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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
lots seems to have been extremely prevalent
John N. Merrill.
during the month. Take the firms of Stein-
way, Chickering, Sohmer & Co., Vose and
OHN N. MERRILL, aged thirty-six,
died on February 21st, at Winchester,
Starr —they have been sending pianos out
in carload lots. We must not forget either Mass.
The above lines are brief, but they con-
that the greatest shipment ever made of
vey the mournful intelligence of the death
Autoharps was made during February. of one of the most popular of the younger
This consisted of one solid car of Autoharps members of the music trade in this country.
to the great firm of Lyon & Healy.
For over two weeks previous to his
death,
Mr. Merrill had been complaining
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of feeling ill, and on Saturday, the 15th, he
The Smith & Nixon affairs in Cincin-
came down for the last time to his place of
nati seem to have reached a satisfac- business. His sickness rapidly developed
tory stage to all parties interested. Two into pneumonia, and on Sunday morning
distinct companies have been incorporated, at about eleven o'clock he passed away.
John N. Merrill will have many sincere
which will be operated separately, although
mourners
in the music trade, for all who
practically one. As far as we can learn,
were brought into contact with his charm-
few radical changes are contemplated at
ing personality invariably carried away a
the present time, but no doubt when the feeling of admiration and respect for his
new concerns are in working order a new genuine true sterling personality. A man
policy and new methods will be inaugurated of a warm-hearted, impulsive nature, he
looking to the further development and made a host of friends who will regret his
early demise.
extension of the business.
He was more than a good fellow—
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"Johnny" Merrill was a splendid type of
We hardly consider it necessary at this man, and always true to his friends.
His whole life had been passed in the
time to enter into a discussion of Peek
& Son's affairs. Suffice it to say that piano business, having commenced in the
Robert Sherwood, a man of affairs, has town of his birth, Lawrence, Mass., as a
clerk with a local firm. After that he
control of the business. Geo. W. Peek and
became connected with the Smith-Ameri-
his father still hold their connection with can Organ Co., and for a long time repre-
the affairs of the firm. It is said that a sented this concern in the South. Later,
stock company will be the outcome of the for a number of years, he represented them
in England, having offices in London.
present situation.
It was three years ago that he founded
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the Merrill Piano Co., to the up-building
The Steinert-Armstrong matter seems of which he has devoted himself assid-
to occupy considerable space in the uously. He leaves a widow and two young
columns of some of our contemporaries. It children. His widow is the daughter of
occurs to us as passing strange that a Mr. S. D. Smith, of the Smith-American
Organ Co.
paper should § depart from what appears
The funeral services took place at his
to us to be the ordinary functions of a
late res dence, on Elmwood street, Win-
newspaper to delve in what should be con- chester, Mass., early Wednesday morning,
sidered personal affairs. Across the thres- the interment being at Lawrence, Mass.,
hold of a man's private life THE MUSIC where by special request he was buried by
the side of his father.
TRADK REVIF.W draws the dead line.
Owing to the fact that the da) r of inter-
ment was not generally known, the trade
Strauch Bros. vs. Harry E. Freund attendance was not as large as it would
have been otherwise.
N the libel case brought by Strauch Bros.,
The Music Trade Association of Boston
the well-known action makers, against met subsequently and passed resolutions
Mr. Harry E. Freund, of the Musical Age, of sympathy.
which came up for hearing on Thursday
Among the members of the trade present
last in the Jefferson Market Police Court, at the funeral services, were Otto Wessell,
the Court declined to hold the case, and Karl Fink, Jack Haynes and Mrs. Haynes,
directed the plaintiff's lawyer to apply to Handel Pond, J. H. Richards, F. W.
the District Attorney's office. Mr. Francis Baumer.
G. Moore and his associate, Mr. A. Ru«er,
Mr. Merrill was a member of the Calu-
appeared for the plaintiffs; the defendant met Club and of the De Molay Command-
being represented by Mr. DeLancey Nicol ery. The latter organization, having charge
and Mr. Robert N. Waite. Judge Henry of the funeral services, carried out the
A. Braun stated that it was a very close impressive Masonic ceremonies which are
case, and considerable discussion took place usually customary at the burial of one of
before the decision was given.
the order.
Messrs. Strauch Bros, state that they are
not yet through with the matter; affairs
HON. LEV 1 K. FULLER, Brattleboro, Vt.,
now rest in the hands of their attorneys, has been granted a patent for an organ
who are empowered to take such action as bench, an illustration of which we will give
they may deem advisable. ,
in a future issue.
J
I
The Prescott Piano Co. Purchase
the Haley Plant.
HAVE
COMMENCED TO MANUFACTURE—NEW
STYLES WILL BE READY FOR THE
TRADE ABOUT MAY 1ST.
T
HE Prescott Piano Co., Concord, N. H.,
whose factory and stock was totally
destroyed by fire two weeks ago, have
taken active steps during the past week
toward placing their business on such a
basis as to enable them to cater immediately
to the trade. On Thursday we were
apprised by telegram of their purchase of
the Haley manufacturing plant, a large
brick building, equipped with ample power,
and well adapted for their purpose.
They have taken formal possession, and
by Monday will have everything so
arranged that they can proceed at once to
manufacture sufficient pianos to meet the
demands which have accumulated since
the fire.
It is the intention of the Prescott Piano
Co. to turn out some very handsome
new styles of pianos, and their reputation,
which has been steadily growing, will not
only be maintained, but augmented. We
are pleased to see this historic house once
more in a condition to maintain its position
and prestige among the leading industries
of New England.
Steger in Town.
B
RONZED, hearty and overflowing with
Stegerian vitality and good humor, J.
V. Steger, of Chicago, dropped in upon us
last Wednesday. He has been some weeks
out of Chicago, having visited the tier of
cities South as far as Nashville and St.
Louis, covering on his route to New York
such important points as Indianapolis,
Evansville, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Wheel-
ing and Washington.
Mr. Steger has the best report to make of
the business conditions in the points which
he visited, and takes a thoroughly optimis-
tic view of the affairs over the country. He
says:
"Yes, there is business; but one has to
hustle hard for it now, and it is my opinion
that the man who works for trade will get
it. I have been singularly successful with
the Singer. Don't think that this allitera-
tion is intended, for it is not; but the
Singer sells on sight. Our Style 'HB' is a
surprising seller.
It surprises me and its
merit surprises the trade. Yes, I am
here, but only for a short time; on a flyer,
you know; expect to get out of New York
to-morrow night, take in the Northern tier
of cities on my return, and will have cov-
ered nearly five thousand miles by the
time I reach Chicago. Royally treated by
the trade everywhere; glad to meet them;
a nice class of people ; doing well at
Chicago. I expect to make at least two
thousand Singer pianos this year; must
move on, good day."
And the one and only J. V. Steger placed
his silk tile on his dark locks and swung
out the door. Mr. Steger is always a wel-
come visitor, but we wish he could stay
longer.