Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
all its parts is so apparent on every hand
tha.t it atfords absolute testimony of the per-
sistent labors of our manufacturers both of
the medium as well as the high grade class,
to keep the American piano in the front—to
enable it to occupy in the future, as in the
LYMAN
past, a leading place, second to none in the
Editor and Proprietor.
world.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
It seems to us that never before was the
3 East 14th St.. New York
construction of pianos, both in the study
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and of improved scales and the designing of
Canada, $3.00 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per new styles, better understood, and there
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts » special dis-
seems to exist in this respect a healthy
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should rivalry that cannot fail to result in incalcu-
to* made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
lable benefit to the future of the American
Bntered at tht New York Post Office as Second- Class Mmtter.
piano.
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 19, 1896.
After all, the depression of the past two
years
has not been without its benefits. It
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
has given the men in charge of the manu-
facturing
and business departments time
••THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
to think, time to work out certain plans
and time to develop and enforce them. We
now have the result.
This steady growth of practical interest
in the perfection of their wares is perhaps
the most hopeful sign of the future of our
industry. As we remarked some short time
ago in these columns, there have been more
valuable patents recorded by the leading
members of the industry during the past
twelve months than for a long period be-
fore. It can only be compared with the
activity of the olden days when piano mak-
ing was in its infancy; then manufacturers
were laboring toward the technical perfec-
tion of the piano, and their work is evident-
ly being perpetuated on a broader scale.
The piano of to-day, the so-called
medium, or even the cheap grade, is a far
ADVANCE IN PIANO MAKING.
better instrument than the same grade of
VISIT to our factories and vvarerooms years ago, while the high grade of to-day
is only necessary to realize that abund- has reached an acme of excellence that
ant evidence of the continued develop- would be a revelation to the makers of a
ment of the American piano, both in half century ago.
the tonal and architectural realms, exists on
The growth and conduct of the piano
every hand. The old gruesome and unat- business in our time differs, as a matter of
tractive cases, stunted in size and uncouth course, from the past when piano making
in design, have been replaced by charming was largely a "mysterious" science. In
creations which are noticeable for their ex- this commercial and practical age the wider
treme taste, refinement, simplicity and vari- dispensation of knowledge and the greater
ety of woods. The veneers are of wondrous utilization of capital has brought about cer-
beauty, carefully matched and finished. tain results. It is claimed that the art as-
They are pleasing and grateful objects to pect of the business has been somewhat
the eye and enable the piano to command overlooked or interfered with, resulting in
the title of "work of art" in the truest sense a larger production of medium grade or
of the word.
commercial instruments. It must be re-
And, mark you, this development is not membered, however, that this is essential
confined to the matter of designs, for the in order to supply the demands of the
multiplicity, of new scales which have re- masses of the "plain people" whose musi-
cently been placed on the market and an- cal taste has been steadily accentuating.
nounced by numerous manufacturers, the
The manufacturers have catered to this
greater perfection of the action, and the musical advancement by placing a better
many efforts to perfect the instrument in instrument for the money on the market
A
than ever known before in the history of
this industry. This applies to all grades
and to all manufacturers, and while the
commercial aspect of the piano business
must predominate, as in other industries,
it is an exceeding pleasure to record that
the artistic standing of the business has not
suffered or has not been obliterated in the
least, for, as we remarked above, an exami-
nation of the pianos turned out to-day from
the factories throughout this country are in
themselves convincing examples of high
aims and accomplishments in the realms
of art.
#
#
The affairs of the Weber Piano Co. con-
tinue to occupy a prominent place in the
public press. Under the caption, "Preced-
ing Reorganization" last Sunday's papers
contained quarter-page announcements of
a "big sale of Weber pianos at auction,"
commencing Dec. 21st, in which it is stated
that Austin B. Fletcher, chairman of the
reorganization committee, authorized the
receiver to announce that the "new Weber-
Wheelock Co. will, on and after Jan. 1st,
'97, give the usual guarantees for five years
on all pianos disposed of at this sale, except
such as may be specifically exempt."
