I 26
THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org,
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ANOTHER OF THE MUSIC TRADE RE-
VIEWS EXTENDED TOURS.
No. II.
NOKWALK AND TOLEDO, OHIO ; CHESTERTON, IND. ;
OEAND KAPIDS, MICH. ; CHICAGO AND QUINCT,
ILL,. AND KANSAS CIT.Y, MO.
As I proceed Westward I receive nothing but
llattering accounts of the present condition of trade.
There is no great boom in business, but a good,
steady, reliable trade which keeps the manufacturer
running full time. I notice, also, a tendency among
the dealers who can afford it to buy for cash or on
short time. They say, and rightly, too, that they
can get the goods much cheaper, save a great deal of
worry and confusion, and at any time know just how
they stand. The manufacturers also tell me that
there has not been a time in years when they have
done as large a cash business as at present. I sin-
cerely trust that this condition of affairs will con-
tinue, for it is high time that the long-note system
was done away with.
The A. B. Chase Co., Norwalk, Ohio, have already
proven the wisdom of adding the manufacture of
pianos to their organ business. Their pianos have
only been before they public a short time, yet the
company have secured some of the largest agents in
the country. It is generally the case that when a
firm commences to make pianos the dealers are slow
to take the agency, preferring to wait until the
pianos have been before the public a year or two
and received the people's judgment. The A. B. Chase
Company have, however, gone to work in the right
way. Their superintendent, Mr. Moore, visited all
the principal places where the leading pianos are
made. Being a thorough business man, with a prac-
tical knowledge of the piano trade, he at once saw
what the public demanded. He formed his own ideas,
but not like many manufacturers, who have tried and
failed, he did not depend upon his own ideas and
knowledge to carry his firm to success. After acquir-
ing the ideas desired, he at once went to work and
secured the services of piano workmen of experience,
who had never done anything but first-class work.
Thus he was enabled to have the right kind of help
to carry out his designs. The success of the piano
is, in a measure, due to this foresight of Mr. Moore.
It was a pleasure to me to make a tour of the fac-
tory and personally examine every detail in the man-
ufacture of the A. B. Chase piano. I was given free
access to every room in the large manufactory and
permitted to go wherever I liked, examine every
article in course of construction and ask what ques-
tions of the workmen I pleased.
There are many improvements in the A. B. Chase
piano which are of great importance, and which will
not be found in any other piano. There is not any
kind of material used in the construction of the in-
strument but what is of the very best quality the
market affords. The posts in the back of the piano
(a part of the instrument which some manufacturers
are apt to slight) are made of three inch ash, with
seven-eighth inch pine on each side, which adds
greatly to the strength. They have a double music-
holder; one on the fall board for persons who desire
the music close to the keys, the other is the regular
music rack formed by the center fretwork. The ven-
eers used by the firm certainly deserve notice. They
use nothing under l-2Oth of an inch, which is above
the average, many firms going as thin as l-30th of
an inch. All parts of their cases are crossband work,
except the top, and this is veneered. The bottom
frame, on which the keyboard rests, is made up out
of ni e pieces glued together, thus preventing any
possibility of the keyboard springing. I don't think
I ever saw this in any other piano, but the advisa-
bility of it can at once be seen.
The tone of the piano is all the most exacting
could demand. It is a mellow yet full tone, and one
admirably adapted for the voice. I do not hesitate
to say that the A. B. Chase piano is in every respect
a first-class instrument, and one bound to meet with
a wonderful success.
The organ business of the company is very good.
They appear to keep right up with the times, and are
getting out some handsome styles in rosewood,
mahogany and walnut. All their cases are finished
up so that they are almost equal to those of pianos.
I will now come back to business. Messrs. Whit
ney & Currier report their trade in a very satisfac-
tory condition. They tell me that they are doing a
larger cash business than at any time for a number
of years. Their trade extends over a large amount
of territory in the West, and requires a great amount
of capital to carry it on successfully. The firm have
just received tlie first Roiirdman & Gray grand piano
manufactured since their fire. It will be remem-
bered that their fire destroyed all their grand scales,
and new ones had to bo drawn. It is no easy matter
to draw a perfect scale for a grand piano, and the
concern would not place any grand piano upon the
market until it had been thoroughly tested and
found equal in quality and tone to the old ones man-
ufactured by them. This, their first one pre-ented
to the public since the fire, appears to be perfect in
every respect, and we believe as nearly like the old
ones as it is possible to make it. I also noticed a
handsome upright of this same firms make, the case
of which is made of irapoited Circassian walnut, and
one of only two ever made by the firm. The grain of
the wood is very attractive, and the piano will un-
doubtedly be sold for a good round figure, and the
purchaser will be considered lucky in obtaining an
instrument with a good tone with a novel case.
