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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
Keller Bros. & Blight Co.
W. M. BLIGHT REPORTS GOOD BUSINESS AND
UTTERS SOME INTERESTING REMARKS UPON
THE LIVE TOPICS OF THE DAY—GIVING
THE YOUNGER GENERATION A CHANCE.
W
M. M. BLIGHT, of Keller Bros. &
Blight Co., Bridgeport, Conn., was
a welcome visitor to our sanctum this
week. As reported in these columns re-
cently, he has been a victim of "La
Grippe" for a number of weeks, and while
not as strong as he would wish, yet we were
gratified to notice that he looks well and
hearty. In the course of a conversation,
Mr. Blight said: !
"We have no reason to complain about
business; we have as many orders on hand
at the present time as we can safely handle
t.^t'l the early part of July. This is not
blowing ' but solid facts. Our trade
through ttic New England States is a
steady and reliable one. Collections are
not what they might be, however, and
money is rather scarce. "
"To what do you attribute the present
scarcity of money, Mr. Blight?" we asked.
"Well, there are several reasons which
would require a lengthy elaboration. The
general uncertainty and want of confidence
as well as the large amount of money paid
in for bonds and the fact that the working
classes are holding on to whatever money
they gather these days—having had a sur-
feit of hard times for the past two y e a r s -
is, in a measure, a key to the present situa-
tion.
"I am, however, more sanguine of the
outlook for improved times now than I was
five weeks ago. The largest cloud in the
horizon is the silver question in the coming
campaign. It will divide parties and cause
no end of uncertainty. But there is no use
of inviting trouble until it comes along.
"The present condition of the money
market compels business men to conduct
affairs with the greatest possible care, if
they hope to advance on safe and solid
lines. That is the policy of Keller Bros. &
Blight, and to it we intend to adhere.
"Shall I make a spring trip? No, I in-
tend in future to devote more attention to
home affairs, and give the younger genera-
tion a chance. Last week my son, W. F.
Blight, who has now passed his majority,
made his maiden trip, which was a very
successful one, indeed.
You know I have
been at it now quite a number of years,
and I think I am entitled to a little vacation
—at least, as far as road work is con-
cerned. "
Right in the Van of Progress.
T
HE Story & Clark pianos are booming
right ahead in popular favor. Their
sticcess has exceeded expectations.
At-
tractive'designs, and splendid tone quality,
tell every time. The Story & Clark Co.
will shortly have'a number of new designs
ready, which will demonstrate that their
pianos are right in the van of progress.
Piano Manufacturers' Association
MAY JOIN THE N. Y. BOARD OF TRADE
WILL
NOT HOLD THE ANNUAL DINNER THIS YEAR.
A. H. flcPhail Piano Co.
A REVIEW OF THEIR NEW CATALOGUE—HAND-
SOMELY PRINTED AND ILLUSTRATED—IN-
TERESTING POINTS FOR THE READER.
A
MEETING of the Piano Manufac-
turers' Association of New York and
Vicinity was held at the Union Square
Hotel on Tuesday afternoon last. About
twenty members were present. Mr. A. H.
Fischer, of J. & C. Fischer, occupied the
chair.
The treasurer, Mr. John Evans, reported
the sum of $1,018 in the treasury. It was
decided by the meeting to confer with the
New York Board of Trade and Transporta-
tion to investigate into the advantages to
be gained by members of the Piano Asso-
ciation joining that body.
It will be remembered that at the pre-
vious meeting of the association a commit-
tee was appointed to visit Boston for the
purpose of gauging the opinions of the
Boston manufacturers, and to confer on the
general aspect of business with a view to
the mutual interest of both associations.
The New York committee had carried out
their part of the contract, but failed to lo-
cate any similar organization in the modern
Athens; although it is proposed to start an
association, working on similar lines to the
New York body.
Owing to the uniavorable replies re-
ceived from the members of the trade in re-
sponse to the circular issued by Mr. Robert
C Kaunnerer secretary of the association,
as to the advisability of holding a dinner,,
it was decided to drop that event.
" ; \,
Embezzlement.
W. R. DOUGHTRY ARRESTED ON THIS CHARGE.
HIS PARTNER FLED, BUT WAS CAPTURED.
W
R. DOUGHTRY, of the firm of
Thomas Butler & Co., Opelika,
Ala., has been arrested on two warrants
charging him with embezzlement. The
arrest has created quite a sensation, as
Doughtry is one of the'most popular and
prominent young men of the city, and is
known elsewhere as the composer of the
popular song, "In Love Too Young. " His
father is one of the wealthiest citizens, and
is an ex-Mayor of Opelika. Young Dough-
try is 19 years old.
Butler, the other member of the firm, fled
a week ago after running the firm heavily
in debt, but was recaptured and is now in
jail there. The stock of the firm has been
divided out among the creditors. Dough-
try and Butler are both arrested under two
warrants for each, sworn out by the Jesse
French Piano and Organ Co., of Birming-
ham, who claim that Butler and Doughtry
have sold for $700 in cash two pianos be-
longing to them, and appropriated the
money. There are many debts against the
firm which cannot be settled, as the assets
are all exhausted. The whole business is
creating a great deal of comment. Dough-
try is out under bond.
#
T
HE catalogue which has jnst reached us
from the A. M. McPhail Piano Co., of
Boston, is in every respect one of the neat-
est and most attractive specimens of letter-
press which has come under notice for
some time. The entire conception is origi-
nal.
The title page is charming and singu-
larly effective. It is in colors and modeled
somewhat after the latter day Beardsley
style.
The letter-press and illustrations
throughout are neatly displayed, and an
excellent effect is assured by the aid of
colors and wide margins.
After the introductory, and sketch of the
house, a description of the different sizes
and styles of uprights, and the methods of
manufacture, reference is made to the third
pedal attachment, which is a feature of the
pianos of this house, followed by illustra-
tions and descriptions of the small parlor
baby grand, style A upright in three de-
signs, style C, style E and style G uprights,
all of which are very attractive designs,
and notable for their beauty and symmetry.
Twenty-three pages of this catalogue are
devoted to illustrations which depict the
manufacture of the McPhail pianos from
drawing the scale right up to the packing of
the piano for shipment. This gives the
reader one of the clearest ideas of piano
manufacturing which has yet been pub-
lished in catalogue form. Two very fine
cuts of A. M. McPhail, the founder of the
compan}', and B. F. Dunbar, the superin-
tendent, also grace its pages.
In the introductory the McPhail Piano
Co. state that their desire has been to offer
some definite statements in regard to the
claims which are made for these instru-
inents; also to present in as concise form
as possible certain facts in relation to the
standard of their present manufacture and
their consequent merits; and also to illus-
trate their appearance in the latest patterns
of cases.
This has been fulfilled in every respect.
We congratulate the A. M. McPhail
Piano Co. on the publication of such a con-
vincing and really beautiful catalogue.
Look Out for the New Prescott
Styles.
T
HE Prescott Piano "Co., of Concord,
N. H., now have their new factory in
good working order. It is well equipped
with new machinery, and a plant which
will enable them to turn out a fine class of
work with dispatch. Their new styles are
going to be "trade catchers," and dealers
should be on the lookout for them. They
will be fully worthy the old and distin-
guished name of "Prescott," which has
been a synonym for excellence in musical
instrument manufacturing for sixty years.