Music Trade Review

Issue: 1893 Vol. 18 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
storm ? It should be, and it should also inspire
them with new confidence as to the solidity of
musico-industrial afiairs. There is another re-
assuring side to the question, and it is this :
Travel over the country, visit the warerooms,
what do we see ? Full lines of goods, over
stocked stores ? No ! On the contrary, we see
depleted stocks everywhere. It means this:
That as soon as trade receives the inspiring
touch of fall, that dealers in all sections who
have been buying sparingly during the past
year will at once require large additions to their
stock, and will want them quickly too. There-
fore, it is not wise for manufacturers to reduce
their reserve stock too low. There will be a
good, healthy trade this fall. Be sure you get
your share of it.
on the part of the supporters of Prof. Kunkel.
Whether Mr. Steck's appointment is confirmed
or not—and we trust that it will be—we have
reason to be proud that the only American put
forward by THE MUSIC TRADE has been ser-
iously and respectfully considered by Mr.
Thacher. Blumenberg may take a hint from
this that his ability to hurt others through the
press can recoil upon his own head. Mr.
Thacher has not been rending this paper with-
out exercising his judgement regarding its
utterances. Marc has been sorely knocked out
in his game.
handsome booth of Hardman Peck &
ffT» Co., presented on our front page, must at-
tract the immediate attention of readers. The
product of an eminent architect, Mr. H. Ed-
wards-Ficken, designer of the American Art
Galleries, and other artistic buildings, its dig-
nity and imposing characteristics have insured
it flattering notice amid the mass of handsome
booths which abound in the Liberal Arts divis-
ion of the Fair. But while laying stress upon
the beauty of the booth—which in itself is char-
acteristic of the high aims of Hardman Peck &
Co.—the notable pianos which it contains and
shows off must not be forgotten. They occupy
a position in the musical world which more than
fully justifies the striking manner in which
they are represented at the Exposition.
||P|HE
WELL-KNOWN dealer from the West
writes: " I think THE MUSIC TRADE;
REVIEW grows better each issue. You certainly
give a comprehensive account of music trade
happenings in a condensed form. What I par-
ticulary like, however, is the line of business
articles and editorials which you have been giv-
ing us of late. They strike the right spot."
It's the same story all over the country. They
all like THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, and if we
were not constantly improving our service in
every particular, we should indeed consider that
our experience was of no value to us or to our
readers. We firmly believe that this is the age
The space occupied by the structure shown
of specialism, in almost every direction. The
is 71 square feet, with a frontage of 20 feet on
business man of to-day does not care to plough
Columbian avenue. The colors employed in
through twenty or thirty pages of long drawn-
the decoration of the booth are sea-green, silver
out matter; it is wasting his valuable time.
and salmon-pink artistically blended, which
But he likes a paper which is a specialist organ,
render the beautiful structure yet more beaxiti-
which gives him the happenings and goings in
ful to the eye in reality. In this respect all the
the line where he is particularly interested. He
known processes of illustrating fall short.
likes a paper which has sound views upon the
Mr. Leopold Peck, his associates and the
financial question, and upon trade and com-
friends of the firm may indeed feel proud
merce. He likes a paper with some policy,
of the part played by the Hardman piano at
with some firmness, and conducted upon modern
the Columbian Exposition, of which the booth
and progressive principles. That is why they
is but a means to an important end, namely, the
all like THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
further extension and strengthening of the
interests of Hardman Peck & Co. at home and
abroad.
gjeOHN BOYD THACHER consults and re-
(§/" spects THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW. We
may differ with his plan of awards, but that he «flT|UR local contemporary, The Musical Cour-
is a man who thinks and acts with good pur- ••P* ier, has been giving, of late, great prom-
pose and independence cannot be questioned. inence to a quotation from Printer's Ink, where
In our issue of July 22d, we advocated Mr. that paper, in a paragraph, credits the American
George Steck as a Judge of Awards, and called News Paper Directory with the statement that
Mr. Thacher's attention to the suggestion. But, The Musical Courier circulation '' exceeds ten
we added, " if it is necessary to go abroad, Mr. thousand." Turning to page 516 of the Ameri-
A. J. Hipkins, of London, would be the proper can News Paper Directory of 1892, we find that
man." We further addressed Mr. Thacher in The Musical Courier is rated as '' circulation
this terse and emphatic manner : '' Here are two H, " the key to which is " exceeding 2,250."
