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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
6
The Hamilton Organ Co.
A visit to the works of the Hamilton Organ
Company at Chicago will convince one that here
is a house and an instrument that is bound to
make a mark in the music trade of this country.
The foundation of this business is laid on a
healthy commercial basis which invariably
tends toward success in any enterprise.
There was a time when the large territory cov-
ered by D. H. Baldwin & Co. and their branch
houses appropriated to a large extent the output
of this concern, but it is not so to-day. The
Hamilton organs are branching out into all sec-
tions of the country, and securing a wider repre-
sentation. It is to be found to-day in many of
the leading and influential houses of this
country.
The Hamilton Organ Company are making
instruments that are bound to sell and win popu-
larity in all sections of the country. They are
well made by a competent staff of workers, and
reflect credit on the great organ centre of the
West.
GEO.
P. BENT.
Many will ask—after the remarkable tributes
paid by the official judges, commissioners to
the Fair, and the people in general, to the cele-
brated "Crown" pianos at the World's Fair—
if a further perfection is possible.
Geo. P. Bent, the energetic manufacturer, has
demonstrated that it is. He has not been con-
tent to rest on the laurels won, but has con-
stantly sought after every means of further
adding to the popularity of his already popular
instruments by material improvements in scale
and case architecture.
We have evidence to-day of the splendid re-
sults that have been achieved in the recently
perfected new scale "Crown" instruments.
The scale seems absolutely faultless, and the
quality of tone, both in the treble and bass
registers, displays an evenness that is extremely
pleasing to the musician. The bass is sonorous
and resonant, and the middle and high treble is
clear as a bell, and of a rich and brilliant qual-
ity. It is a scale that will undoubtedly mark a
new era in popularity for the " Crown" pianos,
for it insures an instrument of more than aver-
age excellence.
The " Crown" pianos containing this new scale
are styles J, K, I, and M, and these instruments
are bound to attract unusual attention, not alone
for this important feature, but for their general
finish, interiorly and exteriorly.
A novel feature in styles L and M of interest
to dealers is the opportunity afforded of '' show-
ing off '' the action and interior mechanism by
the construction of the case, which enables the
entire front of the instrument to be opened out-
ward. These styles also contain the " Assoudir
pedal, " which can be effectively used for study
purposes.
The new scale "Crown" pianos are bound to
meet with instant favor from the trade. They
are In every respect handsome instruments, and
those made up in oak, walnut and mahogany
are especially attractive.
Geo. P. Bent is to be congratulated on his
latest contributions to the many already popular
styles of '' Crown '' pianos.
The Emerson Piano Co.
The celebrated Emerson pianos have been
favorites in the West for almost a quarter of a
century—nowhere, perhaps, have they a stronger
clientele of admirers and supporters. This is
largely demonstrated by the excellent business
done by Mr. John W. Northrop, the local agent.
Their establishment on Wabash avenue is in the
very centre of the piano tiade, and is always
stocked with the choicest assortment of differ-
ent styles of these celebrated instruments, and a
very attractive line is shown in woods and
veneers. Mr. Northrop has a large circle of
acquaintances among the Western dealers and
professional people of Chicago. He is ardently
devoted to the interests of the Emerson house,
and has done and is doing good work in giving
the '' Emerson '' the prominence which it has
thoroughly earned.
The Russell Piano Co.
the incorporation of the Russell Piano
Company and change of name from the
Starck & Strack Piano Co., a new progress, a
new development both as to product and plant
has been the order of the day in this concern.
Mr. Charles C. Russell, the energetic and enter-
prising president is giving the closest attention
to the furtherance of this business, and the
results are apparent. Their recent move in
purchasing the plant, machinery and fixtures
of A. Reed & Sons, who recently moved to
Dixon, 111., is a move which has had a direct
bearing in the evolution of this house. By this
purchase the Russell Piano Company have se-
cured double their former facilities which enable
them to largely increase their former output.
In securing such facilities the Russell Piano
Company are not over-estimating the coming
extent of their business. They are turning out
pianos that are well made, and constructed of
good material, and irom the standpoint of ap-
pearance, or quality of tone, it is an instrument
which has given a great deal of satisfaction.
