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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
IN
EUROPE.
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ABROAD.)
THE; SMITH AMERICAN ORGAN CO. IN LONDON
—J N MERRILL INTERVIEWED—E. H. HAN-
NINGTON—NEW STYLES ON THE BRIT-
ISH MARKET—JACK HAYNES AND
THE NEWMAN ORGAN — THE
NEW YORK BRANCH HOUSE
OP THIBOUVILLE-
LAMY.
AN IMPORTANT MOVE—M. THIBOUVILLE-LAMY
AND THE WORLD'S FAIR—A MUSICAL ART
EXHIBITION IN LONDON—J. W. CURRIER
—LYON & HEALY IN LONDON—
DAWKINS & CO.—THOMAS DAW-
KINS—AN OLD HOUSE —
INCIDENTAL POINTS.
^jE> Y the time this reaches you Mr. J. N. Mer-
0 — rill, of the Smith American Organ Co.,
will be home again. He sails on the 28th by
one of the steamers of the North German line,
and hopes to be back in time for to taste of green
corn and the other dainties of the vanishing
summer, which he missed while abroad. There
can be no mistake about Mr. Merrill's national
spirit. With him the United States is a pretty
large slice of the earth, and Boston is the '' hub ''
thereof. I am letting him down easily here-
abouts, for his extensive travel throughout
Europe, as a representative of the conquering
American organ trade, has necessarily broadened
him out and given him a salutary touch of the
Cosmopolitan in his make-up. Meanwhile the
orthodox Bostonian believes Boston to be the
'hub " not alone of Uncle Sam's vast domain,
but of the universe at that.
Mr. Merrill has been in Europe since the end
of July. Your representative succeeded in find-
ing him on the 20th in the handsome offices of
the London branch establishment, 82 Oxford
street. When Mr. E. H. Hannington, the
genial manager, ushered me into his presence
he was busily engaged in writing. A warm
shake hands and a few words of greeting set me
immediately at my ease, and a chat ensued.
When I called previously Mr. Merrill was con-
fined to his apartments at the Montague Man-
sions through a slight indisposition, and I was,
therefore, glad to see him looking entirely re-
covered and hard at work.
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Mr. Merrill brought over five new styles spe-
cially designed for the European market, from
which much is expected. There is no member
of the organ trade better acquainted with the
foreign market than this popular Bostonian, and
his judgment is invariably sharp and correct.
The new styles are 315, 215, 350 and 500; in-
struments reasonable in price and yet possessed
of a fine appearance and all the familiar tone
characteristics of these organs.
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Mr. Merrill also brought along a more elabor-
ate and costly class of organ, a two manual
instrument, which he expects will create a sen-
sation in musical circles. It contains a host of
novel and artistic stop effects and an extensive
pedal scale, besides presenting an imposing ex-
terior. Mr. Hannington, who has full charge
of the London house, shares Mr. Merrill's faith
in the saleable qualities of the new styles, and
all who have inspected them pronounce them
excellent specimens of the American organ-
makers' art, an art which somehow remains in-
tact and uncopiable by Europeans.
I approached Mr. Merrill on the subject of his
entree into the sphere of piano manufacturing.
"Yes, I have everything in preparation," he
remarked, " and I shall begin manufacturing in
Boston soon after returning home. I shall
make only a high-grade instrument. No pains
or outlay will be spared to make it second to
none."
If force of character, trade experience, purpose
and application can aid the new piano, then Mr.
Merrill is certain of success in that field.
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The popular Mr. Jack Haynes will sail for
home on the 3 tst by the City of New York. He
has apartments at the Montague Mansions.
During his stay here he has been the recipient
of many courtesies from members of the trade
all around. He came over to put the Newman
Brothers' organ on the British market, and has
effected his purpose. The sole agency has been
placed in the hands of a responsible firm in the
West-end. Full particulars regarding the con-
nection will soon be published. Mr. Haynes
knows the ground on this side, and careful study
and a practical acquaintance with the Newman
organ have given him faith in their chances in
the United Kingdom. Of course much depends
upon the British agent, and Mr. Haynes' shrewd-
ness and natural business tact have enabled him
to close with the right parties. In going around,
several members of the trade asked me about
the Newman Bros.' instruments and their fea-
tures of construction, and I was pleased to be in
a position to explain the nature of their '' Air
Circulating Reed Cell " and the advantages
claimed for it. Unless my memory is at fault,
this was the invention of Mr. Gus. R. Newman,
of the firm—at least the patent was rendered
in his name—who is, I believe, a voicer and
tuner of considerable ability. Anyway, the
"Newman " organ has been launched on the
British music trade sea and bids fair to reach
the other side of success, to indulge in a meta-
phor filched from a recent Tennyson poem.