names to select from and thus end the deadlock, The Directory for '93 is not before us. Let us
Look to this, Mr. Thacher !'' He clearly has. discuss the situation :
Having wisely decided to select an American to
Printer's Ink is a journal for advertisers
occupy the important position indicated, it now owned by Geo. P. Rowell & Co., who publish
seems that Mr. Thacher has sent in the names the American News Paper Directory.
of Mr. George Steck and Dr. Florence Zeigfeld,
The statement made in Printer's Ink concern-
of Chicago, as his choice of men for the import- ing The Courier \$ absolutely nothing at all. It
ant position, but the decision has not been yet is not convincing in the remotest particular.
conferred, owing to some temporary opposition By giving great prominence to this statement,
Mr. Blumenberg desires to impress upon his ad-
vertisers that the circulation of The Courier
" exceeds ten thousand " each week. There is
a much more satisfactory way open to him to
prove this, if he can. Instead of giving this
little weak quotation from Printer's Ink, let him
give the sworn statement of his printers that
they have printed a number of copies of The
Musical Courier, which "exceeds ten thou-
sand," for four consecutive iveeks. If he can do
this, we will most respectfully doff our sombrero
to Marc Anthony Blumenberg. We were always
willing to acknowledge his greatness as far as
oral expressions are concerned, and we shall,
with equal frankness, acknowledge his ability
as far as deeds are concerned, if he can show
this as we have indicated above. The sombrero
is ready to be doffed.
Ing RESIDENT CLEVELAND, after stating
®f°» why it was imperative that an extra ses-
sion of Congress be convened to grapple with the
financial question, says in his message to that
body: "Our unfortunate financial plight is
not the result of untoward events nor of condi-
tions related to our natural resources, nor is it
traceable to any of the afflictions which fre-
quently check national growth and prosperity.
With plenteous crops, with abundant promise
of remunerative production and manufacture,
with unusual invitation to safe investment and
with satisfactory assurance to business enter-
prise, suddenly financial distrust and fear have
sprung up on every side. Numerous moneyed
institutions have suspended because abundant
assets were not immediately available to meet
the demands of frightened depositors. Surviv-
ing corporations and individuals are content to
keep in hand the money they are usually
anxious to loan, and those engaged in legiti-
mate business are surprised to find that the
securities they offer for loans, though heretofore
satisfactory, are no longer accepted. Values
supposed to be fixed are fast becoming conjec-
tural and loss and failure have involved every
branch of business.''
The President further does not hesitate to
emphasize the fact that the first step towards
the restoration of business confidence is the re-
peal of the purchasing clause in the silver bill.
The best financiers of the country have ex-
pressed views which coincide with the Presi-
dent in this particular, and now it remains for
Congress to carry out the expressed wishes of
the people, and eliminate the purchasing clause
from the so-called Sherman Bill. But will Con-
gress do this ? That is the question. Will we
have a speedy repeal of this obnoxious measure,
or will we be compelled to suffer the suspense
occasioned by lengthy debates to allow the
rabid silver men of the West, of the " Bloody
Bridle " Waite stamp, to air their eloquence and
their revolutionary sentiments.
If we are to base our opinion of the time
which will be consumed before this matter is
settled, upon the statement made by Senator
Teller, "That the silver question was as im-
portant as the question on preserving the
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Union," we should say it would be an almost
interminable struggle.
Such, utterances show that Gov. Waite of
" Blood Bridle " fame, is present in spirit, and
the worshippers of the Silver God will push ob-
structive parliamentary tactics to the extrtme.
