Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 10

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
to specially emphasize that Mr. Heuer has
been perhaps more loyal to American in-
struments than any other dealer in the en-
tire Republic of Mexico, having handled
them in greater variety and in greater
quantities.
It is true that the excessive duty charged
at the Mexican frontier on musical instru-
ments is detrimental to trade interests with
our sister republic, but it should be under-
stood in this that there is no discrimination
between goods of American manufacture
and those of European make. It is alike,
whether entered from America or Europe,
fifty cents per kilo.
Europe, however, has maintained a
steady advantage over America in her
commerical conquests in Latin America in
the fact that through her Consular agents
Mr. Heuer's methods are live, progress-
ive and energetic, and he is constantl) 7 in-
creasing his output in all parts of the coun-
try, controlling, as he does, a large outside
trade as well as a steady trade in the City
of Mexico.
Trade in Latin America is conducted in
different lines than in the United States,
and the method of delivering pianos is par-
ticularly novel and striking. Instead of
having the ordinary piano trucks for mov-
ing pianos, half a dozen swarthy Mexicans
hoist the piano, which is placed on a frame
on their shoulders, and start off on a dog
trot, carrying the piano. These men will
maintain a steady trot for miles without
once breaking. Their endurance in this
particular is something astonishing. Over
mountains they carry the pianos with the
greatest of ease, whether they are uprights,
square or grands. This mode of convey-
ance is the popular one in the Republic of
Mexico.
Enrique Heuer, as may be imagined from
his progressive methods, is a firm believer
in the efficacy of printers' ink. One can
hardly pick up a paper in the entire Re-
she has constantly worked to the advantage
of European commercial interests, while
America has done really nothing to foster
or encourage trade relations with the coun-
tries south of us.
The music trade is conducted in a differ-
ent manner in Mexico than in the United
States, but it seems that Mr. Heuer has
thrown into his business a certain amount
of dash and eclat which has steadily ad-
vanced his business on firm lines and has
given him a position which places him as
one of the prominent young business men
of Mexico. His agents traverse the Re-
public, and he controls a large trade out-
side of the capital city's limits.
There is no doubt a big future for the
sale of musical instruments in Mexico. A
piano to-day is quite as necessary in the
haciendas of the wealthy Mexicans as in
the homes of the cultivated Americans.
public without seeing the display advertise-
ment of E. Heuer & Co., acquainting the
Mexicans with the name of some of the
American pianos which he handles. In this
way Mr. Heuer has produced surprising
results; in fact all of the instruments which
he handles receive great notoriety in the
press of Mexico.
Mr. Heuer has many warm friends in
official circles, and is of that genial dis-
position which causes him to at once make
friends and hold them as well. Next month
he expects to visit the United States, where
he will probably conclude some business
arrangements.
We are enabled to present a very excel-
lent view of his establishment, which is lo-
cated on San Francisco street, the main
thoroughfare of the City of Mexico. The
photograph hardly does justice to the
building. It is finished in granite, polished
A Mexican Music Trade Hustler.
ENRIQUE
HEUER OF E.
HEUER & CO.
LOYAL TO AMERICAN
INSTRUMENTS
HANDLES THE
WELL-KNOWN MAKES METHODS OF TRADE IN LATIN AMERICA — HEUER
BELIEVES IN PRINTERS' INK AS A MEANS
TO OBTAIN BUSINESS.
I
T was in 1880 when Enrique Hetier paid
farewell to the German fatherland to
seek his fortune in foreign lands. He had
been educated for a commercial career.
After arriving in America, his tarry was
short in New York. He went to Balti-
more, from thence to Texas, where he was
engaged for a while in the importing busi-
ness.
Believing in the commercial future of our
sister Republic on the south, in 1890 he
embarked in business in the City of Mexico.
His knowledge of the importing business
gave him a thorough insight of the com-
mercial possibilities of the City of Mexico.
His experience with the products of the
United States caused him to believe that
American pianos and organs could be
handled to advantage in Mexico.
At the time of Mr. Heuer's entree in the
music trade, nine-tenths of the pianos sold
in the Mexican Republic were of European
manufacture. Mr. Heuer has been remark-
ably successful with American instruments.
Perhaps the most popular in this line may
be included the Sterling pianos, the agency
for which he has held a long time. His
annual sales of Sterling pianos are exceed-
ingly large. In organs he has had the
agency for the Estey for the entire Repub-
lic of Mexico. Some two years ago he took
the agency for the "Crown" pianos, manu-
factured by George P. Bent, of Chicago.
He has made satisfactory sales with these
instruments. The orchestral attachment
seems indeed popular in the Mexican Re-
public. It is possible to imitate with this
attachment a number of southern instru-
ments, and this has brought the "Crown"
into special demand.
It is something over a year ago that he
secured the agency for the Knabe pianos
These instruments had already occupied a
high position in Mexico—a position which
has been considerably augmented since Mr.
Heuer has secured the agency.
He has also handled for a number of years
the Wilcox & White Symphony. Lately he
has been successful with the new attachment
manufactured by this concern designated
the "Angelus."
Mr. Heuer writes us: "We are doing a
nice trade with the new Wilcox & White
attachment, which, I am glad to say, is su-
perior to all automatic inventions up to to-
day without exception."
His latest piano acquisition is the Mexi-
can agency for the Kranich & Bach pianos.
Mr. Heuer has only held this agency for
a short time, but he sends us a communi-
cation in which he mentions his success with
these instruments in eulogistic terms.
