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THE MUSIC TRADE-REVIEW
From A Traveler's
Note Book.
A
MORNING
WITH
SOLD SIN11LK
VF.ARS
SYLVESTER
FIRMS
FOR
THE SEAVERNS BUSINESS
ARD ACTION
CO.
NOT RE-ENTER
THE
IN
TOWER—HAS
ACTIONS
SUCCESS
THE
MR.
THE
OF
EAST
VIN
CUMSTON
WILL
PIANO BUSINESS.
STEGER— K.RELL
CHANGES
T R O I T — THE
THIRTY
STAND-
IN
DE-
WHITNEY-MAR-*
DISSOLUTION —
NELL I'.kOS.
GRIN-
J. A. NORR1S
A WELL-KNOWN TRAV-
ELER
- THE CROWN
ORG ANS
LINDE-
MAN'S LATEST.
still firmer hold in the piano trade of the
East. They are certainly building well.
* *
Ik
There has been several statements made
in the music trade papers that James F.
Cumstnn would re-enter the piano business
as manufacturer. Mr. Cumston, when I
propounded the question directly to him,
said, with emphasis: ' ' I have not the slight-
est intention whatsoever of re-entering the
piano business, and to tell the truth, 1 have
no inclination." Mr. Cumston probably is
better aware of his plans for the future
than some of the prophetic music trade
editors, and 1 merely interject this to
show that the rumor has no foundation.
Mr. Cumston has a great property well in-
vested.
* *
*
I notice in my travels over the country
HE veteran action-maker, Syl-
a Western piano which is fast attaining a
vester Tower, led me into a
firm hold upon the trade in widely sepa-
sequestered nook in his pri-
rated parts of our common country. I refer
vate office, where with a wave
to the Steger, manufactured by that brainy
of his hand he indicated for
and aggressive member of the Western
me to occupy a large arm
trade, Mr. J. V. Steger. During a conver-
chair, saying at the time,
sation with a well-known traveler the other
while a Towerian smile flitted across his
day, we were chatting over different makes
features, "We haven't quite as luxurious
of pianos. Said he, " I have come into
quarters as some of the wealthier ones in
competition with the Steger within the last
the trade, you know." While he said this year frequently, and I can tell you that it
he added a sly wink to the smile. There is a hard piano to beat."
are very few men in the trade who can
* *
show a snugger bank account than Sylves-
*
ter Tower.
And still another piano of the West
Of late he has been making extensive which is reaching out and becoming better
changes to the factory by the addition of known every day, and that, the Krell of
new machinery, which enables him to turn Cincinnati. It is becoming now a common
out the work with more rapidity than for- sight to see the trade-mark of the tCrell in
merly. The placing of the new machinery every city, and, through the energetic work
in the factory has occasioned some delay, of Geo. C. Crane, the merits of the Krell
therefore the Tower factory is run far into piano are becoming better known through-
the night in order to fill some of the orders out the Middle and Eastern States, while
which have accumulated. Mr. Tower tells in the West Albert Krell seems to be look-
me that to take the season through he has ing after matters in a masterly way.
no reason to complain.
In fact, his
*
customers stay right with him. A notable
fact which he related during my conversa-
In Detroit there has been a considerable
tion with him, which I think cannot be number of changes in the piano trade dur-
duplicated by any other action firm in this ing the past year. But perhaps one of the
country, is that for over thirty years he has most notable recent changes is that of the
manufactured actions for some firms in Whitney-Marvin Co., the dissolution of
New York and Boston.
W.
MARVIN.
which has recently occurred. I understand
that Mr. Marvin will continue the piano
business, and will retain the Chickering
piano, which has a firm hold in Detroit. It
seems after all that the result of the Whit-
ney-Marvin combine of two years ago, re-
sults in one less music house in Detroit, as
it is understood that Mr. Whitney will re-
tire from the music business in the near
future. Me has previously expressed his
desire to devote more of his attention to
his large theatrical interests. There are
those who believe, however, that Mr. Whit-
ney will never quite forsake the music
trade, rumor to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
I recollect many years ago, when I first
visited Detroit, Grinnell Bros, were then
cutting a very meagre figure in the music
trade in that city, their business being al-
most wholly carried on in sewing machine?.
They have, however, year by year, devel-
oped a large piano trade, until to-day they
are prominent factors in the music trade in
the "Cit}^ of Straits." The Sohmer piano
has been a large factor in the up-building
of their business, and with this piano they
have been enabled to still further their bus-
iness extensions.
*
J. A. Norris, who is now known as one
of the "long distance" travelers, is a man
who has a large number of friends in every
section of the country. Mr. Norris is one
of those keen, progressive yet unobtrusive
traveling men who impress their personality
and sincerity upon all those with whom
they come in contact. His wide circle of
friends has enabled him to largely advance
the interest of the Mason & Hamlin piano
in different sections of the countrj-.
* *
*
Walter Seaverns, who has within the
last year been lending valuable assistance
to his father in the conduct of the Seaverns
action business, said to me that business
had continued fairly well with them during
the season, and they were compelled to
work over-time to keep pace with their
orders. The venerable action maker, Geo.
W. Seaverns, is much improved in health,
and continues at the helm with that same
proficiency which he has exhibited in the
conduct of his business for many years.
Cambridgeport is really the home of the
Eastern piano action makers, and the Stand-
ard Action Co., which is a combination of
four thrifty, aggressive men, is winning a
C.
C.
T. WHITNEY.
While Geo. P. Bent has been developing
his piano business at a tremendous rate, it
must not be forgotten that he has rot neg-
lected his organ trade, no, not in the slight-
est. I ran across a styleof "Crown" organ
the other day which for tone and beauty of
case design is, indeed, hard to surpass.