Music Trade Review

Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
This certainly looks like "good times," they are talking about making a suitable
and the prosperity of the Keller Bros. & present to the new cruiser "Brooklyn."
Blight Co. is a distinct assurance of the ex- Would it not be a good idea to follow suit
cellence of their pianos. Dealers every- and select a Brooklyn-made piano—a
"Bradbury" or "Wissner," for instance?
where speak of them most favorably.
* *

The best way to become an author is to
What ingenious Yankee will be the first
be born with brain subjecc to flashes of in-
to invent a bicycle piano? Great scheme. spiration that will supply you with first-
It may take the attention of the papers off class plots. But if you want to be an in-
the supposed injury done the piano busi- ventor you should work from the opposite
ness by the bicycle craze, which, in my standpoint. Find a crying need and seek
opinion, is largely over-estimated.
to think out a means by which it may be
met. Here is the fashion in which one
Our esteemed contemporary, Freund's man did this: Walking through a green-
Musical Weekly, published in its issue of house one day, he noticed that the gardener
Sept. 4th an accurate account of the real was obliged to go to a good deal of trouble
estate transaction in Boston affecting to raise each ventilating window separately.
Messrs. Steinert, Scanlan and Cumston,
"Why could not some arrangement be
which was taken from the Boston Globe of devised," this observant individual said to
Aug. 29th. The same information in sub- himself, "by which all these windows
stance appeared in THE MUSIC TRADE RE- could be opened by one movement?"
VIEW of Aug. 24th. So you see it was en-
He thought over the problem and con-
tirely unnecessary to wait until the 29th to trived a model, and the result was the ap-
paratus now in ase in all conservatories.
secure reliable information.
* *
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"

