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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
328
THE NICKERSON PIANO CO.
KRAKAUER BROTHERS.
THEIR HIGHLY-PRAISED PIANO AND THE NOTABLE IM-
PROVEMENTS BY WHICH IT IS CHARACTERIZED.
THEY ARE BUILDING A FACTORY SUITABLE TO THE KE-
QUIRKMENTS o p THEIR INCREASING TRADE.—FINE
WAREROOMS AND A MUSTC HALL TO BE
INCORPORATED.
HE Nickerson Piano Co. made a good beginning
in New Bedford, Mass. The first piano con-
structed by them was purchased by an influen-
tial citizen of that city, who is so much in love with his
instrument that nothing short of impending starvation
would induce him to part with it. Since this gentle-
man delivered his voluntary testimony to the merits of
the Nickerson piano, testimonials to its excellence have
poured in by the score from distinguished musical prof-
essors, expert tuners, pianists, and private purchasers.
Consequentlv the movements of the Nickerson Piano
Co. must be of considerable interest to the trade and
profession generally ; and we therefore take pleasure
in announcing that they have opened their factory and
warerooms at 21 and 23 Middle street, New Bedford,
Mass., where they are now manufacturing their fine
patent upright piano, a sample of which attracted so
much attention at the Massachusetts Charitable Mechan-
ics' Fair in Boston in 1887. and was then awarded a
medal and diploma for stringing and tuning device. A
committee of the Board of Trade of New Bedford at
the same time granted their certificate of approval of
this piano.
The makers of the Nickerson piano claim for it,
among others, th? following advantages :—
1. That it can be separated into fourteen different
parts, and taken through anv door. 2. That they do
away with wrest-pin and wrest-pin block. 3. That they
place crossheads (which they have patented) on the top
of their full iron plate, and, by passing every other
string through the plate to the back and up to the pin
through the rrosshead, equalize the strain on the upper
part of the plate and thereby produce a clear and bril-
liant tone, totally free from all woody and muffled qual-
ity. 4. That in the use of their newly patented microm-
eter tuning pin they obtain a central draft, instead of
winding the wire around the old-fashioned wrest-pin.
The chances of string breaking in tuning are hereby re-
duced to a minimum. Change of climate, heat, or
dampness, are powerless to put these pianos out of
tune. They are thoroughly constructed by the most
expert workmen from New York and Boston, have
great power and singing quality of tone and present a
most attractive appearance. The strength of the
mechanism can hardly be appreciated without examina-
tion, and in point of durability the instrument cannot
be surpassed. Further and detailed explanations of the
special features of the Nickerson piano will appear in
the forthcoming illustrated catalogue. The officers of
the Nickerson Piano Co. are William Lewis, president ;
Frank R. Hadley, treasurer, and H. B. Nickerson, man-
ager. The last-named gentleman is endowed with in-
ventive talent of a rare order. He is the inventor of
all the improvements in the Nickerson piano to which
we have alluded. His genius, murever, is not confined
to the piano field, for he has introduced and patented
an improved car-track rail, and an apparatus for the
disentanglement and removal from stanchions of the
main ropes of a ship.
T
CONOYER BROTHERS.
A PROGRESSIVE THOUGH CONSERVATIVE HOUSE. - MORE
IMPORTANT INVENTIONS OF MR. FRANK CONOVER.
M
R. FRANK CONOVER, of Conover Bros.,
usually has something to show or say regard-
ing improvements or experiments in piano
manutacturing which makes a visit to their factory in-
teresting, though the information is seldom given for
publication. Mr. Conover is certainly a progressive,
though a conservative man. Every special feature of
these pianos evidences the clear conception and mechan-
ical exactness which have given him an exceptional rep-
utation as a piano maker of a high grade. Their new
Conover uprights and grands, which contain special in-
ventions pertaining to the stringing of pianos, will
undoubtedly attract a great deal of attention, and cause
much discussion in the trade. We shall shortly give a
careful description of their improvements and of what
is claimed on account of them.
ON May 1st the firm of Leiter Brothers, Syracuse
N. Y., will move from their present address to larger
and handsome quarters in the Pike Block.
R
APID progress is being made with the new piano
factory of Krakauer Brothers, now in course of
erection at 159 and 161 West One hundred and
twenty sixth street. New York. N. Y., and the proba-
bility is that the building will be ready for occupation
by September 1st. It will be five stories high, with a
basement in addition, the superficial measurement of
each floor being 50x100 feet. Krakauer Brothers will
thus be provided with the space of whirh they have
long stood in need. Attached to the factory will be
handsomely appointed warerooms, so arranged as *o
permit of the holding of small musical soin'es. The
front of the entire edifire will present an artistic and
imposing appearance.
The business of this pushing and popular firm was
never belter than at the present time. All their pianos
are shipped upon completion.
LETTER FROM MRS. SHAW ENDORSING
THE HALLET & DAYIS PIANO.
FROM MRS. SHAW.
IOWA CITY, IOWA, March 30, 18S0.
MESSRS. GREEN & KOHN, Iowa City, Iowa.
16th calling for ($3.00) three dollars.
Yours truly,
FERRIS & RAND.
C. M. LOOMIS, New Haven, Conn., Past Grand High
Potentate, Professor of the noble art of self-defense, and
musical patriarch, has betaken himself to 833 Chapel
street in that city, where he has secured warerooms of
a magnificence worthy of his genius and exploits.
