Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
January 5th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
168
CHICAGO TRADE.
CHICAGO, December 24.
T TNFORTUNATELY, Christinas week is com-
LJ posed of dark, rainy days, -which sadly de-
press the feelings of customers, and, in a measure,
lessens the amount of business done.
IN THE COUNTRY
the bad roads have made it almost impossible for
farmers to bring their produce to market. If this
itate of things continues, the Christmas trade in
the country towns will be greatly affected.
Money must be made to circulate rapidly in the
Southwest to enable the amount of currency we
have to cover the business done. The merchants
in small towns depend upon the farmers, and the
farmers upon their marketable produce. So, in
rapid order, the few dollars obtained from the sale
of a wagon load of grain, are made to cover a large
amount of business.
The country merchant depends largely upon his
holiday trade to meet his January obligations.
The city merchant looks to the country dealers for
his claims, that he, in turn, may arrange his busi-
ness with the creditors still more to the Eastward.
Thus, this wet and disagreeable weather, with
the bad roads, is like an attack of business malaria,
when every one has the chills.
It is to be hoped, however, that this expected cli-
max may be avoided.
The largest general music house in the city has Singer's Sewing Machine Company is doing an
ninety-one persons in their employ.
enormous business, because it sells its machines
and takes weekly payments of f.3. To render it
WORKMEN.
for a small employe to buy a piano for,
Every pianoforte house in this city is obliged possible
f.50 a quarter, would .induce an extensive
to keep a goodly number of workmen, regulators say,
Messrs. Carlo, Ducci &Co.,at Florence
of action, polishers, tuners, etc., as we have not business.
Rome; Messrs. Ricordi, nt Milan, Florence and
the convenience that the factory-affords in the and
Rome, are the largest dealers in musical instru-
East.
ments in Italy, and exporters could address them,
MANUFACTURERS.
or Gaetano Zanneti, of Leghorn."
The growth of the pianoforte business in the This being official information, it has more than
West, will necessitate the establishment of factories usual interest for the manufacturers of this coun-
in this city.
try. There is no doubt that the American piano
If good instruments were made here, and could and organ have superseded the European instru-
be supplied to the trade at prices that would com- ments. Facilities for shipment are excellent now,
pete with the East, doubtless our business men and the financial arrangements are simple com-
would transfer some of their orders nearer home. pared with what they formerly were.
These orders would refer to pianos that are to
bear the agent's name.
STRAUCH BROS.
OUR MARKET.
Chicago is a good market for musical mer-
chandise, but at present there seems to be plenty
of capital already in the business to carry all the
trade that seeks this part of the country. Yet there
are new establishments that frequently take the
places of old.
PIANOFORTE ACTIONS.
AVING understood that Messrs. Strauch
Bros, had finished the addition to their
factory, our representative made a call to see how
the enlarged factory looks and examine the im-
provements. The original factory, No. 116 Ganse-
voort street, was 25x90 feet, containing four floors.
CAPITAL.
The addition, which was begun last summer and
To successfully establish a business in this city, is now completed, adds 25 feet front and a first
a larger capital would be required than some years floor 80 feet deep, and threo floors above of 50 feet
ago, for the old and well known houses offer plenty each in depth.
of competition, and the yearly expenses must The facilities for manufacture are thus largely
HOLIDAY WEEK
increased, and the large force of workmen have
in this city is a very busy season. Our music necessarily foot up to a large figure.
convenience, room, and light sufficient to enable
BUSINESS FIDELITY.
houses seem to be enjoying a full flow of prosper-
them to do their work with accuracy and dispatch.
ity. In the house of Lyon & Healy I counted
The trade of the West, however, does not run Machinery of the most practical designs for the
thirteen Steinway uprights that were ready to be in as fixed grooves as in the East, and the man purpose has been introduced by Messrs. Strauch
transported as Christmas gifts, and this was but who can offer the beat inducements is generally Bros., and is constantly being added to whenever
the result of two days' sales with this one piano sure to win, even over long established custom.
necessity calls for it.
alone.
The new life of the West is restless and change- The drying room, rooms for planing, preparing
able, and in this regard it indicates great activity and trimming the mouldings, are found on the first
MUSIC BOXES.
This is the week for the music box to show its and much competition. To hold the trade, and to floor. The floor above contains the complicated
merits, and I notice that in all our music stores gain still more, is an undertaking that requires machinery which cuts and arranges the mouldings.
there is very much activity, not only with the capital, sagacity, and constant thought. Yet the The floors above are used for clothing and leather
wants of the people will always be supplied.
boxes, but in sales.
ing, while additional rooms are used for the fin-
C. H. BRITTAN.
One house that I can mention was forced to tel-
ishing department and putting the parts of the
egraph for consignments from the New York Cus-
action together.
IMPORTANT
TO
PIANO
OR
ORGAN
MANUFAC-
tom House in order to meet demands.
