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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
March 20th, 1882.
It is seemingly characteristic of the American
Grands, one a parlor grand, the last style being a
people to permit themselves to be humbugged.
concert grand.
They cannot be blamed very much, for any one
The latest style is an ebonized Baby Grand,
who reads the flaming advertisements of the
called by the firm the "Black Baby." The gen-
PROSPERITY
OF
A
WELL-KNOWN
PIANO
MAN-
•'Honorable," and have long articles of his Mayor-
eral design of this instrument is very unique and
UFACTURING FIRM.
ship thrust in their faces, should almost consider
at the same time artistic. The case, as stated, is
it an honor to have dealings with such a noted
ebonized and is subdivided into carved panels that
person.
A LARGE INCREASE OF BUSINESS DURING THE PAST are ornamented with gilt lines and relief work.
The form of the case is exceedingly graceful.
TEN YEARS—IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR MAN-
They imagine that Washington, N. J., must be
UFACTURE—LATEST IMPROVEMENTS
the London of America, as they hardly ever read
An elaborate desk, in strict conformity with the
IN MACHINERY—DESCRIP-
of the Mayors, etc., of such villages as New York,
general design, adds to the beautiful appearance
TION OP THE
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, or Chicago.
which this instrument makes. The legs are dif-
FACTORY.
ferent from any we have yet seen and are entirely
It is surely time that such misrepresentations as
original in design. I t is in such work as this that
he sets forth in his advertisements should be
brought to light, and I know of no better medium rp^HE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW, of Messrs. Sohmer & Co. display excellent taste, and
than your worthy paper, THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND X February 20, announced that Messrs. Sohmer can therefore be counted upon to meet the require-
ments of an age that is artistic in musical instru-
TBADE REVIEW.
Very respectfully,
& Co. had secured the building formerly occupied ments,
furniture, and household decorations.
EDWARD T. PAULL.
by Needham & Son, on 23d street, between Lex-
ington and 3d avenues. Since then Messrs. Soh- As to the tone and touch and general workman-
A gentleman living in Topeka, Kan., writes:
ship, the three requisites which we quote from the
" I sent by express, May 28, to D. F. Beatty mer & Co. have taken possession of the factory.
This enterprising and well-known firm of piano catalogue of Messrs. Sohmer & Co., it need only
$ BO, and he received the money, but failed to send
be stated that this piano, as well as their concert
the organ. Is there any such firm in Washington, manufacturers has been located during the last ten grands, are constructed with a view to adhere to
N. J., or not, and are they reliable? or what is the years at Nos. 149 to 155 East 14th street, corner of the principles adopted by the firm in the manu-
matter? I think this a great way to do for a firm 3d avenue, the building being 100x50 feet in ex- facture of pianos.
that makes 500 organs a day, and can't fill a cash tent.
The factory was located on the upper four floors, The success which this firm has had in the past
order sent last May. I think there was fraud
while the warerooms, offices and shipping rooms was due in part to the many business qualities it
somewhere."
occupied the ground floor. Two years ago the possesses, besides a general knowledge of the
firm was pushed for room to such an extent that manufacture of pianos, but more than anything
WORCESTER TRADE.
the building on the opposite corner was secured, else must their success be attributed to the con-
LORING A BLAKE ORGAN CO.
and by this time the trade had so largely increased scientious manner in which the instruments were
manufactured, their aim having been to build an
fTWERYTHING is again in working order in that the new factory on 23d street was taken.
instrument which would satisfy the musical world
t^J Loring & Blake's factory, and in about two
Our illustration on the opposite page represents and which at the same time would be so substan-
weeks the office will be removed back to the build- the two factories, the upper one being the building
ing from its temporary location, corner of Lincoln corner of 14th street and 3d avenue, containing the tially built that its durability could not be ques-
tioned. Their pianos are favorites with many
square and Summer street.
finishing departments, with warerooms and offices
The insurance has been adjusted. Organs made below, where they will remain, and the lower cut well-known musicians, who use them in public
and in private; and it is the musician's choice of
entirely of stock that was not in the building at shows the new factory on 23d street.
a piano for his private use that is the best test of
the time of the fire are now being shipped by the
This new factory is not a new building, having the two.
company. A greater portion of the stock on hand been constructed some time ago by Messrs. Need-
With the enlarged facilities, there is no doubt
was either destroyed or damaged by fire or water, ham & Sons for the purpose of manufacturing
that Messrs. Sohmer & Co. will continue to in-
and could not be used. Six hundred orders ahead organs.
indicate the busy condition of affairs with this
Every necessary advantage for the construction crease their present flourishing business.
company.
of instruments is found here, there being light on
OUR CIRCULATION.
TAYLOR A FARLEY ORGAN CO.
all sides, as the building is not connected with any
OME of our contemporaries are stating the ex-
others.
The
latest
and
most
improved
machinery
In common with the other organ companies,
tent of their respective circulation, giving fig-
for heavy woodwork, for sawing and
this company reports great activity in its business. necessary
ures, certificates from printers, and other convinc-
planing,
is
distributed
in
the
various
parts
of
the
Orders are constantly pouring in, and the factory building, thus enabling the firm to make their ing proofs, so that we feel that it is but right to
is running up to its full capacity.
let the public know how widely THE MUSICAL
cases in the most substantial manner.
Among the latest improved styles turned out, is
One of the special features which induced Messrs. CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW is read.
a new style of chapel organ of handsome design.
Therefore we present the following facts and
Also a new kind of their style, 134 organ, made of Sohmer & Co. to secure this factory was the exact figures:
and perfect machinery which was placed there by
ebony and gilt, and also of black walnut.
