Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 13

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
and the considerate manufacturer who has
as manufacturer, and when Jacob Doll
starts out on the road hereafter the boys in
the factory can rely upon huge orders being
sent in. A large portion of the orders was
for the higher priced instruments which
he manufactures.
run his business often during dull times to
keep his employees at work, should not be
ignored in this connection.
T
HE formation of a music trade associ-
ation in Chicago for mutual benefit
and protection is a highly commendable
move, and Mr. Camp, who evolved the idea
and helped put the matter on a practical
and business-like basis, is deserving of the
thanks of the trade.
The following is the
preamble of the document which has been
signed by mostly every prominent music
trade establishment in Chicago:
"We,
the undersigned representatives of
the music trade of Chicago, for purposes of
mutual benefit and protection, do hereby
agree to report to each of the subscribers
hereto, the name of any person that we
I
RAN across Mr. Geo. H. Endicott, of
Chickering & Sons, this week. He had
just returned form a trip to Chicago, stop-
ping at Cincinnati and some other points
on his return. Mr. Endicott is warmly en-
thusiastic over the prospects of the Chicker-
ing piano under Mr. Clayton F. Summy's
management in Chicago. He speaks very
highly of Mr. Summy's business qualifica-
tions, and predicts for him in his new quar-
ters a brilliant future. In Cincinnati he
found the Chickering agents in good spirits,
in fact, all aljng the line it augurs well for
a Chickering year.
A plan has been discussed in England for
appointing a permanent exhibitors' associa-
tion to look after the interests of British
manufacturers in exhibitions in foreign
countries. It is thought that such an as-
sociation could decide if a British section
would be useful at any approaching exhib-
ition and make proper preparations for it.
The association could maintain a proper
status of exhibitors, it is thought, and thus
improve the general character of such ex-
hibits.
Mr. J. M. Glover, musical director of
Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres,
has written to a London paper, suggesting
either as purchaser, renter or consignment
that something should be done to put a stop
dealer, such reports to be made on blanks
to organ grinding in London. The men
furnished for the purpose, together with
who play organs have within the last few
any suggestion that may seem valuable."
years taken to paying children to dance for
The value of such an association is so ap-
the purpose of attracting crowds, which
parent that the only regret is that some
obstruct the thoroughfares, but bring much
I met William M. Blight on Fourteenth money to the street musicians. The whole
sort of national association cannot be
founded by which the manufacturers could street last Wednesday. Mr. Blight was in matter could, he says, be regulated by a
the best of spirits over business prospects. little legislation. It should be made illegal
enter into an alliance defensive and offen-
When I asked him the condition of business he thinks, to play an organ in the streets
sive against individuals who prey on the
he replied by saying, "Our only trouble is without a special permit, for as the matter
trade ofttimes under the mantle of the law. not being able to fill orders more promptly. now stands there is no resource but to give
With such an association perfected the im- We are working nights }ill nine and ten these men money to go away, with the re-
portant questions of bankruptcy, credits, o'clock—in fact, we are anxiously awaiting sult that they drag the organ a few doors
State taxes and other legislation affecting the completion of larger quarters.. All down the street, to annoy the neighbors.
of our dealers are doing well with the 'Kel-
the piano trade industry, so often referred
ler'—in fact, as I state, we only regret
to in this paper, might be discussed and
that we can't get them out more rapidly, ,
An idea of the popularity of electricity
much needed action taken. The growth but we are very particular not to send out
as a motive power riowadays, can be gleaned
of protective associations in the large pianos unless they are in thoroughly good
from the fact that there are now 850 electric
cities leads us to think that a national shape. They must be right."
railways in the United States, with more
have reason to suspect of unfair dealing,
association of manufacturers and dealers is
only a question of time.

.:-.':•
Their Premier Grand.
T
HE display of Strich & Zeidler pianos
in the New York State Building at
the Atlanta Exposition will include their
premier grand, which is now in process of
completion. If this instrument is in any
way equal to their uprights, it is destined
to achieve a great success and add to the
reputation of this progressive house.
WILLIAM SOHMF.R, brother of Hugo Soh-
mer, is candidate for Register on the Tam-
many ticket. His nomination was unani-
mous. He has a wide circle of friends in
and outside the Democratic party, and
stands a very fair chance of being elected.
What a tremendous success Hamilton S.
Gordon has made of the "small goods" de-
partment of his business. The other day I
had the pleasure of going through his
splendid establishment on Fifth avenue,
and was surprised to see the marvelous in-
crease which his business had taken in this
direction.
