Music Trade Review

Issue: 1886 Vol. 9 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
3io
fall business will be larger than for several years
past. The ESTEY ORGAN CO. have just issued a new
catalogue, which is the work of COL. FULLER, and it
is something purely original and unlike any other
ever produced.
* *
DOWN
EAST.
BOSTON, CAMBRIDGEPORT AND BRAT-
TLEBORO.
THERE has been no time for several months that
the music trade has been in such a healthy condition
as it is at he present writing. The labor troubles
are practically ended, and the workmen have learned
a lesson which they will long remember. Their ef-
forts in trying to establish the eight hour system in
our trade met with such a decided opposition and
sudden collapse, as to convince them that it would
be a most impracticable rule, and they will not soon
try that scheme again. During the excitement that
prevailed, when the whole country was agitated by
the labor troubles, the business men were afraid to
push any industry, and would not invest their capi-
tal, preferring to keep it where they knew it would
be safe, instead of investing it with a hazardous out-
look. Now that this is ended,capital is being invested,
business extended, and the lost confidence restored.
We have within the last few days received communi-
cations from many large cities in different parts of
the country, and everywhere the best of feeling pre-
vails. Of course, we cannot expect to have any very
large business, with the hot summer months before
us, but every indication points to an excellent Fall
trade.
* *
IN Boston we find that trade has taken a decided
jump, and most of the manufacturers are running
their factories full time, with business enough to
warrant them in so doing.
The SMITH AMERICAN ORGAN CO. state that they
rented a large storehouse some weeks ago, and are
going to try and get a stock of organs ahead to meet
the Fall demand, which they feel sanguine will be
very large. Their trade, however, is at present so
large that they have been unable to get more than
twenty-five organs ahead. This company have re-
cently finished several new styles with elegant cases,
which are meeting with remarkable success.
WE had a very pleasant chat with COL. FULLER,
of the ESTEY ORGAN CO., in their Boston waroiooms.
The Colonel has been suffering for some time past
with throat trouble, and made a short trip to Boston
in hopes to get relief. Ho informod us tha his little
ward is rapidly recovering from her severe illness
and is now considered out of danger. We are sorry
to learn that one of COL. ESTEY'S boys is having a
very severe illness with scarlet fover, but trust by
this time is out of danger.
In regard to business, COL. FULLER said that they
were having a good, steady trade for organs, and the
demand equal to their supply, and that they could not
turn out pianos fast enough. He thinks that trade
will hold good during the summer mottths, and the
THE EMERSON PIANO CO. will soon publish a new
catalogue, showing all their latest styles. This com-
pany have an excellent list of agents, who do a large
business with the EMERSON piano. MR. POWERS in-
formed us that, in lookin over the books, he does
not find a bad account, or one that he would not be
willing to enlarge to any reasonable amount. This
is saying a great deal in these times, and shows that
the EMERSON is a piano that is sought after by agents
of good repute. The company are now turning out
thirty squares per week, which looks as though they
were not by any means going out of date. They say
that their trade in this line is increasing. They are
now shipping twelve times as many pianos to the
Pacific coast as they were three years ago.
sell what they make. At present they are having
orders for all they make and their warerooms look
vory sick. MR. GUTLFORD says they take the hand-
somest styles and ship to the agents, and palm off
the plainer styles on him. Well, MR. GUILFORU can
sell them if any one can.
THE E. P. CARPENTER CO., of Brattleboro, showed
us his order book for one day last week, and we
noticed, besides those from the agent in the States,
one order from their London agents for forty organs.
Those who think the E. P. CARPENTER CO. are not
doing a good business are greatly mistaken.
BALTIMORE.
FOR real old fashioned Southern hospitality, there
is no place that goes ahead of the Monumental City.
It has many attractions, and is possessed of a Lied-
erkranz Society as well as New York. Through the
* *
courtesy of MR. R. LERTZ and his sons, we had the
SYLVESTER TOWER,Cambridgeport, states that busi- pleasure, while in the city, of spending a very pleas-
ness has kept up very well with him, and he has no ant evening with this society. Thechoir is composed
reason for complaint. MR. TOWER is one of the pio- of the best musicians, and well trained. Although
neers in the action business and his actions have be- all the members of the choir are deserving of much
come very popular. There is no reason why MR. praise, there are two who are specially talented, viz.,
TOWER cannot make an action as good, at least, as any MR. JUSTUS BITTER, the basso, and MR. .RUDOLF
one, and get his full share of the trade. Having all GREEN, the violincello. The latter gentleman wields
the capital, and a great deal more than is required to a bow with experienced hands, and in fact Is equal
carry on his business, he can, without any trouble, do to any one we ever heard perform on this instru-
all the experimenting he desires, and in that way, if
ment.
