Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
continue to labor for the sole interest of the
music trade of this country. We have most
gratifying proofs in the liberal encouragement
given that our policy has met with the favor of
our readers and advertisers, and a more pleasing
reward we do not crave.
tion which can best be answered by the dealers
who have continued to handle it. At the
present time the Century Piano Company hold
absolute proprietorship of the Anderson plant;
but it is presumed that there will be a reorgani-
zation of the Company in the near future.
ACCORDING to reports received at this
office from principal cities Bast and West,
there has been a decided improvement in busi-
ness during the past ten days. It is to be hoped
that the tide is turned.
It is quite time !
If the American Congress would let the great
manufacturing interests of this country know
upon what they could depend, for a time at
least, it would hasten the good time. National
industrial prosperity is involved, and no reason-
able Republican desires duties that will build
up monopolies, and no Democrat who speaks
frankly believes that the foundation conditions
on which modern American industry is built
should be razed to the ground in one fell swoop.
Calm, intelligent, disinterested consultation by
wise men, acting as business men, not partisans,
might, and undoubtedly would, find schedules
capable of equitable reductions. But the weak,
dilly-dallying methods of the administration is
about as dilatory as anything could be, and in-
finitely worse than any tariff legislation, how-
ever slight or excessive.
AN UP TO DATE AWARD.
Our great industrial system is as fine a piece
of mechanism as the most complicated watch ;
yet into those delicate adjustments affecting the
income and prosperity of millions, we have at
present no definite formulated policy upon which
to base the business principles of the future.
Can anyone inform us just what this adminis-
tration has administeied ?
is announced that M. A. Paulsen, of the
Century Piano Co., Minneapolis, has
closed negotiations for the entire business of the
Anderson Piano Co., located at Rockford, 111.
The manufacture of pianos will be conducted at
Rockford under the supervision of Mr. Ander-
son, and pianos will bear his name.
A word about Mr. John Anderson's past: Mr.
Anderson, although a young man, has estab-
lished an enviable reputation as a skilled piano
maker and superintendent. In New York he
was employed by some of the leading piano-
makers until the late H. J. Shaw, founder of
the Shaw Piano Co., of Erie, organized that
company and engaged Mr. Anderson as super-
intendent. The scale of the first Shaw pianos
was drawn by Mr. Anderson; also the case
work was designed by him. In fact, his genius
assisted largely to establish the merits of the
Shaw piano during the period of manufacture
up to July, 1892. He then became interested
with Rockford capitalists in the formation of
the Anderson Piano Co. at Rockford. There is
no doubt that Mr. Anderson contributed his
best efforts in making the Shaw piano an artistic
product. Whether or not it has still preserved
the same high standard which it had reached
during Mr. Anderson's management is a ques-
another page will be found the full text
of the Report of the Judges on the Ex-
hibit of Pianoforte Actions made by Messrs.
Strauch Brothers at the Columbian Exposition.
It is a document that should be read with the
closest attention by the trade, for unfortunately
in the literary construction of awards in general
there has been such a sameness, approximating
repetition, that it is necessary to analyze and
weigh the words to appreciate the unusually
high tribute paid to this progressive house.
This award, however, is terse, free from equivo-
cation, and exhaustive in its estimate of the
points involved.
There are a few significant points which we
would especially emphasize in connection with
the Strauch Brothers' award. In the first place,
we find that "for superior workmanship, ma-
terial, and most careful and effective adjustment
of the various parts '' their actions excel ; and
of especial importance is the remarkable com-
pliment paid in the following: "By the intro-
duction of Several New Features in their con-
struction they are rendered strong, easily regu-
lated, and with minimum liability to get out of
order.''
In no other award granted a pianoforte action
can we find specific mention of '' Several New
Features,'' and this unquestionably places
Strauch Bros, in the front rank as manufact-
urers of up-to-date actions, combining all the
attributes that go to make a '' leader.'' This
great victory affords unqualified gratification to
the many manufacturers who are using the
Strauch actions, and is a crowning triumph for a
house that has spent a quarter of a century in
patient and earnest efforts to develop and pro-
duce an action that would aid in the advance-
ment and perfection of the American pianoforte.
