Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1894 Vol. 19 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
fortunate if the strike at Pullman should dis-
courage large employers of labor in plans for
the betterment of the sanitary and social condi-
tions of their employees, whether in the work-
shop or in the home. When one pauses to re-
flect upon it, he discovers that some part of the
tendency to mass all sorts of industries and pur-
suits in the very heart of the great cities is due
rather to the habit of the day than to any actual
necessity or advantage.''
SURVEY of the course of the foreign
commerce of the United States for the
fiscal year is given by Mr. Worthington C.
Ford, the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of
the Treasury Department, in an interview made
public a few days ago. Mr. Ford takes a rather
hopeful view of the outlook from the point of
view of the United States. He says that only
relatively has the last twelve months proved
disastrous. It must be borne in mind, he says,
that the United States were the last to feel the
depression in trade, and that while throughout
Kurope the reduction in the volume in trade has
continued through three or more years, the
United States touched the highest export figures
in 1892, the highest import figures in 1893, and
in 1894, in the face of the most discouraging
conditions, a very large surplus value of ex-
ports over imports is shown. Low prices,
moreover, have encouraged foreign buyers of
our produce, and in the freest market in the
world, London, the buyer has not been so
favored in fifty years. Of course the uncertainty
as to the tariff has had a disturbing influence,
though perhaps its extent has been exaggerated
in the popular view. Mr. Ford is confident
that a turn in the tide of affairs is at hand, and
he lays stress upon the similarity between the
conditions existing in 1878 and in 1894 respect-
ively, a large excess of exports over imports
being a feature of both years.
«
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
HE most important subject affecting the
piano trade of the country is the business
outlook this fall, and it is gratifying to state
that a healthy revival is certain. This opinion
is based on recent conversations with leading
members of the trade in this city, and from let-
ters received from important trade centres. In
fact, this view of the situation is almost unani-
mous.
Finished stock was never so low in ware-
rooms, and manufacturers realize that the im-
provement in trade which they expect, and is
bound to make itself evident this fall, will com-
pel active preparations. The good old saw, '' In
times of peace prepare for war," has evidently
been adopted by the trade as their motto, and
they are determined to meet the demand which
is sure to come within a very short time.
In the different factories throughout the coun-
try there are signs of a steady and healthy in-
crease of trade—small, to be sure, but neverthe-
less it is evident, and, better than all, an opti-
mistic view of the situation seems to be uni-
versal.
There are so many keen business men engaged
in the piano trade that the hopeful view of
things which they hold will do much to stimu-
late the sluggishness which has prevailed in the
body commercial for some time past.
There can be no doubt but the certain defeat
or passage of the tariff bill within the next
week will clarify the business atmosphere and
help free the country of an uncertainty which
has well nigh ruined its best interests.
PATENTED
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PIANOFORTE.
BROTHER HARGRR, of the Musical Times,
is enjoying the "dog-days" criticising the
proof-reading of his various exchanges—but for-
getting his own.
F. G. BURTON & Co., of Richmond., Va.,
have been given the agency for the Mason &
Hamlln organs for the State of Virginia. This
house is comparatively a new one, yet a
splendid business has been built up. Mr. J. A.
Norris, general traveler for the Mason & Hamlin
Organ & Piano Company, has a very high
opinion of Mr. Burton's ability to make trade.
Hence the deal just closed.
Patent Office Reports are usually dry
reading. Nevertheless they furnish re-
markable testimony to the activity of the
American mind, and furnish the key to the
supremacy which we, as a nation, occupy in
MR. F. G. SMITH, J R . , is spending a few
weeks at Old Point Comfort.
the inventive and manufacturing world.
Concerning the inventions relating to musical
WE are sorry to learn of the death of the
instruments, which we are practically interested father of Mr. Ernest Alfieri, the clever editor of
in, one very important fact is noticeable, and our London contemporary, The Piano, Organ &
that is, mostly all modern inventions seem to Music Trades Journal. His death took place in
London some three weeks ago.
run on parallel lines. There are, for instance,
IT is said that Mr. Cornett, well known
innumerable devices for turning over the leaves
of sheet music ; so many, that inventors in this through his connection with several piano firms
special line will soon run the perpetual motion as a manufacturer of pianos, has rented a fac-
tory at Rockland Lake, N. Y., where he resides,
man a close race; and there is every reason to and will engage in the manufacture of pianos.
doubt whether there is any public demand for Mr. Angelo Cavaliero will act as superintendent.
this invention.