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I have to chronicle the fact—although, per-
haps, already known on the other side—that the
celebrated house of Thibouville-Larny, of Paris
and London, has opened a New York branch in
the Clinton Building. It is under the manage-
ment of Mr. Demarest, a Franco-American, who
thoroughly understands the ins and outs of the
business in the States and all over the American
continent, having traveled for many years as a
representative of music houses. A more capable
man could not be secured. He is also acquainted
with the extensive products of the Thibouville-
Lamy factories, and knows how to push them
to advantage \f given the proper facilities.
Jerome Thibouville-Lamy operates large factories
at Paris, Granelle, Mirecourt and La Couture,
and manufactures military band and orchestral
instruments—brass and wood—of every kind.
That house supplies many of the French mili-
tary bands and some of the best amateur bands
on the Continent and the British Islands. The
London branch house, at 7 and 10 Charterhomse
street, E. C, is under the management of Mr.
Beranger, who happened to be out of town when
I called there. Mr. Cooksey was temporarily in
charge of affairs, and he was most courteous and
anxious to enlighten your correspondent upon
the extent and variety of the Thibouville-Lamy
musical interests, though wisely conservative in
the absence of Mr. Beranger. They carry a very
extensive stock of band, orchestral instruments
—wood and wind—French harmoniums and
pianos, musical automata, small goods and
novelties. Among the latter they handle a very
ingenious specialty which ought to create some
attention in New York. It is an attachment
for playing the piano by mechanical means, and
differs very materially from other appliances of
a like nature. M. Thibouville-Lamy, the head
of this important house, is interesting himself
very much in the coming World's Fair. He is
the president of the committee of French manu-
facturers elected to arrange and organize the
French musical instrument exhibit at Chicago
and is a very active officer. Mr. Lyon, of Plezel,
Wolff & Co., is the secretary.
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On Sept. 13 a most interesting exhibition
will be opened at the Royal Aquarium, West-
minster, which is advertised formally as the
"Musical and Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition."
Among the patrons I notice the name of Prof.
Bowman of Vassar, or rather, of New York.
There will be a goodly showing of musical in-
struments, without doubt, also a " monster re-
cital " in which 16 grand pianos—four hands to
each—will be played. I fancy that the "recital "
will be a tiresome piece of sensationalism.
What can such a performance effect anyway ?
When Paderewski solus rises to the height of
a sublime fortissimo, the sum total of his man-
ual and digital energy produces an average of
percussion that almost paralyzes one's cerebral
region ; but great fiddlesticks ! imagine thirty-
two pairs of pounders working an unanimous
fortissimo upon sixteen grands—it makes the
writer shudder. That will be too much of a
good thing. Another point: What congruous
connection is there between musical instru-
ments and ecclesiastical paintings, drawings and
engravings, to which this exhibition is to be
partly devoted ? Why not throw in surplice and
candlestick ? By the way, I do not see the name
of the only Jerome Hopkins among those sup-
porting the project. Apart from the foregoing
remarks, however, it would be commendable
if confined to musical instruments and things
relating to the art.
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That very talented member of the New York
trade fraternity, Mr. J. W. Currier, who has
labored so hard and so ably in the interests of the
" Vocalian " organ, placed it in capable hands
when he got Messrs. Archibald Ramsden to put
that instrument on exhibition in their show-
rooms, 103 New Bond street. I ascertained that
many of the most eminent musicians have ex-
amined it, with results very flattering to Mason
& Risch, the manufacturers. Mr. Currier was
in London some weeks ago, but is now back in
New York.
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When I was in London last year I met with
much courtesy at the hands of Mr. Alfred
Dawkins, of Thomas Dawkins & Co., 17 Char-
terhouse street, who do a very large business
with the celebrated mandolins, guitars and
banjos of Lyon & Healy, Chicago. When I
visited their place on Tuesday, the presentation
of my card brought out the head of the firm,
Mr. Thomas Dawkins. An adjournment to his
private office followed. It was my first meeting
with that gentleman, for when I called last year
he was out of the city. This time, however, the
situation was reversed, and Mr. Alfred Dawkins,
his nephew, was away. Dawkins & Co. enjoy
the distinction of being one of the oldest music
houses in London. Their establishment was
founded in 1781. They carry a very large stock
of military band, orchestral and miscellaneous
instruments, including pianos, harmoniums,
American organs, and specialties without num-
ber. Referring to the general depression felt in
business circles during the past six months, Mr.
Dawkins said : " The general election and other
public events have made things very dull in-
deed, but we never seem to feel fluctuations of
that nature." He alluded to the musical and