Thus we see how this energetic young-
man has built up a vast and steadily grow-
ing trade for instruments of American
manufacture in Mexico. In this we desire
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IO
marble and onyx as well. It cannot be
shown to advantage in a photographic
reproduction.
Mr. Heuer writes us that business condi-
tions have been good with them during the
present year.
Long live Enrique Heuer, of the land of
President Diaz.
tt
The Majestic" Piano—Style E.
Haines Pianos for Wesleyan
College.
LARGEST INDIVIDUAL SALE EVER MADE BY A
SOUTHERN HOUSE OF HIGH GRADE PIANOS.
A
NOVEL sight was witnessed in Macon
this afternoon, when eight drays left
the Southern railway freight depot bearing
eight upright pianos consigned to F. A.
Guttenberger & Co., the well-known Macon
music house.
The procession left the depot about two
o'clock. On the end of each box in large
letters is marked "For Wesleyan College."
•This is the shipment of pianos that was
made from Haines Bros, factory in New
York a few days ago, and represents the
largest individual sale of pianos ever made
by a Southern house at one time.
The pianos, which are strictly high grade
instruments of the celebrated Haines
make, were sold by F. A. Guttenberger &
Co. to Wesleyan College, to be used in the
musical department of that famous old in-
stitution. This itself is sufficient evidence
of the excellence of the pianos, for, of
course, none but the purest toned and alto-
gether most desirable instruments would
be used by an educational institution where
music is a chief branch. In addition to the
excellent workmanship which is always
characteristic of Haines' piano, the manu-
facturers have exercised particular care and
have been unusually lavish in the finish
given to these instruments, as they repre-
sent the banner piano sale of the year.
Professor Guttenberger has been in the
music trade all of his life, and no man in
the country has a better reputation as an
expert. He is not only a talented musician
and an expert in the trade, but is besides
a man of the highest integrity, and one
whose word can alwa3 7 S be relied upon. It
is because of his long established reputation
and the confidence reposed in him by the
people that he has within the past few
years, since leaving the old firm of J. W.
Burke & Co. to enter business for himself,
managed to build up a business that is now
equaled by few houses in the country.
Professor Guttenberger is justly proud of
the sale of eight pianos to old Wesleyan,
for such sales are seldom made, and, it
must be conceded,, are lasting tributes not
only to the merits of the instruments them-
selves, but to the integity and standing of
the firm selling them.
W
E take pleasure in presenting herewith an illustration of one of the popular
creations of the Spies Piano Mfg. Co., of this city—Style E " T h e Majestic."
This instrument is made up in Circassian and American walnut, figured mahogany and
oak. The design is handsome and quietly elegant, and could not fail to attract attention
in any warerooms.
The case of this piano is double veneered ; rolling fall and stationary concave name
board in rear of keys ; full swinging upper frame forming an extension music-desk ;
square panel openings with moulding set in ; solid hand-carved raised panels ; artistic
trusses and pilasters ; hardwood open back in cabinet finish ; full iron frame; three
strings in unison ; overstrung scale; grand repeating action ; nickel-plated brackets and
action rail ; superior felt hammers ; selected ivory keys and polished sharps; continuous
silver-plated hinges on top and fall board ; three nickeled pedals ; patent muffler or
practice stop.
" T h e Majestic " scales are scientifically drawn, and the tone in consequence is rich,
full and sympathetic. The touch is easy and elastic, being regulated with the greatest
care, and the finish satisfying. All pianos leaving the factory are carefully inspected
and tested and fully warranted for a term of years.
The "Opera" Piano.
I
F hard work and intelligent planning
amount to anything, the "Opera'.' pi-
anos manufactured by Peek & Son will be
heard from this fall. George Peek is go-
ing to pay particular attention to the whole-
sale trade, and to this end is making a
number of improvements in the "Opera"
styles. Their new style " A " with music
drawers and mandolin-zither attachment,
possesses two novel features which make
this piano an easy seller, and a money
maker for the dealer.
The number of dealers handling the
"Opera" are unanimous in praising its
musical and selling qualities, and when
the improved times come our way after
election, their popularity is certain to
be augmented throughout the entire
country.
Retail trade has been very fair with
Peek & Son, and during the last two weeks
Professor Guttenberger invites all of his particularly a decided improvement was
friends, and especially all the musical peo- manifest. George Peek is a pushing and
ple of Macon, to call at his store this week progressive man, and he proposes to do
and see Wesleyan's new pianos. They will some splendid work in behalf of the exten-
prove full of interest for all.—"Macon sion of business for the "Opera" piano
News," Macon, Ga.
during the closing months of 1896.
Piano Dealer Assigns.
FALSE
REPORTS ALLEGED
TO HAVE
EMBAR-
RASSED T. G. BURTON & CO.
T
HOMAS G. BURTON, who has been
conducting a piano, organ and musi-
cal supply house at No. 223 East Broad
street, Richmond Va., under the firm name
of Thomas G. Burton & Co., made an as-
signment last week to R. L. Haynes, trus-
tee.
Liabilities are placed at $7,000, while
the value of the assets is not given. The
deed states that by reason of the breach of
contract on the part of two wholesale houses
for the sale of such instruments, Mr. Bur-
ton was deprived of stock and credit. It
further says that this action on the part of
these concerns was based on false reports.
The assignment was made to avoid loss and
expense by suits. The property conveyed
consists of the stock of pianos, organs, etc.,
at No. 223 East Broad street, all notes,
book accounts, leases, choses in action due
the said Thomas G. Burton & Co., etc.
M. G. NICHOLS, formerly
of
Gould &
Nichols, Burlington, Vt., is contemplating
opening a music store in Portland, Me.

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