MR. E. N. KIMBAIX, of the Hallet & Davis
The inventions relating to transposing pianos Piano Co., Boston, is rusticating at Lake George.
take second place to the mechanical leaf turner,
MR. HENRY BEHR has gone to Europe for the
yet the bulk of them are based pretty much on
purpose of recuperating from nervous prostra-
the same old lines. The difference between the tion brought about through his arduous labors
patented suggestions—for they cannot be termed in connection with the settlement of the recent
improvements—are hardly worthy of serious financial troubles of Behr Bros. & Co. We trust
notice ; the main idea remains pretty much the he will return completely restored to health and
same to-day as it existed years ago. A marked old time vigor.
sameness exists in the many patents affecting
MR. NAHUM STETSON, of Stein way & Sons,
the piano recently recorded—in actions, string- will arrive this week from Europe. In recent
ing, sound-boards and various other things of a letters to his house he expresses himself as much
benefited by his trip.
minor or less important character.
A perusal of these facts would incline the
THE annual reunion of the employees of Wm.
reader to the conclusion that no improvement of Knabe & Co. was held at Eastern Schuetzen
real value has recently made its appearance Park Monday last, and was largely attended.
The utmost goodwill and merriment prevailed.
that will materially affect the mechanism of the
Mr. Fred. Schieier, president of the picnic com-
pianoforte. In fact, the modern piano has at- mittee, made a short address, referring to the
tained a perfection which, so long as the present deep regard which the men held for the firm,
systems prevail, is not likely to be surpassed. and the loss sustained through the death of the
Yet in this age of improvements it is absurd to late Mr. Ernest Knabe. A very appropriate
response was made by Mr. Ernest Knabe, Jr.,
be positive in such an assertion.
which was received with a great deal of ap-
Many noted thinkers hold that the next great plause.
invention relating to the pianoforte will be dis-
IT is said that George Bothner, the piano ac-
covered through the aid of electricity. In the tion manufacturer, contemplates adding hammer
field of organ construction many radical im- covering and key making to his business.
provements have been made possible through its
N. M. CROSBY is doing some good work for
aid. So far, however, the patent office reports
the Webster Piano Company. He has recently
have not revealed anything in that line that gotten up some attractively printed blotters and
would bid us hope for anything new or startling circulars relating to the new style " Webster "
in the immediate future.
pianos, which are being circulated throughout
There is a great opportunity for the inventor the trade to good advantage. His circular letter
who will give us something original and effec- is especially good, and ought to work up quite
some trade even in dull times. A cut of the new
tive, either in the realm of tone or case archi- small-size '' Webster,'' which is meeting with
tecture. To succeed, however, inventors must so much success, is also enclosed.
break away from the sameness which is too pre-
MR. W. W. KIMBALL, of Chicago, accom-
valent in recent patents.
panied by his wife, left last Saturday for
TWELVE thousand organs is the goodly num- Europe. The trip will be a brief one, as Mr.
ber turned out by the Waterloo Organ Company Kimball expects to return to Chicago early in
October.
under its present management.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRflDE REVIEW.
MR. A. HOWARD HINKLE, treasurer of the
John Church Company, arrived last week from
Europe on the " Fuerst Bismarck " with Mr.
George Nembach, of Geo. Steck & Co. It is not
unlikely that Mr. Hinkle will be elected presi-
dent of the John Church Company, in place of
the late Mr. William Hooper, at the next meet-
ing of the Board of Directors.
MR. B. A. POTTER, of Lyon, Potter & Co.,
Chicago, is spending his vacation with a party
of friends on a trip to Buffalo through the lakes.
From Buffalo Mr. Potter will leave for Maine.
The entire trip will occupy three weeks.
WHAT'S in a name ?
A great deal apparent-
ly, when it is the name of " Sohtner," which is
honored at home and abroad. We learn that a
favorite resort near Montreal has recently been
named " Sobmer Park and Zoological Gardens."
