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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Changing Pianists.
AN
S interesting as anything I've seen
in this town," said a recent visitor
to our city to a Music TRADE REVIEW man,
"was a change of pianists that I saw in a
variety theatre. There was a man on the
stage singing a song, and the pianist was
playing the accompaniment. I happened
to see the pianist glancing to the left once,
and I looked in the direction myself and
saw coming down the side aisle a man that
I judged must be the relief pianist, and so
he was. I imagined that he would sit
down for a moment and wait; but, dear
me, I was very slow.
"He was approaching the piano at the
bass end of the keyboard. When he had
almost reached the corner of the piano the
man who was playing began gently sliding
off the seat to the right, still playing. By
this time the relief was abreast of the bass
keys, and these the first player, who was
still sliding steadily to the right, now re-
linquished to him, and then the newcomer,
still standing, but also moving steadily to
the right, struck in in perfect time and
tune.
"There was a brief time, a second or two,
when both men were playing—the retiring
pianist the treble and the oncoming player
the bass—and for a fraction of a second
they were both standing. But now the
new player is fairly opposite the center of
the keyboard; he settles into the seat, and
now it is his hand that strikes the treble,
and now the whole piano resounds to his
resolute touch.
^ "In fact, there never was a minute when
the piano had anything to say about it;
there never was a minute when the men
were not completely masters of the situa-
tion. There never was an instant from the
time the relief approached until he was
firmly settled in his seat when both men
were not continuously in motion; but the
change was made without a jar or a slur in
the music, and without the omission of a
note."
fcfc
Robert C. Kammerer.
ROP in any time of day to the ware-
rooms of Geo. Steck & Co.., and you
will always be sure to find Robert Kam-
merer, or "Bob," as he is called by his in-
timates, at his post. "Bob" Kammerer
has always been of a retiring disposition,
therefore he is not as well known to the
outside trade as other members of the Steck
corporation. He has, however, in New
York, a host of friends in the trade and out.
A man of genial and affable nature, he not
only makes friends but holds them. He
has been connected with the Steck firm
since 1887 in an official capacity, and as a
salesman he has also developed some re-
markable qualities. Quiet and unobtru-
sive, he has always been able to impress
his sincerity upon those with whom he
qomes in contact, therefore he has suc-
ceeded admirably in effecting many sales
of the Steck piano. In the Liederkranz he
is deservedly popular, and the nights of
t;he "Bachelor Circle" with "Bob" Kam-
merer in the chair have been nights long
t;o be remembered by those present. He
was for many years an active member of
t^he National Guard of this State, and is
now one of the veterans of the Twelfth
Regiment, having devoted sixteen years of
fjaijhful service to that organization, and
in. retiring declined a commission. He is
also a member of the New York Athletic
Club,, is a capital fencer and an all-round
clubbable fellow. His work on the Dinner
Committee of the recent piano manufactui-
ers' banquet is well known. Would that
there were more "Bob" Kammerers in the
music trade.
D
A. H. HUYLRR, manager of the Estey
Organ Co. branch at Atlanta, Ga., was in
town last week.
INTERESTING INCIDENTAL PERFORMANCE
AT A NEW YORK VARIETY SHOW.
A
CASUALTIES
A BUILDING is to be erected at Blake's
Mills, Mass., to be used for the manufacture
of Apollo harps for the Flagg Manufactur-
ing Co., of Boston, of which Mr. G. A. Ful-
lerton is manager. Building to be 54x63
feet, three stories high.
THE Burdett Piano Co. has been organ-
ized at Erie, Pa. -Mr. John R. Brown will
be head of the firm.
THE Ann Arbor Organ Co., Ann Arbor,
Mich., has decided to erect a new factory,
five stories high, of brick.
THE Western Cottage Piano and Organ
factory, Ottawa, 111., destroyed by fire.
Estimated loss $150,000.
FRANK TAFT, the organist, has become
associated in a business way with the firm
of J. H. & C. S. Odell & Co., the organ
builders of this city.
THE Cunningham Piano Co., of Phila-
delphia, have secured a large four-story
building, 1105 Chestnut street, where they
will remove from their present quarters
about August 1 st.
"•''-."
THERE is still another story regarding
the organization of the Burdett Piano Co.,
Erie, Pa. This appears to be about the
tenth time such stories have gained pub-
licity through the Erie papers. We await
developments.
J. H. HUFF will open up a music store at
Griffin, Ga.', in the near future. He will
have a concert hail in connection with it,
and expects to be in shape about Sep-
tember 1st.
GEO. NEMBACH, of Geo. Steck & Co., will
probably arrive in New York to-day.
Russell Moves.
T
HE Russell Piano Co. report a gratify-
ing increase of orders from new cus-
CLEAN-CUT endorsement, direct tomers, which speaks well for the growing
and forceful, is that which Thomas popularity of their pianos. W. H. Evans,
A. Edison, the great electrician, has given for some time past the representative of
to Blasius & Sons. There is none of the the Russell Piano Co., in Iowa and Mis-
useless verbiage about it which we see in souri, has purchased an interest in and
so many endorsements, but it is right to been elected secretary of that company.
the point.
Mr. Edison has used the Mr. Evans will in future, cover the above
Blasius pianos for two years in his labora- territory, and it is safe to say that the in-
tory, and likes them. What is more, he terests of the company will not surfer in his
says so, too, in the following expressive hands.
words:
THE Tourjee Music Co. has been reorgan-
MESSRS. BLASIUS & SONS, Philadelphia.
ized
and is now known as Batchelor, Arm-
Gentlemen: I have been using your
strong
& Co., the firm being composed of
piano for the last two years for experi-
W.
H.
Batchelor, Paul B. Armstrong and
ments on the phonograph at the laboratory.
Thomas
D. Mackay. Mr. Batchelor is the
Of all the instruments tried, my experi-
composer
of the music of "Little Robinson
menters prefer the Blasius.
Crusoe,"
"Ali
Baba," "Sinbad" and works
Yours,
of
that
character.—Musical
Times.
(Signed)
THOMAS A. EDISON.
Edison to Blasius.
A