Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 23

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
N no branch of the piano trade has there
been greater activity displayed during
the past year than in the line of supplies,
embracing the manufactures of plates,
actions, felts, sounding-boards, ivory and
ebony keys, veneers, varnish, strings, legs,
trusses, ornamental panels, pedals, stools,
knobs, pipes and reeds, etc. This is due
chiefly to the fact that the tendency of the age
is toward specialism in the trades, just as in
the arts and sciences. Years ago manufact-
urers found it necessary to manufacture the
different parts of the instruments them-
selves, but the rapid growth and expansion
of the piano and organ trade led to a system-
atic division of labor and to the growth of
the different houses engaged in the manu-
facture of the supplies just enumerated.
Makers of pianos and organs effected a sav-
ing of time and money and unnecessary
effort in manufacturing all parts themselves,
when they were able to secure these special-
ties just as well, if not better made, from
those houses which are especially given
to their production. The labors of the
supply men—as they are colloquially
termed—toward the construction of a piano
or organ, is a very important one, and the
present high standard which the pianos
manufactured in this country maintain is
due to the unceasing efforts of those spe-
cialists in the different lines, to keep in
touch with this age of progress.
I
Among the men closely associated with
the development of the piano supply busi-
ness is Alfred Dolge. He was one of the
first to mark the tendency of the times, and
his labors as a manufacturer of felts, sound-
ing-boards and piano supplies in general,
are historic and too well known to need de-
tailed reference. The Dolge blue felt, par-
ticularly, is one of the greatest successes of
our day, and it is used not only by the
manufacturers in this country, but in Eng-
land and Germany. Business with Alfred
Dolge & Son during the past year has
shown a marked improvement over the
previous twelve months, but Mr. Dolge
holds with the great majority of thinkers
and business men, that a stable or perma-
nent prosperity will not prevail until the
head of the Government is a Republican.
* *
*
The marked attention given to the per-
fection of the plate by numerous inventors
has contributed materially to its develop-
ment, and they have been aided in this
connection by such specialists in foundry
work as the Davenport & Treacy Co. This
distinguished firm have won a merited re-
cognition throughout the trade for the
quality of their castings, and have been
rewarded for their earnest labors by a pat-
ronage which is well deserved. Their out-
put of piano plates is enormous, and the
facilities of the New York and Stamford
factories are now being increased.
bers among his customers some of the lead-
ing houses in the trade. His business dur-
ing the present season has been away above
the average, and while not complaining, he
is well prepared to take charge of a larger
number of orders during the new year.
* *
*
The dean of the piano action fraternity,
George Bothner, reports trade as very satis-
factory and well ahead of this time last
year. The Bothner wares seem to increase
in popularity all the time.
* *
*
Another Connecticut firm, esteemed by
C. F. Goepel & Co., 137 East Thirteenth
the trade for business probity and the reli- street, are making numerous additions to
ability of their goods, is Comstock, Cheney their line of piano makers' supplies. The
& Co., located in the appropriately named Allen patent casters are having a phenom-
town of Ivoryton. Their output of ivory enal sale, and a number of shipments have
keys, actions, hammers, etc., is simply enor- been made to Europe. Other successes of
mous. Upwards of eighty-two thousand this house are Wolff & Co. 's Eagle Brand
square feet of floor space is occupied in the Steel Wire and Klinke's Diamond Brand
manufacture of their specialties. Their Tuning Pins. The Goepel illustrated cata-
facilities are of the best, thus insuring a logue and price list will be found well
staple excellence in their wares. The ex- worthy of perusal by piano manufacturers.
tent of their plant, and the wonderful in-
* *
*
crease of their business for the past few
years, are perhaps the most potent evidence
Roth & Engelhardt, action makers, have
of the high reputation of the products of no reason to complain about business,
this house.
for their books will show a good balance on
* *
the right side of the ledger the first of the
It is safe to assert that the piano actions year. This progressive firm have done
manufactured by the leading firms in this wonders toward building up St. Johnsville,
city equal, if not surpass, anything made which is now furnished with light and tele-
in Europe. The wonderful development phone accommodation that would do credit
and perfection of the upright and grand to a city—all through the efforts of Roth &
actions, and the high place they occupy to- Engelhardt.
