Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Music Trade REVIEW.
The Only Music Trade Paper in America, and the Organ of the Music Trade of this Country.
1879.
NEW YORK, JULY 5 TO JULY 20, 1886.
VOL. IX. No. 2
PUBLISHED • TWICE * EACH • MONTH.
W E L L E S & BILL,
EDITORS AND PBOPBIETOBB.
WILL. G. CARR,
ASSOCIATE EDITOB.
22 EAST 17th STREET, NEW YOEK.
SUBSCBIPTIOK (including postage) United States and Canada,
$3.00 per year. In advance; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADTKRTIHEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per insertion;
unless inserted upon rates made by special contract.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
TRADE CORRESPONDENCE.
CATTAKAUGUS, N. Y., June 28, 1886.
EDITOR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW :
Can say that the music trade in Cattaraugus County
last year was very dull, but can safely say that this
year finds trade much improved.
This being a dairy county, and butter and cheese
bringing but about two thirds the usual market price,
deals out to Cattaraugus County what we call a
'• double portion of hard times," necessitating dairy-
men of ordinary means to get along without such
business as organs and pianos, until the time comes,
when they can a little more than subsist on a good
farm from thirty to forty cows. However, I am
looking for a good fall trade, and shall not hesitate
to order a fair stock of Instruments.
Very truly,
E. J. BLAKELY.
NELSON, PA., June 28, 1886.
FRIEND BILL : I do not know how other dealers
are making out in their locality, as I am quite busy.
My trade is fairly good for this season of the year,
and I am looking for a boom both with pianos and
organs this Fall; every thing indicates it here. I
make a specialty of the old reliable Burdett Organ
and Decker Bros.' Piano, and you know with such
instruments trade must boom. There has been a
large number of poor organs sold in this section, and
customers are now buying better goods, and so my
trade is growing.
With kind words and good wishes for the Music
TRADE REVIEW and its worthy proprietors.
I remain truly yours,
PROF. E. R. COPP.
GENEVA, N. Y., June 26, 1886.
We are in a rural district. Trade quiet, but an im-
provement over the past three or four months, with
prospects of an increase during the Fall. As usual,
most sales are made " on time," but few of those who
can pay cash are purchasing, three-fourths of which
goes to the city.
Yours respectfully,
A. W. COLE.
CHICAGO, I I I . , June 26, 1886.
It is rumored that several large music houses in
this city will shortly remove to Wabash avenue,
which is rapidly becoming the musical centre of the
city. Of firms already on that street may be men-
toned Curtiss & Mayer, managers of the Weber es-
tate ; Root & Sons, Mason & Hamlin, S. Brainard's
Sons, Julius Bauer & Co., J. Howard Foote, Baker &
Thompson, managers Chicago Musio Co.; Lewis,
*3.00 PER YEA*.
SINGLE COPIKS, 16 CENTS.
that the benefits derived would be as great as the
agent anticipated.
Before the agent left, we learned from him some
thing of the extent to which Dr. Scott indulged in
printer's ink. Dr. Scott spends annually, in advertis-
ing alone, the enormous sum of $75,000, and adver-
tises in from 3,000 to 4,000 newspapoi s and periodicals.
This branch of his business is such an enormous one
OBSERVER.
that he employs an expert accountant to keep a news-
paper account, and so finely and accurately has he
KANSAS CITY, June 28, 1886.
got it systematized, that he can tell almost exactly
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW :
GENTS : The piano and organ trade promised in just how much benefit he derives from each paper in
the early spring to be very good, and started out that which he advertises. This, to one who does not
way, but the long strike, combined with the promise know his system, would seem improbable, but a care-
of very light wheat crop, has caused trade to be ful study of his system, the details of which would
light thus far. Still, some of the firms here are look- require too much space to here elucidate, would con-
ing for a fair Fall trade, and are getting ready for vince the most skeptical.
The agent informed us that by this system the Dr.
same. Conover Bros, are enlarging and beautifying
their warerooms, and will have three floors, 24 by 150 saved thousands of dollars a year, inasmuch as he
feet each, In fine finish, and conveniently arranged, was in daily receipt of hundreds of papers accom-
within a month, and, as they own the building, they panied by letters and circulars from the publishers,
are sparing no money to make it the most attractive making all kinds of extravagant claims for their re-
warerooms in the West. G. W. Strope and W. W. spective papers as advertising mediums.