Strauch Bros, make a first-class action in every
TURERS.
respect. The firm has lately patented a marked
NEW MUSIC HOUSES.
improvement, which will add security in fastening
Through my correspondence in THE MUSICAL TTNITED STATES CONSUL RICE, at Leg- the action to the rails. This patent is in the shape
LJ horn, sends the following to the State De-
CKITIC AND TRADE REVIEW, I have received some
partment: "Information has been requested by of a spring-washer, which is fastened under the
private letters in regard to the establishment of American
manufacturers as to the chances of suc- screw-head. It is well known that wood will con-
other houses in this city, and have been politely cess in the
of musical instruments tract or expand, according to atmospheric influen-
requested to give some items in regard to the cost into Italy, introduction
and particularly the parlor organ. ces. This spring-washer prevents the screw from
of doing business here.
the people of this country are not, nor ever getting loose through the shrinkage which the
It gives me pleasure to be able to afford any in- Now,
will be, partial to the organ, which they regard contraction or expansion may induce. The patent
formation that can be of service to the music trade, as
an instrument tolerable only in churches. In has been highly approved by some of the largest
and I think it will serve the best purpose if I do daily
life pianos are seen on all sides, harmoniums piano manufacturers in the country.
so thus publicly in print. The first item of con- very rarely.
A few rich people (Germans, Eng- Since the addition to the building has been made,
sideration is the
lish
or
Americans)
may buy an harmonium for a the store room, which is next to the office, has had
KENTS.
fancy, but there is no demand for them from the to be enlarged. It contains the felts, cloths, hard-
State street, from Adam street to Randolph Italians. The pianos, which are genernlly im- ware, and many small items necessary to making
street, contains four blocks of stores which are ported from Marseilles and Germany, flutes and the complete action. The value of the goods in
considered the most important for retail trade in violins made in North Italy, and Viennese brass this room alone amounts to a capital in itself.
the city.
instruments, are those in fashion at present. In Everthing in the factory of Messrs. Strauch
The price of property up these four blocks may Bupport of my views on the subject, I may in- Bros, shows evidence of discipline, as complete
be said to be the highest in the city, and, in con- stance that Mr. Gaetano Zanneti, a musical order prevails at all times. This must be due to a
sequence, rents are held at large figures. A twenty- instrument dealer here, has had some parlor or- great extent to the rule adopted by this firm, that
five-foot front building, four stories in height, gans consigned to him by American houses. Pub- no drinking or smoking is allowed at any time in
brings a rent of from $8,000 to 812,000 a year.
lic trials of them took place, and were considered the factory.
a success, but no buyers came forward. Twenty- Messrs. Strauch Bros, manufacture every part of
OUB MUSIC HOUSES
organs, manufactured by Messrs. Mason & the grand, square, and upright pianoforte action.
pay, at the present valuation, as follows: One nine
Hamlin, of Boston, valued at from f.200 to f.8000, They report the demand for upright piano actions
house, $17,000; another, $15,000; another, $8,000; have
been imported, and of these three only have as greater this year than ever before.
another, $8,500; and so on down to $4,800. These
sold by private sale. Some of these instru-
figures, unless held by long leases, will not hold been
THE GAZETTE.
have been exhibited at the Milan exhibi-
good for any number of years, for there is a great ments
tion,
and
elicited
praise.
Their
tone
was
consid-
Martin
G.
Robert,
manufacturer of musical in-
demand for stores in this portion of the city.
ered a little too high, and had to be lowered. struments, New York city, has had a judgment for
WABASH AVENUE
The agents for these organs are Messrs. Carlo, $3,204 entered against him.
stores command about one-third less rent than Ducci & Co. Probably the high price will ex- J. H. Siegel, a piano manufacturer of New York
those on State street. Three large houses have plain the fact of so few being sold, for the tone city, has given a chattel mortgage of $7,991 rental.
their quarters upon this street. Should the entire and finish of the instruments met with general R. F. Horning, a piano tuner of San Francisco,
trade combine to move to this street, much might approval. Others, made by George Woods & Co.,
be saved in rents, while the stores are as pleasant of Boston, ranging in price from f.150 to f. 1000, was recently burnt out.
C. L. Kneeland, a maker of musical instrument!,
have been imported, but the defect in tone already
and commodious.
mentioned required to be rectified. Only a few of Franklin, N. Y., recently had a judgment of
ADVERTISING.
Chicago merchants are very large advertisers, of these have been sold. What is really required $368 entered against him.
George Robert Martin, a maker of musical in-
and the music trade is no exception in this regard. here, and what would have a ready sale, are good,
One important music house spends $30,000 a year serviceable pianos, at prices ranging from 8.00 to struments, of this city, recently had a judgment
in advertising. This sum is not given as a sample $200 delivered here, and a few at $300 and over, of $796 entered against him.
of trade generally, but, as regards the music busi- upright and half-grand instruments. All the E. R. Martin, a maker of musical instruments
dealers agree that such grades would meet with in this city, recently had a judgment of $498 en-
ness, it is a large sum.
During the three weeks before the holidays, one quick sales, and eventually run off the French and tered against him.
firm spends $150 a day in advertising for the German importations. Also, if the sellers would
Christmas trade. The amount of business received sell on the three-year system, on fair terms as to
PATENTS.
interest, a great sale would certainly result. The John Camidge, of Bowmanville,
from this outlay warrants the expenditure.
Ontario, Canada,
favorite piano now in use is the Boisellot, costing has patented an organ-con pier. Application
filed
EMPLOYES.
about f.950 delivered. This is too high a price
Buyers, bookkeepers and salesmen receive about for the people. A piano, price about f.600 to July 27, 1881. Number of patent, 251,027.
the same amount of wages as are paid in other f.800, and payable in ten or a dezen installments, Stephen W. Shaw, of San Francisco, has
cities. From $1,000 to $2,500 a year may be called would succeed. Persons now hire a Boissellot at patented a piano stool. Application filed April 22,
fair figures for good men.
f. 15 to f.20 per month, and pay for tuning them. 1881. Number of patent, 251,0Gy.
H