* *
there is any chances for improvements, he is likely
to have them.
R. LERTZ and his two sons, AL. and NED, do busi-
ness in a very quiet way, at No. 60 North Howard
Street, yet they get there all the same. MR. LERTZ,
SR., does not devote much of his time to the busi-
ness, preferring to allow his sons to run the business,
with his advice when needed. AL. attends to the
finances, and does all the purchasing of goods ; NED
*
keeps the books and attends to the warerooms, and
* *
judging from what we noticed during our stay, is
GEO. W. SEAVERNS & SON, Cambridgeport, Mass., extremely popular with the ladies. MR. R. LERTZ
are enjoying a good trade. Their actions are be- is better looking than either of his sons, and
coming more popular every day, and their trade con- although he is sixty years of age he bears time
stantly expanding. MR. SEAVERNS, SR., will soon lightly, and does not look half as old as he is.
take a trip on the road and present a sample of his
*
actions to the manufacturers for examination.
* *
* *
STEDMAN & Co., Cambridgeport, Mass., state that
January and March were the largest months for
business they every had, and that this month so far
is a great improvement over last, which looks as
though business is looking up for the fall.
*
* *
THE NEW ENGLAND ORGAN CO. are having a re-
markable good trade, and find it impossible to meet
the demands for their goods. When we called at
the warerooms, there wore several of their most
popular styles missing, and upon inquiry found
out that they could not keep them on hand, as the
demand was so great. There is one style in particu-
lar which is a perfect beauty, and having an im-
mense run. This is style 36, and those dealers who
have not tried it will find it advantageous to get it in
gtock as soon as possible. MR. CROSBY, who has
done a great deal of traveling since the first of
January, is still on the road, and MR. CALL leaves for
a long trip in a few days.
*
VOSE & SON state that both their retail and whole-
sale trade has taken a decided turn for the better
during the past few weeks, and at present is better
than last year. They received orders for seven up-
rights in one mail the day we called at the ware-
rooms.
* *
THE HALLET & DAVIS CO. are busy the year round.
On the first of January they decide about how many
pianos they will need during the year, and no matter
whether business is dull or not they never deviate
from this number. There is another thing that we
may state right here—that t^hey. always manage to
The boycott of the STIEFF piano still continues, but
it has become extremely ridiculous. The unanimous
verdict of every respectable citizen in Baltimore is
to condemn the men for their unprincipled attempts
to injure the business and standing of this old house.
The men are only bringing discredit upon them-
selves by their actions, and if they persist in carry-
ing the boycott much further, they will reach the
point where they will be unable to obtain employ-
ment with any respectable house. The boycott
wagon followed STIEFF'S eleven miles into the coun-
try, where they had rented a piano, and on the trip
had to pay two toll-gate fares. Such actions as
these seem very ridiculous, for it cannot possibly be
of any advantage to the boycotters, and besides,
costs them money. An incident occurred a few days
ago which was exceedingly ludicrous. STIEFF
loaded a piano on his wagon, and started off to
deliver it. The boycott wagon was stationed in
front of the warerooms in readiness, but the driver
was in a neighboring saloon guzzling beer. When
STIEFF started off with the piano, the horse attached
to the boycott wagon, which had been in the habit of
following, thought it proper to do so in this case,
and accordingly started in pursuit minus a driver,
and followed the STIEFF wagon some blocks before
stopped by a policeman. If the men had the brains
that their horse has, they would be better off, and
return to their benches without further delay.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
will, in all probability, take legal steps to avoid a by taking the adjoining rooms, No. 7 West Four-
teenth Street. No larger stock of organs can be
repetition of the infliction of this kind of literature,
if the terrible abuse of the English language as pre- seen in any other warerooms in this city. Messrs.
sented In that circular can even sarcastically be McEwen & Co. have six salesmen on the floor."
*
*
*
*
*
*
termed literature.
"If Mr. Hammond has anything to say against Mr.
"Mr.
McEwen
is
a
gentleman."
M E R C E N A R Y MARC.
Carpenter, he should make specific and detailed
*
*
*
*
*

FOR several weeks past, MARC A. BLUMENBERG,one charges, and if he cannot make them he should hold
" Mr. McEwen never did and never could have
his peace.
uttered such sentiments."
of the editors of the unsavory little paper styled the
"Mr. Carpenter's friends have implicit confidence in
his
assertions
and
statements.
When
he
first
ar-
Now that MR. MCEWEN does not advertize with
Muxical Courier, has amused himself by writing little
ranged matters with Hammond he was a mere boy,
MARC,
he is a very bad man.
squibs in an underhanded way, regarding the stand- not an old, experienced business man; he is still
a
young,
very
young
man,
and
it
cannot
be
presumed
Next
we have the firm of HAINES it Co., who do
ing of the Music TRADE REVIEW, and reflecting upon
that under the keen and lynx-eyed observation of the
not
advertise
in the Courier. They also control the
astute
A.
