Music Trade Review

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9RCAN PR,TO
VOL. XVI. No. 12.
published Every Saturday.
CHICAGO.
CHICAGO,
lhx,., Oct. 20, 1892.
EDITOR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW:
That Genoese gentleman of pious memory,
Sig. Cristoforo Colombo, has much to answer
for. Chicago this week is given up wholly to
him. Celebration with processions and dedica-
tions is the order of the day. Dignitaries, dip-
lomats, officers, privates and civilians are mixed
up. The city wears a gala appearance and the
World's Fair is the topic of conversation.
The ceremonies have begun. Last night there
was a ball, a grand one, and it was a success.
That goes without saying.
To-day, even while I am writing, the civic
parade is going on. There are governors galore
in it, music until the ears are fairly deafened
and the people are cheering themselves wild.
The parade is an admirable one. The execu-
tive officers of the different States are receiving
ovations all along the route, and when some
particularly well-known one, like McKinley of
Ohio, Flower of New York, Boies of Iowa, or
Russell of Massachusetts passes, the enthusiasm
is indescribable. Governor Fuller of Vermont was
loudly cheered as the procession passed along
Wabash avenue, and by the principal houses in
the music trade.
The sky is lowering and there is a promise of
rain.
To-morrow the dedicatory ceremonies take
place at the Fair grounds. There is a great deal
of satisfaction expressed over the selection of
Henry Watterson as the orator of the occasion.
There is a false idea abroad, that the Chicago
people are playing the part of sharks on this
occasion. That is not true. Although there is
a tremendous crowd here and accommodations
are comparatively scarce, there appears no dis-
position to fleece the visitors. But here I would
advise intending visitors to the "World's Fair
next year, to secure their quarters a long time
ahead of their visit, if possible.
Next to governors and diplomats, the impor-
tant people in the city (to me) are the visiting
piano and organ dealers. In fact I have met
more of them than I have governors. I started
out with the laudable intention of securing a
complete list of the visiting members of the
trade, but, after awhile, concluded that the
editor of T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW would not
wish to publish a trade directory, and so these
enterprising gentlemen will have to remain un-
noticed as individuals.
From them I learn, however, that the pros-
*
Jfeu/ Yorl(, October 29,1892.
pects for trade throughout the West are of the
brightest. That is about all that can be said. -
In Chicago I find activity both among the
manufacturers and dealers. The former state
that business is very good, that they are be-
hind their orders, and the latter look pleased
and keep on ordering.
The Conover piano is meeting with splendid
success, and they are ordered faster than they
can be supplied.
At the Chickering Chase Bros. Co. warerooms
I find that the Chase Bros, new grand pianos
are meeting with a great deal of favor. They
have been examined by expert piano makers
and artists and have won the admiration of all.
This house is pushing business along at a rapid
rate. It has a splendid staff of traveling and
floor salesmen.
I hear the same old story at the office of the
W. W. Kimball Co.—Behind orders.
Lyon & Healy are rushing things with the
Knabe and their other lines.
The Steinway piano, in the hands of Lyon,
Potter & Co., is selling as a matter of course.
Mr. Cross, at the warerooms of the Rice
Macy Co., finds business good, both with that
piano and the " Gildemeester & Kroeger. " In
fact in all the warerooms business appears to be
good and prospects excellent.
In my next letter I will enter more into de-
tail, and tell what the manufacturers are doing
and intend to do, and will also say something
of a new piano firm here and the instruments
they manufacture.
The Carlstedt Piano M'f'g Co. is incorporated
here. I have as yet learned nothing further of
them.
And may heaven defend me from any more
World's Fair celebrations.
LA TER.
But faint echoes of the great dedicatory cere-
monies are heard. The dignitaries have depart-
ed, and the crowd of visitors has materially
diminished, and the stores and storekeepers are
resuming the natural order of things. It was a
brave show without a doubt, and as I suppose
you in New York have had graphic descriptions
in the dailies, the subject may now be dismiss-
ed. Here, in Chicago, where everything goes
on the jump, the celebration is ancient history
now.
The next thing of importance is the allot-
ment of space to the musical instrument manu-
facturers for the World's Fair. There is not
much more to be said on this subject. The
question has been widely discussed, and the pro-
posed amount commented upon. I am convinced
that there will be few important industries that
will have enough space. Liberal as were the
calculations, to all appearances the demands
have been greatly in excess of the supply. It
is probable that by the time this reaches you a
decision will have been reached in the matter of
the musical instrument exhibit.
Retail trade is quiet. There is no doubt about
J3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
that, but the wholesale business continues good
and the prospects are excellent.
This week is an important one with the Rice-
Macy Company, for the first pianos are to be
shipped from the new factory at Columbia
Heights. Mr. Rice expressed himself to me as
relieved that the strain of getting matters into
running order is over. The Company is delight-
ed with the new factory, and Mr. Rice says that
they will have to work very hard to fill their
orders, and that the prospects are of the
brightest. At the Schaeffer factory, at Oregon,
111., matters are booming along splendidly.
You have doubtless noticed in various papers
notices of a new firm of pianomakers, Messrs.
Coulon, Wihtol & Co., of 185 West Harrison.
I can endorse all that has been said of the firm,
their energy and their instruments. These are
distinguished for their beautiful tone. I know
also something of the abilities of the head of the
firm, Mr. Eniile Coulon, as he was prominently
connected with a piano manufacturing firm in
Toronto when I was a resident of that city.
The business at present is carried on in a most
modest way. I understand, however, that there
will be an extension about the first of the year,
when it is probable that a gentleman connected
at present with the retail trade here will cast in
his lot with the present firm and push the in-
struments among the trade. The way these
gentlemen have gone to work is most commend-
able and deserving of success, and that success
I am sure they will win.
The Manufacturers' Piano Co. continues to
thrive on the "one price system." Mr. Cur-
tiss and Mr. Wright are as enthusiastic over
their method of doing business to-day, as they
were four months ago, and that speaks well for
the way in which they have taken the matter
up.
Mr. J. H. Reardon, of the New England Pi-
ano Co., is satisfied with the business he is do-
ing. There is a fine line of pianos in the ware-
rooms here that is being constantly added to.
Mr. R. S. Howard continues to roll in the or-
ders.
The Conover factory is pushed for all it is
worth. They cannot turn out uprights enough
to satisfy the demand. More room has been se-
cured to be occupied after the first of the year.
The '' Conover '' is now sold from Pittsburg to
San Francisco, a steady stream of orders coming
in from the most important dealers.
If there is one thing more than another the
house of Lyon & Healy prides itself on, it is
the fine window displays they make at their
warerooms at State and Monroe streets. At the
present time they have a bewildering display of
instruments of all sorts, shapes and sizes. Their
window is a great halting place for the passers
by on State street, and at times the jam is so
great, that in passing, a trip to the outside of the
sidewalk is advisable. It is scarcely necessary for
me to say anything about the output of the
house. Their advertisement tells to all the story.
And, as they keep on producing this immense
number of instruments each year, the conclusion
that the sales are equally large, is a wise one.
Mr. Ernst Knabe and Mr. Charles Keidel, Jr.,
were guests of the firm during the celebration.
Mr. James E. Healy is away on a trip for his
health. He carries with him the best wishes of
a host of friends.
D. H. F.