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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
REVIEW—What style of piano stool is
most in demand; do you look for any rad-
ical change in the general design and make
of piano stools during the next few years?
QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED BY THE 'REVIEW
UPON THE LIVE MATTERS OF THE DAY AND
Mr. Burns—Wooden stools are almost
ANSWERED BY LEADING MEN IN THE TRADE.
exclusively used, and they, are the most ar-
tistic stools we have ever had, and there is
much in their favor, as they do away with
Interview VIII.—F. B. Burns.
the old matching of colors and plush, which
caused the dealers to carry about four times
as
much stock as they needed. It is to the
Comstock Co., of Chicago; Holtzman &
NDER the above head THE REVIEW
dealer's
interest to keep the wooden stools
Sons, of Columbus, Ohio; Lansinger, A. M.
proposes to give weekly the expressed
in
style
and the best thing of all in their
Leland and Cundell, of Boston; Tonk, the
views of some members of the trade upon
favor
is
they
do not cost half as much as the
matters which are of live interest. It Warner Cover Co., Henry W. Plant, and F.
old
plush
ones
cost, so under the circum-
should be understood that the answers to B. Burns, of New York. That about com-
stances
I
think
the wooden stools have
these inquiries will be published in every pletes the list in the United States.
come
to
stay.
instance without editorial criticism. In
REVIEW—The manufacture of scarfs must
other words, every "specialty talk" will provide excellent opportunity for the dis-
fairly express the sentiment of the individ- play of artistic merit in the matte: of de-
A New Cleveland Firm.
ual under whose name it appears, rather sign and so forth. Is this special depart-
than the editorial belief of THE REVIEW. ment somewhat circumscribed or one
HE J. G. Richards Co., Cleveland, was
There will be no distortion; no boiling providing unique and numerous opportuni-
incorporated Aug. 6, with capital
down. The answers will be published with- ties to those engaged in the work?
stock of $25,000. The company will deal
out change or comment, and in every case
Mr. Burns—The one who can furnish the in music and musical instruments. Incor-
the individuality of the one whose opinions prettiest designs and show the most for the
porators, J. G. Richards, D. F. Knight, T.
are written will be preserved. We propose money is the successful man in the scarf
G. Newton, C. S. Bentley and S. E. Brooks.
in this way to build one of the most interest- business.
ing features which a trade paper can offer
to its readers. This week Mr. Burns
WillJStay at Peterborough.
talks from the stool and scarf manufac-
Peterborough, N. H., August 11, 1896.
turer's standpoint.
SPECIALTY TALKS.
U
T
REVIEW—The stool and scarf business,
Mr. Burns, is probably conducted on a
much more extensive scale in this country
than is usually supposed. Considering the
general slackness of business, is the indus-
try in a fairly hopeful condition?
Mr. Burns—No; while the music trade is
quiet it affects the scarf and stool business,
although I think there will be about four
hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) worth
of stool and scarf business done this year in
the United States.
REVIEW—Probably few stools are im-
ported. How about scarfs. Do the silk
centers of France, India or China supply us
with the manufactured article?
Mr. Burns—Ninety per cent, of the goods
used in the manufacturing of scarfs is made
in the United States, mostly all of that in
New York, where the Eastern man has the
advantage over the Western man, as he is
always on hand when there is anything new
in the market, or if there is a bargain to be
had he can always pick ^it up. Take the
people from the West—they have to come
East every six months or every year, that is
the way the most of them do it, so it is to
'the dealer's advantage to find all the late
designs in the East.
REVIEW—Taking the general output of
pianos in this country at, say, 100,000,
would that figure about represent, in your
estimation, the quantity of stools and also
of scarfs manufactured and sold?
Mr. Burns—Almost every piano that is
sold in the United States, a stool and scarf
goes with it; always a stool.
REVIEW —Are the stool and scarf facto-
ries of America distributed pretty widely,
or is the industry confined to few locations?
Mr. Burns—They are distributed pretty
well over the country; there is Tonk, J. H.
Wilson & Co., Lyon & Healy, and Olson &
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
F. B. BURNS.
REVIEW—You spent quite a number of
years on the road, Mr. Burns, as represen-
tative and salesman of a stool and scarf
house. Do you consider competition as
keen in this business as in the majority of
others?
Mr. Burns —You ought to try it for a
while and you will find it as keen as any
business we have to-day, although the man
that keeps working all the time will come
in for a share of the trade in every business.
REVIEW—Having evolved from salesman
to manufacturer, your experience covers a
fairly wide area. Do you look for a return
to prosperity, more especially in regard to
the musical industry — in the immediate
future?
Mr. Burns—I think after the election is
over, and if we do not have any change in
our financial system, that every one will
have as much business as he can well at-
tend to. As things are now, no one wants
to carry a large stock on hand; they all buy
from" the hand to mouth.
3 East 14th St., New York,
Gentlemen:
We are surprised to see in some of
the music trade papers an intimation that
we may cease the manufacture of pianos in
Peterborough, and a prediction that we may
return to New York.
From whom this information was obtained
we know not, but we assure you that it is
altogether unfounded, and anyone who
cares to take the trouble to come to our fac-
tory and see how we are equipped, and
acquaint themselves with the continual im-
provements which we are making in order
that we may meet all the demands which
are expected to come with the increase in
business that is sure to follow as soon as the
present hard times are over, will find that
we have not the slightest idea of leaving
Peterborough.
The new scales and designs in our instru-
ments are giving the best of satisfaction to
the entire trade.
If there is any large demand for pianos,
we shall have our share of it, even if we do
not manufacture in New York.
Our key department is also fully equipped,
and we are in a condition to supply the
trade from here with a better piano key than
any other manufacturers in this country.
The circular which we enclose is ad-
ditional evidence that we intend to continue
business here, as the facilities which we now
have cannot be duplicated in New York.
Therefore we see no earthly reason to
regret the move which we made about one
and a half years since.
Yours very respectfully,
HAGEN & RUEFER, Piano Mfrs.
NEW YORK PIANO KEY CO.
CHARLES HAGEN.