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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
314
The following correspondence, in connection
with this subject, will undoubtedly interest the
trade:
OSTON manufacturers are reporting con-
CAMBRIDGEPORT, April 14, 1882.
tinued activity in business, factories all run- Mr. Geo. W. Garter:
ning full up to capacity, and even then, in many
DEAR SIR—Seeing your advertisement in to-day's
instances, they are unable to fill the orders that Herald for a man to take charge of your key fac-
are constantly received from all sections of the tory, I would say I have had thirty-two years' ex-
Union, Canada, and from foreign countries.
perience in making keys, but as my business does
As will be seen below, the representative of not pay me anything, I would like to obtain a
THE MusicAii CBITIC AND TRADE REVIEW has seen place to work for a salary, so I would know just
most of them, and they are all agreed in general what I would receive. If you should conclude to
regarding the present activity in the piano and accept me, please let me know when you would
organ business.
wish me to commence, and oblige
The great demand for instruments last fall and
Yours, respectfully,
winter depleted the stocks of the dealers through-
S. TOWER.
out the country, and they were short of goods in
Please
let
me
know
what
salary
you
would pay.
most cases, as the manufacturers could not sup-
BOSTON, April 15, 1882.
ply them, not being prepared for the "rush."
It is probable that a system of replenishing has Mr. Sylvester Tower:
MY DEAR SIR—Your favor of the 14th inst. at
been going on, and this, in conjunction with an in-
crease which naturally keeps pace with the grow- hand. In reply would say: My long acquaint-
ing country, must account for this activity. It is a ance with you as a fellow-workman in the key
healthy activity, as few failures are reported, and, business would lead me to select a man with less
in fact, business embarrassments in the piano and experience in this particular line to make a suc-
cess of the key trade. Aside from this, I could
organ line are now rare.
not employ you on account of your eonnection
GEO. WOODS A 00.
with the Labor Union. I do not think you would
I am, truly yours,
This is one of the busiest firms, Mr. Stohrer answer the purpose.
GEO. W. CARTER.
stating that the trade in pianos is very lively. Of
late it seemed as if foreign trade had relaxed
"This was one of our earliest applicants," said
somewhat, but this might have been due to ad- Mr. Carter.
justments of tariff laws that were being discussed In answer to a question regarding the piano
in several European countries, which would affect trade, Mr. Carter stated that the factory was run-
their colonies.
ning day and night to fill orders.
Lately, however, foreign trade has become very
"We have nearly reached the old number that
active again. The firm is just packing thirty we turned out before the strike," he said. "We
organs to ship partly to Australia and partly to are doing our utmost to please our agents, but a
Jamaica. Thero will be three new styles of organ great many complain because we cannot turn them
cases ready soon, which they expect to dispose of out fast enough. Here is a letter from S. Hamil-
rapidly in the trade.
ton, Pittsburg: 'I feel sure we could sell 150 to
200 or more of your pianos this year if we could
VOSM & SONS.
get the stock.' Our new Cincinnati agents, D. S.
This firm reports trade as excellent. They are Johnston & Co., want sixty pianos a week. This
getting out a new catalogue, -which will be ready is going to be a live concern. Business is unusu-
about July 1, if not earlier. It is the opinion of ally active with us, and we expect it to continue
Mr. Vose, Sr., that trade will certainly continue in so."
this steady manner until summer.
NEW ENGLAND ORGAN CO.
NEW ENGLAND PIANO CO.
We were handed a special illustrated catalogue
Although one of the youngest piano manufac- just issued by the New England Organ Company,
turing establishments in the country, this firm is containing some of the most beautiful and unique
already in great favor with the trade. Mr. Scan- designs in organ architecture. The organs made
Ian has had great successs in his undertaking, by this firm are known as artistic creations in this
and is constantly receiving new inquiries and field of industry, the tone being pure, powerful,
and rich, and the combinations effective, while
orders which he cannot at present fill.
great attention is bestowed upon styles and designs
To use his own words, "I have made no efforts; in
case-making department. The mechan-
the business has come to me as fast as I could ex- ical their
that are constantly added are
pect; in fact, faster." The representative of THE sure improvements
to
make
their
goods specially attractive.
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW examined a
are in constant progress at the fac-
square piano which was just ready for shipment, Experiments
their best results are immediately
and found the quality of tone rich and resonant, tory, and
to the instruments. The catalogue con-
a real musical quality, and the touch smooth and applied
nine illustrations showing their latest special
elastic. With such pianos among the dealers the tains
designs. Mr. McLaughlin reports business ex-
company is assured of success.
ceedingly brisk, and expects it to remain so for
the present.
WOODWARD A BBOWN.
C. C. BRIGGS k CO.
"To me it is really remarkable that business
keeps up so steady as it does," said Mr. Arthur Mr. C. E. Woodman, who attends to the outside
Woodward.
interests of this house, has just been through
"We cannot get our full complement of stock Missouri and Kansas, having left Kansas City for
for our warerooms, as we are busy shipping."
St. Paul and the Northwest.
Mr. Woodward is under the impression that In the sections he has visited he has secured
the activity will continue until near midsummer; some of the best and most active agents that are
at least, he sees no reason why it should not.
to be found,—letters received from them by the
The firm has been continuously busy since the firm here being of the most flattering nature in
fall of last year, and is now running at full ca- regard to the quality of the instruments made by
pacity.
them.
EMERSON PIANO CO.
