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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
it
Benjamin Curtaz,
Pioneer.
WITH THE
TRAVELERS.
Clams vs. Chickens.
ii # PEAKING of restaurants," said the New
^ ^ York drummer with the Grecian eye-
brows, " I had a friend in New York who made
a mint of money in Chicago before anybody
dropped to his little trick."
" H e had a trick, eh ? " asked one of the
smokers.
"Why, yes, you might call it a trick, I sup-
pose. He built up such a local reputation for
green turtle soup that his place was fairly be-
sieged night and day. He supplied as high as
3,000 people a day with turtle soup. It was an
Eastern man who finally gave him away."
" What was there to give away ? "
" Oh, nothing much—only he had been mak-
ing that 5oup out of clams and curry. When a
man blundered in who had actually seen a green
turtle with his own eyes and knew what the
taste of the soup was like, the cheat was dis-
covered, and his business was busted."
" Yes, I heard of that case, " said the Chicago
beef-extract man who had been an attentive
listener. " The soup-man changed his business,
I believe ? ''
" H e did."
" And lost every dollar he had inside of a
year ? ''
" I never heard that he did."
" But he did. It was a friend of mine who
put him on to the spec, that dished him."
" What spec ? "
" Shipping prairie chickens to the New York
market. He had twenty hunters out for three
months, and was all ready to ship eighteen car-
loads of birds when a Chicago man put the New
Yorkers on."
" On to what ? "
" On to the fact that every blamed bird in
those eighteen cars was a durned old crow. He
shouldn't have done it, for the New Yorkers
would never have known the difference, and it
would have given us a fine show to clean out our
crows, but he was just that soft-hearted."
" Gentlemen," said the man with the Grecian
eyebrows after a long period of silence, " I am
not feeling particularly well this morning, and
will go back into the drawing-room car and try
and get a nap ! ''
THE
j
men were better known on the Pacific
^
Slope, or more highly respected, than the
late Benjamin Curtaz, of B. Curtaz & Son, of
San Francisco, whose death we recently chron-
icled in these columns as occuring May 30th.
Mr. Curtaz was born in Baden, Germany, in
1833. He came to America in 1851, selecting
Boston as his place of residence. Being a prac-
tical piano maker, he engaged in the making of
piano cases, and later on entered into the piano
business in partnership with a Mr. Miller, under
the style of Miller & Curtaz.
The venture not proving successful, the affairs
of the business were wound up and the debts
paid, and after this had been done there were
just three pianos left. One of these went to the
lawyer in lieu of his fee, and the other two went
to the former partners.
About this time the California gold fever was
at its height, and Mr. Curtaz, like many other
young men, decided to try his fortune in the
land of gold and the setting sun. He made the
trip in a sailing vessel around the Horn, and
reached San Francisco in the spring of 1856,
The solitary square piano, saved from the wreck
of his first enterprise, which proved a mascot in
shaping his destiny, and a few dollars followed
him.
Notwithstanding his limited stock and capital
he decided to engage in the piano business, and
rented from the meagre choice of stores in those
days one located on Montgomery street, near
Jackson. The business was successful and soon
required finer if not larger quarters. The Curtaz
sign soon hung over the small store on 3d street,
which, at that time, was a fashionable neighbor-
hood of the city.
The gold fever attracted thousands, who came
prepared to use the spade, but there were very
fe ^ mechanics, particularly piano makers. Piano
tuners received from ten to fifteen dollars for
tuning a piano, and the rent of a piano for one
month was about twice as much as that sum.
At such prices the skilled, industrious and
thrifty German was not long in accumulating a
sum which formed the nucleus of his future
great fortune.
He soon purchased a house and lot on O'Far-
rell street and made other real estate invest-
ments which added to his wealth. In 1892 he
decided to erect the handsome structure shown
herewith, which is an imposing six story build-
ing. The walls are built of yellow pressed brick
and the interior is finished in highly polished
oak and white cedar. The spacious piano ware-
room is floored with tesselated oak and lighted
by two hundred electric lamps. The windows
are in stained glass, bearing life-sized medal-
lions of the great masters, from Bach to Chopin,
and are true works of art.
Benjamin Curtaz was a man generous to a
fault; of genial and kindly disposition, and one
who hated anything like dishonesty. It was
truly said of him that '' his word was his bond.''
He left a widow and eight children, four boys
and four girls. Three of the boys were associated
with their father in the business, which was in-
corporated into a stock company in 1892, and
the stock is all held by the family.
Henry J. Curtaz, the eldest son, has had the
CELEBRATED
STEGER
CURTAZ HUILDING.
practical management of the business for years.
The office is in charge of the third son, Oscar
Curtaz, and the practical department—tuning
and repairing—is looked after by the second son,
Benj., Jr., a competent young man.
Benj. Curtis & Son is one of the largest piano
firms in the far West, and their business ex-
tends from British Columbia on the North to
San Diego on the South, and they have the
agencies of the Steck, Checkering & Sons, Vose
& Sons, Krell and Sterling pianos.
BRIEF NEWSLETS.
No. EASTON, MASS.—A brass band has been
organized here with a membership of twenty.
NEW YORK, N. Y.—Mr. Otto Wissner, of
Brooklyn, the piano manufacturer, accompanied
by his son, sailed last Thursday for Europe,
where he will remain until October 1st. Mr.
Wissner's trip will be business and pleasure
combined, as he will visit several large piano
firms in England and on the continent from
whom he has received letters in regard to the
agency of the Wissner piano.
BUIIALO, N. Y.—Chas. F. Gerald is under
arrtst on complaint of Geo. F. Hedge, the music
dealer, who alleges that Gerald stole $125. The
latter was a salesman for Mr. Hedge. When
searched $51.85 was found upon him. The police
say he admits the theft.
ROME,
N, Y.—Louis
M. Hall, who was
stricken with paralysis a week ago, died at the
age of 55 years. He lived in Rome 24 years.
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—The Board of Directors
of the University Musical Society has contracted
with Farrand & Votey Co. for the Columbian
organ, the largest in the country, that was ex-
hibited at the World's Fair. Cost, $15,000.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—The Peck Memorial
Drum and Bugle Corps has been completely or-
ganized with 30 members. Rev. C. Alvin
Smith, of Peck Chapel, general manager.
'' The value of such a poem as this cannot
be expressed in mere guineas ! '' exclaimed Mr.
Rondo.
"No, it cannot," agreed the editor; " w e
will pay you five shillings for it."
VARNISH FOREMAN.
A MAN of undoubted ability, with excellent refer-
ences, wants a permanent and steady position as
foreman of varnish department in a first-class piano
factory. Address Varnisher, care Music TRADE RE-
VIEW, 3 East 14th Street, New York.
PIANOS
PATENTED 1892.
are noted for their fine singing quality of
tone and great durability. The most
profitable Piano for dealers to handle.
STEG-ER & CO., Manufacturers,
Factory, Columbia Heights.
235 WABASH AVIL, CHICAGO.