Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 9

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL XXIII.
N o . 9.
Published Every Saturday, at 3 East Fourteenth Street, New York, September 19,1896.
Gleanings at the Golden Gate.
BUSINESS BETTER IN CALIFORNIA
SHERMAN, CLAY & CO.'s SUCCESS WITH THE EMERSON-
DASHES HERE AND THERE.
SAN FRANCISCO, September n , 1896.
There is no doubt but that business is
improving. This week was better than
last, and the September trade promises to
run ahead of that of August. The country
people are beginning to come to town and
some of them are spending money. There
is quite a demand for song and band mu-
sic, and the business in smal' goods is be-
coming quite active. Inquiries for pianos
on the prospects of future purchases indi-
cate that numerous sales may be expected.
Here is a story which, improbable as it
may seem, is told and vouched for by a
prominent Eastern manufacturer. A man
bought a square piano on the installment
plan, and after making a few payments,
moved away and the manufacturer lost track
of him. All efforts to trace the instrument
were in vain, and the manufacturer finally
offered a reward to the tuner who would lo-
cate it. One young fellow was particularly
zealous in his search and one day saw a
man leave a house, who he was positive
was the purchaser of the square piano. He
listened for a couple of weeks and was cer-
tain that he heard some one playing the pi-
ano within. He told the manufacturer, who
authorized him to make an investigation.
The zealous tuner approached the man
of the house and was told that he had no
piano. However, he still continued to hear
the playing in the house and his conviction
grew almost to be a mania. Finally he
went to the manufacturer and agreed to
take all responsibility if he could enter the
house with a sheriff and a search warrant.
The manufacturer was willing and a search
was made. The sheriff and the tuner went
through the house from room to room and
no piano was to be found. Finally in an
upstairs bedroom they noticed a door to a
cabinet and as a last resort the door was
opened. There within stood a square piano
on edge with the legs removed. The owner
was beaten and explained that he put the
legs on every morning, and carried the pi-
ano down stairs for an hour's practice, and
then carried it back to its hiding place in
the dark closet.
Sherman, Clay & Co., as the exclusive
Coast agents for Emerson, of Boston, are
glad to know that their recent embarrass-
ment will prove only temporary, and that
orders are being solicited and filled with the
usual promptness. Sherman, Clay & Co.
have given the Emersons an energetic re-
presentation here for a dozen years past to
their entire satisfaction, and expect to sell
many thousands of their product in the fu-
ture. Ed. Geisler has left for his fall trip
throughout the Coast in the interest of
Sherman, Clay & Co.'s imported goods de-
partment, and Charles Dall, their able " Re-
gina" boomer, has been called home from
Portland, where he met with great success in
introducing the nickel-drop " Regina. " He
will return in a few weeks to continue his
labors. A large white flag has been floated
to the breeze from the corner of S., C. &
Co's. buildings bearing the words "Stein-
way Pianos" in deep red letters. This firm
reports a good demand for campaign music
and song books, but say the demand for
campaign drums has not yet materialized.
C. C. Hornung was the successful com-
petitor for an order from the "Native Son
of the Golden West" for six or eight pianos,
the preference being for the California pro-
duct—"Production to Home Industries."
Mr. Hornung undoubtedly manufactures a
very nice instrument. He comes from one
of the oldest piano-making families in
Europe, and has been in the business here
for twenty years. He has an attractive ex-
hibition at the Mechanics' Fair, which
opened in this city last week.
Mr. Chase, of Kohler & Chase, has re-
turned from the East, much improved in
health. Mr. Chase is a staunch Republi-
can, and from his observations of the polit-
ical outlook in the East, he is confident of
McKinley's election.
George Griswold, of Lyon & Healy, has
gone down to Los Angeles, and will return
to this city in a week. Mr. Alfred Peck,
of Hardman, Peck & Co., is expected on the
Coast on the 15th.
Byron Mauzy has made an improvement
in his establishment by fitting up an airy
$3.00 PER YEAR-
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS
room adjoining his show window for the
display of his small goods. The rear room
once occupied for that purpose is now be-
ing utilized as an additional piano room.
Mr. Mauzy's second concert will be given
on the 17th inst., under the direction of
PR)f. James Hamilton Howe, assisted by
Miss Mabel Hussey and others.
Otto Bendix will give a couple of recitals
in October.
Mr. Ziegenfuss, of Los Angeles, repre-
senting the lines carried by Kohler &
Chase, is in the city on business.
A movement is on foot for a series of
symphony concerts to be given by Gustav
Heinricks and Sigmund Beel.
The model music store at 735 Market
street reports a good business in "Regina"
boxes and music. They will publish a new
song this week entitled "The One Thing
Gold Can't Buy," a waltz ballad by Louis
Weslyn Jones.
The latest songs issued by the Zeno
Mauvais Co. are "Edith O'Hara, " by Wolff
and Marshall, and "When the Cows Come
Home," by D. H. Hakes. They are receiv-
ing many orders from the East for "Par-
son Johnson's Chicken Brigade" and the
band parts of "Ma Angeline."
J. M. Roberts, the piano dealer of Ta-
coma, Washington, the father of two miss-
ing girls, and who has been conspicuously
before the public in an unenviable light,
has disappeared. It is believed that he has
jumped his cash bail bond of $500 which
was required in a perjury case pending
against him.
A. C. Turner, of Hunt's Hill, will open
a music store in Nevada City, Cal.
