Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 12

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
io
presented a busy scene when I entered.
The music counter was crowded with peo-
ple, and upstairs the salesmen were busy
in the piano warerooms. Mr. Steirlin said:
"I haven'tthe remotest complaint to make
regarding business conditions. We are do-
ing really a good trade. It is surprising to
me sometimes to see how we have advanced
since we began here in such a small way only
a few years ago. In looking over the
letters at the Planters', I came across one
addressed to A. J. Brooks, which means
that I have been a day or two too early to
see the Sterling man.
*
*
*
#
At Richmond, Ind., 1 saw my old friend
Ben Starr, who, by the way, had been suf-
fering from the effects of a very severe cold
for some weeks. It did not interfere how-
ever with his humor, and I found him just
the same big, bluff, good-natured Ben Starr
as of old. Ben has a big plant to supervise
and it keeps him mighty active. The com-
pany are getting up some very pleasing
styles in "Richmond" pianos, the cases of
which seem to take well with the trade,
judging from the steady and uninterrupted
demand for them. The Starr Co. too have
a retail store in Richmond, which, by the
way, is located in the same warerooms
where Emil Wulschner used to conduct his
branch at this point.
*
*
*
*
One of the most convincing evidences of
the steady expansion of a firm's business is
the continual enlargement of their manu-
facturing plant. It seems to me that such
an argument is indeed hard to get around,
and as I drove up to the immense plant of
Wickham, Chapman & Co., plate manu-
facturers, Springfield, O., I was deeply
impressed with the growth of trade as
evidenced by the enlargement of their plant
since my last visit to this point. Aside
from this, the immense business here of
casting plates and all kinds of piano hard-
ware, they are conducting, as you know, a
branch foundry in Chicago which is also
turning out a half a hundred plates a day.
A detailed description of the Wickham,
Chapman plant will appear in a later issue
as I cannot do full justice to this great
a display of organs. On this floor also is
a large parlor fronting on the street, where-
•^
9fi
*fc
H*
in a baby grand and a selected line of in-
Marietta, 0., is an old historical spot, struments in fancy woods are on exhibition.
The Huntington pianos, in which the
and aside from its being known to history
as the habitation of the mound builders, it Sterling Co. are interested, occupy the
also has claims to fame as being the first third floor. The basement is devoted to
white man's settlement in Ohio. In later organs and second hand instruments. The
times it has gained a reputation in the entire display of instruments, both of Ster-
music trades as being the point where the lings and Huntingtons, are a credit to the
Stevens organs are manufactured. The manufacturers. Brooklyn should be proud
Stevens organs are what may be properly of having such an acquisition to its piano
termed a specialty organ inasmuch as they houses. W. S. Denslow is the manager of
are piano cased and have some special im- the new establishment and he is assisted by
piovements regarding tonal effects which a number of competent salesmen.
are the invention of Mr. C. B. Stevens, a
gentleman of wide experience in the manu- A " Spurt" at Chickering Hall.
facture of organs. In fact this particular
Mr. J. Burns Brown has been fortunate
branch of our industry has been a life
enough
to make his debut as manager of
work with Mr. Stevens. He is developing
the
local
house of Chickering & Sons under
at this point a steadily growing trade. His
very
favorable
auspices. '\ here has been
instruments appeal to the music lover and
quite
a
spurt
in
business during the past
are finding a ready sale among the pro-
week.
In
addition
to a number of good
gressive dealers of the country.
sales of uprights, four grands were disposed
As I am now homeward bound and unless of since he took charge on Monday, and the
trapped in a washout I shall be able to give " boom " is apparently still on.
you next week some short glimpses of the
We notice a number of small changes
trade in Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Washing-
under
way at the warerooms. Mr. Brown
ton, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
has moved his desk from the office de-
Cincinnati, Ohio, March 9, 1897.
partment to the center of the warerooms,
so as to be able to at once greet customers
The Sterling Piano Co.
as they enter.
Many customers of the house and a host
OPKNING OF THE STERLING CO. S BRANCH
of friends as well have been wishing Mr.
HOUSE IN BROOKLYN. *
Brown all manner of good luck in his new
The handsome new establishment of the position.
Sterling Piano Co., at'536 Fulton street,
No Interruption to Business.
Brooklyn, was opened to the public last
Monday, and on that evening and every
The fire at the Waterloo Organ Co.'s fac-
evening during the week, visitors have tory, Waterloo, N. Y., as announced else-
been entertained with music by clever art- where, caused a loss of $25,000, which is
ists. Special invitations were issued for fully covered by insurance. The fire will
not cause the slightest interruption to bus-
these musical evenings and in addition the iness. Orders will continue to" be filled
general public was received and cared for without any lengthy delay.
as well as the specially invited guests.
