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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
the flames. It is estimated that damage to the
amount of about $50,000 was done to the stock
by fire and water, which was fully covered by
insurance. Fortunately, in another portion of
the building was a large stock of unfinished
pianos, which will enable the firm to ship in-
struments with but comparatively little delay.
Mr. John D. Pease has lost no time in securing
temporary quarters outside, and has contracted
to have the damaged portion of the building
repaired at once and the rooms rehabilitated.
In a very short time work will go on as smooth-
ly as before the fire.
refused to handle it. We think that our young
friend will find it a decidedly difficult task to
impress upon the manufacturers that such a
paper reaches " t h e big polycephalous public
that ultimately buys their instruments.''
The initial page of the music trade jottings of
our young friend fairly scintillates with ridicu-
lous absurdities and his ideas are quaintly non-
sensical. Writing of the Weber concern he
states:
"They come for their uprights and baby
grands, and not for Mr. Al. Weber, as one might
think. They aie courteously received by Mr.
Levy, a musical authority who condescends to
act as salesman, and several other equally com-
petent salesmen. Al. Weber himself is upstairs
iOBERT M. WEBB is another sufferer by conferring with Mr. Wheelock, with whom he is
a recent fire. His Brooklyn factory was on most congenial terms, working for and en-
damaged last week to the extent of about $7,000. joying together the undreamt of prosperity of
His customers will be supplied temporarily from the new firm."
How Mr. Weber must have smiled, as he read
the large stock carried at his New York estab-
the above, to learn that he is " on most congenial
lishment.
terms with Mr. Wheelock," and it must be news,
indeed, for Mr. Levy to have it known by the
/SB C. BRIGGS & CO., Boston, are manufac- '' polycephalous public " that he " condescends"
%P' turing a line of pianos which are ex- to act as a salesman. The Weber firm is com-
ceedingly popular with the trade. Their new posed of dignified and distinguished gentlemen,
styles " K " and " L " are particular favorites.
and we entertain serious doubts as to their
These are new styles which the firm have
favorable consideration of such arrant rot as the
brought out especially for the fall trade, and
above. Probably these are the " interesting and
they have quickly attained popularity with the
amusing features" referred to in the opening
dealers.
paragraph.
RECENT issue of a paper devoted to the
interests of the sporting fraternity, and
published in New York, contains the following
literary gem relating to the piano trade :
" But, if you are amiable enough to keep on
reading these matters (and I hope you will in
future, because they will be presented to you in
a more readable, less clambake-style sort of
manner), you will take enhanced interest in the
piano and in all that pertains to it, and you will
keep well posted in the intricate ways of the
musical world. There is a very interesting re -
lation between art, instrument and manufac-
turer. Some day you will know all about it.
The manufacturers themselves will gradually
appreciate the efforts of Spott, Music and Drama,
and become convinced that the benefit they de-
rive from a feature like this in a journal that is
interesting, amusing and instructive through-
out, is as great as the benefit they get from
trade papers pure et simple, which reach only a
limited circle and do not interest the big, poly-
cephalous public that ultimately buys their in-
struments. ''
In the first place the young scribbler makes a
direct fling at his predecessor, Mr. Harry E.
Freund, to whose personal popularity the entire
music trade patronage contained in the columns
of the sporting publication is due, for it is not
probable that twenty-five music trade firms
would bestow their patronage upon a purely
sporting publication, were it not for their kindly
feelings toward Mr. Freund. We think that
had it not been for Mr. Freund's work on behalf
of the organ of the sporting fraternity, the
manufacturers themselves would, indeed, be
gradual to appreciate the efforts of that paper,
and it would take them a long time to become
convinced that they would derive any benefit
from a paper concerning which the New York
press announced that the news companies had
Continued from first page.
ject, that I have heard him say he had never
played the music of Offenbach and his school
for that very reason.'' Great Moses !
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The Review of Reviews for December contains
a portrait of Governor Levi K. Fuller in a group
representing the gubernatorial heads of the
various States under the new political regime.
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Unless I mistake it, the trade organs over-
looked the fact that Mr. William Steinway had
an article in a recent number of the National
Magazine, entitled '' The Evolution of the
Piano." That publication is only just com-
mencing to sell and is not well known. The
article appeared in the September issue, which,
in the matter of a monthly, is recent.