The great commercial and manufacturing in-
terests should not be compelled to suffer further
by sectional enthusiasts. An unsound or dis-
credited finance may add to the gain of the mine
speculator and does not seriously affect the
capitalist, who may simply withhold his money
from investment until the restoration of con-
fidence, or may even find profit in the fluctua-
tion of values, but the man who suffers most is
the wage earner—" the man who earns his daily
bread by his daily toil."
SOUR GRAPES.
JAS there ever such a case of sour grapes ?
Blumenberg, lately falling on Director
General Davis' and Mr. Thacher's necks, is now
out on the war path seeking their scalps.
His house of cards has been shivered by a
breath from Mr. Thacher.
Alas! his humble proxy petition availed
naught.
True, it was signed by a goodly number of
exhibitors.
Mr. Thacher, however, reads THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW and other trade papers.
That fact, and personal inquiries about Marc's
record settled his fate.
The trade knew that Marc had not the
ghost of a chance; they were merely jollying
him.
This week, there are new developments.
John Boyd Thacher sent in the names of
George Steck and Dr. Ziegfeld, on Monday
morning.
The consequence is that Marc, with pitiable
jealously, assails Mr. Steck and Dr. Ziegfeld in
this week's Courier.
Sour grapes, and again sour grapes !
He associates Mr. Steck's honored name in an
insinuating manner with the Kimball piano,
hoping to wound Mr. Steck's fine feelings, and
thus induce him to refuse the appointment, if
conferred.
Dr. Ziegfeld comes in for the brunt of the
venom. He is charged with all manners of
trade crimes.
But Marc even lectures Dr. Ziegfeld on ethics
and trade morals. Ye Gods ! That would make
the angels weep with laughter.
Dr. Ziegfeld and the trade have not yet
ceased laughing.
Marc judges every one by himself. All views
of men and things are colored by the Blumen-
berg spectrum.
Consequently, the Judge of Awards, whoever
he is, must do crooked and questionable things
in Marc's estimation.
Blumenberg is devilish sly, but he some-
times forgets to cover his trail.
In the judgeship business, his purposes were
obvious all along.
We all remember the big picture of Director-
General Davis a few months ago and the love- prised the Council and not a few exhibitors by
naming Dr. F. Ziegfeld and George Steck as
making of the Courier.
judges.
Great opposition was at-once urged
Now, alas ! all is changed, and Mr. Davis is
against Mr. Steck by commissioners, charging
covered with Blumenberg mud. Until this time that he would be unduly influenced by reason of
the amiable director never realized what curs, being interested in the Department of Liberal
and what " currish" methods are fostered by the Arts. Another nominated Charles F. Kunkel
in his stead and this raised a still greater howl,
dignified music trades of America.
They cringe and crawl before the lash, and and words and vague insinuations were made
that he was too vitally interested in the W. W.
kiss the hand to-morrow that .smites them to-
Kimball Company. It was generally agreed
day, instead of combining and crushing out the that Dr. Ziegfeld was acceptable, but a commit-
viper.
tee of four was appointed to inquire into Mr.
But we are glad that Director-General Davis Steck's alleged interest in Section I, as also Mr.
and Mr. Thacher are indifferent alike to taffy, and Kunkel's alleged affiliations with competing
to the Courier lash. Both avail naught with exhibitors.
As I understand the matter now, those who
men of independence.
are taking an active interest in the appointment
We await further developments with some of judges are represented on the one side by a
anxiety. For the present, we congratulate majority of those who have entered for awards
both Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Davis at having in- who claim to favor no one, but are willing to
curred the wrath of Mr. Blumenberg. That accept any good man. A pretty war, character-
ized by good feeling, and, up to date, fair
shows that they are doing what is right.
methods prevail.
Yours, etc.
Meanwhile, the only man in the music trade
HARRY MANNING.
