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SHE PRGAN PR TO
VOL. XVIII. No. 42.
published Ev/ery Saturday.
* flew Yoi% fl)ay '9, 1894.
To say that retail trade in the piano line in
Chicago is lively just now would hardly be true.
Trade here is not as brisk at the warerooms as
those most interested would desire, yet, of
course, at all times there is a large volume of
business transacted. There is here that omni-
present condition of trade which can be best
characterized as wavy. That condition prevails
'HAT was something in the nature of a to a large extent all over America. Some weeks
bomb you gave in yesterday *s paper, 7 ' trade is excellent, sales are eminently satisfac-
said Emil Liebling to P. J. Healy last Monday tory, and it seems as if the cloud of business de-
pression had vanished. Then the favorable
as we sat at lunch in the Wellington.
«• We were forced to take the move as a mat- trade wind seems suddenly to die out for no ap-
ter of protection to our customers and ourselves,'' parent reason. Again it is suddenly fanned
into life and all seems very roseate. These
replied Mr. Healy.
The conversation referred to the announce- fluctuating business currents are caused largely
ment in the Chicago Sunday papers that Lyon by the indifference of the present Congress.
& Healy would hereafter sell all sheet music Concessions should be made, prejudices over-
publications at one half the usual price. A come and an agreement reached for the good of
move of this kind inaugurated by a house of all. It is the vital necessity of the hour. This
international fame is a matter of the greatest is no time and the country is in no condition to
interest to music publishers and dealers every- stand this uncertainty much longer, and the
people will not tolerate it. Every day's pro-
where.
Mr. Healy makes a clear and forceful argu- longation of the agitation means continued in-
ment in explaining his reasons for casting aside jury to industry, loss to trade and suffering to
"the traditions of half a century." The great workingmen.
*
dry goods firms of Chicago are not only selling
J. V. Steger tells a good story. He says when
new and high class music publications at one
half off, but they are issuing catalogues contain- he went to New York and arranged with Winter-
ing extensive lists of late music in which ap- roth & Co., whose warerooms adjoin Steinway
pears the regular and cut price in parallel col- Hall, to handle his pianos, that the Steinway
umns. I saw some of these lists, and I noticed people Hked his company so well that they de-
many of the popular pieces of the day, among cided to lease a building near him in Chicago.
The new building recently leased by Lyon,
which were all of Sousa's late compositions.
Mr. Healy argues that if a customer pays Potter & Co. is on the opposite corner from the
twice as much for a piece of music at Lyon & Steger building.
*
Healy's as it can be purchased for at the depart-
ment stores, it will prejudice purchasers against
J. R. Mason, of the Sterling Co., was here
his firm in prices in other lines which they last week en route to San Francisco. N. M.
manufacture and sell. That a house which ap- Crosby, the long distance man of the Bradbury
peals to all classes must necessarily use great interests, is also off for a long jaunt on the
care in adjusting their prices in every depart- Pacific Northwest. Edward Ambuhl is here and
ment—that there shall be no prejudicial reflection does not say just how far in Montana he is go-
from one to the other. That Chicago is a city ing. E. W. Furbush was here over Sunday. He
of this generation, that the population is com- goes to Kansas City. George A. Dowling was
posed to a great extent of a people who have no also a guest at the Auditorium over Sunday.
traditionary houses from which they will make " Papa " Winslow, of varnish fame, is here. Also
purchases, such as exists in the older cities, in Victor Victorson. Chicago is big enough to hold
Boston, for instance, where children can buy, two Eastern varnish men, also the music trade
and naturally do, from the establishments which editors. Ben. Janssen is out with Nick Engel
were patronized by their parents before them.
and the rest of the Hoboken Turtle Club. They
That the new residents of city can have had have come out with the intention of initiating
no previous preference in the matter of purchas- Chicagoans in the art of preparing a turtle steak.
ing depots, naturally gravitate to the places It is understood that Benny will sing his latest
where they are possibly drawn by alluring ad- composition at the opening of the exercises.
vertisements. That such a condition prevailing Charlie Jacob, who is also a member, will come
makes positive and even imperative In Chicago on in time to see that the steaks are properly
things which would not be possible in other and cooked. Joe Allen is telegraphed for.
older cities. That by making a uniform price
for all purchasers, much of the annoyance which
occurs by reason of special and professional dis-
Brother Fox, of The Indicator, has an able as-
counts will be removed. This new departure sociate in George B. Armstrong. Mr. Arm-
made by Lyon & Healy will have a direct effect strong is a raconteur of the first water and a
upon the sale of sheet music in every section of most companionable fellow. His father was the
the country as we shall see later.
inventor and perfector of the railway mail ser-
In Chicago.
Dashes Here and There.
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
vice, and a monument to his memory stands in
front of the Chicago post office.
My tarry here is being made exceedingly
agreeable by reason of the cordial reception I
have received. There is something generous
and wholesome about this Western hospitality
which renders Chicago a most agreeable abiding
place, and who can wonder that the music trade
editors love to tarry within her gates. In my
next letter I shall deal at greater length upon
trade matters.
ounnERs.
MR. DANIEL F. TREACY, of Davenport &
Treacy, left last Monday for a trip among his
customers in Canada and the West.
LA HATTE & PATTON have purchased the
store of F. H. Gulledge at Jackson, Miss., and
will sell musical instruments and music.
DENISON BROS., Deep River, Conn., have long
been noted for the excellence of their organ stop
knobs, and various other incidentals that con-
tribute materially to the beauty of church and
parlor organs. They make a specialty of this
branch of musical supply trade, and their work
is always considered to be of the best. Denison
Bros, reckon among their customers many
of the most celebrated organ manufacturers of
the country, and while their business has suffer-
ed somewhat like the majority of houses they
are doing a large business to-day.
THE case of the Mathushek & Son Piano Co.
versus J. R. Sharp, of Washington, Pa., for em-
bezzlement, was heard in that city last week and
Sharp was held under bail for the Grand Jury.
The Mathushek & Son Piano Co. have received
numerous letters from the trade approving of
their action in this matter.
MESSRS. M. B. GIHSON and W. S. BOND have
purchased the entire block of stock held by the
W. D. Elliot estate in the Weaver Organ &
Piano Company. This gives them a majority of
the shares and the controlling interest in the
corporation, which is but proper, as they have
for some years been devoting their entire ener-
gies to the upbuilding of the business of the
company, and have met with flattering success.
The Elliot estate held the stock simply as an
investment, consequently no change in the
management becomes necessary. The officers
are as follows: J. H. Baer, president ; M. B.
Gibson secretary, and W. S. Bond, treasurer.
MR. R. P. BECHT, a brother of Chas. Becht,
road representative of the Pease Piano Company,
is now connected with the house of Niles &
Stieff, of Atlanta, Ga. He is a salesman of re-
cognized ability, and no doubt will do much to
futther the interests of that concern.