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VOL XXI.
No. 29.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, February 8,1896.
The Autoharp Reunion.
RUDOLF DOLGE'S ADDRESS.
T
HE annual meeting of the C. F. Zim-
merman Co. was held in Dolgeville
last Saturday night. Like all the Dolge-
ville reunions, it was a most enjoyable one.
Impromptu remarks were made by Alfred
Dolge and others.
The speech of the evening, however, was
made by Rudolf Dolge, who in the course of
his remarks, referred to tne gratifying prog-
ress of the Autoharp business for the year
1895, and the number of new styles which
have become so popular with the masses as
well as with the critical musicians.
He commented on the growth of Auto-
harp clubs in colleges, and suggested the
formation of an Autoharp club in the fac-
tory. Speaking of the concert Autoharp,
the greatest achievement of the Autoharp
factory during the past year, he said:
" Many important improvements have been made
which are uow covered by no less than eleven
patents, while there are seven further important
patents pending before U. S. Patent Commissioner,
a record which we may well be proud of. The
concert Autoharp has been put to the severe test
of public approval, and its appearance was a tri-
umph from tne first moment. Eminent musicians
like Xaver Scharwenka, V. J. Klavac, John Ches-
hire, Richard Arnold, Victor Herbert and many
others have joined with the members of the World's
Fair jury in recognizing 'the unlimited musical
possibilities of the Autoharp,' by composing special
music for it, not only as so'.os but for chamber,
orchestral and band music as well. Victor Herbert,
the renowned leader of the famous Gilmore Band,
predicts that it will be but a short time before
every band in the country will see a concert Auto-
harp in its regular work.
" Thanks to the progress made under the careful
guidance of his able friend and teacher, the cele-
brated harpist Mr. John Cheshire, one of your own
number, Mr. Aldis J. Gery, though only a little
over a year ago still standing at the bench, was
welcomed with his Autoharp, as soloist, into the
ranks of that famous org mization. Gilmore's Band.
On a brilliant tour through the whole counry, the
sweet strains of the Autoharp captured not only
every audience, but the instrument also reaped
the praise and admiration of even the most fas-
tidious critics and musicians.
"These are achievements which we all may well
be proud of, but now let us not think that we can
afford to stand still and be satisfied with what has
b *en accomplished. We must not only maintain
the high standard of quality for which the Zimmer-
man Company is justly celebrated. We must con-
tinue to raise this high standard all the lime, so
that the Autoharp shall merit the same enviable
reputation which all Dolgeville products have ever
enjoyed all over the world."
Speaking of the sales department of the
business, Mr. Dolge said: "All that we of
the sales department can do is—to make the
Autoharp 'Easy to Buy,' by putting it into
the hands of every jobber, every dealer and
every retail buyer, not only in this country,
but all over the world.'' He then proceeded
to demonstrate how the workman could
help to make the Autoharp "easy to play,"
by the exercise of eternal vigilance and
attention to details insuring a greater per-
fection, thereby making it "easy to sell."
Referring to the prospects of 1896, Mr.
Dolge said:
I am happy to say that the outlook has never
been more encouraging than at present. The
effective and original advertising policy pur-
sued by the Sales Department during the past
year has created a demand that is truly astonish-
ing. The autoharp is getting to be known in
every village and hamlet of the country. Auto-
harp clubs are springing up everywhere, and
there seems to be a genuine autoharp boom in
the air. I am very much afraid if it were not for
the uncertainties of the general business situa-
tion, caused by the blundering policy ot the pres-
ent administration at Washington, we would have
to build an addition to the factory to keep up with
the demand.
The Sales Department is in excellent trim for
an aggressive campaign. A thorough plan for
systematic and effective advertising has been
worked out, which will make it "easy" for our
friends, the jobbers and dealers, to "sell' the large
quantities of autoharps that they have ordertd
from our popular hustlers, Messrs. W. B. Wils-on
and E. M. Bonnell.
Already these latter two gentlemen have sent in
enough orders to keep you busy way along into
August and September. The demand for the au-
harp is so urgent that our good friends, Messrs.