"qualified to act as judge of awards, " is madly
decrying the grapes for which his fingers itched
and his mouth watered a short while ago.
Alas ! Sour grapes Marc Antony, sour grapes.
0EHNING, TH£
FAVORITE
CHICAGO,
CHICAGO,
August 9th, 1893.
EDITOR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW :
Theodore Thomas has, at last, put in his
resignation, to the great relief of thousands,
who were alike disgusted with his methods and
disappointed in the Bureau of Music. Fears
were entertained for a few days that his sup-
porters would gather sufficient strength to pre-
vent his bluff being called, but those who were
desirious of having done with him prevailed,
and he was courteously allowed to withdraw.
His bureau has been, at once, one of the most
expensive and, at the same time, most harass-
ing and disappointing features of the Fair.
From the great blow given it and promises held
out, it was expected that it would prove enter-
taining, instructive and profitable, but in none
of these particulars were hopes and expecta-
tions realized. Let us hope that the Exposition
and those who are interested in its success, over
and above selfish promptings, have had and
heard the last of Thomas. He and his orchestra
gave a symphony concert yesterday afternoon,
but the Bureau is without its former head. It is
believed, however, that Thomas has made en-
gagements enough ahead to last for some time,
and it may well be believed that his friends cut
no small figure in them.
Mr. William Grunewald, of the L. Grunewald
Company of New Orleans, together with his
wife and daughter, is visiting the Exposition,
and Messrs. Becht and Charles H. MacDonald
are doing the agreeable in their happiest way to
the party. Mr. Grunewald belongs to one of the
wealthiest and most successful music houses in
the country.
The midsummer dullness is on, and trade is
at a standstill, there being no features not un-
usual at this season. Of course, this means
simply quiet compared with ordinary times, as
luckily the trade in Chicago has reached a stage
when no time is a courage destroyer, though a
few days may be a trifle duller than others.
There's lots of log rolling among those who
are out " red hot " for first prizes in the Liberal
Arts Department. The fight is getting warmer
as the days go by and no judges are settled
upon. Yesterday John Boyd Thatcher sur-
Harmonic Singing Society, of Mil-
waukee, bought a fine Behning Grand
Piano at J. Flannel's music store recently.
The Committee having in charge the purchas-
ing of a Grand piano for the Concert Hall,
after several months deliberation, decided to
buy a "Behning Piano," which is known as
one of the most durable and best pianos made.
A large supply of these favorite pianos can
always be found at Flanner's Music Store,
215 Grand ave. says the Milwaukee Telephone.
The committee were endowed with good
reasoning powers, for their choice of a " Behn-
ing " was a judicious one. The society will be
charmed with the musical qualities of the in-
strument that their committee selected.
FIFTY men have been laid off for two weeks
at the Brown & Simpson piano works, Worces-
ter, Mass., on account of lack of orders. One
hundred men are ordinarily employed at the
works.
THE Estey Organ Co., of Brattleboro, Vt.,
has, through its agents, Bailey's Music Rooms,
of Burlington, Vt., presented the Queen City
Spiritualist Association a $200 organ for use at
the camp meeting of the society.
BENJ. W. HITCHCOCK, dealer in sheet music
and publisher at 385 Sixth avenue and 294
Grand street, New York, is financially em-
barrassed. He prefers one debt of $20,000 due
Anthony Miller.
AN expert organ and piano builder was before
the Board of Trade recently and proposed build-
ing a factory, at Easton, Pa. He had no cap-
ital and suggests the formation»of a stock com-
pany with $25,000 capital.
WORK will soon be commenced on the new
piano factory to be erected by Gorgen & Grubb,
South Schodack, N. Y.
THE annual picnic of the United Piano
Makers of New York took place today at Brorn-
mer's Union Park, 133d street and Willis
avenue.
CONGRESSMAN C. G. Conn, of the 13th Dis-
trict, has closed his musieal instrument factory
at Elkhart, Ind., the largest of the kind in the
world. 1,000 men will be thrown out of work.

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