Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 17

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
- ^ . E D W A R D L\MAN
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, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts . special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency foru:, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
it is a leader, a seller, a money-maker and
a trade stimulator. Dealers everywhere
speak favorably of the Hardman, and musi-
cians are a unit in its praise. It is not sur-
prising that wholesale trade with Hardman,
Peck & Co. is brisk, and that the retail de-
mand for their instruments is growing
every day. The special qualities of the
Hardman baby grand are so apparent and
so convincing, that it is a strong factor in
their business. During the Christmas hol-
idays it is bound to be a great favorite with
the trade.
Entered at th* New York Post Office as Second Cla, r Matter.
"THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
REATLY benefited in health by his
sojourn abroad, Rtifus W. Blake
took his departure from European shores
on the 13th instant.
G
J
UST where the trade papers come in
which have been carrying the advertise-
ments of the Automaton Piano Co. on specu-
lation, is just at this point conjectural—
largely so. Business on business princi-
ples pays—that is, sometimes.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
I
F some of our local contemporaries are
to be believed, the piano manufactur-
ers of this city had better close up shop, go
West and take lessons from their brethren
in that section as to how to conduct their
business.
Never mind, boys, New York has given
ample evidence in the past that its manu-
facturers are quite capable of managing
their own affairs without any interlarded
suggestions from music trade editors.
T
HE Hardman piano—North, South,
East and West, there is but one
opinion of this instrument, namely, that
HE next great International Exposi-
tion on this Continent will be opened
in the City of Mexico, on April 2d, 1896,
and is to embrace all kinds of industries,
scientific, commercial, artistic and musical
products — in fact, the whole range of
human activity.
The exposition grounds are at the foot
of the historic castle of Chapultepec, on the
Avenue De la Reforma, within ten minutes'
ride from the center of the city. They
will comprise an area of over 600 acres.
The Government in authorizing the exposi-
tion does so in the belief that if the Repub-
lic has a proper expansion of its export
trade it will consume one hundred times
the amount of imported goods taken at
present.
Piano and organ manufacturers should
not overlook this exposition. Mexico offers
a desirable field for trade operations, and
an opportunity is here afforded for display-
ing their wares to advantage, and assuredly
with profit.
T
LUMINUM has been much discussed
recently in connection with the
manufacture of musical instruments. Its
practical application is illustrated in the
violin manufactured by the John Church
Co., thus its adaptability in other depart-
ments of musical instrument manufacturing
is demonstrated. Aluminum has much to
commend it in this connection; its dura-
bility, lightness of weight, susceptibility
to treatment, and the possibility of produc-
ing artistic effects, all tend to entitle the
metal to the consideration of manufacturers.
In the matter of sounding boards, piano
plates and piano hardware, aluminum and
its alloys are being experimented with,
and in many respects with success. We
just learn by way of the West that an in-
ventor in that section is now manufactur-
ing an aluminum piano case, and those who
have examined it say it has many claims
to commend it to the favorable notice of
A
the trade. Another important fact is that
aluminum is rapidly declining in price.
T
HE much tangled accounts of Librari-
an Spofford have been under investi-
gation by Auditor Holcomb for some time,
and he has just made his report, from
which we quote the following excellent
suggestion. Its adoption would in a meas-
ure tend to remedy the abuses which have
prevailed for so many years in this impor-
tant Government office. Mr. Holcomb says:
"The Librarian claims that the multitude
of his duties and an inadequate clerical
force are responsible for the trouble.
Whatever be the cause, a remedy should be
found, and I would respectfully suggest, as
a solution of the difficulty, that Congress
be recommended to separate the duties of
Register of Copyrights from those of Li-
brarian of Congress, enacting such laws as
would promote the interests of the public
in securing prompt action in copyright
matters, and would at the same time pro-
tect the interests of the Government in se-
curing prompt returns of moneys received
from copyright fees.''