We have been steadily receiving for more than
former owners. There are also large and com-
Their style 132 has also been altered, and is now the
two years an average of one hundred new subscri-
modious
rooms
for
varnishing
and
veneering
pur-
one of the handsomest in the catalogue. All these poses on the upper floors. In addition, Messrs. bers every day. That is seven hundred every week.
new styles have been turned out since January.
Sohmer & Co. have been at great expense to pro- This journal has been in existence about three
vide new machinery, such as would enable them years, or one hundred and fifty-six weeks, so
TABER ORGAN CO.
to make all styles of pianos in the most approved that with seven hundred new subscribers every
Mr. Taber tells us that the company are receiving manner.
week, we now have a total of one hundred and nine
their full complement of orders. Their trade in
thousand, two hundred subscribers. And this tre-
An
eighty-horse
power
engine
operates
the
mo-
the far West, especially on the Pacific Coast, has
mendous list is steadily increasing.
become extensive; orders for the Taber organ from tive power. The building is 78x100, five stories
Besides our subscription list, we ba\;e an average
San Francisco have been very large. "We expect high, and is a conspicuous structure in that part sale per issue on newsstands, etc., of five hundred
of the city in which it is located.
a very active spring trade," said Mr. Taber.
Messrs. Sohmer & Co. are known as manufac- thousand copies—more or less.
J. MC TAMMANY.
turers whose energy and progressive views on the The above shows a total circulation of more than
six hundred thousand copies. As each copy is
Mr. McTammany is very busy. The day we Hubject of piano manufacture lead them to apply read on an average by thirty people, it will be seen
the
very
latest
and
best
improvements
to
the
man-
called he showed us orders for fifty-nine organettes
that our circulation is virtually one million eight
and 1,700 feet of music that had been received ufacture of pianos. This principle has been pur- hundred thousand copies, and we trust that this
sued by them since they first started business, and
before noon of that day.
statement will forever settle the question of cir-
"If we sold on installments I know we could dis- to it a great part of their success is due.
In the latest illustrated catalogue issued by the culation among musical newspapers.
pose of one thousand instruments per week," said
If any one questions the correctness of our state-
Mr. McTammany; "but in view of the recent de- firm we find the following sentence:
ment, we shall only be too happy to show them
"Every
piano
ought
to
be
judged
as
to
the
qual-
cision in the courts, which compels the return of
the above figures whenever they may call at our
half of the money paid, we are not disposed to do ity of its tone, its touch, and its workmanship; if office.
any
one
of
these
is
wanting
in
excellence,
however
that kind of business."
Business is exceptionally good. Mr. McTam- good the others may be, the instrument will be
The proposed International Exhibition of Mu-
many is getting up a double-reed, four-octave auto- imperfect."
sical Instruments in Berlin for the year 1883 has
It
seems
to
us
that
this
sentence
covers
the
matic organ, which, with its improvements, will
made two decided steps of progress. The money
ground in. a more concise manner than any extend- has been provided and the committee has been
eclipse anything yet produced. He says:
ed
verbiage
can
possibly
do
it.
selected, which latter is to consist of Hermann
"The model which we exhibited and the explan-
The catalogue contains the cuts and descriptions Heiser, pianoforte maker, Berlin, president; Ernst
ation of the principles which will govern this new
addition to the organettes, is a great improvement of the various styles of "Sohmer" pianos. They Kaps, pianoforte maker to the Court, Dresden;
now manufacture six styles of square pianos, four Adolf Lexow, maker of piano mechanisms, Berlin;
on anything we have hitherto seen."
of uprights, and four of grand pianos. The two Julius Pfaffe, pianoforte maker to the Court,
smallest styles are 6 feet 8 inches long by 3 feet 3 Berlin; William Saner, organ builder, Frankfort-
PATENT SUITS WITHDRAWN.
inches wide, and have seven octaves. The four on-the-Oder; William Schoenloin, pianoforte
n p H E matter of Steinway & Sons against the other styles are 6 feet 9)4 inches long by 3 feet 6% maker, Berlin; Dr. Moritz Reiter, Berlin, secre-
JL Emerson Piano Company and Henry F. Mil- inches wide, and have seven and one-third octaves," tary. Temporary offices, Skalitzerstrasse 54c, Ber-
ler, of Boston, in regard to the infringement of all of the pianos containing their patent agraffe lin S.O. The Royal Chamberlaia and Director of
patent of upright piano actions, has been amicably arrangement, the same running through the entire Theatres, Botho von Hiilsen, has been offered and
adjusted and the suits withdrawn. We are glad scale in the seven and one-third octave pianos.
has accepted the position of honorary president.—
these matters have been pleasantly settled, for we
The first four styles have front round corners, London Musical Opinion and Music Trade Re-
would rather see our friends in the musiu trades while the two last styles have four round corners, view.
engaged in selling many pianos than spending busi- and are finished all around.
The Capitol Organ and Sewing Machine Com-
ness hours in courts of law.
The upright pianos or cabinet grands have seven
and one-third octaves, and are three-stringed, and pany has been organized at Montpelier, Vt., by
Messrs. J. F. Waterman and J. P. Donovan.
William E. Andrews, Biddeford, Me., music have repeating actions. Styles ten, the last of the
Messrs. Stedman
upright styles, are made of various kinds of wood.
dealer, is closing up.
Some of these cases are rosewood, some are made wound strings for musical instruments, on State
Edmund H. Gray, Boston. Mass., has given a of ebony, and some of burl walnut.
.street, Cam Bridgeport, Mass. They aio doing a
chattel mortgage for $600 on his opera house.
There are four styles of grands, two being Baby rushing business.
SOHMER & CO.'S NEW FACTORY.