He has recently published a
catalogue which assists bis travelers on the
road, and gives the dealer a complete idea
of what Mr. Gordon carries in the line of
small goods. In guitars, mandolins, vio-
lins, etc., he is doing a marvelous business.
I saw the floors just completely blocked
with goods being prepared for shipment.
Jacob Doll was in a particularly happy
Baker, piano tuner, of Milford, Pa., who and reminiscent frame of mind when I
is charged with having defrauded many found him in his inner sanctum last Tues-
business men in that locality through issu- day. Mr. Doll had recently returned from
ing forged checks. He is wanted especially a flying trip on the road, where he booked
on a charge made by Stewart Layton, of something over three hundred orders for
Branchville, N. J., who has been defrauded pianos for immediate shipments. He has
branched out as a first-class traveler as well
out of $285.
"•• •*':>'•
DETECTIVES are on the search for George
than 9,000 miles of track, 2,300 cars, and a
capital of $400,000,000. In 1887 the elec-
tric roads in the United States numbered
only thirteen, with about 100 cars.
* *
*
Geo. W. Armstrong, editor of the Chica-
go Indicator, has been tarrying in our midst
for the past two week. Mr. Armstrong has
a wide circle of friends and admirers in the
metropolis,who esteem him not alone for his
talents as a writer, but for the possession
of those genial and manly attributes that
help to strengthen the bonds of fellowship
and enable him to gain the friendship of
those with whom he comes in contact.
* *
*
Among the quaint contingents that have
entered the municipal contest in New
York to fight the Platt machine, says the
Philadelphia Record, are the Delicatessen
Union, the Sweitzerkase Union and the
Musical Protective Union. It is refreshing
to know that sweitzerkase and music are
still permitted to mix by the New York
police.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
your business. I'll give you $50 for that
violin."
The man hesitated a long while. Tears
A LITTLE COMEDY PLAYED BY A POOR MUSI- came into his eyes and his long, pale fingers
CIAN, A CONNOISSEUR AND A CREDULOUS
trembled as he told the story of his struggle
with
poverty, but he took the money.
BOWERY PAWNBROKER.
A week passed and the wealthy connois-
seur
had not put in an appearance. Mine
E was evidently a musician, and carried
Uncle
began to grow nervous. He took the
a violin in a black silesia bag. The
violin
down
from the nail and carried it up-
Bowery pawnbroker, as he saw him enter,
town
to
show
to an expert.
said to himself: "Ah, here's a poor devil
'•
I
can't
give
you the exact market value
of a player, forced to pledge the only thing
of
it,"
said
the
violin sharp, after a hasty
that gives him a livelihood, poor though it
glance.
"You
see
I don't handle that qual-
be."
ity
of
goods,
but
violins
of this kind are
"Let me have $2.50 on this, please,"
worth
about
$15
a
dozen."
said the man regretfully, as he carefully
drew the violin out of its covering. "I just
want enough to tide over a day or so, until
Changes in the Patent Law.
I get a remittance. Unless I knew I could
redeem it at once, I would never trust it
E hear at regular intervals from the
out of my hands, for it is not only my sole
individual who has unfortunately
means of existence, but, as you will observe,
attempted to make a fortune out of a patent
it is a very valuable instrument."
The pawnbroker handed out the money, on some visionary scheme, and attributes
and almost regretted that the loan was so his ill-luck to the patent system. He re-
small. As he was going out, the man turn- fuses to admit that his business judgment
ed back and said: "By the way, I wish you or executive ability is at fault, but loudly
would not put this violin aside with a lot of and persistently clamors f®r the abolition
odds and ends. It is too valuable to take of all patents. All fair-minded men, how-
any risk with. Besides, I will surely be ever, appreciate the value of patents and
are advocates of the American patent sys-
back in a day or so."
A few days later an elderly man came in tem, which has done more than any other
and asked to see some opera glasses. As he one cause to promote the prosperity of
was locking over the stock his eye lighted this country, and place it in the front rank
of nations. So universally is this fact rec-
on the violin, hanging on the wall.
ognized
that other nations are enacting
" Let me see that instrument, if you
patent
laws
modeled after ours, or are
please," he said. He looked at it critically,
amending
their
existing systems so as to
and then a delighted expression overspread
adopt
the
distinguishing
features of our
his face.
system.