O-OPERATION or combination is
evidently the order of the day. The
news last week of the deal between the
Chicago Cottage Organ Co. and the Hockett
Bros.-Puntenney Co., and the enlargement
of the agencies of the Masori & Hamlin
Co., as recorded in this issue, demonstrate
how steadily this policy is forging its way
to the fron^t. It is plainly the trend of the
times, and its adoption by other industries
as well as the music trade proves it to be
one of these eternal laws or conditions
which come to the surface in the course of
our commercial evolution.
The increasing combination of brains
and capital will make it harder for the small
manufacturers and dealers to force their way
to the top, but there is a compensation in
the fact that the public is benefited by
being able to buy instruments at lower
prices, and on the whole securing better
value fur the money asked. The Western
houses have given more attention to this
subject than their competitors in the East,
and the volume of trade which they control
directly through their agencies is formid-
able.
C
It has been proved beyond question that
this combination system is profitable, and
is one of the most satisfactory ways of aug-
menting business—it is a plan that is as
safe as it is in touch with these advanced
times. Manufacturers in this city, with
few exceptions, have fought shy of emulat-
ing their Western confreres.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From a Traveler's Note Book.
York or one at Chicago—two hundred and
seventy-seven
pianos. These instruments
{Continuedfrom First Page.)
were sold.
Speaks well, does it not?
months ago was a dead man, is a pretty Something for the Emerson!" I thought
lively corpse. Mr. E. W. Tyler is giving it did. That there was just a neat little
evidence incontestable of the fact that he is volume of eloquence right there in the na-
a piano man all through. The fact of these tional standing of the Emerson piano. I
new moves upon the instruments which are have noticed in my travels all over Amer-
now handled by the Ditson firm will also ica, that invariably when talking the matter
be far reaching. It places the Briggs in of different makes over with dealers,
the stores controlled by the Ditson Co.; the they all agree that the Emerson is not only
Sterling pianos will also be carried in the a seller, but a thoroughly reliable instru-
other stores outside of the city of Boston. ment, clown to the minutest particular.
Mr. A. J. Brooks was here, and large orders
r
* *
B *
have been taken for the Sterling pianos
for the Haverhill and Dover stores.
I passed an interesting morning going
over the Briggs factory with Mr. Furbush.
*
If any one who possesses a love for the
Tremont street is fast losing its old beautiful can fail to pass by some'of the
familiar look as "Piano Row." However, exquisite cases which I saw in that factory
the firms who still fling their banners to without expressions of admiration, then
the breeze from the old thoroughfare, are something in the artistic sense is sadly
not feeling the least bit lonesome, and are wanting. I never saw more beautiful cases
evidently happy in the possession of a good in mahogany than there. I noticed a line
retail trade. Vose & Sons are moving of new cases in Italian walnut, which in
right along in their accustomed spirit, with- coloring and figure are strikingly attractive.
out the least bit of bombast, but they are While commenting upon the beautiful case
conducting a business which bespeaks the effects, I should not overlook the fact that
country wide popularity of their wares. the tone which dwells within the Briggs
Vose & Sons have well maintained their seems in harmony with the exterior effect.
position—maintained it in a dignified way,
* *
which fully upholds the prestige of the
past and presages as well for their future
John N. Merrill is making his warerooms
business.
on Boylston street more attractive by the
removal of his business department toward
the front of the store, and by surrounding
Mr. E. N. Kimball, who always impresses his office staff with tasteful environments in
me as being one of those clean cut, forceful the way of office fittings. Mr. Merrill has
American business men, who have helped demonstrated his ability to place a high
o make America known as a nation of grade piano on the market, and do this in
hustle, was in a particularly happy frame spite of strong competition, and in the face
of mind, as far as the business environ- of the dullest times this country has ever
ments went. Mr. Kimball while speaking seen. But Mr. Merrill is popular and en-
of the satisfactory conditions which pre- ergetic—two essentials to business success.
vailed at home, is quite enthusiastic over He is conducting a rattling good retail
the progress of the Chicago concern. Said trade, while his wholesale orders continue
he: "They are doing a wonderful business to make thinks hum at the factory. In
there; simply wonderful. We are making Boston they all admit that "Jack" Merrill
large shipments of Hallet & Davis pianos is a hustler.
to them—in fact, the outlook is most pro-
*
mising."