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The Sunday Standard is the title of a new
paper, which is to be published at Newark, N.
J. The capital stock is $150,000. A paragraph
in last Sunday's World says: "Rumor has
associated with the new concern the names of
ex-Judge Frank Fort, E. B. Gaddis and Franklin
Murphy." I believe that Mr. Murphy already
controls important interests in a Newark paper.
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The Czar's Chamberlain, Mr. Netschajeff-
Maltzeff, one of the richest gentlemen in Russia,
has ordered a piano in Paris -which is to cost the
trifling sum of 38,000 francs, says the St. Louis
Post Express. The instrument will be of ex-
traordinary dimensions and supported on six
feet united together by garlands of carved wood
after the design of Benois, the architect. The lid
is to be adorned by a painting executed by Lip-
hant, the eminent artist. The tone of the piano
will be three times as powerful as that of an
ordinary instrument.
T H E REVIEWER.
395
5l?e " Symptyopy."
A WONDERFUL INVENTION—UNIVERSALLY IN-
DORSED—SOLD BY REPRESENTATIVE
DEALERS.
f
HE remarkable powers possessed by the
"Symphony, " manufactured by the Wil-
cox & White Organ Co., Meriden, Conn., are be-
coming rapidly recognized by the music trade
and the public all over America, and even in for-
eign countries, for the firm are making shipments
to Japan, India, various parts of South America
and also the West Indies. Many of our readers
have seen and heard this wonderful invention,
and it is therefore hardly necessary to enter into a
detailed account of its construction and what it is
possible to accomplish with it.
To those who have not already beheld this
musical educator we would state that it resem-
bles an upright piano in appearance, with a taste-
fully designed case, and is manufactured in a
variety of woods. It is a mechanical instrument
with which it is possible to reproduce the works
of the greatest composers in a manner approach-
ing that of an orchestra in effect. It is an in-
strument which enables the performer, although
he may not possess a previous knowledge of
playing, to render on it the most difficult selec-
tions and enjoy the rarest inspirations of the
great musical masters. This applies to music of
all classes, lively as well as slow. Such an in-
strument as this serves as an instructor and an
educator, as it enables many to become acquainted
with high-class music who otherwise would not
have the privilege of doing so.
The dealers who have handled the '' Sym-
phony '' find it not only an instrument which
insures them a handsome profit, but that it also
acts as an attraction to draw customers to their
stores for various purposes. Some of the great-
est firms in America, such as Oliver Ditson
Company, Boston ; Lyon, Potter & Co., Chicago;
F. A. North & Co., Philadelphia ; W. J. Dyer &
Co., St. Paul; Hardman, Peck & Co., New
York; Otto Sutro & Co., Baltimore; E. F.
Droop, Washington ; Bancroft Co., San Fran-
cisco, and the R. Wurlitzer Co., Cincinnati, have
shown their appreciation of these instruments
by securing the agency for them. Aside from
these representative dealers there is a large num-
ber scattered over the country who are not in-
cluded in this list. We would suggest to those
firms who have not already investigated the pos-
sibilities of this instrument, that it would be a
business move on their part to do so at once and
secure a slice of territory for the same. Many
musicians of prominence have expressed them-
selves in cordial language regarding the musical
qualities of the "Symphony." Xaver. Schar-
wenka, the great pianist, writes the firm as fol-
lows :
" It gives me great pleasure to extend to you
my highest indorsement as regards your in-
strument, which I had the pleasure to play and
test yesterday. It recommends itself in every
respect, not alone by its full, fine and well-
balanced tone, but also by its extraordinary fine
and scientifically well-regulated register."
GEORGE N. GRASS has recently returned from
a trip South in the interests of the Steck piano.
George is one of the niOvSt popular piano men of
the younger generation, and naturally when he
returns from a jaunt on the road he brings with
him a goodly number of orders for the celebrated
Steck pianos.
A MOST delightful Christmas concert was
given by Byron Mauzy, Thursday evening, De-
cember 15th, at his piano warerooms, 308-314
Post street, San Francisco, California. Emi-
nent artists took part, and all who attended were
thoroughly pleased with the entertainment.