Music Trade Review

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2l8
culiar methods of this pretended advocate of "honest
dealing."
It appears thatHn his assumed zeal to search out and
•expose fraud, he went to Savannah, Ga. (or made use
of a local accomplice), and there found among the
clroulars and catalogues of Ludden & Bates, some-
thing upon which, in his issue of the 6th and 13th of
January, he trumped up charges, which in substance
were as follows:
1st. That the instrument known as the " Ludden &
Bates piano " was not manufactured by [them, but
was merely a "stencil piano."
2d. That their well known Arion piano was also a
oheap " stencil piano," and could be bought for $125
or $130. There were other minor charges and severe
strictures on the method pursued by,Ludden& Bates
in the conduct of their business. But not content
with those apparently libelous statements, there
were actually sent from the office of the Mu-
aical Courier about one hundred marked copies to
music teachers, prominent citizens and leading'busi-
ness houses in the South (whose names and addresses
had doubtless been obtained from a Southern accom-
plice), evidently for the purpose of injuring the good
name of Ludden & Bates in a community where this
unscrupulous sheet is comparatively unknown.
Mr. J. A. Bates, the energetic business manager of
Ludden & Bates' Southern Music House, naturally
being indignant on seeing these false and malicious
charges, sent the Musical Courier a sharp and decisive
letter, stating the falsity of all the charges and
offering the bonus of $1,000 cash to the M. C. for the
shipment of a stipulated number of the Arion pianos
at a price considerably advanced from that named
by the Courier, at the same time offering to sub-
stantiate his statements with ample testimony. But
the editor of the Musical Courier, in commenting on
the letter, became personally abusive, and pretending
to doubt the veracity of Mr. Bates, still persisted in
repeating his charges; whereupon a committee of
" honorable, disinterested aud representative busi-
ness men " of Savannah were invited to fully investi-
gate the business methods of Ludden & Bates, and
report the facts as they found them.
In making their report, completely justifying the
course of L. & B., these gentlemen said, in part, as
follows: "We went through your warerooms and
saw for ourselves that every Arion bore the name of
J. P. Hale & Co., as its maker, just over the key-
board and below the word ' Arion,' where the pur-
chaser could not possibly fail to see it. As to the
charge of your wrongfully claiming to manufacture
the ' Ludden & Bates piano,' we have only to say that
sufficient documentary evidence was put into our
hands to convince us that you did manufacture those
pianos, and have nothing to retract in the claim."
Much more might be added to the same import, but
this will suffice.
With this unquestionable evidence before him the
editor of the Courier, as is his custom when he finds
himself in a position where it is impossible to con-
trovert indisputable facts, dodges the main points at
issue and devotes himself to a vain attempt to sully
the character of the gentlemen composing the in-
vestigating committee.
What this audacious pretender attempted to ac-
complish with Ladden & Bates, of Savannah, Ga.,
he has already several times tried with different deal-
ers and manufacturers of this city, and no doubt is
preparing for others who are not on his list of adver-
tisers. But fortunately his peculiar characteristics
are here so well known that no one notices his vile
attacks. Indeed, it may fairly be questioned whether
a complimentary notice in the columns of the Musi-
cal Courier is not rather to be feared than desired by
our city deaiers and manufacturers, whom he has
already attacked by absurd criticisms and accusa-
tions, as it would immediately suggest a suspicion
that hush money had been employed in the matter,
or there was some fraud to be concealed, and some
imposition to be thrown upon the public.
If Ludden & Bates still desire him to retract his
charges (which would probably be to their advant-
age), we would whisper to them to present no more
facts. These will effect nothing, but only hint at a
big ad., and, presto, the thing is done.
We have him on the list! He will not be missed!!
—Art Journal.
CHRISTIE & SON, New York, have established ware-
rooms with George W. Herbert, on Seventeenth
street, between Fifth avenue and Union Square. The
firm invite dealers visiting the city to call and exam-
ine their goods.
—
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
TO THE PUBLIC.
UR attention has been called to several cards,
which have recently appeared in the Mont-
gomery [Advertiser, signed by Minderhout &
Nichols (the local agents of Ludden & Bates' Savan-
nah house, which is being exposed by the New York
Musical Courier for selling stenciled pianos and for
denouncing their competitors as swindlers) in which
they denounce us and our dealers as unscrupulous,
irresponsible, and unprincipled, and that we manu-
facture, offer, and sell bogus pianos. We wish to in-
form the public that the statement of the above
named firm is an outrageous falsehood, and we shall
take legal steps for redress.
Prof. E. L. Merriam's letter in the Advertiser of
the 7th inst., to the effect that his acquaintance with
the Mathushek piano and its manufacturers dates
from 1867, and that he had endorsed the pianos at
that time over his signature, as published in the cir-
*cular of the Mathushek Piano Company, of New Ha-
ven, Conn., is another feather in our cap, as said tes-
timonial "was given to our Mr. Frederick Mathushek
while he was manufacturing the pianos which were
endorsed at that time by Mr. Merriam. Since then,
as was stated in the card of G. L. Werth & Co., on
the 5th inat., the proprietorship of the New Haven
Company has changed hands, and Mr. Mathushek
has not been connected with them since 1870, (now
about fifteen years), and is not responsible for work
turned out by them since.
O
MATHUSHEK & SON.
New York, Feb. 13, 1886.
THE LIEDERKRANZ BALL.
GOY. HILL AND GOY. ABBETT TAKE PART
IN THE FESTIVITIES AT THE
OPERA HOUSE.
IT is really time that some measures were taken
to supress Arthur Woodward, of Woodward & Brown,
in Boston. He is getting to be altogether too far
above the rest of us common folks, and to see him
flourish about Tremont street, now, that he has been
presented with a son and heir, makes one want to
devise some means of taking him off his high horse.