The proprietors, Messrs. Ernest L. Lavigne and
L. J. Lajoie, were the agents for the Sohmer
piano in that city before they embarked in their
present enterprise. They conclude, possibly,
that as the '' Sohmer '' piano brought them such
good luck and fame heretofore, the name
" Sohmer " in their new undertaking should
prove just as successful. And it undoubtedly
will.
W E beg to acknowledge receipt of a handsome
catalogue of the Waldo Banjeux from the Bar-
I. E. PERLEY, a prominent music trade dealer,
rows Music Company, Saginaw, Mich. We
shall have something further to say of this cata- of Emporia, Kansas, was accidentally drowned
recently. He was a very popular man, and
logue in a future issue.
highly esteemed by all circles in that town.
MR. R. C. KAMMERER, of Geo. Steck & Co.,
LYON & HEALY are doing some '' catchy ''
is having a royal time at Travers Island this
advertising
in the daily papers of Chicago in
week. He is quite a patron of acquatic sports.
connection with their midsummer clearing sale.
THE Little Falls (N. Y.) Courier says: J. C. If it is possible to arouse interest in business
Livingston & Co. will soon commence the through the newspapers Lyon & Healy are bound
manufacture of piano backs. This will give to do so, and they will succeed, because " print-
employment to about twenty more men than are ers' ink " never fails to bring in a satisfactory
now working in the concern. This new depar- return. The Lyon & Healy " ads. " are cleverly
ture is highly appreciated.
written and attractive to those who usually
avoid the advertising pages of the newspaper.
MR. FERDINAND MAYER, retail manager for
BUSINESS with the Chase Bros. Piano Co.,
Chickering & Sons, is spending a few weeks
Muskegon, Mich., is very fair. They are work-
vacation at Amityville, N. Y.
ing full time, and, like the majority, are looking
A. F. TRONSO, of Rockford, la., has been ar- forward to better times. They report that their
rested on the charge of embezzling the funds of retail trade in Chicago has been unusually satis-
a Chicago music house, of which he was local factory during the past month, and compares
agent. He was held for examination.
favorably with previous years.
MR. WILLIAM R. GRATZ, a well known im-
THE CHARLES L. BAKER PIANO AND ORGAN
porter of this city, Mr. C. Bruno, of this city, C. COMPANY, of Waco, Tex., has been incorporated ;
F. Albert and wife, of Philadelphia, are among capital stock $20,000. Directors, John P. Massey,
the American visitors to Markneukirchen, Ger- W. E. Lednum, D. A. Spencer, R. W. Andrews
many.
and C. L. Barker, all of Waco.
IT is satisfying to know that there will be no
O. L. KILBOR'S music store at Marshall, 111.,
international trouble over the losses sustained was damaged by fire to the extent of $1,200
by the French exhibitors through the fire which Tuesday of last week. There is an insurance of
destroyed their goods at the World's Fair Build- $1,000.
ings. The Federal Government has set aside
MR. MASON P. CURRIER will leave this week
seventy thousand dollars for the purpose of satis- for a two month's trip on the road in the inter-
fying this claim, which, as far as can be learned, est of the Estey Piano Company.
is a just one.
A MARKED improvement is noticeable in the
JOHN BRITTING, head of the firm of John B.
region of the Decker & Son's piano factory, 971-
Britting, 72-76 Canal street, Cincinnati, attempt- 973 East 135th street. A fine pavement is
ed to murder his wife by shooting, Thursday being laid in front of the factory ; an improve-
evening of last week. Britting's crime was due ment that will be hailed with satisfaction by
to a combination of drink and jealousy. Poor visitors to this very complete building.
marksmanship averted murder, and Mrs. Brit-
IT pays better to be a song writer nowadays
ting is suffering from a severe wound. Her than a piano manufacturer. We learn that the
recovery is still in doubt. Both Mr. and Mrs. genial Ben. F. Jansen, manager of the Mathu-
Britting are very wealthy ; the latter recently shek & Son Piano Company, has netted nearly
received a legacy of about $70,000 from her two thousand dollars from one of his recent
father's estate. The name of Britting has been compositions, " Pleasures of Paris." Mr. Jan-
associated with the piano trade in Cincinnati sen 's compositions of the comic order are widely
since the opening of the century.
known the world over.
