Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 20 N. 9

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and
Canada, $3.00 per year; Foreign Countries, I4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On-quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Matter.
•> THE BUSINESS MAN'S
PAPER."
to arrange for a dinner some time around
the end of this month. The formation of
an association of manufacturers in Boston
cannot fail to be of advantage. It will not
only result in the manufacturers becoming
better acquainted, but, if disposed, it w r ill
enable them to take concerted action upon
the many important questions effecting the
trade which crop up from time to time.
innumerable lines of goods handled by
them should not be overlooked by the trade.
We hardly think the time will come when
manufacturers will favor department stores
in preference to reputable and progressive
dealers, so it is unlikely that there will be
recourse at any time to the methods adopted
by the retailers in domestic supplies.
MR. DOLGE'S PLAN TAKING ROOT.
HILE manufacturers in this city
R. ALFRED DOLGE'S speech at
are not "blowing" about trade for
the recent reunion of his employees
the past week, yet they admit that there is
has been noticed very largely by the press
an improvement. Small, it is true, but
throughout the country, and as far as we
spring is here, and a Congress which has
have seen it has been commented on most
become famous for the "blunders it has
favorably. In the editorial columns of last
made" is about to leave for parts unknown,
Sunday's Advertiser, under the caption of
so the outlook is not so bad after all. There
"Insurance for Labor," the following ap-
can be no doubt that within the next few
peared: "The suggestions made at the
weeks business will "pick up" materially.
twenty-sixth annual reunion of the em-
T takes some manufacturers a long ployees of Alfred Dolge, the well-known
time to depart from old lines and accept manufacturer of Dolgeville, this State, on
the new, but once in a while they do the subject of pensioning workingmen at a
so, and then they wonder why they never certain age, are well worth careful consider-
made the change before," remarked a well- ation. The experiments made by Mr.
known piano-maker recently, after we had Dolge in this direction have not been much
examined one of his pianos containing a exploited in the public press, but Mr.
Strauch action. He had been using the Dolge believes his experience justifies him
well-known Strauch action but a short in the opinion that it is entirely feasible,
time, and, to use a colloquial expression, and something that might be generally
"felt like kicking himself" for not having adopted. Here is what Mr. Dolge said on
the subject:
investigated its superior merits before.
W
M
I
i flfOR liie. cause thai lacka asal:
For tljo TC>8£ that see^s resi
PprUe future in the distance^" 1 •*>?
RiA if>« good tljal ye cao io"
Admitting that the wage earners are entitled to
ETAIL TRADE for the past week
has been unusually satisfactory, and
the managers of most of the warerooras are
quite cheerful about business prospects.
They expect better times from now on.
Let us hope so.
R
W
E direct attention to an advertise-
ment of Newby & Evans' new
style piano, No. "14," which appears in
another part of this paper. This instru-
ment has many good points to commend it
to dealers and the trade in general. At-
tractive in appearance, containing many
improvements, particularly the automatic
music desk, and a quality of tone which
will stand favorable criticism, it is bound to
become a "seller" wherever handled.
HE prominent members of the trade
in Boston held a meeting last Mon-
day at the warerooms of C. C. Harvey &
Co., Boylston street, for the purpose of
planning a trade dinner and forming an as-
sociation of manufacturers such as exists in
New York and Chicago. The meeting was
an informal one, and Edward P. Mason and
J. N, Merrill were appointed a committee
T
Manufacturers are to be found—and the more than they now receive, it is the province of
to provide the ways and means and
gentleman referred to is a type—who over- statesmanship
the proper methods to secure it for them. My
look that a good action is an important experiments with our pension fund, covering a
period of twenty years, demonstrates the entire
essential of the modern piano. Good tone, feasibility of a national labor insurance or pension,
assuring to every honest wage earner at the age
as a matter of course, is an absolute requi- of sixty years, or sooner if disabled, his full wages
the end of his years. A contribution of 1 per
site, but to illustrate its special quality, the to
cent, of the amount of wages earned, paid by the
light and shade, as it were, of that tone, it employer annually into a national insurance
fund, would be ample to assure this. No wage
requires the delicate mechanism known as earner with a clean record would then have to
fear the time when his "economic efficiency" has
the action—such an action, for instance, as reached the unprofitable point. The adoption of
this
system would effectually disperse Socialism
that manufactured by Strauch Brothers.
and Populism—both standing menaces to pro-
I
gressive civilization. Such a system would make
better citizens, which is the greatest benefit that
can accrue to a nation.
