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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Declared Off.
of his appointment, the current issue
of Illustrated Africa says: "The accept-
ance of the treasurership of Africa Fund by
THE RUSSELL PIANO CO. WIN THE FIGHT.
Freeborn Garrettson Smith, Esq., is an
epoch
in the cause of industrial missions in
HE strike at the Russell Piano Co. 's
Africa.
His long and successful experience
factory, Chicago, has been "declared
as
a
manufacturer
and financier, a business
off" without any concession on the part of
ability
that
has
been
recognized by leading
the company. The principle whether a
men
of
the
nation,
and
a loving devotion
manufacturer has the right to conduct his
to
the
King
of
kings
give
him special fit-
own business or have it conducted for him
ness
to
become
the
financial
general of a
by a number of irresponsible men has been
missionary
movement
that
is
bearing
fruit
the basis of eight weeks hard fighting, re-
in
the
present
while
laying
broad
founda-
sulting in serious embarrassment to the
company, and delay in filling orders; tions for the coming ages."
it is satisfactory to record that the Russell
Piano Co. now rule, notwithstanding the flore Light on Librarian Spofford.
intimidation and assaults of strikers. Their
stand in this matter is to be entirely com- MUSIC SUPPOSED TO BE COPYRIGHTED, NOT
COPYRIGHTED.
mended. The laborer has his rights, but
he should not forget that there are others
S predicted in the articles which ap-
—who foot the bills. Now that everything
peared in recent issues of this paper
is settled, the Russell Piano Co. are work-
anent
the
Spofford inquiry at the Copy-
ing night and day to catch up with the
right
Office,
Washington, many publishers
orders on hand and prepare stock for fall
trade, which is destined to be a prosperous have realized that the supposed copyrights
which they hold are practically valueless
one with them.
owing to neglect at Washington. A case
in point has just come to the surface in St.
Sohmer <& Co. Busy.
Louis, Mo., where Mrs. Jessie Beattie
Thomas, wife of ex-Congressman Thomas,
VISITED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS.
ot Metropolitan, 111., filed suit in the
United States Court for $15,000 damages
OHMER & CO. are not to be found against a music publishing firm in that
among the few manufacturers who city. Mrs. Thomas claims this amount is
are pessimistic about the present and fu- due her by the failure of the firm to copy-
ture conditions of trade. In fact, it would right two songs of her production. The
be surprising if they were, judging from firm alleges that they forwarded the money
the "good times" coming their way. The to Librarian Spofford at Washington, with
last few weeks of August and the opening which to secure the copyright, and that
week of the present month have shown a they have his receipt for the same. One
steady improvement in their business, and of the songs, "The Golden Rod," was Mrs.
prospects of an immense trade are obvious. Thomas' masterpiece. The other song was
There has been quite an influx of visitors "Memorare," dedicated in 1890 to Cardi-
to Sohmer & Co.'s warerooms during the nal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore.
past eight or ten days, which in itself in-
The music publishing firm recently read
dicates the activity m their business. of Spofford's alleged defalcation, and im-
Among those who called were: C. A. Grin- mediately set about investigating. They
nell, Detroit, Mich.; H. L Eddy, Provi- claim to have discovered that many popu-
dence, R. I.; Frank W. Thomas, Albany, lar pieces supposed to have been copy-
N. Y.; J. H. Dannelly, of the Mark Ament righted, not music alone, but literature,
Co., Peoria, 111.; W. L. Conkling, New- were now public property through the ac-
burgh, N. Y.; Hugo Worch, Washington, tion of Librarian Spofford.
D. C.; Ed. Hohmann, Johnstown, Pa.;
This is a nice how-do-you-do! Who's
G. J. Kurzenknabe, with the Rintelman
next ?
Piano Co., Chicago, 111.; F. W. Kluppel-
berg, Hackettstown, N. J. ; and Mr. Me-
Something About the "Briggs "
Nice, of McNice & Co., Winona, Minn.
T
A
S
F. Q. Smith Appointed Treasu=
rer of the Africa Fund.
F
REEBORN G. SMITH, manufacturer
of the Bradbury piano, is such a busy
man in the realms of the music trade, being
directly connected with half a dozen or
more enterprises, that it is surprising he
can find time to interest himself in other
affairs. He manages to do so, however,
and very successfully. Foi some time Mr.
Smith has been an active supporter of
African evangelization, to which Bishop
Taylor is giving so much attention, and in
this connection has been appointed treas-
urer of the Africa Mission Fund. Speak-
INSTRUMENTS
OF IMPROVED
CASE
DESIGN,
ACTION AND TONE.
T
HE keynote of the success of the Briggs
Piano Co., Boston, is "progressive-
ness."
They believe in being at the head
of the great army of progress instead of in
the rank and file. This has been their
policy right along, and it accounts for the
rapid extension of their business, whereby
they have secured some of the most promi-
nent dealers and keenest judges of musical
instruments as their representatives. And
they have accomplished this by being alive
to the demands of the trade for instruments
of improved case design, action and tone.
Particularly is their activity displayed in
the handsome new styles of grands and up-
rights which they have now ready for fall
trade. During a recent visit we had the
pleasure of examining these pianos, and
we are confident that they will add still
further to the well-established reputation of
the Briggs Piano Co.
Many new improvements have been em-
bodied in the construction of these instru-
ments, and particular attention has been
paid to the minutest details, all resulting
in a finished product that is bound to ap-
peal with signal success to the musical pub-
lic.
The Briggs piano has always been
noted as a good seller, and some of the
latest styles which they are turning out
will appeal still more forcibly to the trade.
The Briggs Piano Co. have every reason
to feel confident of a splendid fall trade,
judging from the number of orders which
they are now in receipt of. Their long
line of influential dealers are commencing
to "stock up," hence things are booming
in the factory.
FRED. W. PRIMER returned last Saturday
from his trip to Europe, which was made
in the interest of Geo. P. Bent, of Chicago.
He made a short stay in this city, about
time to say that he had made some splendid
connections for the "Crown" instruments
in Europe, which will materialize later on.
He left for home the early part of the week.
CARL
NEUENDORFFER,
with
Wessell,
Nickel & Gross, is a crack shot, and as the
goat hunting season in Harlem has just
opened, he has some interesting reminis-
cences to relate in this particular.
NAHUM
STETSON,
accompanied
by his
wife and family, is spending a short vaca-
tion at the Thousand Islands. He is ex
pected back on next Tuesday.
PETER DUFFY, president of the Schubert
Piano Co., has returned from his European
trip with health fully restored.
THOS. H. CHAMBERS, probably the oldest
member of the piano trade, died recently
at the age of 87. He was sole survivor of
the firm of Dubois, Bacon & Stoddart. His
declining years were cheered by the
thoughtfulness of William Steinway, who
provided him with a home and catered to
all his wants.
He was interred in Trinity
Cemetery.
PEEK
&
SON, manufacturers
of
the
"Opera" pianos, report business as un-
usually good in both retail and wholesale
departments.
MR. POOLE is now sole owner of the busi-
ness of Pooie & Stuart, Boston, having
purchased his partner's interest. Business
will be conducted as formerly at 5 Appleton
street.
ADAM NICKEL, accompanied
by his wife
and children, took passage on the "Fuerst
Bismarck" from Southampton yesterday.
DEALERS should be on the qui vive
fo
the parlor grand which Newby & Evans,
970 East 136th street, have in process of
manufacture. Trade with Newby & Evans
is picking up rapidly, and their wares are
bound to be in popular demand this fall.