Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
one of the perversities which attach to
almost all things human, says the Albany
Argus, some business men in times of financial
depression make their first economy by reducing
the amount of their advertising. One can read-
ily understand how, when business is good and
trade receipts are at their highest, a merchant
should fail to see the advantage of advertising
and believe that competition is not keen enough
to warrant it.
But times like the present are the very occa-
sions for an extension instead of a reduction in
the amount of advertising. The keener business
competition is the more it is necessary for every
business man to advertise, in order to keep up
with his competitors.
REPUTABLE men cannot have any tolera-
tion for the despicable methods practised
by some agents of an obscure piano bearing a
name similar to the one and only SOHMER who
endeavor to sell to gullible buyers on the estab-
lished reputation of the celebrated house of
Sohmer & Company. The similarity of the
names on a piano fall-board gives the unscru-
pulous agent an opportunity of doing some fine
work on the unwary purchaser. Fortunately
there are few buyers nowadays unaware of the
distinguished place occupied by the Sohmer
piano in the musical world, and few who cannot
distinguish between a cheap product and an in-
strument of the highest grade. The real value
of the Sohmer name is made more apparent by
this attempt to acquire wealth solely upon the
Sohmer name.
is a matter of especial significance to note
that the Chicago Cottage Organ Company
declared a semi-annual dividend of four per cent,
on its capital stock. It denotes the unequivocal
success of this popular house during the past
year. We are hardly surprised at this condition
of things, for the intelligent and progressive
lines on which their business is conducted could
not fail to bring the best results. This alone,
however, would not suffice if the products of
the house were not essentially of the best.
Their world famous organs, and the magnificent
Conover pianos are a team bound to carry them
to a much larger prosperity during the year 1894.
The " Conover" has an established reputation
as an instrument possessing all the qualities
that go to make a first-class piano. This opin-
ion has been reinforced by the immediate suc-
cess of the "Conover" baby grand, which re-
cently made its appearance. It has proven a popu-
lar favorite and has won the highest encomiums
from eminent artists who have examined it. The
" Conover" baby grand is an instrument dealers
should look up. It will prove of mutual advant-
age to do so.
time for the completion of a large organ or even
an instrument of moderate size, and many of
the contracts were placed before silver and tariff
bill agitation undermined commercial prosperity.
Then it is a well-known fact, that hard times, or
good times, churches have the especial knack
of raising money, and when an organ is needed
it is bound to come. Placing theory on the
shelf, however, the fact stands that organ build-
ers are busy, and nowhere is it more evident
than at Muller & Abel's, the worthy successors
to the Roosevelt Organ Works, 362-372 Second
avenue. They have built numerous organs dur-
ing the past year, which have accentuated the
good opinion held of this house. Their organs
embrace all the advanced and radical methods
of construction for which this house is noted,
and the celebrated organists'who have played
on them pronounce them to be splendid exam-
ples of the organ builders' art. At present they
are engaged on several important contracts
which, with several more in process of negotia-
tion, will insure no complaint of hard times
with this progressive firm.
<§>
IT is said that no changes are at present con-
templated in the firm of I^yon, Potter & Co.
THIEVES entered the piano store of Sporer,
Carlson & Berry, Oswego, N. Y., but were
frightened away before they had a chance to take
anything.
THE building occupied by the Carpenter organ
factory, Brattleboro, Vt, has been damaged by
fire.
THK papers stated recently that Henry F.
Miller & Son's Piano Co., Wakefield, Mass., had
closed down because their employees refused to
take a reduction of 20 per cent, of their wages.
This statement was found to be incorrect as, al-
though there were some reductions, this has all
been settled, and all the employees are working
on full time.
IT is stated that Samuel Thurston, of Port-
land, Me., the long missing Free street music
dealer, who disappeared last summer under de-
cidedly peculiar circumstances, is located some-
where in Canada and again in business, but no-
body, except perhaps his relatives, seem to know
where. Mr. Thurston is over 70 years old.
ALFRED A. SIMMONS, the pioneer in the manu-
facture of musical instruments in the West,
died at his home, 30 Madison avenue, Detroit,
Mich., at the age of 86 years.