*
C. 0. Hillstrom & Co., Chesterton, Ind., are hav
ing all he orders they can fill. The senior member
of this firm spentseveral months abroad this season,
* •
I wish to diverge, right here, from the topics of and the consequences are that the firm are having
the music trade, and say a few words in regard to the quite a lar.e foreign trade. T»« Hillstrom organ
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R.R. The pass- has also obtained a strong foothold into the Eastern
engers on this line are compelled to pay as high fare, States, notwithstanding the freights are greatly
to say the least, as on any road between New York against the Western maker. This matter of freights
and Chicago ; yet the accommodations they receive seems to me'to bo entirely wrong. An Eastern man-
are, as a general thing, even worse than is given emi- ufacturer can construct his goods and ship them
grants on most other lines. It is an actual fact that West with one-half the freight charges that the
the car I rode in from Bufialo to Norwalk was in a Wostern maker has to pay to ship his goods East.
very dilapidated condition—not fit to set up in a There is no good excuse for this, and something
small country town as a photograph gallery. The ought to be done to remedy this wrong, as it seriously
hampers the Western manufacturer, and, in a certain
lighting apparatus consisted of just four old
fashioned lamps, two on each side of the car, and I measure, limits his territory, thus giving his com-
will venture to say that the chimneys of said lamps petitor in the East a great advantage.
had not seen water for at least a week previous.
*
* *
When a person boards the train for a six or eight
The Chase Bros. Piano Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.,
hours' run, it is not very pleasant to sit all the way
have
made many improvements in their pianos since
and stare into vacancy, and it is the natural thing to
my
last
visit. Their wholesale trade, they tell me,
occupy the mind with some sort of literature. Head-
is
excellent,
and the retail trade has increased so
ing, however, on the train I occupied was wholly out
much
that
they
intend, in a few days, to open ware-
of the question, unless the party read by the light of
rooms
in
the
heart
of the city for the convenience ol
a cigar, which was much more powerful than that
their
friends
and
patrons.
derived from any one of the lamps. The Lake Shore
Mr. Chase, senior, is at present traveling through
road has a good passenger traffic, and they ought to
the
Western States, and, as I am informed, is meet-
be considerate enough to at least furnish their
ing
with
good success.
patrons with a well-lighted and comfortable car.
*
*
* *
The New Union Depot at Toledo is another
source of great annoyance and inconvenience to
the traveling public. It is situated about a mile
from the city, and in a lonely and disreputable part
of the town. I inquired of many of the passengers
and also of the residents of Toledo, and they all ex-
pressed deep regret at the change. The old depot
was right in the heart of the city, and satisfactory to
every one coming to town on business. The reason
given me for the change, by some of the railroad
officials, is that it is much more convenient for the
railroads. Well, suppose that to be the case, is it a
good reason ? Are not the railroads supposed to
cater to the convenience of the traveling public ?
I.was told that the Michigan Central will shortly build
their own depot nearly on the same ground of the
old one. If such is the case they will certainly
secure the patronage of all passengers who can possi-
bly travel on their road.
CHICAGO.
The music trade n Chicago has reached such pro
portions that I can hardly give a fair review of it
this one issue. Most of the leading Eastern manu-
facturers have established branches here. These
houses carry a stock of goods equal to those East
and the dealers from the West and Northwest come
here to select their stock, and are supplied without
a journey to New York. Chicago has also become
quite a manufacturing city for musical instruments.
New concerns frequently start up, and they all seem
to be doing a good, profitable business. Organs have
been largely manufactured here for a number of
years, but piano-making to any great extent is new.
I have always contended that, with the right kind of
workmen, a piano could be made here which would
prove to be a success", and fully as cheap, to say the
least, as in the East. It is proven that I have been