Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
OR Aha cause that Jack
Ror % irrosg that needs' resistance^
Ear life fctura JQ
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THE KNABE PIANO IN CHICAGO.
THE Chicago interests of the house of Win. Knabe &
Co., of Baltimore, Md., will in future be in the hands of
the Lyon & Healy Company, who will handle the Knabe
piano as a leader. Messrs. P. J. Healy and C. N. Post
visited Baltimore Monday, Dec. 2nd and made a tour
of inspection of the Knabe factory, with the admirable
arrangements and facilities of which, as also the superb
work there turned out, they were greatly impressed.
Messrs. Healy & Post left Baltimore on the morning
of the 3rd inst., arriving in New York the same day.
In conversation with a representative of THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW Mr. Healy remarked that the business
perly organized at that time, its officers would im-
mediately have been informed of the circumstances, and
an investigation would in all probability have occurred
in time to prevent the theft of many thonsauds of
dollars.
As a proof of the unreliability of certain mercantile
agencies, generally looked upon as well nigh infallible
indicators of the standing of business firms, we may
point to the fact that Barrett was quoted by one of them
as being worth $ 18,000 to $20,000 over all liabilities.
The desirability of obtaining trustworthy information
in these matters cannot be over-estimated by any who
have at heart the true interests of legitimate trade.
Persons of the Barrett stamp may and do work injury
to legitimate dealers, who are deserving of credit, and
who need and are entitled to due protection.
While on this subject of the trade association we may
allude to the recent action of the railway transportation
companies in connection with freight rates, whereby
manufacturers are put to the annoyance and delay of
obtaining the written authority of the purchasers to
enter their goods on the shipping list as at owners risk,
or submit to an increased rate of about 3 3 ^ per cent.
Here, then, are at least two matters illustrative of the
benefits derivable by the music trade from thorough
organization. Gentlemen, you have laid the foundation.
Let no delay occur in the building of the superstructure.
the merry dance and the general enjoyment. Give the
poor better music, by all means. Educate, refine, and
elevate them in every possible way; but until this phil-
anthropic and patriotic mission is begun allow them to
retain the little pleasure that they now possess—at least
until the kazoo and the fish-vender's horn have been
relegated to the " have beens."
# *
Our "magnetic" contemporary, we fear, is more
magnetic than enterprising. On the 23rd ult. he came
out with the information that the name of the new firm
with which Mr. Geo. W. Lyon had identified himself
was " Lyon, Potter & Co." This information appeared
in THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW on the 5th ult,, i.e.,
eighteen days previously. In the same issue, our " mag-
netic" friend gives a garbled and distorted version of
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW'S article upon Mr. Otto
Wessel's birthday. Here, as in the case of Snaks,
he over-reaches himself, for he adds to his stolen mat-
ter, " The presentation was made by Mr. Carl Fink, who
was in his happiest mood." The richness of this inter-
polation will be appreciated when it is stated that at
the time of the presentation Mr. Carl Fink was not in
New York city, but many a mile from the scene of fes-
tivities, to which he dispatched a telegram of congratu-
lation. It would be far safer to leave this species of
magnet alone.
* *
T H E CINCINNATI PIANO CONPANY.
THE following report was received in New York on
the morning of the 2d inst.:
Cincinnati Piano Company. Receiver appointed, H.
C. Stewart. It is believed that creditors will be paid in
full.
Mr. H. L. Benham, formerly with Smith & Nixon, of
Cincinnati, O., was President, and Mr. H. C. Stewart,
Secretary of the Company, who handled the Knabe,
Kroeger, Conover and other pianos. The company was
organized under the laws of Kentucky.
Rumors as to the embarrassment of another promi-
nent Western firm are afloat, but in justice to the par-
ties interested we refrain, pending further develop-
ments, from publishing the alleged particulars.
THE BAUS PIANO.
A RELIABLE AND POPULAR INSTRUMENT—AN EXPANDING
TRADE.
B
AUS & CO., N. V-, have fully justified the state-
ments made by THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
nearly a year ago^as to their qualifications and
prospects. The year 1889 has been for them a period
of steady prosperity arid well-deserved encomiums.
Their trade has advanced with sure strides. The merits
of their instruments have been widely recognized.
Dealers of the highest repute have been added to their
list of agents.
