Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 21

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
EDWARD L\MAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including: postage) United States and
Canada. $300 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, sinjrlo column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearjy contracts .• special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, ehculd
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
(inter ed at the New York Post Office as Second da *s Matter.
"THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
subect of its [discourse is the venerable
David T. Harraden, who is now in his
eighty-fifth year, and who during the whole
of his working careeT of seventy-one years
has devoted his skill and industry to the dis-
tinguished house of Chickering & Sons.
Mr. Harraden enjoys the honor of having
worked on the first piano ever made by the
Chickering house, and an idea of his phy-
sical and mental alertness can be judged
from the fact that his ear is delicate enough
to tune a piano to-day as it was half a cen-
tury ago Naturally Mr. Harraden is re-
garded by his employers and his fellow-
craftsmen as a link between the fidelity of
the past and the enhancing skill of the
present, which, as the Herald so neatly
puts it, "have caused the name of Chicker-
ing to vibrate in a resonant chord of repu-
tation through all the octaves of progress,
from the old clavichord to the modern
grand."
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CASE DESIGNS.
ASE DESIGNING is one of the
"live" questions which has been
engaging the attention of progressive piano
makers for the past few years. The growth
of taste in house decoration, and the many
artistic effects possible in furniture nowa-
days, demonstrate that the piano—"that
ugly piece cf furniture," so termed by those
seeking for decorative effects—must keep
pace with the artistic demands of the
age.
A marked improvement in this work has
been noticeable recently, and it is worthy
of commendation. Manufacturers have
gone outside of factories and secured special
designs from architects and designers of
artistic furniture, in order to fill the de-
mands made on them. The Henry F.
Miller & Sons Piano Co., of Boston, have
been very energetic in this matter, and
have done much toward adding to the value
of the piano from an architectural stand-
point.
In another part of this paper we reproduce
illustrations of a number of designs of up-
right pianos furnished by leading architects
in response to a series of prizes offered by
that house through an architectural monthly
entited "The Brochure Series."
In this connection it must be remembered
that these architects were not confined to
cost, as is the object of many competitions.
In fact, there were no restrictions. They
had free reign to their fancy, the main
object being to procure an artistic number
of special designs. The results are seen
elsewhere, and they represent the best from
a competition where more than seventy-
five architects sent in designs. T"„. ^
C
S can be seen in our bulletin of im-
ports and exports which appear else-
where in this issue, the imports of musical
instruments continue to increase by leaps
and bounds, while the export trade makes
a miserable showing. The figures are not
encouraging to American manufacturers,
and they nfford food for study and perhaps
action.
A
I
F proof were desired of the progressive-
ness of the Weber concern in the line
of piano development, it can be easily ob-
tained by an examination of the Bijou Baby
Grand, which this firm have recently placed
in their warerooms. Dealers and musicians
who have examined it during the past week
are warm and enthusiastic in their praise
of the musical possibilities of the latest
achievements of the house of Weber.
P
ROBABLY the greatest example of
continuous service and lifelong
fidelity to one firm has been brought to
light by the Boston Herald this week. The
No wonder the Henry F. Miller & Sons
Piano Co. write us: "We do not feel that
even the best of them are up to our own
best styles, nor equal to the best styles of
some others among our manufacturers."
No, they are not; and the question now
arises,:'can we look to architects or special
designers for an improvement in the case
work of pianos?
Not pianos made to order, but rather t h e
styles whicli can be sold at current rates.
We think not.
The improvement in case architecture
must come from these men who have made
the piano musically what it is to-day.
Their minds are concentrated on this spe-
cial subject, and they have shown by the
marked improvement in this line of work
during the past few years, that they are
capable of satisfying---if they will—the de-
mand which is being accentuated every
day.
What is wanted is not special designs for
expensive pianos as much as special de-
signs that can be used as standard styles.
In this connection we thoroughly appreciate
the valuable service which the Miller house
is rendering by procuring the ideas of
leading architects and designers in this
matter. It is by such progressive steps
that manufacturers can understand how
far they have advanced in the improvement
of case structure; then they can, perhaps,
derive many ideas of benefit which
will aid them in making other improve-
ments.
There is money for the manufacturer
who will give us an innovation in piano
cases—cases that will rob the instrument of
its uncouthness, and be in keeping with the
artistic quality of its tone.
A piano case as constructed to-day neces-
sarily affords but a limited opportunity for
improvement, but it can be improved, on
entirely new lines, however. With the
average buyer, who is not a musician, the
appearance of an instrument has much to
do with its sale, hence beautiful and original
case architecture is one of the questions
which manufacturers cannot afford to over-
look. Relief cannot be had from architects.
That has been demonstrated more than
once.
It is a pleasure to note that American
manufacturers are to-day striving to atone
for a pardonable neglect in the past by pro-
ducing piano cases which are' 'things of
beauty" compared with those of years
ago.
With few exceptions there have
been advances all along the line. Not
only are the designs more artistic, bet-
ter proportioned and elaborate, but
the variety of fancy woods used
are a decided improvement and re
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
lief from the monotonous, sombre effects
which in the past universally obtained.
The thanks of the trade are due the
Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co. for their
earnest efforts in this matter of case struct-
ure. They have not only produced some
effective and aitistic improvements in the
piano cases, which are a feature of their in-
stitution, but they have compelled a general
interest and healthy revival that cannot
fail to be productive of the most bene-
:
ficial results.
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Pond & Co. on Fifth Avenue.
HE well-known music publishing house
of Wm. A. Pond & Co. will remove
from their present establishment, 25 Union
Square, to more spacious quarters at 124
Fifth avenue, on March 1st. The Pond
house are New York agents for the Merrill
pianos, which will undoubtedly be prom-
inently displayed in the handsome new
warerooms.