On Tuesday last, the receiver advertised
the sale on Dec. 29th at the Real Estate Ex-
change salesrooms, i n Broadway, of the
unexpired lease of the warerooms, 108
Fifth avenue, and the factory building,
Seventeenth street and Seventh avenue,
also all the uncollected accounts and bills
receivable of the company, stock and real
estate held by the receiver. On Dec. 30th,
the contents of the factory, consisting of
machinery, fixtures, unfinished pianos and
piano supplies, etc., will be disposed of on
the premises, Seventeenth street and
Seventh avenue.
With these sales effected, the reorgan ; zed
Weber-Wheelock Co. will be enabled to
start in with clean hands free from en-
tanglements of any nature whatsoever.
#
#
The success, power and authority of
THE REVIEW is demonstrated daily—and
what we say invariably carries belief with
it. One reason—we have kept within the
legitimate function of a newspaper, and
have eschewed sensational and personal
journalism. In one instance may be seen
the strength of THE REVIEW. We have
fought against the system of mendicant
journalism adopted by some. Our utter-
ances have had their effect and now the
members of the trade refuse, and rightfully,
to make further donations to the importu-
nate editors. The result is they are be-
ginning to squirm. The big collections
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
for the touring trips are not materializing.
The great big contracts for 1897 are not
forthcoming. Manufacturers object to fill-
ing the pockets of eleemosynary editors;
they have grown tired of the old-time
tricks. The steady, unceasing blows which
THE REVIEW has been aiming at the class
of trade journalists who beg for money for
tours and coax advertisers into payments in
advance to keep their unstable crafts afloat,
is having effect. Our slogan has been
No trade=paper bulldozing.
No advertising payments in
advance.
No monetary loans to support
newspaper mendicancy.
And we propose to keep right on in the
same lines. These fellows who are bar-
nacled with gall and loaded down with debts
are beginning to twist. Their paehyder-
mic hides are found to be vulnerable, and
the free lance of THE REVIEW finds the
opening. There seems to be no way at
hand to stop the rapid escape of gas from
these inflated wind bags. We may look
for frequent outbursts of abuse but they
can't recross the troclia. Abuse never has
or never will deter us from making a
fight for clean journalism, and to remove
music trade journalism from beyond the
pale of mendicancy and intrigue. The
fight is on. They are at ihe last ditch,
and it occurs to us, the last fight.
A Peculiar Transaction.
UGUST V. KIRKEBY won his suit
against Anderson & Co., the Brook-
lyn piano dealers, Thursday in the Supreme
Court, that city, before Justice Smith.
During February, 1893, Kirkeby purchased
a piano from the firm for $275 cash. Three
years later, becoming embarrassed, he bor-
rowed $75 on the piano from the company,
and signed a paper which on its face ap-
peared to be a bill of sale to them foi $75.
Kirkeby was to retain possession of the in-
strument and pay a rental of $4 a month.
After paying $100, the rent for twenty-five
months, Mr. Kirkeby thought he had paid
sufficient, and wanted the account settled.
He insisted that the $75 borrowed was a
loan to him, and that he had paid to them
more than the legal rate of interest.
Anderson & Co. claimed that the trans-
action between them was an absolute sale,
and caused the sheriff to remove the piano
from Kirkeby's flat. Thos. E. Pearsall and
Isaac M. M. Kapper took up the case on
Kirkeby's behalf, and gave a bond to have
the piano taken from the sheriff and re-
turned to its owner.
The jury returned a verdict that Kirkeby
had never sold the piano to Anderson &
Co. The $75 had simply been borrowed
from the firm. The payment of $4 a
month, amounting to $100 during twenty-
five months, was more than the repayment
of the loan.
A
Impromptu Vaudeville at Gabler's
HETHER Joe Bareuther is going into
the show business or not remains to
be proven; in any case, he was very busy
superintending a little vaudeville act at E.
Gabler & Bros.' warerooms on Thursday
Chickering & Sons.
evening last.