The aim of the Russell Piano Company is appar f
ently to build a piano that at the price will have
a ready sale. They are striving to satisfy the
demands of the trade, and compel patronage by
honest methods, and fair and square dealing.
Mr. Russell is a far-sighted and level-headed
business man who is bound to attain success,
and dealers, when in Chicago, should give this
popular gentleman a call and inspect the latest
styles of Russell pianos.
Europe. They are too well known to need de-
tailed reference. The growth of their business
illustrates in a marked manner that instruments
built on honest lines bring success to their
manufacturers ; but more than this, it adds one
more house to the great number in the West
whose resour> es and genius have done so much
to make the products of the American musical
instrument industry known abroad as well as at
home.
A. Reed & Sons.
Inventions are us-iaily at a discount until
they succeed. This is an o'd, o'd story in the
progress of the mechan'c arts, and it was not
s uprising to see it illustrated when the v.ry
creditab e innovations inaugurated by A. Reed
& Sons were introduced. The knowing ones
pred cted the usual fate of the over-sanguine
inventor. Re d & Sons have, however, suc-
ceeded in proving that the different innova-
tion * embodied in their instruments are of
special me it. and in many respects the most
impottart pi ced before the musical public in
years. The very strong award received at the
World's Fair has done much to bring thek
pianos before the public. It was certainly
strong, and highly complimentary as to the
features of originality and worth. Reed & SODS'
pianos, by the aid of the det-ichedor free s6und-
ing board, and other improvements, become an
upright grand in effect as well as in name It is
not surprising to learn that they are winning
their way in public appreciation.
Pease Piano Co.
are few pianos better known in the
West than the instruments manufactured
by the Pease Piano Co. of this city. Years ago
they won a reputation for reliability and merit,
which has grown with the house and became
part and parcel of the firm and its product.
When the Pease Piano Co. established a branch
house at Chicago under the management of
The Manufacturers' Piano Co. Mr. MacDonald they made a move which has
proved most successful. Mr. MacDonald as
Here is a Western centre for the products of vice-president of the company has naturally a
not one, but four well-known New York facto- direct interest in the success of the Pease piano-
ries—the Weber, Wheelock, Lindeman and The Pease piano of to-day is an instrument that
Stuyvesant—which, since its consolidation some' commends itself, for it is a consummation of
four years ago, has surpassed the expectations improvements in scale, action, keyboard, in-
of its promoters and managers. It is under the terior decoration and elaboration of case struc-
capable management of the following officers : ture. It has been closely studied and developed
C. C. Curtis, president, A. M. Wright, mana- so that it stands to-day in a higher position
ger, and Louis Dederick, secretary and treas- than ever.
The wide awake people of the West have ap-
urer, well-known and popular gentlemen who are
indefagitable in their efforts to extend and pro- preciated the efforts made by the Pease Piano
mote the interests of their house. Through prac- Co., and the growth in volume of business
tical study of the Western wholesale trade they transacted by Mr. MacDonald is a proof of this
have worked up a large and growing business, assertion. The live dealers of the West are
and, with a splendid line of instruments that waking to the fact that the '' Popular '' Pease
have long been popular throughout the country, is a piano of so reliable a character that it makes
the trade is certainly deserved. The handsome trade, and that is a strong point to make it still
warerooms of the Manufacturers' Piano Com- more popular. It is not surprising that Vice-
pany are finely fitted up, attractively arranged President MacDonald is enthusiastic about the
and spacious. Their retail trade is rapidly future of the '' Pease,'' and he has reason to,
growing, and they are achieving a great success for when the commercial atmosphere is clearer,
with the '' Big Four,'' as the instruments of the Western branch of the Pease Piano Co. is
bound to do a trade that will run the parent
this house are popularly termed.
house a close race.
Story & Clark.
The marvelous progress of this house is one
of the phenomenas of the organ trade. Barely
fourteen years old they take a pi ce among the
largesi exclusively reed organ manufacturers in
the world. Their instruments have won a very
high reputation throughout this country and
OTHER FIRMS.
,,
5Ep XTENDISD sketches of the houses of Lyon
^-&^ & Healy and Bush & Gerts Piano Co. will
be found in another portion of this paper. They
should not escape the attention of our readers