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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
294
MESSRS. BOARDMAN & GRAY
A TRIP WESTWARD.
TRADE OBSERVATIONS IN ALBANY, TROY,
AUBURN, WATERLOO, BUFFALO. AND
JAMESTOWN, N. Y.; CORRY AND
ERIE PA.; CLEVELAND, NOR-
WALK, AND TOLEDO 0.;
DETROIT AND GRAND
RAPIDS, MICH., AND
CHICAGO, ILL.
THE OUTLOOK GENERALLY SERENE. CHANGES,
DEVELOPMENTS, AND INITIATIONS.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Currier, of
Toledo, O., who had recently returned from a tour ex-
tending through fifteen European countries, with a
brief account of which Mr. Currier greatly entertained
me. He is a close and painstaking observer, and the
capacious tablets of his memory are abundantly stored
with pleasing and exciting reminiscences of the many
places of historic and natural interest through which'he
passed. He. has come back to the land of his birth a
stronger believer than ever in the fundamental principles
of American government, and also with a still more ex-
alted idea than before of the superiority of American
manufactures, particularly that of pianos. These, he
claims, are so pre-eminently preferable to those of
European make that the latter are not worthy of being
mentioned in comparison with them.
Among the dealers of this city I ascertained that their
trade during the past three months has been somewhat
fitful. Some, however, speak in terms of satisfaction of
the entire volume of business done; and among these
I may mention the firm of
DENTON & COTTIER
have probably the largest establishment of its kind in
Buffalo. It is located on Main street, and comprises an
entire building of five stories, owned by Mr. Denton.
On the first floor they carry an extensive line of sheet
music. On the second floor are to be seen a superb
array of Steinway, Steck, A. B. Chase, Hallett & Davis,
Fischer, New England, Krakauer, and Mathushek pianos.
The third story is well furnished with Wilcox & White
and Story & Clark organs. Above this is a concert hall
with a seating capacity of 400. The building has been
recently erected. It is supplied with elevators and
all other most approved conveniences.
OLUETT & SONS,
C. H. UTLEY
who assert that their trade from the opening of the
occupies, if not the largest, one of the most artistically
appointed warerooms in this city. It is approached by
a handsome stairway of oak. All its fittings, including
the elaborate ceiling panels, are of the same enduring
material. Mr. Utley has lately expended nearly $3,000
upon the decorations of this spacious and magnificent
apartment, in which are displayed a splendid assortment
of Haines Bros.', Vose & Sons', and Schubert pianos.
present year to the date of my visit has exceeded that
of the corresponding period of 1888.
Judging from such information as I could glean in
regard to the music trade in the city of
BRIGHT and gladsome weather prevailed as our rep-
T R O Y , N . Y.,
resentative, according to long-standing custom, set out
I am inclined to predict an unusually brisk season for
upon his early spring tour toward the region of the Trojan music dealers. Further, recent accessions to
setting sun. He is the more to be congratulated upon
their ranks will cause strong and lively competition. At
this fact, for the reason that he would have been just as
AUBURN, N. Y.,
promptly at duty's post if the atmospheric conditions
WEGMAN & CO.
had been as unfavorable as they were favorable. The
are
enjoying
a
substantially
increased business. Mr.
path of duty is. the way to glory. It is ours, at various
Wegman
told
me
that
within
the
past few months their
times and seasons, to go among the music trade, to
output
has
doubled.
Undoubtedly
a prosperous career
converse with them, to ascertain their ideas as to the
is
in
store
for
this
energetic,
honorable,
and well-con-
future, to condole with them in their sorrows, to delight
ducted
concern.
in their joys, and to endeavor through the medium of
The town bearing the historic name of
T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW to advance and enhance
their true interests, This we do, regardless of baro-
metric indications, domestic comfort, or personal con-
venience; and in the gratitude and patronage of a
mighty host of manufacturers and dealers lies our ex-
ceeding great reward. The reward of our patrons, on
the other hand, consists of the making known to the
ends of the civilized world, through these columns, their
inventions, improvements, and progressions, and the
ever-increasing and developing excellencies of the mu-
sical industries of the United States of America.
instruments are exceedingly tasteful and attractive in
appearance, while in tone and in every detail of con-
struction they are exactly as is represented by their able
and reliable makers, each of whom is a hard and indus-
trious worker, thoroughly conversant with the business,
and an excellent judge as to what constitutes a good
and satisfying piano. I predict for this house well-
merited and constantly-increasing success. Dealers will
do well to investigate their products.