THE sheet music and musical merchandise business
of J. C. Welton, Columbus, O., has been purchased by
W. G. Benham, who is also connected with the piano
house of W. H. Grubbs. All liabilities of the old firm
will be paid, and all accounts due thereto collected, by
Mr. Welton.
HERLICH & Co., Paterson, N. J., are vigorously push-
ing their retail trade, and with great sucress.
SOHMER & Co.'s retail trade during the past two
weeks has been remarkably brisk. Their wholesale
business has also largely increased. This accounts for
the present destitute condition of their warerooms—a
species of destitution that is intimately connected with
the liveliest satisfaction.
HAINES BROS., N. Y., will speedily«be settled in their
new Harlem factory, one of the most splendidly equip-
ped in the United States. This firm is unquestionably
one of the busiest in the trade. Calling recently at
their warerooms, we could see only two pianos, both of
which were sold. Mr. Haines, Sr f , informed us that if
he had had twentyin stock he could have sold them all
at retail on the same day.
GENTLEMEN : In all our tour throughout Europe
and America, we have never had a more beautiful
piano placed to our use than the Hallet & Davis up-
right, kindly furnished us for our entertainment in your
CHARLES F. IPPEL, who for the past five years has
city. There are no requirements to an artist's needs been employed in the small goods department of S.
that it does not respond to. We prefer it to all other Brainard's Sons, Cleveland, O., is now with Lyon &
makes. You are to be congratulated in being sole Healy, Chicago, 111.
wholesale agents for so large a territory as you con-
trol. Accept the thanks of our entire company.
HENRY BEHNING, Jr. will visit Europe in May.
ALICE J. SHAW,
New York City, N. Y.
KIND WORDS.
ST. LOUIS, April 4, 1889.
Messrs. BILL & BILL,
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
No. 3 East 14th street, N. Y.
GENTLEMEN: Enclosed please find money order for
$3.00 in payment of your bill herewith enclosed, which
please receipt and return. Yours truly,
BOLLMAN BROS. CO.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., April 8, 1889.
Messrs. BILL & BILL.
New York.
DEAR SIRS: Enclosed please find check for $3,00 for
Music TRADE REVIEW one_ year in advance. Kindly
send me bill. Don't see how I got along without your
paper.
Yours truly,
In view of McCammon's former disastrous experi-
ence, we would suggest to the " business men" of
Davenport, la. that, unless some reliable and responsi-
ble man is placed in charge of the concern as soon as it
settles in their city—if it ever does get there—their
" Association" will be compelled, in the interests of
consistency, to assume some title of an opposite char-
acter to that which it now bears.
BEHR BROS. & Co., N. Y., unspoiled by gold medals
and supreme awards of merit, are constantly bending
their efforts towards further improvements in their pi-
anos. The next thing with which they will startle the
trade will be an improved grand piano action, the in-
vention of their distinguished superintendent Mr, Han-
sing, who is engaged in writing a description of it. Mr.
Hansing's genius as a piano-maker is of a very high
order. He is equally brilliant as a theorist and as a
successful practical applier of his theories.
AMONG the enterprising young firms upon whose
shoulders lies the responsibility of worthily continuing,.
in the coming generations, the name and fame of the
W. HARRIS SELTZER.
American piano-making industry, must be counted the
Sturtz Brothers, of Harlem, N. Y., successors to Sturtz
& Son. These young gentlemen are possessed of a
NEW ORLEANS, LA.. April 9, 1880.
good fund of pluck and energy, and may, we believe, be
THE MUSIC; TRADE REVIEW,
fully depended upon to support the honor of the trade.
New York.
GENTLEMEN: We take pleasure in handing you en- Their medium grade piano has many good points, and
closed check, $3.00, on Bank of Metropolis, New York, we feel justified in foretelling for it and them an honor-
able and prosperous career.
for subscription another year to your excellent paper.
Yours very respectfully,
WE have received an admirable photograph of the
Louis GRUNEWALD & Co.
BOSTON, April 12. 1889.
Messrs. BILL & BILL,
3 East 14th street, N. Y.
GENTLEMEN: We would esteem it a great favor if you
would place the Youth's Companion on your exchange
list, as we wish to receive the REVIEW for the use of
our editors. We should be pleased to send the Com-
panion in exchange to you or to any address you may
desire.
Yours truly,
PERRY MASON & Co.
GALESBURG, III.,April 13, 1889.
MESSRS. BILL & BILL,
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Dear Sirs:—Enclosed find draft for your bill of March
redoubtable John J. Swick, of Paterson, N. J., who ap-
appears to be in good mental and physical condition,
and still hopeful, notwithstanding the onslaughts of his
former friend Blumenberg the bulldozer.
ASA F. BIRD, an crgan and piano dealer of Lynn,
Mass., has flown, accompanied by his mate and one
fledgling, leaving behind him many sad acquaintances
who long to look once more upon him. The chief of
these mourners are A. M. McPhail & Co., of Boston,
Mass., piano-makers, to whom Bird owes about $4,000 ;
Daniel Morris, of the same trade and city, the New
England Piano Co., and three or four Lynn money len-
ders. He also victimized a lady named Buck, who
hired a room at his house, to the extent of $1,100. Bird
is said to be in Watertown, N. Y. Efforts will be made
to trap him. His debts amount to many thousands of
dollars.