Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
'4
TRADE IN
WASHINGTON.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
WASHINGTON, D. C , December 18th, 1893.
Notwithstanding the fact that there has been
little or no curtailment of the volume of money
let loose from the Treasury, each month, to pay
for the services rendered the Government by
officials and dependents, resident at Washing-
ton, there has been a constant complaint of hard
times. There seems to be no rhyme or reason
for that sort of whine at this place, and yet one
hears it in every quarter. Perhaps there has
been retrenchment on the part of some, who are
preparing to step down and out to give place to
their political successors, and the new crop of
officials must get enough substance together to
liquidate transportation and settle up old scores
left behind ere any extravagances can be in-
dulged in. Economy is in the air, and people
are infected with it as with disease. But there
will be surplusage after a while, and then pros-
perity will pervade the community.
The appearance of our Representatives and
Senators for a long session means, as heretofore,
a brightening of business, and we may con-
fidently presume that local trade, during the
near at hand season, will improve.
*
*
*
*
*
*
I have had a very pleasant interview with Mr.
W. P. Van Wickle to-day. He was as bright
and cheerful as usual, of optimistic tempera-
ment. He views the present apparent stagna-
tion of trade serenely. He says the old reliable
Bradbury is still at the front, and that regular
advices to Freeborn G. Smith indicate that this
house is doing its share of business, selling and
renting enough to keep the traditional wolf from
the door, perfectly sanguine of a prosperous
future, fully prepared to give it friendly greeting
and hospitable welcome. If ever, hereafter, I
have an attack of blue devils, I know where to
seek a panacea.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Mr. J. G. Erck, the manager of Messrs. Win.
Knabe & Co., says that the trade of the Wash-
ington establishment has been quite satisfactory
of late, and intimates that business with the
firm which he, in part, represents, has been re-
markably good, both here and elsewhere—taking
the general financial depression into considera-
tion—perfectly satisfactory.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hugo Worch is a firm believer in a liberal use
of printer's ink, and publishes quite an attract-
ive periodical, entitled " Worch s Musical
Monthly.' 1 '' Recently I received a copy, and
called upon the proprietor to return thanks for
the kind and courteous attention. During my
interview, he called my attention to one of
Sohmer & Co.'s new style instruments. In con-
struction and finish—fine mahogany case—it is
superb. The action and tone leave nothing to
be desired. It is a worthy output from a great
factory.
I was also more than pleased with an instru-
ment I found at this house. It bore the name
Steger & Co., of Chicago. The appearance,
finish and all that, at once commended it to
notice, and a practical test of all the qualities
which tend to make a piano the delight of a
musician and a benefaction to those who hear it
when it is in use, led me to believe that it could
speak for itself, and I left our friend, Worch,
marveling at the degree of perfection attained
in the construction of pianos, and contrasting
what I had seen with the memories of instru-
ments I was more or less familiar with in the
long ago.
WM. E. MCARTHUR.
WHAT THEY SAV.
EDWARD FRAKE, musician, son of Abraham
Frake, while in the employ of Treat & Shepard,
piano dealers, Waldermere and Hazel avenues,
Bridgeport, Conn., sold a piano for $300, turned
over $200 to the firm, and the $100 mysteriously
disappeared while in the company of some
friends. This all occurred last March, and was
settled all O. K. with Treat & Shepard some
three weeks afterwards. The fact that a de-
cidedly loose system exists at police head-
quarters was shown by the fact that Frake was
arrested a few days ago on a charge of embezzle-
ment, but was discharged two hours after his
arrest. The police had forgotten about the war-
rant until a few weeks ago.
" T H E KEYNOTE " is the title of a publica-
tion issued in New York City, which has for its
motto, " The Keynote is Home." It is in its
16th volume, and devoted to Art, Literature,
Music and Drama. So far as we can judge it is
a most excellent periodical, and at the low figure
of $1.50 per year commends itself to all. One
of its special features will be advocating the
works of American composers. It will be an
educator in the highest sense of the word along
all these lines.—Current Topics, Beebe, Ark.,
December 7, 1893.
OWING to lack of orders Goddard & Manning,
piano case manufacturers, Athol, Mass., are
compelled to close down.
THE sheriff has attached the business of Mr.
L- H. Chapman, music dealer, of Spring Val-
ley, Minn., for $226.
T. C. JAMES, of Hannibal, Mo., recently lost
$ 1,000 by fire. No insurance.
NEW YORK,
95 FIFTH AVENUE
GEO. KENDALL, music dealer of Bethany, 111.,
has taken Mr. Smith into partnership, and the
business carries the title of Kendall & Smith.
MR R. S. HARCOURT, who has been for a
long time with Messrs. Steger & Co., Chicago,
will leave to take a position with Mr. J. O.
Twichell, of that city.
A LETTER which speaks volumes for the
" Symphony " organ is the testimony of such a
competent judge as Chas. H. Ditson, who says :
'' I desire to add my word of praise to the many
testimonials you have received in favor of your
delightful Symphony organs. In the first place,
the case (in oak) is a delight to the eye and a
charming addition to the furnishing of a country
house ; then the quality of tone of the organ it-
self (apart from its mechanical effects) is very
satisfactory to the cultured organist, and is as
mellow and fine as any organ I know of, and,
lastly, its self-playing effects are truly wonder-
ful . No country house is complete without such
an instrument, for it is a source of endless enter-
tainment and, I believe, has an educational value
as well. I find the unmusical members of our
family have rapidly progressed from the dance
music and other light selections to Wagner and
Beethoven ! In fact the '' Leonore '' overture
and Fifth Symphony and "Die Walkiire " and
" Tan nhauser " are gems of its repertoire and
are marvels of mechanical skill in orchestral
effects. I congratulate you on the perfect in-
strument you have produced."
MR. BURKE, who so ably represented Messrs.
J. C. Haynes & Co. at the World's Fair has
gone to San Francisco for the Mid-Winter Fair.
JUNIUS JORDAN, senior member of the music
house of J. Jordon & Co., of Eufaula, Ala., died
suddenly December 5th.
MR. GEO. A. RICHARDSON, a very popular
and esteemed traveler for the Chicago Cottage
Organ Co., died at Mineral Springs, Wis., Dec.
4th.
BENNETT'S music store at Mason City, la.,
occupies new quarters in the Masonic Building.
MR. C. L,. SCHUYLER, of Watertown, N. Y.,
suffered $800 loss by fire.
L. H. BATTALIA & Co., of New York, have
decided to open for a short time a factory in
Bangor, Me., for the rebuilding and renewing of
pianos.
NEWARK, N. J , I
WASHINGTON, D. C ,
S17 BROADSTREET. I 1226 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
CHICAGO, ILL.,
257 WABASH AVENUE.
KANSAS CITY, MO.,
1000 WALNUT STREET.
ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO PRINCIPAL OFFICES, 774 FULTON STREET, BROOKLYN, N. V .