T is significant to notice through the
columns of the daily papers that war
Properly this should be called insurance
has been opened on the department for labor instead of a pension for labor. If
stores by retail dealers in the various lines Mr. Dolge is right in his estimate that 1
of domestic supplies. They have notified per cent, of the wage money earned by
the wholesale dealers that if they continue Labor will insure the success of the system,
to supply large department stores they are it would be a great boon secured at a small
going to lose their custom; and in a great outlay. The money which Labor worse
many instances their "boycotting" has been than wastes in carrying on strikes would
effective, for it seems large wholesale pay it a dozen times over."
houses have refused to supply some of the
It must certainly be gratifying to Mr.
department stores with goods.
Dolge to see his ideas taking root. It is
The department stores are a practical also an honor to the music trade to have
exhibition of the power and influence of a such a representative member on record as
trust, and while the music trade has not as the founder of a system which is destined
yet suffered to any great extent in this con- to play an important part in the settlement
nection, still the anxiety of the department of the warfare at present existing between
stores to add musical instruments to the labor and capital.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Hardman
Mr stevens Qets
Piano
In Schools, Churches, Lodges, Clubs, etc.
H
ARDMAN, PECK & CO. have just
compiled a list of schools, churches,
lodges, clubs and other institutions using
the famous Hardman piano. The list is a
formidable one, and includes the names of
almost every representative institution in
different parts of the Union. Over two
hundred and seventy are named, some of
which are using over thirty Hardman
pianos, notably the Ogontz School for
Young Ladies, at Ogontz, Pa.
It is a well-known fact that the use given
a piano in a boarding-school is one of the
best tests of durability, for the pounding it
receives there exceeds more than ten times
the use it has to undergo in a private house.
The secret of the popularity of the "Hard-
man" in schools, etc., is to be found in the
claim made by the firm in this connection,
namely: "That durability is a distinguish-
ing characteristic of the Hardman piano;"
and it must be, otherwise the Hardman
would not be such a'favorite. Hardman,
Peck & Co., in their circular, suggest cor-
respondence with any of the institutions
named for the purpose of ascertaining the
unequalled satisfaction that their instru-
ments have given.
It is only when a list like this is compiled
that one realizes the large number of instru-
ments furnished by one firm to such a num-
ber of representative institutions; and yet
it seems this list comprises only a few, com-
paratively, of the many schools, lodges,
clubs, churches, etc., where the Hardman
piano is in use.
The catalogue is printed on heavy calen-
dered paper, and presents a very neat ap-
pearance. The back cover page contains
an excellent photo cut of the Hardman ex-
hibit at the Columbian Exposition.
The Emerson Pin Block.
IN order to test the validity of its pin
block patent, the Emerson Piano Co., of
Boston, have instituted a friendly suit
against the Prescott Piano Co., of Concord,
N. H. The Emerson patent is now used
by some half dozen makers, we understand,
and the Emerson Piano Co. are anxious to
have their rights legally explained.
The Exhibition of Patents and
Inventions.
T
HE International Exhibition of Patents
and Inventions, to be held at the
Grand Central Palace, Forty-third street
and Lexington avenue, will open March 9,
1895. The exhibition will continue for four
weeks.
CONGRATULATIONS to President J. W.
Reed, of the Chicago Music Trade Associa-
tion. A good piano maker and inventor,-
he is bound to make a good executive
officer.
* 1000
In Washington,
J
OHN W. STEVENS, traveling repre-
sentative for Peek & Son, Broadway
and Forty-seventh street, was awarded
$1,000 damages in a suit for libel which he
brought against Lucius McBride, Akron,
O., and which was decided in that city be-
fore Judge Nye, Feb. 2 2d. It seems Mc-
Bride wrote two letters to Messrs. Peek &
Son which reflected on Mr. Stevens' char-
acter, and grossly wronged him. His action
in so doing was due to spite because Mr.