His boy baby was born a few weeks ago and com-
plies a trio—two girls and one boy.
We can only say that if this boy grows to man-
hood and is at all like his father, he will be noted for
his kindliness, honesty and open-heartedness. Mr.
A. W. Colbrun, of Northboro, Mass., the manu-
facturer of sharps for the musio trade, called on us
the other day and informed us that he too had re-
cently came into the possession of a fine boy. Both
he and Woodward exhibit a naturally buoyant dis-
position under these circumstances.
AL. LERTZ, of the firm of R. Lertz, Baltimore, Md.,
has been making quite a stay in the city, selecting
stock for the spring trade. Mr. Lertz is a thorough
business-man, and connected with one of the oldest
and strongest houses in Baltimore. The warerooms,
which are situated at 60 North Howard street, are
among the finest in the city, and splendidly located.
Mr. Lertz handles the Chickering, Bourne, and
Wheelock pianos, and the Bay State organs.
C D. PEASE, New York, has received application,
from a party in Paris, to sell the patent of his glass
panel for all France, and has been offered a large sum.
This invention of Mr. Pease is an excellent improve-
ment in the piano, and will, no doubt, before long, be
used by many firms. The material used in making
this glass panel has to be obtained in Belgium, and
cut there the exact size for the piano. It is then
shipped here and made up. The firm here who manu-
facture these panels have sent a man to Belgium, ex-
pressly to select the right color and thickness for
Mr. Pease.
J. BURNS BROWN has in his possession the oldest
T
HE ball of the Liederkranz Society at the Met-
ropolitan Opera House last evening was in
every way a success. No attempt was made
at decorating, the managers relying on the effect pro-
duced by hundreds of rich costumes. At eleven
o'clock the boxes were filled and the galleries crowd-
ed. At 10.30 o'clock Gov. Hill with his staff entered
and was given a place in Mr. William Steinway's box.
Shortly after, Gov. Leon Abbett, of New Jersey, ar-
rived, and was shown to box No. 49. The procession
was one long train of people dressed in the costumes
of all nations and all climes, and was certainly up to
the usual magnificence of the Liederkranz Society.
Among the occupants of the boxes were Mr. and
Mrs. William Steinway, Police Commissioner Stephen
B. French, Judge George C. Barrett, Hubert O.
Thompson, Mr. and Mrs Martin B. Brown, Frederick
H. Gould, Carl Otto Peters, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. F.
Koch, Mr. Henry G. F. Koch, Mr._and Mrs. Frederick
W. Thompson, Mr. Adolph Reissenberg, Mr. and Mrs.
Palemberg, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Kauffleld and Rastus
S. Ransom. The captain and staff of the Austrian
frigate Donau were also present. After the proces-
sion the dancing floor was cleared, and after toasting
in flowing bumbers in the supper room the health of
Prince Carnival, the Opera House was given over to
the dancing couples and kept in possession by them
until near daylight.
WE never saw the time at this season of the year
when so many representatives of the music trade
have visited the city. Among those who have re-
cently been here we may mention. Walter D. Moses,
Richmond, Va.; G. W. Early, Baltimore, Md.; Fred.
Schrawdenback, Morristown, N. J.; Mr. Capewell,
Torrington, Conn.; J. H. Christie, Stamford, Conn.;
Otta Bollman, St. Louis, Mo. ; James Cumston and
F. W. Bailey, Boston; Chas. Bobzin, Geo. W. Lyon,
of Lyon & Healy, Chicago; Mr. Camp, of Estey &
Camp, Chicago.
V. HUGO MATHUSHEK, of Mathushek & Son, N. Y.,
is making a trip through the South.
cash box in the trade. It is made of sounding-board
material, and has upon its cover the following in-
scription: "1837—1885. J. Burns Brown, successor
to Chas. J. Betts." The former date being the year
that it was made, and the latter the year that Mr.
Brown succeeded to the business. It is an old heir-
loom, and understood to never be disposed of, but to
remain forever in the business.
R. S. HOWARD will make his headquarters, wlien
not on the road, at 74 Fifth av.
FREEBORN G. SMITH, manufacturer of Bradbury
pianos, has just secured Mr. A. H. Simmons (formerly
the business manager for Wm. G. Fischer) to take
the management of his extensive new warerooms,
1020 Arch street, Philadelphia. He is a gentleman
of large and long experience in the piano and organ
business, and has a very extensive acquaintance
throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. Perhaps no
man is better known or more competent to take
charge of a music business than Mr. Simmons. Mr.
Smith has made no mistake in his selection of a man,
and the location for a first class wareroom, and al-
ready he has begun a very nice trade, as the "Old
Reliable Bradbury Piano '" is so well known in Phila-
delphia. Mr. Simmons was with the Bradbury house
years ago, and introduced their piano very extensively
among the very best families in the old Key-stone
State, and thus has laid the foundation for a splendid
trade with the Bradbury pianos. Of late, Mr. Smith
has opened up trade with some very fine houses
throughout the country, among others Edward Nenn-
steil, of St. Louis. His retail trade from his ten
warerooms in different cities is very large. Mr.
Smith does a very large renting and installment
trade, probably as large as any house in the United
States.
R. C. BOLMNGER, Fort Smith, Ark., writes us that
trade was very good up to a short time ago, but now
quiet. The present dullness, he claims, is owing to
the bad weather, but this will pass away soon, and
then, Mr. Bollinger thinks, we will have an exbellent
business.
BEHR BROS. & Co., N. Y., are very busy at the
present time, and report a good prospect for trade
this spring. Mr. Paul Gmehlin, of this firm will
soon introduce something new to the trade, and we
predict it will be of very great importance, for he
never yet made an invention or improvement but
what was of much value.