Lyon & Healy, of Chicago, have ordered a whole
carload to be shipped at once, and so we find, for
the first time, our factory overworked in the begin-
ning ot the year.
That delicate little offspring of the Sales De-
partment, the autoharp studio, has now grown to
be a strong boy; almost feels so independent that
it can stand on its own feet, and now asks for
more room. It is going to have it, and I am
sure you will all be interested to learn than new
and magnificent quarters have been engaged at
No. 28 East Twen;y-third street, which will hence-
forth be the home of the retail salesroom and studio.
There every facility will be offered to the public
as well as the trade to become acquainted with the
possibilities of the autoharp.
On every hand we hear the most enthusiastic
reports from our friends, the jobbers and dealers.
They are all working hand and hand with us to
make '96 the biggest year in the history of the
autoharp. Surely these are encouraging signs,
a u d i t only rests with us whether we mcceed or
not. I ask vou all to co-operate heartily to attain
this end. Hard, persistent work, careful arc! dili-
gent application are needed on ^11 sides. You of
the factory must seek to produce better goods
ever before, making it "easy" for our salesmen to
sell our products. The studio must settle down to
thorough and systematic work in developing the
musical possibilities, easy though the autoharp
may be to play, those who wish to be considered
viituosos must work, and work untiringly to de-
velop that feature: The Sales Depatment must
carefully watch its opportunities, constantly try-
ing to open up new channels of distribution, work
systematically and conscientiously, avoiding use-
less and wasteful expenditures. Let each try to
do his share to the best of his ability, so that when
another year shall have gone by we can justly con-
gratulate ourselves un all that has been done.
$3.00 PER YEAR
SIN GLB COPIES, 10 CENTS.
The Funeral of Otto Sutro.
T
HE funeral services over the remains of
the late Otto Sutro were held at the
Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, Bal-
timore, last Wednesday. The relatives
present were the widow and daughters,
who arrived from Germany last Monday,
and his brothers. The church was crowded
with friends who admired and respected
Mr. Sutro. The active pall-bearers, select-
ed from among his present and former
employees, were Robert F. Gibson, Chas.
W. Glaser, Joseph Grottendick and Albert
H. Homburg, of Baltimore, and Charles B.
Bayly and Edward H. Droop, of Washing-
ton. The following were selected as
honorary pall-bearers:. F. P. Clark, Charles
F. Raddatz, Dr. A. J.Volcke, F. M. Colston,
Dr. George Reuling, William M. Pegram,
D. T. Buzby, Charles Martin, B. Courlaen-
der, Dr. J. J. Chisolm, John Curlett, R. W.
Chase, John McKim, Walter S. Wilkinson,
William Steinway, Edwin F. Abell, Dr. H.
P. C. Wilson, General Felix Agnus, Juhn
Allmand, D. L. Bartlett, John L. Stieff,
Asger Hamerik, Ferdinand C. Latrobe,
James Gibson and John V. L. Findley.
In compliance with Mr. Sutro's wishes,
the remains were cremated, and conse-
quently the services ended at the church.
There were no special musical services, and
the different musical societies of the city, in
order to attest their affection and respect
for Mr. Sutro, will hold a special memorial
service at some future time.
JOSEPH SHONINGER, of B. Shoninger Co.,
is East on his regular spring trip.
W. W. MONTELIUS, Denver, Col.; V. R.
Andrus, Kansas City; F. G. Howe, of the
Taylor Music House, Springfield, Mass.,
were in town this week.
LEOPOLD PECK is on a trip to Baltimore,
Philadelphia and Washington.
THE iEolian Co. have decided to increase
their popular concerts by giving one every
Saturday, at which a prominent artist will
appear.
LYON, POTTER & Co. held their annual
meeting in Chicago last Monday. C. H.
Steinway and Nahum Stetson, of this city,
THE Dyer house, of St. Paul and Min- were present. The old officers were re-
neapolis, have added bicycles and sewing elected. A gratifying increase of business
over that of last year was reported.
machines to their general stock of wares.