H.
Hammond,
he
could
carry
on
a
system
the reputation of the people connected with it. MARC
of business that would injure Hammond, and at the DUNHAM piano, and sell GROVESTEEN & FULLER
ANTHONY, has not the courage or gentlemanly instinct same time escape detection.
pianos, both of which are not represented In that
to come out in a straightforward way, and state about
" No, no ; it will never do.
" Differences between business men are usually set- paper.
whom ho is writing. We have refrained from tled
in courts, or by arbitration, and the testimony
WESER BROTHERS are another firm which BLUMEN-
publicly noticing these unmanly attacks, as newspa- in such cases is credited ; but simple, broad charges,
under the influence of disappointment, chagrin BERG has hauled over the coals, when they refused
per fights are not creditable at any time. However, made
and excitement, and replete with venom, malice,
to pay for their advertisement after it was ordered
these attacks have lately become so pertinent that it poor English, and vulgarity, cannot stand.
"Mr. Carpenter, as the saying is, is 'all right.' out.
becomes our duty to once for all show up the charac- The
Carpenter organs are also 'all right.' Address,
SWICK & Co. are the next on our list. Soon after
ter of this editor of the Musical Courier in its true Foxcroft, Me."
light.
Bear in mind the above was published when MR. they started to manufacture pianos, MR. SWICK in-
Let us start by giving some of the firms in our CARPENTER'S advertisement was in MARC'S paper. forms us that he received a visit from one of the
minds upon whom BLUMENBERG has heaped all man- The following, in his own handwriting, which we Courier's representatives, soliciting their patronage.
ner of abuse, and then we will try to show his rea- have in our possession, was also written when he This was refused, and then the attacks commenced.
TflE FREE LfflTCE.
sons for so doing. They are as follows :
E. P. Carpenter,
.
.
Brattleboro, Vt.
E. H. McEwen,
.
.
.
New York.
Haines & Co.,
.
.
.
.
Weser Bros.,
«<
was friendly with MR. CARPENTER.
" NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 1884.
" FRIEND CARPENTER :
'' Please send me a letter to this effect: That I never
bought an organ from you in my life, and that I
never sold an organ for you in my life; that you
never paid me a commission, and that we never had
S w i c k & C o . ,
.
.
.
.
"
commercial transaction. That the only transac-
Vose & Sons,
.
.
.
Boston, Mass. a tions
we ever had, were for advertising in a direct
manner—so much advertising for so much money.
Geo. W. Carter, of Grovesteen & Fuller
"You know the organ business was made with
Piano Co..
.
.
New York. Welles, not with me. As this is all so, you can at
once
send me the letter. It has been said to certain
There are many others whom we could add to the
firms that I used to sell organs for you; therefore, I
list, but these are more than enough for us to clearly want the letter.
" I see some of the papers are again going for you.
prove this Editor's motives.
Send me the latest trade note for next issue, and see
Not one of the above named parties advertise in the account is fixed up.
the Musical Courier. Strange, but true. Now we
" Yours,
" BLUMENBERG."
will take the list in order, and go through with them,
showing the treatment that they have received, and
In regard to the above letter, let us say right
leave our readers to form their own conclusions.
here, that if MR CARPENTER had complied with the
MR. CARPENTER at one time was an extensive adver- requests of MARC ANTHONY he would have been
tiser with MARC, and the following is what appeared committing a falsehood. MR. CARPENTER had a
in his paper March 21, 1883, at the time the adver- standing advertisement in the MTJSIC TRADE R E -
tisement was running:
VIEW, for which he paid cash. As our MR. BILL
" Trade opened up since the first week in March
with the brightest kind of prospects with E. P. Car-
penter, of Worcester. We looked through his order
book on March 17th, and added up the number of or-
ders received from the 5th to the 17th, and they
amounted to 374 organs, and twenty for foreign ship-
ment, making a total of 394 organs ordered. This
means business.
" The ' Expression indicator' has been a great suc-
cess. As a guide in the use of the pump-pedal and
the swells, it has a great advantage, especially for
persons inexperienced in the use of the reed organ.
"The attachment is comparatively simple, consist-
ing of a graduated dial, provided with the dynamic
terms and signs used on sheet music, to guide the
player in the proper expression of the composition
that is played. Two index hands, connected and
operated by the wind pressure, Indicate the exact
condition at every moment.
"Mr.Carpenter has made many sales on the strength
of the " Expression Indicator," and there is no doubt
that this attachment helps the dealer to make sales."