MR. C. O. HILLSTROM, of C. O. Hillstrom &
Co., Chesterton, Ind., who has been on the sick
list for some time past, is, we are glad to say,
on the road to recovery. Mr. Hillstrom is too
valuable a member of the trade to lose.
MR. C. G. CONN, who has recently been im-
mortalized by the New York Sun, will deliver
an address in Washington, D. C , during the
National Encampment of the Knights of Pythias.
P. LAWSON and wife are sojourn-
ing for the summer at Lake Geneva, Wis.
MR. CHAS.
W. A. WHITE, formerly with Dill & Co., has
secured the Steinway agency for western Michi-
gan. His headquarters will be at Kalamazoo.
THE Steinway pianos are on exhibition in
Paris in the handsome warerooms of E. Moulle,
1 Rue Blanche, and the excellent trade trans-
acted is a strong indication of the popularity of
these instruments among the critical Parisians.
THE Hardman piano is meeting with much
success in Washington. E. F. Droop & Sons
are pushing this excellent instrument.
JOHN W. REED, of the progressive house of
A. Reed & Sons, Chicago, has been specially
honored by the Columbian Exposition officials
as an inventor of valuable improvements in the
manufacture of pianofortes. He has received a
diploma of honorable mention, which, it is
needless to say, Mr. Reed prizes. It is always
pleasing to see marked ability fittingly honored.
THE Honorable Levi K. Fuller, Governor of
Vermont, visited Essex, Conn., Monday of last
week. We assume he did not fail to visit the
well-known piano supply houses in that neigh-
borhood.
G. B. MILLER, Rochester, N. Y., is doing a
splendid trade with a line of Sohmer, Weber,
Briggs, Newby & Evans and Mason & Hamlin
pianos, and Wilcox & White, Mason & Hamlin
and Packard organs. With such a fine line of
instruments it is no wonder that Mr. Miller is
able to command the trade of the leaders of
social and musical life in the " Flour City."
THE Canadian Musician, Toronto, Ont.,
advises the public, especially proprietors of
papers, and music people in general, to com-
municate with them before engaging a W. H.
Catford, who was recently heard of as in Detroit.
MR. JOHN D. PEASE, of the Pease Piano Co.,
returned recently from a prolonged vacation
spent in Massachusetts, the home of his boy-
hood. Mr. Pease has been much benefited by
his vacation, and is fully prepared to enter the
fight for better trade this fall, which, by the
way, he thinks will be good, provided the Wil-
son bill is killed.
Two very strong letters in commendation of
the Mason & Hamlin pianos have been received
by the Mason & Hamlin Organ and Piano Co.,
from Herman P. Chelius, director of the Boston
Conservatory of Music, and Ferdinand Dewey,
who is at present with William H. Sherwood, at
Chautauqua. Mr. Chelius says : " I have used
your parlor grands for several years, from eight
to ten hours a day, giving them a wear that is
tremendous. Despite all, one tuning sufficed
for a whole year. Conscientiously I can say,
from a long experience, that the action answers
all demands ; it is highly sensitive, firm and
elastic. Whatever the touch employed it re-
ceives the response The tone is rich and fall,
which can be graduated to all degrees of light
and shade. It is sympathetic and capable of
remarkable sonority. The tone has breadth, as
well as great refinement, and in all respects
your instruments are equal to any piano before
the public.
Timber Lands of Maine.
is no possibility of a famine in tim-
ber, that is evident. A Maine lumberman
says the wild lands of his State would make thir-
teen States as large as Rhode Island, two as
large as New Hampshire and Vermont, and one
twice as large as Massachusetts. These lands
are located in the following counties : Aroostook,
2,836,618 acres ; Franklin, 589,962 acres; Han-
cock, 362,893 acres; Oxford, 553,654 acres;
Penobscot, 827,604 acres; Piscataquis, 2,000,444
acres; Somerset, 1,735,838 acres; Washington,
624,123 acres. The spruce timber lands of Maine
are worth more to-day than the pine lands fifty
years ago. This statement is based on the opin-
ion of lumbermen who have been engaged in the
business for forty years. The value of these
spruce lands has been greatly enhanced by the
enormous demand for pulp wood.

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