STRATTON & SCRIBNER will represent the fol-
lowing European dealers in this country:
Traugott, Schneider & Co., of Madgeburg, one
of the oldest accordion manufacturers in Europe ;
C. H. Meinel, of Klingenthal, the best known
manufacturers of harmonicas in Germany ; Curt,
Schuster & Otto, of Markneukirchen, manufac-
turers of musical merchandise and violin strings ;
August Keinel, Jr., and A. W. Eschenbach &
Sons, also of Markneukirchen, manufacturers of
band instruments ; Ludwig Hupfield, of I,eipsic,
manufacturer of mechanical pianos and automa-
tic instruments.
THE Daniel Greene Shoe Company, of Dolge-
ville, has been organized with a capital stock of
$300,000, and will have exclusive right to manu-
facture the Alfred Dolge felt shoes, the felts of
which will be furnished from the factories of
Alfred Dolge & Son. A new three-story build-
ing, 187 by 44 feet has been erected for this
company, which will be stocked with the latest
and improved machinery. The increased capital
and facilities will give a chance for an enlarge-
ment of trade.
C. H. BEEDLE, of Keene, N. H., has pur-
chased the music business of the late Thos.
Maynard, from his widow.
THE business of Alsdorf & Co., Newark, is
in the hands of a receiver. Assets, $100,000;
liabilities, $50,000. They were sole agents for
the Sohmer pianos. It is expected the matter
will be adjusted and a resumption of business
effected.
MARTIN E. CONVERS, of Winchendon, Mass.,
has been granted a patent on drums. This in-
vention relates to the head section of drums,
which are so made as to be readily removed from
the body, the chins and flesh hoops remaining
as securely connected as when each head section
is upon the body, thus enabling the drums to be
dismounted and the heads and bodies rested for
shipment.
T H E J . & C. Fisher will be hereafter repre-
sented in Southern California by Blanchard &
Fitzgerald, of Los Angeles.
THE World's Fair exhibit of the Starck &
Strack pianos are in the warerooms of Mr. J. O.
Twichell, Wabash avenue, Chicago. They are
"sellers," and Mr. Twichell is so pleased that
he has made a contract with Starck & Strack to
supply a certain number each week.
JARED T. SEELEY, an agent for R. M. Bent &
Co., piano dealers, was arrested to-day by the
sheriff and held in $300 bail on the charge of mis-
appropriating funds. According to the firm's
allegations, on June 1, 1893, they rented Seeley
a piano, on which he was to pay $10 a month as
organ manufacturers have apparently rent, but that when he succeeded in selling the
escaped the depression which has ex- piano the rent paid was to be credited on the
price of the piano, and that the money received
tended to their confreres in the piano and reed
for the sale of the piano, less Seeley's commis-
organ trade. Business with them has on the sion, was to be paid by the firm. It is alleged
whole, been uniformly good. This may be ac- that Seeley sold the piano and has failed to turn
counted for on the ground that it takes a long the amount over to the firm.— World, Jan. 17th.
HALLET & DAVIS COMPANY will soon be in
evidence with their book of musical quotations.
It will be sent to everyone who inscribed their
names in the register at the Hallet & Davis
booth at the World's Fair, and will prove a novel
and interesting advertisement for the product of
this celebrated house.
MEUSER & Co., Massillon, Ohio, expect to
place a small piano on the market next month.
It will contain modern improvements and will
be sold at a popular price.
A VERY pretty calendar is to hand from the
Emerson Piano Company, of Boston. A char-
acteristic reminder of New England is the hand-
some photo-gravure of the Roger Williams or
Witch House at Salem, Mass., which adds to the
attractiveness of the calendar.
The " Phonorium," which has recently been
invented by Gov. L,evi K. Fuller, is winning
commendation all along the line. It is an ingen-
ious application of a new principle to reeds.
IT is said that the name of the Metcalf Piano
Co., of Rochester, N. Y., will be changed to Fos-
ter & Co., the owners and makers of the Metcalf
piano.