WATERLOO,
N. Y. is doubly famed, viz., for fast horses and for
THE WATERLOO ORGAN CO.,
of which latter Mr. Malcolm Love is and ever has been
the directing genius. At the time of my visit, Mr. Love
had just returned from a pleasant and profitable trip to
the South. The business prospects of this admirable
firm are excellent.
WAHLE & SONS.
another old-established house, have carried on business
in Buffalo for a quarter of a century, during twenty
years of which they have occupied their present ware-
rooms on Main street.
They handle the Chickering,
Behning, Mason & Hamlin, and Gabler pianos, and the
Mason & Hamlin organs.
GEO. F. HEDGE
is another Buffalo dealer whose business is rapidly de-
veloping. On the day previous to my visit he had sold
four pianos.
His present quarters are altogether inad-
equate to the exterft of his trade, and he will shortly re-
move to No. 577 Main street, where his accommoda-
tions will be more
operations.
nearly commensurate with his
Mr. Hedge handles the Knabe and the
Bradbury pianos.
I E. & T. W. MITCHELL
are new claimants for popular favor here. They are
From Waterloo I proceeded to the world-renowned
city of
B U F F A L O , N. Y ,
noted among other matters as the former abiding-place
vigorously pushing the " Opera " piano.
ALBANY, N. Y.,
of one Grover Cleveland, and as the point in the travel-
a charming city of about 17,000 inhabitants, located
and we now leave him to tell his story in his own
words:—
The manufacturers of this fine old settlement were
in a hopeful mood concerning the spring outlook, not-
withstanding the fact that during (he month of February
last past trade had not been unusually brisk.
er's journey at which it becomes necessary to tantalize
near to that celebrated and much-sought resort, Chau-
Old Time by turning the hands of one's watch an hour
tauqua Lake. In the flourishing community of James-
backward.
town is situated the piano factory of
The first city of note at whose gates our emissary
alighted after leaving New York, was
R. W. TANNER & SON
informed me that they were confident of a good trade
later on.
At the factory of
THE MARSHALL & WENDELL PIANOFORTE CO
1 observed abundant signs of a plenteous coming sea-
son. Mr. Harvey Wendell was in Kansas City, Mo., at
the time of my call. He is making an extensive tour
of the West in the interests of his company, and so far
has met with a success that gives great satisfaction to
his colleagues in the East. One of his sons, Mr. C. E.
Wendell, who inherits the enterprising spirit of his sire,
contemplates opening a music store in the prosperous
and beautiful city of Denver, Col.
While inspecting the handsome warerooms of
My deductions as to the condition of the
My next stop was at
JAMESTOWN, N. Y.,
music trade in this city, drawn during a brief sojourn
C. A. AHLSTROM,
there, are that the dealers are having a quiet time. They
on visiting which I was received by the proprietor with
can hardly be credited even with a "high medium
that kind courtesy for which he is so eminently distin-
grade " state of affairs.
guished.
At the
KURTZMAN FACTORY
In his company I was permitted to view the
entire premises.
I was kindly received by Louis Kurtzman, who had
Personally, Mr. Ahlstrom merits more than passing
just returned from a Western trip with the fruitful re-
mention. Tall, erect, of fine general physique, and pos-
sults of which he was well pleased.
sessing a frank, open, manly countenance, he is one of
THE BUFFALO PIANO MANUFACTURING CO.,
who started in business a little more than a year ago,
are working their way steadily upwards. This firm in-
cludes four distinguished practical piano makers, viz.,
T. Staderman, E. O. Fisher, M. Duer, and C. Zink, all
of whom have seen years of service at the bench. Mr
Staderman, in particular, was with the Kurtzmans.
more than twenty years. The " Old Quadrilateral," as
this new and excellent firm have been named, manufac-
ture medium grade pianos of the best quality. Their
those specimens of American manhood who inevitably
attract the admiring gaze of their fellow-men. Exi-
gencies of space, however, forbid me to enter upon so
agreeable a task as the delineation of Mr. Ahlstrom's
virtues and graces, and I must hasten to deal with the
more prosaic subjects of his factory and its products.
In 1875, Mr. Ahlstrom began to make pianos in
Jamestown.
Step by step, as his goods have become
more widely known, he has advanced, until at the pres-
ent moment the Ahlstrom piano is by common consent