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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
PAUL G. MEHLIN & SONS.
T
H E latest venture in the piano-manufacturing field
is that made by Mr. Paul Gmehlin, who has
commenced business at 461 to 467 West Fortieth
street, New York, under the style of Paul G. Mehlin &
Sons, his right-hand partner being his son, Mr. H. Paul
Gmehlin. Mr. Gmehlin, Sr., is well known throughout
the trade as an inventive and practical piano-maker of
the very highest order. His improvements and inven-
tions have arrested universal attention, and his record
cannot but be of the most valuable assistance to him in
his new undertaking. To hife great theoretical and
practical mechanical knowledge he adds a patience, a
perseverance, and a thoroughness that speak volumes
for him, not only as an inventor, but as a man. He
enters upon his new sphere of operations with the warm
congratulations of all who know him, and THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW feels especial pleasure in predicting for
the firm of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons along and successful
career. In changing the name Gmehlin to G. Mehlin,
Mr. Gmehlin has been actuated simply by the desire to
save his friends and the public from the possibility of
dislocation of the maxillary bone. So thoughtful a man
is at least deserving of a trial. Long live Paul G.
Mehlin & Sons !
THE SMITH-CHICKERING RUMOR.
INTERVIEW WITH MR. FREEBORN G. SMITH, JR.
RUMOR having been set on feot to the effect that
Mr. Freeborn G. Smith, manufacturer of the
Bradbury piano, had become or was about to
become interested in the Chickering & Sons Company,
A
a representative of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW called
at the factory of Mr. Smith, in Brooklyn, with the view
of ascertaining what foundation there was for the re-
port. In the absence of Mr. Freeborn G. Smith, Sr.
our emissary was courteously received by that gentle-
man's son, Mr. F. G. Smith, Jr., and the following con-
versation occurred:—
Reporter:—I have called, Mr. Smith, to ask what, if
any, ground there is for an intimation by one of our
contemporaries that your father is rumored to have in-
terested himself in the Chickering & Sons Co.
Mr. Smith:—! do not know anything about the ru-
mor, sir.
Reporter:—You will observe (here the printed state-
ment was shown to Mr. Smith) that our contemporary
remarks that "great credence is placed in the rumor."
Mr. Smith:—I, personally, do not know that any such
arrangement has been made.
Reporter:—Am I to understand that you know ab-
solutely nothing about the rumor, nor why it should
have been started ?
Mr. Smith:—All I can say is that I do not know any-
thing whatever about any such arrangement as is re-
ferred to by your contemporary. He called here and I
told him practically what 1 have told you.
Reporter:—Who places " great credence" in the ru-
mor?
Mr. Smith:—I do not know. I have not heard any-
thing about it.
Reporter:—Do you know whether Mr. Smith, Sr. has
entered into, or contemplates entering into, any import-
ant arrangements either with the Chickering & Sons
Co, or any other firm ?
Mr. Smith:—Nothing has been said to me about it.
Reporter:—I will probably call upon Mr. Smith, Sr.
upon his return.
Mr. Smith:—He will be pleased to see you at any
time. .
The reporter thanked Mr. Smith for his courtesy, and
withdrew.
onstrated, two shirts, three collars, and a piano sample
book. After eating a hearty breakfast, such as New
Yorkers are renowned for demolishing, and having reg-
istered as from the Empire City, he asked the clerk the
names of the leading citizens, which were courteously
given him. During that day, and the following two,
" Clarence" introduced himself to the "sawciety" peo-
ple of the place as the Colorado representative of a
prominent New York piano and organ firm. By his
graceful and winning manners he easily attracted con-
siderable attention, and by the following Thursday had
taken orders for three pianos and five organs. In each
case, however, he requested that one-fifth of the
price of the instrument be advanced him, so as to
show that the purchaser was acting in good faith. Find-
ing afterwards that his board bill was assuming consider-
able proportions, " Clarence" thought it advisable to
take the evering train for Durango, without giving the
unfortunate landlord any of his deserved shekels. In
Durango the same game was played, as well as in Ouray,
Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs and Trinidad.
Finding that delays were dangerous, the "fleecy"
young man from New York deemed it advisable to leave
for parts unknown, where no doubt he is at the present
time winning the good graces of society.
It was not until two weeks after his departure that
the citizen's of Silverton were informed that they had
been duped and the local constable was sent on a fool's
chase through the towns above mentioned. It is hardly
necessary to state that the residents of the San Juan
country would be very glad to once more behold the
smiling countenance of Mr. Clarence Eisner.
I am in receipt of a letter from Messrs. Coalter &
Snelgrove of Salt Lake City, who write me that business
with them has improved considerably of late. Among
the many instruments which this house handles are the
Weber, Estey and Knabe pianos, and the Estey and
Story & Clark organs.
The same firm in concluding their letter request that
I give space to the following :
" Mr. Evan Stephens is principal at the University of
Deseret, and has a class of one hundred studying vocal
music. Besides this class, who are working successfully
on " Martha," he has two other classes—one engaged
on "Elijah "and the other on " The Daughter of the
Regiment," and they are getting along so well that
they will be able to appear in public in April or
May, and next Monday, January 22d, he produces the
"Bohemian Girl" for the benefit of the Widows and Or-
phans of Salt Lake City. The class at the present time
numbers 300 pupils and is considered the most complete
one in Utah."