WILL SOUSA MEET INNES?
an outcome of the controversy apropos
Mr. Sousa's refusal to meet Bandmaster
Innes in friendly competition at the recent
Charity Concert, Mr. Oliver Sumner Teal,
Chairman of the Associated Charities, has organ-
ized a novel plan for aiding the worthy charities
with which he is connected. The scheme in
question is a grand band tournament for the
championship of the United States. All promi-
nent bands are entitled to enter the contest by
paying the entrance fee of $250. The winning
band will receive back its entrance fee, and will,
in addition be presented with a gold medal
ordered from Tiffany & Co. at a cost of $100,
and a prize banner, valued at $50, the donation
of Henry Clews. The entrance moneys of the
losing bands and all of the gate receipts are to
be turned over to W. W. Montague, Treasurer
of the Union Emergency Fund, for equal divis-
ion among the Society for Improving the Con-
dition of the Poor, the United Hebrew Charities,
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the
various newspaper charities of the City of New
York.
The use of the Grand Central Palace free of
charge for the occasion of the tournament has
been given by L- R. Mestaniz, the owner.
Three thousand people can be seated on the
main floor, and 1,000 more in the galleries. A
board of five judges, chosen from among the
leading amateur musical experts of New York,
Boston and Philadelphia will decide all contests.
The tournament will commence on Sunday
evening, February 4, and continue on consecu-
tive Sunday evenings. Two bands will play each
evening. The entertainments will be in the
nature of smoking concerts, an admission fee of
fifty cents being charged. The concerts will be
under the direction of Messrs. J. V. Gottschalk,
J. H. Phipps and J. H. Alpuente.
OUR esteemed contemporary, The Indicator,
has had the temerity to have its offices repapered
and revarnished, and in fact undergo a regular
spring cleaning in the face of the fact that its
life is limited to "just twelve months !"
VOSE & SONS CO. has sent us a very useful
reminder of the new year and the Vose piano in
the shape of a neat little paper weight.
MR. H. D. CABLE, President of the Chicago
Cottage Organ Co., has left for Florida where
he will spend a well earned vacation.
THE business of Geo. W. Chatterton, Spring-
field, is being continued by the assignee. It is
expected he will resume in a short time.
MR. BACHUR, whose absence from his post as
manager of the New York branch of Novello,
Ewer & Co. gave so much concern to several of
our local papers, will shortly leave for London,
it is said, and connect himself with the parent
house.
MME.
SCHIRMER-MAPLESON,
the
famous
prima donna, died at the Everett House, Union
Square, Jan. 24. Her death was due to pneu-
monia which she contracted at her last perform-
ance in Pittsburg, Jan. 13. She was born in
Boston in 1862.
AT annual meeting of Chase Bros. Piano Co.,
Muskegon, Mich., the following directors were
chosen for the ensuing year: A. V. Mann,
Secy.; M. J. Chase, Prest.; C. T. Hills, Vice-
Prest.; Thos. Hume, Treas., John W. Moon ; B.
S. Chase.
WORK has been commenced on the rebuilding
of the Starr Piano Works, Richmond, Ind.,
which was destroyed by fire a few days ago.
The plant, which was valued at $100,000, will
be replaced by one more extensive and modern
in every way.
A MEETING of the Lyon, Potter & Co. corpor-
ation will be held February 5th. Mr. Lyon's
death will not necessitate a change of any kind
in the house.
WE regret to announce the death of Mr.
Alfred A. Simmons, one of the old guard of the
Western manufacturers, who died January 12th,
at his home, 80 Madison avenue, Detroit, Mich.
Mr. Simmons was born in this State in 1808,
and settled in Detroit in 1853, where he founded
the Detroit Melodeon Co. Later he organized
the Clough & Warren Organ Company. He
leaves a widow and son and daughter.