"Just what I have been seeking for
But the staunchest adherents of the
years!" he exclaimed, making no attempt
to conceal his enthusiasm. " You see I am American patent system are ready to admit
a connoisseur, one of the virtuosi, as the that it has defects, both in the organic law
newspapers love to term us old fellows. I and in the bureau which under the law is
need this violin in my collection, and I'll entrusted with the granting of patents.
give you $40 for it." Mine Uncle only Unfortunately the office of Commissioner
of Patents is one of the "plums" gathered
shook his head.
every fouf years by the President. The
"Well, I'll make it $50."
"It*isn't for sale," replied the pawn- appointment is consequently looked upon
as a political one, and the Commissioners
broker.
" Say seventy-five, then." By this time of Patents are frequently men without any
the pawnbroker was deeply interested. He previous knowledge whatever of patents.
explained how the violin came into his pos- It behooves all true friends of the patent
system, therefore, to work for such legis-
session.
" I f you will drop in again in a day or so lation as will remove the office from the
I'll probably have seen the owner, and per- domain of politics. The change should
also require that the person nominated for
haps we may be able to negotiate a deal."
the office should be learned in the patent
'' I hope so," returned the enthusiast. ' 'As
law and in the scientific and mechanical
you will have some trouble in the matter,
arts. To induce men thus equipped to ac-
I'll raise my offer to an even hundred. I
cept the office, the appointment should be
must have that violin."
during good behavior.
As soon as he was gone the pawnbroker
It must be confessed that there have
hurried around to see the musician. The
man lived in a poorly furnished room, evi- been some Commissioners of Patents who
have filled the office very acceptably, and
dently in great povertv.
"What! Sell my dear violin?" he ex- with credit to themselves, but some of
claimed, indignantly. " N o ! a thousand them have been palpably incompetent.
Others have gone into office actuated by
times no. I'd rather starve first."
one
idea—"Reform"—and this wonderful
" Look here, my man," said the pawnbro-
thing
"reform" has frequently led to greater
ker; " I know just how you feel about it,
abuses
than those sought to be destroyed.
but after all it's merely a question of senti-
The
recent
episode of Josiah Quincy and
ment. A cheaper instrument will do you in
A Trick in Violins.
H
W
the Official Gazette is fresh in the minds of
the reading public, and the attorneys,
manufacturers and others who have busi-
ness dealings with the Patent Office are
hampered by the failure of the present con-
tractor for the photolithographing to fur-
nish copies of patents promptly. The late
Norris Peters enjoyed a practical monopoly
of this work up to the time of his death,
but the holding of this monopoly was due
to the merit of his work and the prompt-
ness with which it was executed. At-
tempts to place the work in the hands of
other contractors have always resulted in
great inconvenience and embarrassment to
the persons having dealings with the Patent
Office as well as to the office itself. The
last attempt made before the death of Mr.
Peters was such a miserable failure that the
Commissioner was compelled to return to
Mr. Peters and have him complete the
work attempted by his competitor. After
the death of Mr. Peters, his heirs continued
the business as the Norris-Peters Co., with-
out detracting from the quality of the
work or in any other way creating dissatis-
faction. At the beginning of the present
administration, the contract was taken from
the Norris-Peters Co., and given to a con-
cern in which Josiah Quincy had a large
interest. This concern did such slow and
poor work that a Senatorial investigation
into the manner of its securing the con-
tract and its business worth followed. The
work was restored to the Norris-Peters Co.
At the beginning of the present fiscal year,
the contract was awarded to a new man,
and the Commissioner, in his zeal for re-
form, even proposed to let the type-setting
go out on contract. The present new con-
tractor turns out good work, but he is ap-
parently unable to overcome a delay of a
week in delivering copies of patents. Had
the type-setting also been given out on
contract, jthe delay would surely have been
beyond the scope of the wildest imagina-
tion. The history of this work shows con-
clusively that each change in the identity
of the contractor is followed by delays
which work great inconvenience and embar-
rassment to the manufacturers and others
who need to be informed promptly and
fully of the progress made in their lines.
The present system is necessarily produc-
tive of instability and inferior results tor
no man can afford to expend the money
necessary to establish a proper plant if the
work is liable to be taken from him at the
end of a year. Such is the present condi-
tion of affairs, but the remedy is a plain
and simple one. Congress should at once
appropriate the money necessary to estab-
lish a lithographing plant at the Govern-
ment Printing Office, and require that the
work be done there. Here we have the
spectacle of the Government owning the
largest printing office in the world, and
yet being obliged to depend on private per-
sons for part of its printing. What an
anomaly! Let Congress remove it and, at
the same time, we will see the last of the
delays which have become too frequent in
the printing of patents.

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