HEODORE PFAFFLIN, of the local
Two aspirants to "muscular develop-
house of Chickering & Sons, reports a ment" fame—Messrs. Rolando and Titus—
continuation of good business and intimated who shortly propose to make their vaude-
that not having an)' calls from their agents ville debut, were indulging in a little re-
during the week, he presumed business hearsal whereby one of the team carries a
with them was sufficiently excellent to keep 1,000 pound Gabler upright grand on his
them at home.
back and the other executes a Chopin noc-
On being questioned as to the truth of turne with considerable effect.
the reported enlargement of the Chickering
The team will probably appear before
representation in Chicago, Mr. Pfafflin long at one of the leading music halls in
stated: " I really do not know whether this city, and if the services of handsome
there is any truth in the rumor or not; as Joe Bareuther are engaged as "barker" we
you are aware, Mr. Clayton F. Summy is predict for them an enormous success.
one of the most successful and prominent
sheet music men in the country; since en-
Webb Better.
gaging in the piano business he has met
with excellent success, and so far as the
M. WEBB, the well-known supply
Chickering is concerned, has served us ad-
man of this city, returned to his
9
mirably ; he has fully maintained the Chick- desk on Friday last fully recovered from
ering reputation ; he has kept up prices, his recent illness.
and has worked on lines entirely conform-
Mr. Webb was erroneously reported as
ing with our own. If Mr. Summy should suffering from an optical ailment. This
secure additional capital and branch out in time, however, it was an internal trouble,
his piano department, I should not be at for which an operation was necessary. We
all surprised."
are pleased to report his speedy recovery.
W
T
R
J. DOWLING, general road represen-
tative of the Everett Piano Co., was a.
visitor to the city yesterday en route to
Boston.
._.... ..... ., „ _.,
GEO.
C. H. Webb, for five years with R. M., is
now located in Chicago looking after his
brother's interests. He is recognized in
the trade as a bright and promising young
.man; jse.wish.him_gQ.qd.success,
7
Hardman & La Grassa Discon-
tinue Business.
D
URING the past week Salvadore La
Grassa relinquished to Hardman,
Peck & Co., manufacturers of the "Hard-
man" piano, all claim or title, and what-
ever privilege or rights he had to the name
of "Hardman" which he obtained through
his business association with Hugh Hard-
man. Hardman, Peck & Co. also pur-
chased unworked material, cases, etc.,
contained in the Hardman & La Grassa
factory.
By this move any possible danger of
playing on the credulity of the public
with the name of "Hardman" is re-
moved. It further emphasizes the fact
that there has been and is only one "Hard-
man" piano, and that is the instrument
manufactured by the firm of Hardman,
Peck & Co., of this city. "All's well that
ends well."
Mr. La Grassa's future movements are
at present unannounced.
Carreno Sails.
ERDINAND MAYER, manager of
Knabe & Co.'s New York house,
states that Madame Carreno sails from
Bremen by S.S. Aller, North German Lloyd
line,Dec. 22d, due to arrive Dec.30th.
Mr. Mayer is very enthusiastic over Car-
reno's approaching tourne'e, and speaks in
the warmest terms of her marvelous tem-
perament, splendid technic and matchless
art.
In the matter of business, Mr. Mayer
stated: "Business has warranted our tak-
ing on more men in each department; we
anticipate a greatly increased business next
year, and I feel sure our new scale instru-
ments will appeal to the trade and public
in the light of a revelation."
F
F. B. Burns.
B. BURNS, scarf manufacturer, of
this city, made a flying trip to Bos-
#
ton during the week. Speaking of trade
in Boston, he said: " I found the factories
busy and in most cases blocked with orders.
The Merrill Piano Co., Emerson Piano
Co., Hallet &.Davis, Ivers & Pond, all ap-
peared to be doing a rushing business;
Mason & Hamlin were 400 instruments be-
hind in their orders."
F
H. P. ECKER has appealed the cases
brought against him by the Carl Barckhoff
Organ Co. to the Supreme Court. The
verdicts against him aggregate $1,851.75.
W. F. BUTLER has joined forces with T.
J. Butler, the enterprising music trade
dealer of Auburn, N. Y., and hereafter the
firm will be known as Butler Bros. No-
where in central New York can be found a
larger and better stock of pianos, organs
and small goods than in this establishment.
AN exceptionally beautiful New Year's
calendar has reached this office from the
Miller Organ Co., Lebanon, Pa. It cannot
fail to find a prominent and permanent
place in every office.

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