T
A Great Invention.
R. A. M. DECKER, manufacturer of
• the great Decker bicycle, has just
purchased from the Bates Piano Co., of
Worcester, Mass., a beautiful mahogany
case Norris & Hyde Transposing Keyboard
Piano, and pronounces it a great invention.
M
A Dutch Dinner.
COUPLE of days ago William Stein-
way opened his heart and gave a
regular Dutch dinner at the Liederkranz to
the two De Reszkes, Paderewski, Nordica
and Brema, says the Recorder.
They ate only of German food and drank
big steins of Wurzburger.
It all went off very merrily.
A
Paderewski to Wander.
ADEREWSKI, the great pianist, has
presented to Mr. Eugene A. Wander,
of Hartford, a gold watch which he brought
from Geneva expressly for the purpose.
Mr. Wander's initials, "E. A. W.," are en-
graved into a monogram on the back of the
case, and on the inside case is engraven
"From I. J. Paderewski."
P
The>Eolian Up the State.
RRANGEMENTS have been made
between Cluett & Sons and the
^Eolian Co., whereby the former concern
will push the ^Eolian in their Albany and
Troy stores. They intend to prepare spe-
cial yEolian rooms in their establishments,
and will give a series of recitals somewhat
on the plan as given by the ^Eolian Co. in
this city. The first order from Cluett &
Sons was for twenty ^Eolians, which in-
cluded a large number of their popular
Styles.
A
Clever Advertising.
THE LATEST FROM THE STECK HOUSE—A TOY
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PIANO.
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G
EO. STECK & CO. are sending out
one of the neatest and most effective
advertising novelties we have yet seen. It
is in the shape of a miniature toy piano
with music cabinet, stool and scarf. It is
in paper, however, but it will serve as a
means of engaging the attention of the
little ones, and through them will capture
The Zobo.
the hearts of the heads of the family. By
means of this novelty the name of Steck
HE Zobo is the talk of the country.
and the Steck piano becomes a household
This fascinating little musical instru-
word, for when the child has cut out and
ment
is selling like the proverbial "hot
set up the toy piano, it goes into the parlor
cakes."
It is proving one of the greatest
of the doll house, and remains a standing
holiday
novelties
on the market. Over
'ad" for the Steck, and a mighty good one
half
a
million
Zobos,
Zobo cornets and
at that.
cornetos are now in use, both for home
amusement, church and society entertain-
parades, bands and orchestras; in
With the Marshall & Wendell Co. ments,
fact, they have become such a popular fa-
vorite that Mr. Frost, the inventor, has all
LFRED SCHINDLER, who has been he can do to supply the demands of the
looking after the interests of Hard- trade. ' •
man, Peck & Co. in the West for several
The great success of the Zobo is attribut-
years, has decided to accept an important able to the fact that any one can play it;
engagement with the Marshall & Wendell no instruction being necessary.
You
Piano Co., of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Schind- simply sing into it and get any effect you
ler will enter on the duties of his new posi- desire. For instance, in the Zobo brass
tion January 1st.
band instruments, which embrace the
cornet, alto cornet, saxaphone, bass horn
and piccolo, the voice is transformed into a
STEPS are being taken looking to the or- reed or brass instrument, thus making it
ganization of a company for the manufac- possible to organize whole bands and or-
ture of organs at Winona, Minn. It is chestras. The Zobo is sold at a popular
stated that encouragement will be given price, and a full brass quartet can be pur-
the enterprise by local business men.
chased for $8.25.
IT is reported that Geo. B. Shearer,
One important fact should be borne in
music dealer, Oneonta, N. Y., is about to mind, namejy, that the Zobo is not a
close out his business with the intention of novelty, just made for the holidays. It is
removing to New York City, by the first of here to stay, and it is bound to grow in
the year, where he will engage in the man- popularity month after month. Dealers
will find as great a demand for this instru-
ufacture of Melcharps.
R. DORMAN & Co., pianos and organs, ment in the spring as at present, and during
the Presidential campaign of '96 we will be
Nashville, Tenn., burned out.
surprised if the Zobo is not used by every
N. M. CROSBY has returned from an ex- campaign club in the country. Hence
tended Western tour in F. G. Smith's in- dealers will readily recognize that it is a
terest.
staple instrument, not for the day, but for
O. C. KLOCK, road representative of the all time.
Braumuller Piano Co., has just returned
Dealers who have not yet ordered a trial
from an unusually successful road trip.
lot of Zobos should do so at once through
R. O. BURGESS, traveling representative their jobber or directly from Mr. Frost, the
for the Wegman Piano Co., Auburn, N Y., inventor and manufacturer, at his estab-
is making a trip through Philadelphia, lishment, 35 Frankfort street, this city. A
Baltimore and Washington. This is the very attractive window display, which
closing trip of a very successful year with seems to multiply the sales amazingly, is
furnished with every order. The Zobos
Mr. Burgess.
are sold at a price that leaves a satisfactory
E. P. AND H. L. MASON, of the Mason & margin of profit to the dealer. We would
Hamlin Co., Boston, have left for the West not be surprised to see Zobo bands, uni-
to attend the opening of the O. A. Field formed and equipped as shown in the illus-
Piano Co., at St. Louis.
tration herewith, in every country town
HOEKSTRA & POHL is the name of a new and city before long. For clubs and home
concern just opened at 174 Main street, amusement the Zobo cannot be duplicated.
Rochester, N. Y. The principal member It possesses a value peculiar to itself. A
of the firm is Miss Kathleen Hoekstra, who little "push" and the dealer has a "big
was former^ in business on her own ac- thing" when he handles the Zobo. It is
worth looking up at once*
couat in that city.
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