The Girard Piano Co., of Oakland, Cal.,
are advertising to close out their stock of
Wheelock and Stuyvesant pianos, besides
a lot of second-hand instruments.
D. S. Johnston, of Tacoma, Washington,
has conveyed realty of a total value of
Order for Twenty /Eolians.
HE /Eolian Co., of this city, in
addition to experiencing a notable
improvement in business in their retail de-
partment, are also receiving good orders
from their agents. One prominent agent,
during the last few days, sent in a nice
order for twenty instruments.
T
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St.. New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and
Canada, $3.00 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
b* made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second- Class Matter.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 19, 1896.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIQHTEENTH STREET.
"THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
AHUM STETSON returned to New
York Tuesday after one of those
flying Stetsonion Western visits. Leaving
New York Thursday he visited Pittsburg,
Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and re-
turned to his New York headquarters by
Wednesday. That's a record, but Mr. Stet-
son tosses off three or four thousand miles
of travel as an airy nothing.
One of the results of his visit to Cincin-
nati was the securing of permanent quar-
ters for the Steinway interests in that city.
They have secured a long lease of one of
the most imposing buildings on West
Fourth street, in an unexcelled spot on that
thoroughfare.
Mr. Stetson reports an encouraging out-
look throughout the West. In Chicago,
Steinway Hall was undergoing changes in
that they are running a balcony around the
Hall, which will give increased seating
capacity, and will give the substantial ad-
dition of fourteen private boxes, seven on
N
each side of the stage. They are now book-
ing entertainments far in excess of last
year.
#
#
Mr. E. N. Kimball, of the Hallet& Davis
Co., Boston, has been in town this week on
business connected with the affairs of that
concern. We learn that the largest mer-
chandise creditors of the Hallet & Davis
Co. have all gladly acquiesced to the pro-
position made by the company, and have
warmly expressed themselves regarding
the future of the concern. Also we learn that
a majority of the Boston banks have will-
ingly signed the proposition presented to
them by"Mr. Kimball.
The matter is just as we have held all
along—that the creditors of this old-time
house, when the matter was fairly pre-
sented to them, would gladly unite on such
agreement as would enable the concern
to once more assume its old-time position.
We learn that there have been no dissen-
sions regarding the extension asked, only a
few have been absent, thereby have been
unable to assent to the extension asked by
the company. There seems to be no ob-
stacle in the way of a speedy resumption of
the business of the Hallet & Davis Co., un-
der its old-time management.
From Chicago we also learn that the
bank officials who were affrighted over the
sudden turn of affairs after the Chicago
Convention have now signed the proposi-
tion submitted to them by the Chicago
Hallet & Davis corporation.
Mr. Kimball and his associates are to be
congratulated upon the excellent condition
of their affairs.
#
#
The statement which "Presto" published
last week anent the amount of trade matter
published by the trade papers is incorrect.
Injustice was done THE REVIEW. HOW in
the world "Presto" could omit two pages
in counting thirteen is really beyond our
comprehension. If "Presto" desired to be
fair, then it should at least apologize for a
glaring injustice done to a contemporary.
If its measurements placed THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW at the head of the list, why
not so announce it?
#
#
Attention is called to the second pub-
lication which appears in this issue of
the number of letters written by prom-
inent dealers regarding the trade pros-
pects all over America. The letters are
valuable in that they contain the views of
business men who are afforded every oppor-
tunity of judging of present and prospect-
ive trade conditions.
It is a noteworthy fact that thus far we
have not received a letter from a single
dealer, whether a silver or gold follower,
but who believes that business will im-
mediately improve should McKinley be
elected. There is one point which it is
well to consider. If the Republican candi-
date is elected the best minds in the coun-
try agree that business will begin to im-
prove immediately after his election. No
such general belief exists regarding the
election of Bryan. There seems to be an
unanimity of opinion regarding McKinley.
Then why take chances?
#
#
There will be a meeting of the creditors
of the Emerson Piano Co. to-day at the
offices of Long & Hemenway, 73 Tremont
street, Boston, at eleven o'clock, where the
affairs of the Emerson Piano Co. will be
discussed at length. The statement of the
assets and liabilities of the company have
been prepared by the trustees, and will be
presented at the meeting. It is probable
that the creditors will take some definite
action regarding the Emerson affairs. It
is the belief of all that the affairs of the
company will be speedily adjusted.
#
#
No trade=paper bulldozing.
No advertising payments in
advance.
No monetary loans to support
newspaper mendicancy.
#—#
Our " Specialty Talk " this week is with
Mr. Charles N. Post, vice-president of Lyon
& Healy, Chicago. Mr. Post is a gentleman
whose wide experience in a special field in
the musico-industrial affairs to which his
energies are confined renders his express-
ions of much value and interest.
#
#
John Boyd Thacher will come about as
near becoming the Governor of New York
State as he did of making a success as man-
ager of the Bureau of Awards at the
World's Fair.
#
#
It is probable that the Hazelton piano
will be handled by Mr. Ernest Urchs in
Cincinnati.
CHARLIE BF.CHT is doing good work for
the Smith & Barnes piano. He sold this
week four S. & B.'s to the New Amsterdam
Hotel and two more to well-known theatri-
cal celebrities in this city.
P. J. GILDEMEESTER, representing Stein-
way & Sons, will leave next Sunday for an
extended trip West. It is probable that
Mr. Gildemeester may journey as far as the
Pacific Coast.

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