Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Trade in Philadelphia.
tation given the yEolian instruments by
this house. Mr. H. J. Hillebrand, chief of
the ^Eolian department, has yEolian affairs
THE REVIEW
TAKES SOME SNA!' SHOTS AT THE MEN ON PIANO ROW
OBSERVATIONS OE A
so systematized that the high reputation of
FEW DAYS' TARRY IN THE PENNSYLVANIA METROPOLIS'.
the parent house in this respect is almost
challenged. One absolutely unique point
PHILADELPHIA, NOV. I.I,
1896.
Colonel with marked emphasis. "We had is that not only is the piano (a Merrill)
USINESS in music trade circles has an excellent retail business in October, and and grand organ (Farrand & Votey) at-
undoubtedly looked up in the Quaker since the election our wholesale business tached, but the yEolian grand is also con-
City since the election of Wm. McKinley has looked up wonderfully." Col. Gray nected and the three instruments are man-
Your representative
to the Presidency, and indications point to believes in maintaining the dignity of the ipulated together.
a good, steady demand for pianos right up piano trade, and by his courtly bearing and was favored with a selection, "Awakening
to Xmas, and a decided revival of business excellence of product carries out his ideas of Spring" by Bach; the effect being
most charming. "The /Eolian is the back-
in a most admirable manner.
with the incoming year.
One important episode of the last few
F. A. North & Co. are doing an excellent bone of our business," stated Mr. Street,
days must certainly be chronicled, inas- retail business. Mr.Miller^han whom there and appearances appeared to justify has
much as an heir to the house of Blasius first are few more indefatigable workers in the statement. C. J. Heppe & Son have recently
saw the light on Saturday last, the 7th inst, trade, stated that they had not pushed sold an yEolian grand to Mrs. John R. Fell a
Mr. Oscar Blasius being the happy father. wholesale trade with the "Lester," during daughter of the late A. J. Drexel, in whose
May the latest aspirant to musical honors the depression, but when money got easier family eleven yEolian grands have been
placed.
Autoharp business with C. J.
long live to perpetuate the renowned name they proposed to go right ahead.
Heppe
&
Son
is good, and they are making
of Blasins.
Mr. Cunningham, of the Cunningham
arrangements
for an elaborate display of
With regard to the business outlook with Piano Co., has been out of town for a few
same
in
their
window. There is also at
the big Philadelphia house a decided im- days and is expected back at any moment.
this
establishment
a special parlor for the
provement, since the election, can be re- Mr. Joseph McFillin stated that they had
graphophone
where
recitals are given
corded, notwithstanding that the fall trade no reason at all to complain of trade, and
daily.
was good. Blasius & Sons are big local Mr. F. Alexander Bowers, who, by the way,
advertisers, their instruments have an en- appears to be most admirably posted in all
Gco. R. Fleming & Co. carry a magni-
viable reputation, and they employ some matters pertaining to piano construction, ficent stock of "Sohmers."
Mr. Flem-
of the smartest and highest-priced sales- spoke very enthusiastically of the artistic ing reports good business for the week in
men in the business. Blasius & Sons have merits of the Cunningham, and with no his cheaper grades of pianos, but says he
made a hit with their new upright scale; little truth. It is certainly a well-built in- expects to sell a number of Sohmcr pianos
they are achieving success with the Blasius strument, possessing good tonal quali- from now on to Christmas.
self-playing piano, and have a splendid ties which will undoubtedly appeal to the
James Bellak's Sons have an admirable
winner in their new concert grand, tipon trade as the instrument becomes better display of Chickering, Behr Bros., Emer-
which the trade and public will probably known.
son, Graraer, Gabler, Sterling and Hunt-
before long have opportunities for pass-
Prominent among the retailers stands ington pianos. A new elevator has been
ing judgment.
the house of C. J. Heppe & Son, who ap- erected leading from the ground floor. Mr.
Mr. Oscar Blasius stated to your repre- pear to be doing a splendid business just Leopold Bellak spoke hopefully of trade
sentative this morning that they were very now. Mr. C. J. Hep^e spoke hopefully of indications.
busy at the factory, in fact, had more orders the business outlook and appeared to be
An inviting display of Ivers & Pond
than they could fill; with regard to the out- firmly convinced that good times were instruments adorn the imposing warerooras
look for retail trade, Mr. Blasius did not ahead. Mr. Florence J. Heppe deserves a of J. G. Ramsdell. "The Angelus," of
speak over enthusiastically, although he ad- word of praise for his enthusiastic labors Wilcox & White fame, has also prominent
mitted that money was easier since the for the sound money party in the late representation.
election,and that confidence was undoubted- campaign. Mr. William J. Street was both
At Henry F. Miller's, Mr. James C.
ly being restored. In making reference to courteous and communicative; he stated Miller stated that sales in September and
the business affairs of Blasius & Sons, the that he had sold fourteen instruments dur- October were excellent, in fact better than
achievements of Mr. Levin Blasius in the ing the previous eight days, a number for last year for the same time; since the elec-
tonal realm should not be overlooked. That cash and all on good payments. Mr. tion, however, strange to say, business had
gentleman works with a tireless energy Street has, during the last few weeks, been been quiet. Mr. Miller summed up this
and he is to-day one of the ablest of work- making a little calculation, and he testifies state of affairs by succinctly observing that
ers and experimenters in the American to having sold close on 3,000 pianos during "he presumed people bought before the
his fifteen years of business life. Mr. election because they thought piano men
piano trade.
If Col. "Harry" W. Gray could have Street has the utmost confidence in the in- would be hard up and bargains would be
heard one-half of the "good things" said struments he sells; speaking of the re- obtainable, but thinking that money would
be more plentiful now that the election had
to THE REVIEW of him by some of his nowned "Steck" he stated, "Crcme de la
prominent co-workers, he might have felt creme of all the world." C. J. Heppe & gone the right way, they refrained from
tempted to drop for the moment that dig- Son have an elaborate display of these ex- purchasing fearing prices would be kept
nified reserve of which he is so noble an cellent instruments. Of the "Merrill," of up," truly a diagnosis worthy of Solomon
exponent. "Col. Gray," said a well-known Boston, Mr. Street stated, "They give uni- himself. Mr. Miller stated that he thought
and prominent piano man to your repre- versal satisfaction and are good enough for the demand for grands was much on the in-
sentative to-day, "is a thorough gentleman, a leader." A number of Merrill pianos have crease; they had, during the last few
and when you know him, has a heart as big recently been sold to prominent musical and months, sold quite a number of their
as a basket"—this by the way. Business society people of Philadelphia and neigh- second size grand, "the Ideal." Mr. Miller
with the Schomacker Piano Co. is decidedly borhood. C. J. Heppe & Son have just referred to the practice made b}'- numbers
good; their'handsome wareroom on Chest- brought out a "catchy" Popular Pease of retailers in advertising pianos from
nut street contains some superb specimens Piano advertisement of enameled tin con- Si00 up, and stated that he thought the
of the piano makers' art, and presents a struction, which is to be nailed up at all system was very injurious to the interest
most imposing appearance.
"Since the railroad stations in and around Philadel- of the trade at large, inasmuch as it created
election,business has materially improved," phia. The Krell also is well represented, a false impression among the public,
who was, by this means, educated in the
said Col. Gray this morning. "Ours is the together with the Francis Bacon piano.
only piano factory in Philadelphia, you
Did space permit it would be an easy belief that pianos could be bought very
know, the others are all outside," stated the matter to dilate on the splendid represen- cheaply.
B