Local trade has been exceedingly quiet here of late,
which fact was demonstrated to me when I called at the
several local houses.
JACOB S. HIRSH.
THE JEWETT PIANOS.
r I THE catalogue just issued by W. H. Jewett & Co.,
of Leominster, Mass., manufacturers of upright
and square pianos, is a very practical little work.
Its great merit lies in its accuracy of illustration and
description. In this regard the truth has been consci-
entiously adhered to. We have never seen any finer
or more clearly detailed illustrations of their kind than
those of the interior of the Jewett upright, and the ex-
teriors of this firm's cabinet and square grands. A
concise description accompanies each cut. The con-
struction and tone qualities of these instruments, the
strength of their metallic frames, and their ability to
remain up to pitch have earned for them a good name,
and the prices asked for them are surprisingly moder-
ate. The public are specially requested to observe that
pianos of this make are now stenciled on the front with
the trade-mark " Jewett," instead of the full name of
" W. H. Jewelt & Co.," formerly used.
DENVER, COL.
THE BURDETT ORGAN CO. WILL MANU-
Another fraud has just been making a tour through
the Southwestern part of the state with favorable re-
FACTURE PIANOS.
sults. From what little I could ascertain it seems that
H E following telegram was received by T H E M U -
several week ago there appeared in the frontier town of
SIC TRADE REVIEW on the 15th inst., from t h e
Silverton a youug man of perhaps twenty-four years of
Burdett Organ Co., Erie, Pa.:
age, rather good looking, and with genteel manners, who
" Please announce we are merging organ making in-
gave as his name that pretty notn de plume of Clarence
Eisner. " Clarence," as he wished all whom he met to to piano making.
BURDETT ORGAN CO."
call him, arrived one morning shortly after the chimes
from the many church steeples had announced the ar-
This is a momentous announcement. The Burdett
rival of the New Year. He carried a very neat and Organ Co. have our best wishes for complete success in
pretty alligator grip containing, as was afterwards dem- their new enterprise.
T
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
CUSTOM HOUSE, BOSTON, MASS.,
)
Collector's Office, Jan. 18, 1889. )
Exportations of Musical Instruments from this port
during the month of December, 1888:
To England:
Three hundred and seventy-five (375) organs, $18,152
All other and parts of,
3,73O
$21,882
Total,
To Nova Scotia:
Four (4) piano-fortes,
All other and parts of,
$985
QO
Total,
To Newfoundland Labrador:
Three (3) organs,
300
To Br. Poss in Africa:
Sixteen (16) organs,
All other and parts of,
$740
150
Total,
$890
Brought forward,
To Br. Poss in Australasia:
Twenty (20) organs,
$24,147
1,100
$25,247
Combined Total,
Importations, port of Boston, Musical Instruments,
December, 1888:
France, -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$i,799
Germany. -
-
3.962
England,
-
23
Total,
$5-7^4
THE GUILD PIANO MANUFACTURING CO.
FT" 1 HE old business of the Guild Piano Co. has been
I
inspired with new life, and is being continued
"*• under the happiest auspices. A new factory is
being fftted up at 101 Bristol street, Boston, Mass., and
will speedily resound with the busy hum of piano-
making machinery. In a recent interview with Mr.
George M. Guild, the head of the revivified concern,
that gentleman informed us that the Company will
shortly be in readiness to supply the trade with the new
piano, into which will be introduced several new inven-
tions of which patents have been granted to him. Mr.
Guild also stated that the Guild Piano Manufacturing
Co. have ample capital at their disposal. Under these
favoring circumstances there appears to be no reason
why the forthcoming products of the factory should not
receive a fair share of attention from the trade. The
popularity of the old Guild .piano is well remembered,
and we have little hesitation in prophesying that the
new instruments will not only maintain, but increase
the reputation gained by their predecessors.
KIND WORDS.
In the mammoth special number published recently
by the Music TRADE REVIEW is a wealth of important
information that will be of lively interest to the music
trade of the country. The seventy pages or so of this
enterprising journal appear in a new dress of type, the
cover is an artistic beauty, while the full-page adver-
tisements on almost every other page must prove a
source of satisfaction even to its prosperous proprietors,
Jeff. Davis Bill and Edward Lyman Bill.
This well-established trade journal, now running out
its twelfth volume, has greatly enlarged its facilities for
news-gathering for the new year. Its steady growth in
circulation and influence has given it a commanding
position among the leading trade papers of the country.
—New York Morning Journal.
TRADE PSALM.
To every man who in the music trade
Achieveth good and true and honest work,
The reverence of the just shall e'er be paid,
And of T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, New York.
But those who e'er resort to shysters' tricks.
Shall be by our Free Lance run through and through;
That weapon will their misdemeanors fix,
Hurled by the New York Music TRADE
REVIEW.