Here is another article, printed September 5, 1883,
in which MARC says MR. CARPENTER and the organ
he makes is all right:
"The friends and patrons of Mr. E. P. Carpenter,
formerly of Worcester, Mass., will be pleased to
know that he has completed arrangements to con-
tinue the manufacture of organs at Foxcroft, Me. A
stock company has been formed, known as the E. P.
Carpenter Organ Company, which will manufacture
the "Carpenter" organ in the future. There is not
the slightest doubt that the organ, which has be-
come very popular, will be ordered in large quanti-
ties by the dealers and agents Mr. Carpenter has been
successful in securing during his stay in Worcester.
"And now, as to Mr. A. H. Hammond's savage circu-
lar mailed from Worcester last week. Mr. Hammond
has lost his temper, and, like other persons in the
same condition, lost his judgment. Calling Mr. Car-
penter vulgar names, does not disprove anything.
In fact, the last circular we refer to, has aroused the
sympathy of many persons in favor of Mr. Carpen-
ter, as there is not one specific charge made, and an
abundance of mud-throwing indulged in by Mr. Ham-
mond. The circular is not alone vulgar and inde-
cent, but libelous in the extreme, and Mr. Carpenter
and BLUMENBERG had expressed a desire to pur-
VOSE & SONS at one time paid BLUMENBERG con-
siderable money for a good-sized advertisement, and
during that time was constantly receiving such
squibs as this:
"Vose & Sons, Boston, are continuing manufac-
turing on the same large scale as before and during
the holidays. The factory is running on full time."
Now comes MR. GEO. W. CARTER, who has been
the means of furnishing BLUMENBERG with more
ready cash than any of the others; yet, now that he
has shut off, is abused beyond measure. When MR.
CARTER was connected with the EMERSON PIANO
Co., he was the means of BLUMENBERG receiving the
same advertisement of the company that he now
carries, and then he was a glorious fellow, judging
from the tone of many notices he received after the
style of the following:
"Mr. George W. Carter and Mr. P. H. Powers are
the kind of men that push the piano business ahead."
*
*
*
*
*
*
" Mr. Carter is a bright man, full of vigor, and
commanding a business power gained by long experi-
ence, which is undoubtedly of value to him or to
whoever he may in the near future associate with."
chase an organ, an arrangement was made for a cer-
BLUMENBERG pretended to be an excellent friend
tain amount of extra advertising for two organs. of CARTER'S until he was publicly told by M». CAR-
One MR. BILL sent to his home, in Lyme, Conn., TER that he had no use for him or his paper. Then,
and the other MARC sent to his mother, in Balti- of course, the tirade began.
more, Md., and paid for same. If any one doubts
We could go on for weeks and show up BLUMEN-
the above statement, we are ready at any time to BERG'S efforts to obtain money in this way, but this
prove it, and show the charge on our ledger.
is enough, and having a great deal to say in another
Now comes the point. In a recent issue, MARC direction, will make a change.
The firms which we have above mentioned.with one
states that the CARPENTER organ is a cheap and
comparatively worthless instrument. If this is true, exception, MARC charges as doing a stencil business,
what kind of a human being must BLUMENBERG be and therefore must be condemned by him. If he is
sincere in his efforts to stop the stencilling of pianos,
to palm it off on his own mother.
About the time MARC wrote the above letter, MR. why does he not say something about the fifteen
CARPENTER became convinced of the unsavory char- firms who do a large stencil business, but at the
acter of the Courier, and ordered the advertisement same time advertise with him. Can any of our read-
out; yet it was kept in, and efforts made to collect ers fail to "catch on " to this point?
Several months ago, when BLUMENBERO was red-
for same by writing letters with insinuations, as
hot on the stencil racket, a prominent dealer in one
follows:
of the Connecticut towns wrote him a letter, stating
" It will be to your interest to continue the above
that as he was so anxious to expose the stencil
advertisement in the ' Courier. 1 "
The italics are his, and not ours. Well, enough system, would he not please look into the matter of
about MR. CARPENTER, and we will take up the next a prominent Fifth Avenue firm, and see if they were
not making a piano and putting a Brooklyn dealer's
on the list.
MR. E. H. MCEWEN once upon a time advertised name on It. BLUMENBERG took no notice of this
largelj in the Courier, and during that period, when letter until some time after it was written—until the
MARC was short of funds, he would often go to time of the car strikes here in the city. Then he
MCEWEN for a loan, which would be almost invari- thought he had a good excuse, and wrote the dealer
ably returned by extras. During the time that MR. that communication was blocked between New York
MOEWEN'S advertisement was In the Courier, we find and Brooklyn, but as soon as traffic was restored
again he would look into the case. It is now about
such puffs as these:
four months since "traffic has been restored," but
"The Sterling Organ Company, E. H. McEwen &
Co., managers, have enlarged their wareroom space the dealer has heard nothing from BLUMENBEBG,

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