* *
day in the manufacturing world, is due to
*
the unceasing labors of our action makers,
The well deserved success of Robt. M.
who have greatly aided the American piano Webb m the supply trade has been made
maker in his efforts to produce a powerful possible by earnest and constant labor. He
as well as a more musical tone from the has aimed to satisfy the trade by carrying
piano. The Wessell, Nickel & Gross action a line of goods that be can safely recom-
has not only increased in prestige through- mend. He has secured a very satisfactory
out the United States during the past year, line of customers for the European special-
but leading makers in Europe have, after a ties which he handles, as well as the goods
trial, sent large orders for these wares.
of his own manufacture. In his factory at
Rockville Center he has facilities to meet
* *
*
all the demands made on him, and it is
One of the popular men in the piano satisfactory to note that since its establish-
supply trade is David H. Schmidt, the ment there have been few dull days. Mr.
piano hammer coverer, of 163d street and Webb is a "hustler," and with "Excelsior"
Melrose avenue. In his handsome new as his motto he is going to gather in a big
factory he has facilities for the production share of new trade during 1896 or know the
of the very best class of work, and he num- reason why.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
1O
Weber With Harvey.
N last Saturday arrangements were
concluded whereby the Weber piano
will, on Jan. 1st., assume the leading posi-
tion in the warerooms of that well-known
Boston firm, C. C. Harvey & Co. It has
been rumored for some time that this deal
was pending, and yet it was not by any
means assured just what piano this firm
would handle as their leader, as several
makes were considered. The Harvey firm
for many years have controlled the Boston
trade for Chickering pianos, this until the
Chickering firm assumed themselves the
control of their pianos for that city. The
Messrs. Harvey & Co. have splendid facili-
ties for the conduct of retail business, and
without doubt this move presages well
for the future of the Weber piano in
Boston.
[j|jj|j
O
CALVIN WHITNEY, president of the A. B.
Chase Co., is in town.
CREECY & DILL, Norfolk, Va., assigned
last week. It is said that their affairs may
make a very fair showing.
J. C. JONES, of the firm of Jones Bros.,
music trade dealers, Altoona, Pa., is con-
fined to his home through a serious accident
caused by a fall which occurred last Satur-
day.
THE North American Review, of this
city, devotes considerable space to a de-
scription of the W. W. Kimball Co.'s busi-
ness.
W. H. FROST, of Zobo fame, is on a two
weeks' business trip to Chicago.
BARR & CAZLEY, music trade dealers,
Butler, O., have dissolved partnership.
OSCAR CURTAZ has disposed of his inter-
est in the firm of B. Curtaz & Sons, San
Francisco, to his brothers, Henry J. Curtaz
and Benjamin Curtaz, who will continue
the business on those progressive lines
which have made this firm so well known
on the Pacific Slope.
pipe organ dealer, Chicago,
died in that city last week. He was about
sixty years old.
KRANICH & BACH have recently been in
receipt of a number of letters from leading
musicians speaking in very favorable terms
of the Kranich & Bach pianos.
THE Hallet & Davis Co. have purchased
the business of Clem Crawford, of South
IRA BASSETT,
Bend, Ind.
E. T. BLUM, surviving partner of L. &
E. T. Blum, music trade dealers, Salem, N.
C., died recently.
WE are glad to notice that the war scare
is dying out, and a firmer feeling prevails
in commercial circles. It's bad enough
to have the President "on our hands,"
without a war scare or a "real" war.
F. G. Smith and His Different
Enterprises.
T
HE Bradbury piano counts among its
patrons some of the most distinguished
men in public life in this country, but the
stronghold of the Bradbury piano is among
the masses of the American people. This
is apparent from the splendid business
transacted by F. G. Smith in his factories
in Brooklyn, and hi« fifteen branch houses
throughout the United States.