They show that the Briggs piano is getting an
The Emerson Piano Company will start the excellent reputation in the trade. Says Mr.
manufacturing of keys about June 1 in a building Briggs, Jr.: "Both the appearance and the style
separate from the piano factory. They will prob- of our pianos, as well as their quality, are pro-
ably make all the keys which W. W. Kimball will nounced superior by such houses as have had
require for his Chicago organ factory, being in the an opportunity of testing our instruments. The
small upright we are making is sought for in
neighborhood of 8,000 sets per annum.
Mr. Carter states that he is assured of getting a large quantities. These styles keep us very busy.
certain part of the trade here, as some members They can also be utilized for renting purposes.
of it have been to see him already on the subject. They are not made on a cheap basis, the same
Ivory and celluloid keys will be made, and a new quality of material being used in their construc-
material will be usod, of which Mr. Carter did not tion that we use in our large pianos."
wish to say more at this time than that, in his
WM. BOURNE A SON.
opinion, it is the best substitute for ivory that has
come under his observation. There is no danger
Business is reported steady by this firm.
of its burning, it will retain its color, and is elastic.
"We don't depend altogether on our wholesale
The firm advertised about the beginning of the trade," remarked Mr. Bourne, Jr. "In this we
month for workmen, and have now secured some differ from most firms here. Our retail trade is
of the best hands that work on keys and key- very large in this section of the country, and it
boards.
keeps us busy all the time. We could sell pianos
"I made up my mind a long time ago to go into in large quantities if we would accept certain fig-
this business," said Mr. Geo. W. Carter, of the ures offered by large Western dealers, but our
firm. "We could not depend on Tower, and Corn- policy is to sell less and be independent of houses
stock, Cheney & Co. were too busy."
unless they decide upon paying better prices.
BOSTON TRADE,
B
May 5th, 1882.
Materials are going up in price, and consequently
we must advance the price of pianos. You will see
that prices will take a rise, and that in a very short
time."
SMITH AMERICAN ORGAN CO.
Trade was never more brisk than at present
with this company. A month ago 300 organs
were sent in one shipment to Kansas City, and. on
the day that the representative of THE MUSICAL
CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW was at the office he was
shown a dispatch from that place ordering twenty-
five additional organs of one style, besides 104
organs for which orders had been received by
noon on that day from all over the country.
WORCESTER TRADE.
T)ROPHECIES regarding spring trade have been
X. fulfilled, as far as the manufacturing interests
of this place are concerned, for the factories are
running up to full time, and in some instances
overtime, in order to get anywhere near supply-
ing the demand.
THE LORING A BLAKE ORGAN CO.
This company has now recovered from the
effects of the disastrous conflagration, and is rap-
idly completing an addition to the factory build-
ing, which will be five stories high and seventy-
five feet long. It will be ready for occupancy
about June 1.
The offices have been luxuriously furnished and
have an artistic appearance; large busts of Beeth-
oven, Mozart, Meyerbeer, and Mendelssohn adorn
the room, while Cary and Kellogg are cared for in
excellent photographs. Business is very active,
the firm being unable to fill all its orders.
MUNROE ORGAN REED CO.
This company is full up with business, and is
now employing over two hundred hands.
Enlargement of manufacturing facilities are in
contemplation, which, when finished, will give
several thousand square feet of room, which the
company finds it necessary to have. Stairways
and elevators will be placed on the exterior of the
building, and the space they occupy now in the in-
terior will thus be gained.
Mr. Muuroe has lately been absent a good deal
in the interests of the business.
THE TABER ORGAN OO.
Says Mr. A. C. Emnions, one of the most com-
petent men in the organ trade, who has been
connected with the company for some time: "I
had to come home a few weeks ago, as there was
DO necessity for my remaining on the road, as the
orders I sent in could not be filled at present.
Let me show you: We had orders on our books for
eighty organs for California, and we have just re-
ceived another order for forty more. We are about
taking possession of a room we have secured, which
will enable us to increase our capacity from one-
third to one-half. Our new catalogue has just
come out, and we began mailing it yesterday to
agents and dealers for selection. Trade is excel-
lent and constantly growing."
E. P. CARPENTER.
Carpenter is a live business man. He has just
given a contract to L. C. Clark for manufacturing
all of the Carpenter organ cases. Clark has taken
a large factory building four stories high. Mr.
Carpenter expects to take possession of his New
York office and warerooms, No. 7 West Fourteenth
street, about May 1. He has made a pipe-top,
two-manual pedal organ of elegant design and ex-
quisite tone, which reflects great credit upon his
skill and ingenuity.
THE TAYLOR A FARLEY ORGAN CO.
This company reports business as very lively,
aud orders are ahead of delivery. New and hand-
some designs of organs have been completed which
please the trade, both on account of exterior finish
and quality of tone.
Mr. Mclntire, of the company, states that the
present is one of the most active spring seasons
they have ever experienced.
Arthur Lavigne, piano dealer in Quebec, writes
under date of April 20: ' 'On the first of May I shall
move into a fine, large store, about three times
larger than the one I am occupying now. The inside
dimensions are 31x90 feet, with two windows of
12 1-2x6 1-3 feet, making the finest show in our
city. The building is five stories high, the two
first flats at the frontage being formed by five
stone columns 35 feet high. I shall have a repair
shop in the rear of the store, and a varnish room
under the superintendence of Mr. Hutcheson.
The repair shop will be furnished with the best
tools."