began to it would prefer
be
a
good
deal cheaper. When we took the 30, 1881. No. of Patent, 249,158.
assume large proportions only about two weeks ago contract that Wilson
formerly held, we informed
and since then the number of persons who have him
Dupont, Chicago, 111., assignor to A. L.
letter of that fact. But he still hangs on. R. Eugene
been enrolled has greatly increased. The Chicker- I will by say,
Vanden Berghen and Eugenie Vanden Berghen,
however,
that
he
hasn't
troubled
us
ing department is very tastefully fitted up with much. He has advised customers that they will of Washington, D. C, and Mary Dupont and
pretty wall paper, lace curtains, lambrequins, etc. get into trouble by purchasing our goods. He tries Clarissa Dupont, of Chicago, HI., has patented a
OTHER EXHIBITS.
to frighten them, you see, but he can't do anything. Cornet. Application filed Aug. 23, 1880. No. of
In addition to the exhibit of Chickering & Sons, We have undersold him fifty per cent and some- Patent, 249,323.
the following agents in Atlanta are looking after the times more, so that he hasn't made much by per- Henry C. Dobson, of New York, assignor to
interests of piano manufacturers: Phillips & Crew, sisting in his course, when he knows that he hasn't Catherine L. Dobson, has patented a Banjo. Ap-
of Atlanta, are exhibiting the Knabe piano, and any contract. Instead of making $500 during the plication filed June 8, 1881. No. of Patent,
249,321.
Clough & Warren organ, and the Hallet & Davis past year, I don't suppose he has pocketed §100.
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