• • •
'
has been recently a number of
Steinway dealers in town who have left
large orders for immediate shipments of
pianos. Wm. Rohlfing, head of the great
Milwaukee concern, selected a large line of
instruments for his Western establishment.
While in Steinway Hall I met Mr. J. B.
Woodford, manager of N. Stetson & Co.,
who is on his return to Philadelphia, after
a lengthy tarry at the seashore.
* «
In some way or other a paragraph orept
into all the bicycle papers that Karl Fink
was about to establish a bicycle factory at
Dolgeville. It went the entire rounds of
the trade press, and letters have been pour-
ing in to Dolgeville by the carload, appli-
cations from superintendents, advertising
men, bicyclists, machinists and so forth.
It is not definitely settled yet whether Mr.
Fink will accept the situation which has
been forced upon him and enter the bicycle
trade; at least if he does, he can get no
better location than Dolgeville, and think
what a tremendous demand there will be
in the music trade for the Karl Fink
bicycles. Certainly all Boston will fall into
line, and if Karl would only introduce a
blue felt wheel, why the whole trade
would respond from Maine to California.
August Gemunder.
THERE
* *
*
The Press is becoming shockingly irrev-
erent. It has the following to say about
that well-known gentleman who was a
party to the bungling mismanagement in-
cident to the distribution of awards and
medals at the World's Fair:
"If John Boyd Thacher, rainbow artist,
runs for Mayor on the Democratic ticket in
Albany this year, the election returns will
be more shocking to his nerves than was
the St. Gaudens medal."
*
The citizens of Minneapolis are to be
commended for their sensible gift of a
handsome Anderson piano to the new
cruiser "Minneapolis." Over in Brooklyn
T the good old age of 81 years, August
Gemunder passed away at his.late
residence, 306 East Sixty-seventh street, on
Saturday, Sept. 7th. Mr. Gemunder was
born in Germany, and after having ac-
quired a knowledge of violin manufacture
from his father, came to this country and
founded the house which to-day bears his
name. He was known as a man of sterling
qualities, and his loss is felt by all who
came in contact with him, but more es-
pecially by his own countrymen.
A
Harrison flillard.
LEGION of friends the world over
will regret the death of Harrison Mil-
lard, the composer and writer, which oc-
curre at the home of his son-in-law, Dr.
Page, this city, last Tuesday. Mr. Millard
was born in Boston in 1829, and studied
music in Italy, making his dt-but in Flor-
ence in 1852, when his wonderful tenor
voice became the talk of Europe. He re-
turned to Boston in 1858, and a year later
composed "Viva L'America," which caused
President Lincoln to exclaim, "A man
who can write a song like that will make
his mark in the world."
He served
through the war, enlisting in the Seventy-
first Regiment, and became aide-de-camp
on the staffs of Gens. Rosecrans, Palmer
and Rousseau. After the war President
Lincoln appointed him to a position in the
Custom House in this city, which he held
until 1885. Mr. Millard was the composer
of numerous masses and vespers for Roman
Catholic churches, and his son^s "Wait-
ing," "When the Flowing Tide Comes In,"
"Under the Daisies," are but a few of a
volume of songs known throughout the
country. The interment took place in Bos-
ton last Thursdav.
A
CHAS. STEINWAY, of Steinway & Sons,
who was rusticating at the White Moun-
tains with his family, has returned to town.
WM. KNABE and ~Chas. Keidel, Jr., of
Baltimore, were in town this week to view
the boat races.
CHICKERING & SONS have just completed
a $250 piano stool for John G. A. Leisch-
man, of Pittsburg, who bought the $3,000
grand a short time ago. The piano stool is
especially designed, and taken in its en-
tirety, is a work of art.
A VERY clever business card has been is-
sued by Geo. Steck & Co. It contains a re-
duced reproduction of a newspaper called
"Public Choice," on which appear such
captions as the following: "Public choice
favors the Steck piano above all others."
"The ideal piano of to-day is the Steck
piano." "Superior in tone." "Superior
in workmanship." "Beautiful in finish."
"Touch unsurpassed." "The independent
iron frame makes the Steck piano the only
piano that improves with use." This
unique card will help to make better known
the estimation in which the Steck pianos
are held by the public.
A NEW music store has been opened up
in Gillman, 111., by Dick & Bernard.
IT is rumored that the department store
controlled by John Wanamaker, Philadel-
phia, will carry a line of pianos to be sold
for cash or on the installment plan.
WE understand there is no truth in the
rumor that Mr. Marvin, of the Whitney-
Marvin Music Co., Detroit, Mich., will
retire from that firm.
NAHUM STETSON and family have re-
turned from a vacation spent at the Thou-
sand Islands. Mr. Stetson has been much
benefited by his trip, and looks remarkably
well.
WESER BROS, received a large order for
their instruments from Messrs. F. and E.
Cluett, of Cluett & Sons, Troy, N. Y., who
were in town last Tuesday.
WE clip the following from our esteemed
Parisian contemporary, Le Monde Musical;
M. E. Knabe, le grand Facteur de pianos
de Baltimore et Mme. E. Knabe sont de
passage a Paris.
ALDIS J. GERY has left for Pittsburg to
join Gilmore's Band, and will journey with
them to Atlanta to delight thousands with
his solos on the autoharp.
AMONG those who are noting a steady im-
provement in business since the first of the
month is Charles Reinwarth, piano string
coverer, 388 Second avenue. This gentle-
man has established an excellent reputa-
tion for the reliability and excellence of his
wares, and he well deserves the apprecia-
tion which is bestowed on him by the trade
B. A. WHITNEY, the well-known dealer
of Malone, N. Y., is erecting a handsome
new music store on West Main street which
he will soon occupy.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From A Traveler's
Note Book.
REASSURING
TRADE
CONDITIONS—NO
BUT A STEADY RISING TRADE TIDE
IS
WHAT
THE
DEALERS
BOOM
THAT
SAY
A
GLANCE AT THE TRADE IN AL-
BANY—M'KINNEY
MANAGE-
M E N T OF THE MARSHALL
& WENDELL BUSINESS
LIKES
THE
PI-
ANO TRADE
AT BOARDMAN & GRAY*S
TURING
FACILITIES
LARGER MANUFAC-
URGENT
RETAIL
TRADE WITH THE CLUETTS—DOLGE-
VILLE BECOMING A VAST MUSICAL
MANUFACTURING
CENTER.
NEW INDUSTRIES—TAN-
NER'S NEW FOUNDRY.
THEY WILL MAKE
PIANO PLATES.
BUSY AT BRAMBACH'S—-THE TONE RESONATOR
A SUCCESS—M'CAMMON
ITS
STAR
M'CAMMON
BOUND
• ".
'
MOVES AHEAD.
SHINES
2O.OOOTH
JOHN D. PEASE
WEST
GAND
WI-
SELLING
"STARRS."
.' •"
"Yes, we are having a good steady trade, is up-to-date in every particular. Tc-day
are really busy, and if this sort of thing you could virtually cut Dolgeville off from
continues we shall be compelled to look for the rest of the country, and its manufactur-
larger quarters. Our manufacturing facili- ers thrown upon their resources could go
