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.
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

.

. .
.
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
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
10
trip through the factory will show at once
to a practised eye that there is perfect
order in every department. There is no
congestion anywhere, and the unfinished
stock is kept steadily in motion until it
reaches a point where it is passed upon
finally and ready for its place in the parlors
of the cultured of our land.
There is to-day a nicety of detail work
about the McCaminon piano which must
commend itself to those who are look-
ing for a well finished piano. The com-
pany are now at work on two new scales,
which will be used in their styles 14 and 24.
While passing through the factory I
noticed a piano bearing the number 20,000.
The twenty thousandth McCammon piano
will be completed in a short time. When
a firm have reached twenty thousand
pianos it means something—it means that
they have built a mighty good foundation
for future work, and the gentlemen com-
posing the McCammon Piano Co. seem to
thoroughly understand that, and just what
it is worth to them.
* *
*
Tn Albany I met John D. Pease, who, by
the way, is on a trip West as far as Chicago,
visiting many points en route. Mr. Pease
is meeting with considerable success as a
fact which is true of almost all of the trips
which he makes. The trade are all pleased
to see him.
At Little Falls I saw Albert Wigand,
who is putting in some good work for the
Starr piano in this State. Mr. Wigand will
cover the principal towns in New York and
Pennsylvania before his return to New
York.
The Shaw Piano Co.
SPLENDID FALL BUSINESS ASSURED.
HE Shaw Piano Co. are making a fine
display of pianos at the St. Louis Ex-
position this week through their local rep-
resentatives, the Thiebes-Stierlin Music
Co. H. J. Raymore, the energetic secre-
tary of the company, spent some days at
the Exposition the early part of the week,
and left on a short flyer through Jackson-
ville and Lincoln, 111., Cleveland, Ft.
Wayne, Burlington and Chicago, reaching
home about Sept. 20th. Business with the
Shaw Piano Co. was never better, and
there is a marked demand for their latest
style instruments in fancy woods. In fact,
at the present time they are way behind on
orders. It is unnecessary to speak about
the prospects of a good fall trade for this
house. It seems to have reached them
already.
T
C. F. Goepel & Co.
C
F. GOEPEL & CO., importers and
dealers in piano makers' supplies
and tools, 137 East Thirteenth street, re-
port business as rapidly picking up. They
are carrying a very complete line of wares
that should become known to manufactur-
ers who have not so far had dealings with
this house. It would be well to send for
one of their illustrated catalogues.
#
The Briggs Piano Co.
The Autoharp on Sumter.
THEIR
A NOVEL ADVERTISEMENT.
UTOHARP methods of advertising
have been freqiiently commented
upon but the latest move is perhaps
the most startling innovation ever made in
the history of novel methods of bringing
names before the public in an unique man-
ner.
It is not generally known that the
historic walls of Fort Sumter are adorned
with lettering which refers to the Auto-
harp. The unique manner in which the
Autoharp name was placed on the old Fort
at which Beauregard hurled the opening
shot of the Rebellion, is interesting.
Happening to be in that vicinity, and,
noting the beautiful advertisement of the
Autoharp, I made some inquiries re-
garding the matter of placing the words
there. It seems that the old Fort is prac-
tically abandoned by the War Department,
but as an object of historical interest it
will always be preserved; it is under the
sole charge of one man, a Sergeant in the
United States Army. The grizzled old
Sergeant's hours are long and lonely in his
silent watch over the historic ruins. He
is always pleased to receive curiosity
seekers, particularly when they bring a
little silver and a little of the "cup that
cheers." Of course, there are provisions
which prohibit the placing of signs or let-
tering upon the ruins, but one day this
summer an artist rowed alongside and
joined the old Sergeant. After a few mo-
ments' pleasant chat he produced cigars
and a bottle which bore a well-known label.
A few drinks were enjoyed, and the artist
said:
"Sergeant, I should be pleased to have
you show me about this Fort."
"Certainly, with pleasure."
A lapse of a little more time, and the
painter addressed the man a^ Lieutenant; a
short time further in which mure cigars
had been consumed, and the Sergeant
had reached the ranks of Captain; a
short time after, with astonishing rapid-
ity, he rose to the rank of Major. When he
was thus addressed his bosom swelled with
pride to such an extent that it threatened
to burst the brass buttons off his jacket.
Still the artist worked on. A little more
time and he was addressing the old Ser-
geant as Cohnel. This time he said:
"Colonel, I don't suppose you'll object if
I do a little artistic work on the walls?"
"No, sir; certainly not. Anything you
wish," and the old Sergeant strutted
pompously along the embankment, and the
artist immediately began work, and that is
the story as it is told in Charleston of how
the walls of Fort Sumter became decorated
with the legends of the Autoharp.
A
IT is estimated that the Western Cottage
Organ Co. 's new plant which is now being
erected at Ottawa, 111., will cost from $40,-
000 to $50,000, This includes factory and
machinery.
BABY GRAND ONE OF THE GREAT
SUCCESSES OF THE DAY.
N the front page of this issue will be
found an illustration of one of the
great successes of the day—the Briggs Baby
Grand. Dealers and musicians who have
examined this instrument speak of it in
the highest terms of approbation. Sym-
metrical and pleasing in design, carefully
finished throughout, and possessing a mag-
nificent quality of tone, which might be
expected trom such a perfect scale, it is
not surprising to learn that this handsome
instrument as well as other pianos turned
out by the Briggs Piano Co. are in active
demand this season. During a recent visit
to the factory we were pleased to notice
the elaborate preparations which this house
are making for fall trade, both in com-
pleteness and variety of stock. They have
some of the finest specimens of veneers in
their factory one would wish to see.
O
Mr. Gerhard Heintzmann.
HE souvenir of the First Canadian
Saengerfest, which was held in Toronto
from the 9th to the n t h of September,
contains a handsome photo-cut of Gerhard
Heintzmann, who was first president of
the Harmonia Singing Society, which was
afterward amalgamated with the Arion,
and became known as the "Toronto Lieder-
kranz." There is also a handsome illustra-
tion of the piano made by Gerhard Heintz-
mann for Prince Bismarck, and which is
now in his castle at Friedrichsruhe. This
handsome piano won an unsolicited and
very complimentary letter from the ex-
Chancellor.
T
Are You Buying Piano Stools?
EALERS require a stock of piano
stools, scarfs, music cabinets, etc., at
all times, but more particularly during the
fall season, and there are few places where
they can find such a complete variety to
select from as at W. F. Masters' establish-
ment, 95 Fifth avenue, this city. Mr.
Masters will be pleased to send catalogues
or any other information desired in regard
to his wares, but dealers visiting the city
should not fail to pay him a visit.
D
Better Times
Are moving right toward us and you
can secure a good slice of trade if you
handle the right Piano.
Henry F. Miller
Is the right Piano for you to handle.
It is well known and has always been
known as an instrument of the highest
grade. Let us tell you more about it,
Henry F. Miller & Sons' Piano Co,,
Boston, Mass.

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