All this is the natural outcome of .the admirable bus-
iness methods, and the great skill in the art of piano
construction with which the name of Baus is asso-
ciated.
Within the past twelve months several improvements
of a noteworthy character have been incorporated in
the Baus piano.
Baus It Co. must be congratulated xrpon their dis-
tinguished success thus far. Further, they are beyond
question entitled to regard their future with equanim-
ity and cheerfulness.
of the Lyon Sc Healy firm was excellent. During the
past November, he said, their domestic and export
sales exceeded those of any previous month in the his-
tory of their concern. One order was received last week
from London, for 769 banjos of their own manufacture.
They are effecting improvements on the first floor of
their gigantic warerooms, and fitting up offices which
T H E HURDY-GURDY MEN.
for convenience and handsome appearance will not be
surpassed by any in this country. Messrs. Healy &
THE revocation of the edict forbidding itinerant
Post left for Chicago yesterday.
organ-grinders to pursue their humble calling in the
The conferring of the Chicago agency of the Knabe streets of New York city must be regarded as just and
firm upon the Lyon & Healy Company is a very im- humane. Probably it would not be an exaggeration to
PRAISE FOR THE NEW ENGLAND PIANO.
portant event, and one that will add greatly to the trade say that such revocation is in accordance with the gene-
and prestige of both houses.
ral sentiment. A few critics, and a few non-critics with
rr\ HE following letter has been received by the New
ultra-sensitive ears, hailed the temporary suppression
I
England Piano Company of New York:—
of the barrel-organ men with selfish delight, but it is by
NEW YORK, NOV. 12, 1889.
CONCERNING ORGANIZATION.
no means certain that an exhaustive canvass of our artis- NEW ENGLAND PIANO CO. of New York,
A USEFUL lesson may be learned from the extraordi- tic fellow-citizens would result in favor of the extinc-
98 Fifth Avenue. .
GENTLEMEN : The piano I purchased of you after
nary story of B. S. Barrett, late of Cleveland, O., who tion of the hurdy-gurdy. Music hath charms for the constant
use has proved itself in every requirement the
fled from his creditors and from justice a few days ago. poor, as well as for the rich. The wealthy may listen, piano tor the artist and the people. I shall take great
pleasure in recommending the instrument wherever I
•Under the guise of a genial, friendly manner, and ap- all the year round, to the very best of music, but the may be.
Very truly,
parently under the cloak of religion, this man success- dwellers in poverty are at present debarred from the
HENRIETTE MARKSTEIN,
1889 Lexington ave.
fully practised, during a long period, the most startling exquisite pleasures derivable from the divine gifts of
and astounding forgeries. Why was he not found out Scalchi, Joachim, and Von Bulow. Even Joseffy and
A FORTUNE OUT OF HER PIANO.
earlier, and what guarantee have we that there are not Otto Hegner are not for them. Would that it were
at this moment a dozen other such scoundrels deceiving otherwise. As things are at present, however, a very
"And Minnie has made a fortune out of her piano-
and swindling the music trade by precisely the same large proportion of our people are denied almost all
playing. How did she do it so quickly ?"
methods as those adopted by Barrett ?
music except that produced by the musician of the
" She practiced piano so much that her uncle com-
If the Piano and Organ Manufacturers' Association streets. To deprive them of the hurdy-gurdy would be mitted suicide, and she was his heir, you know."— The
of the United States had been perfected years ago, it is to inflict a cruel wrong, to take away a not inconsiderable Epoch.
probable that the machinations of Barrett would have portion of the few delights that make their lives endur-
been laid bare ere now. This may be readily realized able. Who, passing through the alleys and slums of a
BETTER THAN THE AMATEUR.
on reference to several points of the narrative. For large city, has not observed the change that comes over
A l i d o g pianist" is advertised as one of the attrac-
instance, eighteen months ago Barrett's actions appear a crowd of ragged, pale-faced children on the approach
to have excited a feeling akin to suspicion in the minds of the Italian and his cumbrous music-box ? Eyes tions of a London show. The dog pianist would seem
of an eminent Boston firm of piano manufacturers. Had brighten, sadness and listlessness give place to glee, to be preferable in some respects t o the incessant
amateur. It plays with its paws while the latter plays
the Union now happily called into existence been pro- and the squalor of the surroundings is lost sight of in with no pause at a l l — The Chicago Herald,