Stevens had previously sued him for $19 in
a petty court. McBride was unable to deny
having written the letters, and could not in
any way justify the language used. It is
evident that Mr. McBride will be more
cautious in passing opinions about traveling
men in future. This has been a rather ex-
pensive lesson.
Prof. Bentz with the Weaver Co.
P
ROF. H. C. BENTZ, the veteran piano
tuner and regulator, has accepted a
position as special personal representative
of the Weaver Organ & Piano Co. He will
have charge of the piano department,
which has become a very important part
of the business of this great corporation.
The company is to be congratulated on
their acquisition, and Mr. Bentz has reason
to feel proud of the house he represents.
Mr. Bentz's long experience as a tuner of
pianos of every known make, has given him
a knowledge of the various pianos that
makes him particularly valuable in this
line to the house he represents, as well as
to the customers he may have the pleasure
of aiding in making the selections.—York,
Pa., Dispatch.
NEARLY 60,000 SOLD!
.
NO BETTER TESTIMONIAL NEEDED.
Chicago, Feb. 18, 1895.
On and after this date we will be estab-
lished in our new quarters, 250 and 252
Wabash avenue, where we shall be pleased
to receive our friends and patrons.
PEASE PIANO CO.
CHAS. H. MACDONALD,
Manager.
A Good Showing.
I
N a conversation with the courteous W.
D. Dutton, of Hardman, Peck & Co., a
few days ago, he informed us that trade for
January and February of this year was one
hundred per cent, over that of the same
months a year ago. This is certainly cheer-
ing news, when the times are considered.
Better Days in Store.
THE unusually cold weather in the South
has knocked the bottom out of retail trade
for the past two weeks. Things are bright-
ening up, according to reports this week,
and with the advent of spring better times
are in store for the retail, and let us hope,
the wholesale trade.
Harked Improvement in Business—A New
Law which gives Satisfaction to the
Music Trade—Thanks due to the
flusic Trade Association—The
Bradbury and Droop con-
cerns to Build—The
fletzerott House
Busy—The
Knabe.
W
ITH the advent of spring-like weather
the past week, music houses in this
city report better business, and dealers are
in an optimistic frame of mind in regard to
trade prospects. As a result of the efforts
made by the Music Trade Association of
this city, a bill was signed by the President
this week which has given a great deal of
satisfaction to the trade atHarge. This bill
increases the jurisdiction of the Justices of
Peace in the District of Columbia.
The law heretofore has been that a Jus-
tice of the Peace could not try a case
involving more than $100, and the poor
piano dealer was compelled to take his
case before the United States Court, costing
him anywhere from $30 to $50, and neces-
sitating a delay of about a year before his
case was called for trial, occasioned by the
over-crowded condition of the docket.
This is all changed now; the Justice of
the Peace is empowered to hear cases in-
volving amounts to the extent of $300, and
the piano dealer can now replevin the de-
linquent, get his trial inside of forty-eight
hours, and cost him less than $10.
The successful passage of this law goes
far to show what a great power and influence
a combination of men such as the Music
Trade Association can exercise when they
work together, and with such commendable
objects. This bill is only one of the many
benefits which have accrued to the
trade since the Association was organized.
It would be idle to deny that a large share
of credit is due to C. G. Woodward, the
energetic secretary who labored indefatig-
ably both in the interests of the Association
and also for the passage of this law. The
officers of the Association at present are:
Mr. E. F. Droop, president; Mr. D. G.
Pfieffer, vice-president; Mr. C. G. Wood-
ward, secretary, and Mr. J. E. Erck, treas-
urer.
Two of our leading music houses will
have new homes in the summer or early
fall, viz.: The Bradbury concern and the
firm of E. F. Droop & Sons. The an-
nouncement made by Mr. Van Wickle, the
courteous and popular manager of F. G.
Smith's house, that the Bradbury piano
would be manufactured in Washington, has
caused quite some comment. This is an
innovation in Washington, as heretofore it
has never pretended to be a manufacturing
city. The Bradbury concern will have the
honor of being the pioneers in this connec-
tion. According to the plans passed upon
by Mr. Smith recently, the new building
will be a marvel of convenience and beauty.
Mr. Van Wickle says business is good, and

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