The
excavation
for
the new Steinert
* *
*
building goes steadily on. But some time
I enjoyed a pleasant chat with Mr. Fred. will have elapsed before the desired depth
Powers, who ably presides over the busi- is attained, as it will require considerable
ness department of the Emerson Piano Co. work to remove the number of cubic feet of
during the absence of his father. Young earth which at the present time fills a space
Mr. Powers is a careful student of the bus- which in future will be occupied by the
iness situation, and his ideas of trade con- new Steinert Music Hall. A striking in-
ditions throughout the country are logical, novation in the way of halls, and may cause
concise, and are forceful as well as being a tremendous change in the matter of con-
original in much of their meaning. Said struction of buildings in the future in
Mr. Powers: "While looking over the situ- localities where ground rent cuts an enor-
ation for the past year, I think that we mous figure in business calculations. If
have every reason to feel satisfied, consider- by going thirty feet under ground the
ing the general business depression of the Steinert Co. can secure a well ventilated
times, with the volume of business which hall, free from dampness, as experts in that
we have transacted. In looking over the line affirm that they can, then why not
books for October, I find conclusive evid- many others who will erect buildings of a
ence that Eastern houses are still alive, and like character in the future, follow their
that the legitimate methods of conducting example?
business receive a commensurate reward.
*
For instance: During November we shipped
now, in this I do not mean to include
either of our branch houses, one at New
This is from Freund's Weekly of to-day:
"Mr. James S. Cumston is taking a trip to
Mount Clemens, Mich., for his health. He
is stopping at the Hotel Egnew."
Rather strange, Harry; I met Mr. Cums-
ton yesterday in Boston, and he never
looked better.
Vice-President Steger.
T
HE Heine Monument Association of
this city, of which Mr. Katzenmayer
is president, has notified Mr. Steger that
he has been proposed as one of the vice-
presidents of the great fair to be held in
aid of the Heine Monument in this city,
from the 16th to the 24th of November.
Mr. Steger has accepted the honor proffered
him in a very graceful letter. By the way,
Mr. Steger has already given evidence of
his interest in this good work by donating
a handsome Steger piano.
The Second /Eolian Recital.
URPRISE and pleasure were visible on
the faces of the fashionable assemblage
present last night at the second recital
given by the ^Eolian Co. in the main hall
of their building, 18 West Twenty-third
street.
Surprise at the wonderful .^Folian princi-
ple as illustrated in the simultaneous play-
ing of two pianos and pipe organ from one
manual or, properly speaking, consol, by
the aid of that wonder of the present age—
electricity.
^?*--~
Pleasure at the catholicity of the pro-
gram, which embraced numbers from com-
posers of different schools, which were ren-
dered in a style that would do credit to cele-
brated virtuosi. The soloists were Hans
Kronold, who played the 'cello with great
taste and finisli, and Miss Brackman, who
sang several contralto solos charmingly.
Both soloists were accompanied by the yEo-
lian grand. Mr. Toledo acted in the dual role
of accompanist and yEolian conductor.
The evening was a most enjoyable one
throughout, and a number of those present
lingered around the warerooms prior to de-
parture, examining the instruments and ex-
pressing words of praise and delight at
their possibilities.
S
Highly Satisfactory.
T the recital at Mr. Edmund Gram's
Hall, the "Steck" agent at Milwau-
kee, and at the Guthrie-Moyer Concert at
Appleton, Wis., Prof. J. Erich Schmaal,
the eminent pianist, used the "Steck"
Grand piano. What he thinks of it can be
surmised from the following letter:
A
ST. PAUL, MINN., NOV. 6, 1895.
MESSRS. GKO. STECK & Co., New York.
Gentlemen: After having used the "Steck"
Grand at the Guthrie-Moyer Concert at Appleton,
Wis., and at the Artists' Recital at Gram's Hafcl,
Milwaukee, it affords me great pleasure to say that
the piano proved highly satisfactory. The action
responds very readily, and the tone is full and
sympathetic.
Yours truly,
J. ERICH SCHMAAL, pianist.

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