ties are somewhat limited, and we begin steadily on manufacturing pianos with the
to feel the urgent necessity of greater exception of actions, which I predict will
come there in the very near future. In
manufacturing space."
This condition of affairs is not surprising order to fairly comprehend the extent of the
with Boardman & Gray, because they have manufacturing facilities and powers of
always manufactured instruments of ster- Dolgeville, one must spend a long time
ling worth. The Boardman & Gray pianos, there. A flying visit is hardly sufficient.
wherever they are known, have achieved It only serves to interest and give food for
distinction. A certain conservatism on the future thought. It is simply wonderful.
part of the promoters has not forced them One can never depart from that town with-
to the front as have been some of the other out a feeling of most profound admiration
well-known makes, yet the firm have the for the master mind who founded a future
satisfaction of knowing that they have al- great industrial city amid the wilds of the
ways adhered to a high standard of value Adirondacks.
in piano making.
Take the lumber department in the
* *
establishment of Alfred Dolge & Son,
Strange to say, the retail trade in August and half a million feet is consumed each
in the Capital City has kept up wonderful- month in that department alone. Their
ly; in fact, surprisingly well with some of felt department is now extremely busy; in
the principal dealers. Edmund Cluett, of fact, their tremendous facilities are just at
Cluett & Sons, said to me that while he present inadequate to cope with the pres-
had no reason to complain of the business sure upon them.
in Albany, yet their establishment in Troy
V
had been a surprise to him in the matter of
Alois Brambach has orders piling upon
pianos disposed of there during the past him like snowflakes in a November storm—
month. I asked him as to the kind of just drifting him under, almost. The trade
pianos which were sought for most, and have commenced to realize that the Bram-
stated that I supposed as Troy was a manu- bach piano is made—is made in Dolge-
facturing city that there were possibly con- ville, and is one of the best pianos in
tinuous demands for medium grade pianos America for the money, at that; hence they
during the summer. He replied by saying want them. They cry for them, and the
that such was the case. They had sold a result is that the factory, which a year ago
large number of medium grade pianos. looked big, is now just filled with piano
"And," he said, "as you have stated Troy makers and piano materials in the different
is a great manufacturing city; see the collar stages of construction.
The Brambach
establishments controlled by my brother "tone resonator" seems to have attracted
there. Every morning there enter, through favorable comment everywhere. • Win.
the factory doors, employees numbering Rohlfing, head of the great house of Wm.
seventeen hundred and fifty." If one Rohl6ng & Sons, Milwaukee, is a warm ad-
stops to think what the purchasing power herent of the Brambach piano, and next
of such an establishment is, why they can week he will visit Dolgeville to inspect the
readily understand that a few of such tre- establishment where the pianos bearing
mendous manufacturing plants means a that name are manufactured.
lively and continuous circulation of money
in local channels.
HERE are everywhere most re-
assuring conditions regarding
fill trade. While I do not
anticipate that there will be
a return of the old boom
days of '91—and it is much
better that there should not
be—yet I think that prospects are for the
steady up-building of business in the music
trade. There is going to be a good healthy
volume of trade transacted all along the
line, and I think that there will be no re-
markable drop during the early months of
•96.
Chatting with various dealers and manu-
facturers recently, I find that they nearly
all believe the same. A consensus of their
opinions is "we expect a good trade, a
steady trade and a growing trade. We are
*
not looking for a boom, and hope it will
What a tremendous manufacturing cen-
not strike us; we prefer to avoid it."
ter Dolgeville is becoming! Ever)- time I
In New England I find nearly the same visit that charming, bustling little city
conditions exist, and a trip through the founded by Alfred Dolge, I am impressed
Empire State this week convinces me that with its wonderful growth and develop-
on these matters they all think alike.
ment and the possibilities of its future
* *
greatness. Steadily one by one different
*
industries relating to the musico-industrial
In Albany I had a chat with Mr. McKin- affairs of our country have sprung up
ney, who, by the way, has made a tremen- within the corporate limits of that Adiron-
dous success of the Marshall & Wendell busi- dack town.
To-day in Dolgeville are
ness. He is a young, energetic man with manufactured all parts of a piano save the
plenty of vital force, and says he is in the actions. I say all parts, perhaps I am a
piano business to stay—a refutation, by the trifle premature in this statement, as at
way, of a rumor which has reached me present piano plates are not cast there, yet
that he intended to retire from the piano no one can walk through the vast foundry
business. Mr. McKinney says he likes and manufacturing plant recently erected
piano manufacturing, and intends to make by R. W. Tanner & Son without at once
a life work of it. Judging from some of realizing that their line will include, aside
the new styles in case designs, he is work- from all branches of piano hardware, in the
ing assiduously to augment the value of the near future piano plates. Their main plant
instruments which are manufactured under is three hundred feet long, and planned as
his supervision.
it has been, under the personal supervision
At Boardman & Gray's, Mr. Gray said: of Messrs, Tanner, it is safe to say that it

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.
Down in the thriving little city of One-
onta, is located a piano manufacturing es-'
tablishment which is steadily making its
wares known and winning for them recog-
nition in all parts of the country. I refer
to the McCammon Piano Co. This firm as
it is to-day, controlled and officered by
young, energetic and ambitious men, is ex-
ercising a steadily augmenting influence in
the music trade. The McCammon pianos
to-day are being sold from Maine to Cali-
fornia, and from Dakota to Texas. The
real value which is attached to a name
which has the coating of age tipon it is
seen in the new management of the Mc-
Cammon business. When the present
management assumed control of affairs,
they were far from a roseate hue. The
very name itself had been dragged
into disrepute. All this has been wiped
away, and old dimness has been replaced
by the new star of McCammon, which
blazes brightly, shedding its brilliancy over
all the land.
Good judgment is omnipresent there. A

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