The Webster, Henning and Rogers Bros,
pianos, which Mr. Smith manufactures,
are running a good second in popularity to
the Bradbury. The constant application
and tireless energy of Mr. Smith and his
able lieutenants have helped to make this
quartet of instruments known in all sections
of the country—in fact, the demand has
been such that the factories have been run-
ning day and night in order to fill orders.
It is safe to assert that the splendid re-
cord made by. Mr. Smith during the past
year will be accentuated during the year
1896.
Pfafflin Goes With Chickering.
HEODORE PFAFFLIN, one of the
best known retail piano salesmen in
this country will, on Jan. 1st, be connected
with the retail warerooms of Chickering &
Sons, in New York. Mr. Pfafflin occupies
at present the post of chief salesman with
Smith & Nixon, of Cincinnati. When last
in New York he was with Wm. Knabe &
Co.
T
& Co. transacted a very satisfac-
tory holiday business, while their wholesale
trade continues to be exceedingly brisk.
H. A. HERSEY has joined Mr. Ward, a
well-known dealer, at 258 Columbus avenue,
Boston, and the business will be contimied
at that address under the firm name of
Ward & Hersey. They will handle the
Dyer & Hughes and Needham & Bailey
The Excelsior Band Instruments.
pianos.
SOHMER
THE Kroeger Piano Co., 524-32 East 134th
street, shipped a consignment of pianos to
Honolulu, H. I., last week.
THE A. H. Andrews Co., of Chicago,
whose assignment was recently chronicled
in these columns, have resumed business.
They manufacture a patent piano chair in
addition to their line of furniture.
W
ANTA CLAUS and the Autoharp have
been synonymous terms, as Alfred
Dolge & Son have been doing some clever
pictorial advertising, showing Santa Clans
using the Autoharp as a Christmas present.
On last Tuesday a little girl came down to
the Autoharp studio, 38 East Nineteenth
street, and said:
"Is Santa Claus here?"
The one to whom the question was ad-
dressed looked up in surprise, and the little
girl continued:
" I saw the announcement in last Sun-
day's Herald that Santa Claus was giving
away Autoharps and making his head-
quarters here, so I thought I'd come down
and get mine, and if Santa Claus is in,
please just tell him I'll take mine now and
save him the trouble of bringing it around.''
The little girl left with the Autoharp.
Santa was "in."
S
An Important Suit.
VERY important suit, of interest to
the trade, was decided last Saturday
in the Superior Court at Wilmington, Del.,
in the case of E. G. Bradford against the
Town Council of Newark. Mr. Bradford
was the purchaser of the Knauff organ
works, upon which, on account of not being
in operation, the assessor of the Town
Council of Newark made an assessment and
levied a tax of $157. Mr. Bradford refused
to pay the tax on the ground that, by legis-
lative enactment, the buildings were ex-
empt for a period of ten years after their
erection.
He, therefore, brought suit
against the Town Council for trespass in
making levy. Mr. Bradford was awarded
six cents damages and costs.
A
Kirk Johnson Accused of Con-
spiracy.
DISPATCH from Lancaster, Pa.,
under date of Dec. 24th, says warrants
were issued to-day for the arrest of Kirk
Johnson, the musical instrument dealer
(whose failure is recorded elsewhere in
this paper) and F. O. Wilson, his book-
keeper, on a charge of conspiracy preferred
by H. B. Thatcher, manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Co., this city, who says
he lost several thousand dollars by Johnson.
Charges of embezzlement and false pre-
tense were also brought against Johnson.
The latter is sick, and the warrant could
not be served.
A
E are in receipt of the newly revised
illustrated catalogue of the Ameri-
can Excelsior (formerly Missenharter) Band
Instruments, from the manufacturing house
of Harry Coleman, Philadelphia. The
catalogue is neatly gotten up, and contains
FREEBORN G. SMITH, JR., returned on
much of interest to dealers in band instru- Tuesday last from an extended and success-
ments and bandsmen in general.
ful Western trip.

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