Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
12
RUDOLPH WURUTZER.
R. C. MUNGER,
St. Paul.
Russel C. Munger, sometimes known as
" Uncle Russ," of whom a portrait accompanies
this sketch, is a native of Connecticut. He was
born in the town of Madison in 1837, received
his education at New Haven, Conn., between
1848 and 1856, and came to St. Paul in 1857.
He engaged in the commission business for a
year, when he and his brother bought out and
started a music store in Concert Hall Block.
They soon gathered about them the best musical
element of the city, and began selling pianos, in
which line of business they made a great deal of
money. They ran fourteen years through seve-
ral of the severest financial times on record. He
was interested in and part owner of the first
opera house built in the city, and managed the
same successfully for eight years. For seven
years he was leader of the Great Western Band.
In 1878 he resumed his old music business, and
THE A. H. WHITNEY CO.,
Quincy.
The Whitney & Holmes Organ Co. was
established in 1868 by A. H. Whitney, for the
purpose of manufacturing organs. In addition
to this a jobbing trade in pianos was com-
menced which has continued to date in connec-
tion with the company's organ business. In
1890 the charter of the Whitney & Holmes
Organ Co. expired and the concern was re-in-
corporated under the name of The A. H. Whit-
ney Co. After the death of the founder, A. H.
Whitney, the business passed into the hands of
his sons who will continue to push it along the
original lines which were adopted at its origin.
They are pushing first and foremost, the
" Whitney " organ ; in pianos they handle the
Hazelton, Shaw, Whitney and Sterling.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO.,
Cincinnati.
This firm was founded in 1857 by Rudolph
Wurlitzer, who came to America from the heart of
the musical instrument industry in Saxony in
1853. Up to 1890 the style of the firm was R.
Wurlitzer & Bro. In 1890 the present company
was incorporated with a capital of $200,000. The
firm does a very large wholesale musical merchan-
dise business. They handle the following pianos :
Behr Bros., Emerson, Keller Bros. They moved
into their present quaiters at 23 West 4th street,
in 1891. The building is 175 feet deep, 28 feet
wide and six floors.
W. SHARP,
Sedalia.
W. Sharp was the first man in Central Mis-
souri to make a systematic canvas of the music
business and to sell pianos and organs direct to
the houses. He commenced wheeling out in-
struments in 1876 and from that time his teams
have been on the go, and increasing in number
until he has a most prosperous business. Mr.
Sharp is an Englishman by birth but has been
an American citizen for 45 years, believing in
J. W. WHITNKY.
R. C. MUNGER.
has ever since been engaged in it. A more hon-
orable and straightforward citizen and business
man it would be hard to find. He is also public
spirited, as his many acts demonstrate. He is
one of the old stand-bys of that city, and his
friends wish him many more years of health,
prosperity and business. He has been identified
with all matters of interest connected with the
development of St. Paul. Mr. Munger at pre-
sent handles the Decker & Son, Briggs, Blasius,
Haines Bros, and Lester pianos and the Sterling
organs. He also carries a full line of "small
goods " of every description as well as sheet
music and music books.
JOHN T. WAHELINK,
Cleveland.
John T. Wamelink is one of the " Old
Guards " of the music business. He started in
the piano business in Pittsburg in 1854, and
had the William B. Bradbury piano for his
JOHN T. WAMELINK.
w. SHARP.
his city and State and has become one of the
representative men of Central Missouri.
He learned his trade at the bench and in the
factory, knows his business thoroughly, has
always been a splendid specimen of integrity
with a wholesome contempt for the sharks and
Shylocks of the trade ; now in his sixtieth year
he writes he has a fighting weight of 185 lbs.
and vim and vigor equal to the vicissitudes and
emergencies incident to any energetic business
enterprise.
F. H. WHITNEY.
leader. He was very successful in Pittsburg
but on account of his family moved to Cleve-
land. After one year's rest he bought the store
at 376 Superior street which he occupied for 29
years. He has just removed to 145 and 147
Euclid avenue, a much better location for his
business. Mr. Wamelink has had the agency
for many noted pianos including the Steinway &
Sons, Weber, and Kroeger. For the past 16
years he has had the agency for the Henry
F. Miller, Hardman and Vose & Sons, later
taking the Emerson and Foster pianos. His