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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
ment, hence the business announcement of
the Automaton Piano Co. has never ap-
peared in the columns of THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW.
T
HE Keeley Motor is again coming be-
fore the public, Mr. Keeley having
interested, it is stated, Mr. John Jacob
Astor in his scheme. It is not generally
known that there is a member of the music
trade who is also a stockholder in the
Keeley Motor Co. Mr. Geo. H. Hastings,
the well-known varnish man, and member
of the firm of Hastings & Winslow, Mont-
clair, N. J., has a nice little block of stock
in this enterprise which may at some future
day pan out in a larger and more paying
vein than Al Weber's silver mine.
*
At the great Marlborough-Vanderbilt
wedding-—that golden band which united
mere firmly the two great English speaking
nations—among the list of society people
who attended I noticed that Mrs. C Frank
Chickering was one of those who witnessed
the ceremony at St. Thomas' Church.
Walter Damrosch had the musical arrange-
ments in charge, which were carried out
with much satisfaction and exceeding taste.
In a recent issue of Presto there is an
article relating to the Automaton Piano
Co., and the writer in an interview with
Mr. Emil Klaber says:
But the most remarkable statement made
by Mr. Klaber was one that reflects with
telling force upon the Eastern music trade
press. It is that the Automaton Piano Co.
has not a single contract in force with the
trade papers, and that no money is paid
for the very liberal space given up to the
Automatic pianos in those papers. To be
explicit, these were Mr. Klaber's words:
"The papers are printing these adver-
tisements with a view to what we may do
after the new company is organized. They
consider it a good investment, and so do I. "
This is a severe statement in view of the
stand taken by some of the papers against
"dead wood" and free blows.
I wish to say that this is in substance
what Mr. Klaber stated to me last spring;
when I was having a business conference
with him, he offered me an advertisement
on precisely the same terms which the
other papers, as he said, were carrying the
advertisement of the Automaton Piano Co.,
viz., on not a cash basis but simply "pav-
ing the way for future business."
I re-
fused the contract on such a basis. As
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW is run on busi-
Of late I have been in receipt of many
letters from possible piano purchasers re
gardmg the comparative merits of pianos
of different makes, asking me to grade
them, and all that. Now, I do not grade
pianos, I prefer to leave that to other
parties. I usually incorporate this in sub-
stance in my reply: Buy of your local dealer
of good and well-established reputation.
Buy such makes as he recommends and
your pocketbook permits. Do not buy of
itinerant venders of instruments; those
men have nothing at stake, they have no
reputation to maintain, and are nine times
out of ten simply piano sharks. If you
cannot afford to buy the highest price piano
there are plenty of medium instruments
which are fully worth what value the relia-
ble dealer places on them.
* *
*
William Sohmer, brother of Hugo Soh-
mer, was elected Register of this city last
Tuesday by 25,000 majority. He led the
candidates on his own ticket by some
thousands of votes, whi^h furnishes an ex-
cellent idea of his popularity. The enthu-
siastic reception given his picture, which
was shown on the Herald bulletin board on
election night, demonstrated that his elec-
tion was the popular choice.
Egomania is certainly an awful affliction.
It seems to make the victim insensible to
the fact that he is an unmitigated nuisance.
We have an "example" right here in our
midst. This great big " I " would have us
believe that he is the corner stone upon
which is built the great structure called
the music trade industry. He dispenses
gratuitous advice upon public questions,
and discusses the views of public men with
the confidence so peculiar to this disease.
Leading men await his utterances with
trepidation, and he can make or unmake
governments—the disease acts that way.
"Take my advice," he says, "and )'ou will
wear diamonds; if not you go in rags."
What a magnificent study for Nordau!
Much as that distinguished writer has been
abused, there are characters to be found
that prove how well founded are his con-
clusions. "The State! I am the State,"
was the dictum of Louis of France. "The
music trade! I am the music trade," is the
dictum of our local egotist. But somehow
or other the people of France dispensed
with Louis, and it is possible that the
people of the United States and the music
trade industry can get along without our
local egotist. He cannot see it, however.
He isn't built that way.
ness principles, I could not see my way
clear to the acceptance of an advertisement
* *
*
on such conditions or with such an under-
F. L. DREW, with the Vose & Sons Piano
standing. I like business, and we are not
rejecting good contracts, but on such a basis Co., Boston, is making a trip through the
I would positively refuse any advertise- West.
O. C. KLOCK, who recently became con-
nected with the Chase Bros. Piano Co., as
traveling representative, has resigned that
position and is now connected with the
Braumuller Co., of this city, in a similar
capacity.
He left last Saturday for a
Western trip in the interest of the Brau-
muller Co.
R. C. SHELLY, formerly with Smith &
Nixon, of Cincinnati, is now connected
with the Bradbury warerooms in Washing-
ton.
GARDNER & OSGOOD have opened ware-
rooms at 156 Tremont street, Boston, and
are handling the Chas. M. Stieff pianos,
which they will represent in New England.
GEO. H. JONES, JR., musical instrument
maker, Chelsea, Mass., has confessed judg-
ment to the amount of $1,700.
IN connection with the extension of the
Oliver Ditson retail business, rumors have
been common in Boston that they have
purchased, or are about to purchase, the
piano business of J. E. Lothrop & Co.,
Dover, N. H., and E. V. Emilio, of Salem.
J. D. DUSSAULT, music trade dealer, Os
wego, N. Y., vas in town last week, and
left orders for Gordon pianos, which he
represents in that city.
HORACE WATERS & Co. are making pre-
parations to celebrate the fiftieth anniver-
sary of their business, and in this connection
have prepared a very handsome twenty-
page souvenir containing the histor}' of
th^ir house. Horace Waters & Co. now
occupy the entire building at 134 Fifth
avenue, consisting of four spacious floors
with elevator service. They will have a
formal "opening" in a week or two.
THE Levassor Piano Co., Cincinnati, O.,
are transacting a splendid business with
the Lindeman & Sons pianos, which they
speak of very highly.
H.
P. ECKER & Co., the well-known
Pittsburg dealers, placed a large order with
Jacob Doll for pianos last week. By the
way, visitors to the Doll warerooms on
Fourteenth street will notice that these
quarters have been made still more attrac-
tive by decorators.
GEO. N. GRASS is having a royal time out
West, where he has a wide circle of friends.
He is sending in some substantial orders
from admirers of the Steck piano, which
proves that George can have a good time
and yet build up trade for his house.
SOHMER & Co. report such a demand for
their styles No. 5B and No. 7 that they
are completely out of stock in these special
instruments. There is also a run on their
baby grands, and business in general is in
every respect excellent.
A SERIES of invitation recitals will oe
given every Monday afternoon in the New
York warerooms of the Mason & Risch
Vocalion Co., 10 East Sixteenth street.
H. R. Fuller, of the Church of the Re-
deemer, will presides at the Vocnlion
keyboard.