With regard to the electric appliances which Dr.
Kimball Co. are also improving warerooms, while
the Smith Organ Co are advertising to sell out their Scott has invented, they are too well known and
store on Main street, and it is reported that they are generally used to require any comment. We know
to retire from the piano trade, and push their own they are just what is represented, and that their dis-
manufactures exclusively. The great real estate covery Is not the result of accident, but of the
boom continues, and we only wish we could report long, patient study and experiments of a great medi-
such a boom for the pianoforte trade. The organ cal mind.
trade seems to be on the decline, as is proven by the
R. F. BRAND0M & CO.
fact that nearly all manufacturers of same have re-
cently gone into the manufacture of pianos. The
Conover Bros.' patent upright pianos are winning
MONG the successful business houses in this
their way into public favor very fast, and are to-day
city who have made rapid progress is the
among the most popular pianos in this section, and
house of R. F. Brandom & Co., 74 Arcade.
together with the matchless Steinway & Sons, and This firm commenced business on June 1, 1884,
popular Fischer, make a trio which carries the day. although the senior member of the firm was here
already in 1883. The business of carrying on the
Hoping you enjoy the summer Holiday, I am,
piano and organ trade was never accomplished here
Yours truly,
G. W. 0.
to any successful degree, until R. F. Brandom opened
up at the Arcade. Coming here with sixteen years'
ALHANY, N. Y M TOLEDO, O., July 1, 1886.
experience, Mr. Brandom possessed the largest
MESSRS. WELLES & BILL :
GENTLEMEN: We enclose check. We have not had amount of knowledge in that business of any man
the pleasure of seeing you since the occupancy of our ever located here; hence, from the time he opened
new place of business and manufactory, Nos. 543,545, at the present quarters it was a success, and to-day
and 547 Broadway, in front of the N. Y. C. R. R. de- there is no more successful firm in Springfield than
pot, it being quite central for business, and handy for that of R. F. Brandom & Co. Possessing ample
those passing through our city, and desiring a good, capital, and commercial rating that few houses in
moderate priced piano. The building we are in is the West enjoy better, the firm soon got into the
somewhat historic as a musical centre, it being forty good grace of our people, until every well-informed
years ago used as a manufactory of church organs, citizen of this and neighboring cities were among
and for many years occupied as the music store and their best patrons. Buying only for cash, and
piano warerooms of the late G. H. Hidley. We are taking advantage of the greatest discounts, they
happy to say that our sales have greatly increased always undersold every competitor, and by handling
only the most popular and absolutely the best pianos
since we have been in our new quarters.
and organs made, the firm seldom, if ever, lost a
Yours truly,
customer.
BOARDMAN & GRAY.
Every instrument sold by R. F. Brandom & Co. is
fully warranted, every possible business transaction
A BIG ADVERTISER.
fully explained, and no misunderstanding can result
E were favored this week with a visit from in doing business with this firm. Such pianos as the
the advertising agent of Dr. Geo. A. Scott, "Chlckering," "Boardman & Gray," the "Steck,'>
the electric brush and belt manufacturer. and other makes, are always kept in the greatest
The object of the agent's visit was to make arrange- variety. Organs, such as the celebrated " Palace,"
ments with us for advertising. We informed the "Packard," "Miller," and other makes, are bought
agent that we had repeatedly declined to accept in solid car-load lots.
R. F. Brandom & Co. employ a thorough artist as
" ads " of worthless or bogus articles, as wo consid-
ered an "ad " in the Music TRADE REVIEW a guar- a tuner and repairer, John E. Schonacker, who has
antee to our subscribers of the genuineness of the few equals in his line of business. Mr. Schonacker
article advertised; but, having a personal know- has been for years with Chickering & Sons and other
ledge of the virtues of the products of the skilled piano manufacturers. Whenever you intrust an in-
hand and brain of the famous Dr. Scott, we insert strument in his hands, you may rest assured it will
his " a d " with pleasure, and expressed the hope be well done.—Daily Gazette.
Newell & Gibbs, Thos. Floyd Jones, Haines Bros.'
pianos, Sterling Organ Co., John A. Bryant and Me-
chanical Orguinette Co.
Visitors to the city during the past week : J. Muel-
ler, Council Bluffs, Iowa; W. J. Evans, Winona,
Minn., and J. W. Zimmerman, Davenport, la.
Business fairly good, and Improving.
A
W