The departure of Robert A. Widenmann.
A magnificent stock of instruments are
being displayed on the three floors of this of Stnch & Zeidler, has been delayed ow-
ing to pressure of New York business. He
handsome four story building. The first will probably start on his tour early in the
floor is tastefully furnished with rugs and week.
easy chairs, which set off the beautiful dis-
F. B. Burns, who has just returned from
play of Sterling pianos. On the second a very successful Western trip, starts out
floor, cheaper grade of Sterling pianos and for the South to-morrow or Monday.
enterprise in the limited space and time at
my disposal.
m»>^y*«y^^
Organs * Kimball ~ Pianos
The following are but a few of the many musical celebrities who use and endorse the KIMBALL PIANOS:
Adelina Patti
Emma Calve
Lillian Nordica
Milka Ternina
Katharina Klafsky
Emma Eames
I iIIi Lehmann
Minnie Hauk
Rosa Sucher
Sophia Scalchi
Emma Albani
Frances Saville
Zelie de Lussan
Marie Tavary
Johanna Gadski
Louise Mulder
Lola Beeth
PIANO AND ORGAN FACTORIES OF
W. W. KIMBALL CO., CHICAGO.
Walter Damrosch
Anton Seidl
Geo. Henschel
John Philip Sousa
L. Mancinelli
Luigi Arditi
Jean de Reszke
Edouard de Reszke
Max Alvary
Francisco Tamagno
Victor Maurel
Jean Lassalle
Mario Ancona
Ben Davies
Henri Marteau
E. Remenyi
Emil Liebling
Awarded the "greatest commendation for superlative merit and highest standard of excellence"
at the World's Columbian Exposition. The only manufacturers thus honored.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Trustee Appointed.
A dispatch from Chicago, dated March
17th, says: The Tribune this morningpub-
lishes the following: "The piano and or-
gan firm of Estey & Camp, which has been
in business in Chicago for thirty years, and
for the last fourteen years at No 237 State
street and Nos. 41 and 43 Jackson street,
took steps toward winding up its business
3 r esterday by appointing W. A. Bacon trus-
tee. The factory which is located in New
York, and is known under the style of
Camp & Co., will also be closed."
Leaves Wednesday.
Theo. Pfafflin, who has just severed his
connection with the local house of Chick-
ering & Sons, will leave on Wednesday
next for his new home in Harrisburg, Pa.,
where he will be associated with his son-
in-law in the insurance business. The Re-
view extends best wishes for Mr. Pfafflin's
success in his new sphere of activity.
The Popular Pease Pianos
During a brief talk with The Review on
Wednesday, Mr. J. D. Pease of the Peate
Piano Co. said, in answer to the nsua
call for late news, that there was little to
be told at present, concerning the instru-
ments in which he takes so much pride,
beyond the fact that the people are still in-
dicating by their patronage that the name
" Popular " by which the Pease pianos are
usually know is not misplaced or mislead-
ing. He says the demand is a healthy and
regular one, enabling him to maintain a
considerable force at all times to meet it.
So long as this shall continue, he will be
satisfied. Nor does he think, from the
outlook,[that there is any fear of the people's
patronage being diminished, discontinued
or withdrawn.
The Symphony Parlors.
Under its new management, the Wilcox
& White warerooms, 123 Fifth avenue,
have become one of the cosiest and must
attractive resorts in the city of New York.
The several classes of instruments are
tastefully arranged, and the necessary fur-
niture is adjusted in most artistic fashion.
The effect of the whole on visitors as they
enter is decidedly pleasing. Several fine
examples of modern organ construction are
on view, together with pianos having the
Wilcox & White attachment and speci-
mens of the famous Orchestral Symphony.
Business is increasing; among recent
purchasers of Symphony instruments in
handsome cases are some of New York's
most wealthy and influential citizens.
ii
surpassed—brilliant, sweet, and of great
carrying power—and are adapted for public
During a recent call at the attractive concerts and parlor musicales.
piano parlors of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, 27
The Mehlin pianos will remain in tune
Union square, West, The Review noticed equal to any other make, and much better
that this progressive establishment dis- than many other high grade instruments.
plays the same discrimination and taste in
The beauty of its case is a thing of art.
their advertising literature as in the pro- The finish is chaste and incomparable.
duction of piano designs of great beauty, The durability of the Mehlin piano is at-
originality and perfection.
tested to by eminent artiststhroughout the
The following excerpt from one of their country.
recent brochures under the same caption as
The Mehlin piano is the favorite of mu-
heads this article is so good that it merits sicians at home and abroad. It is used in
reproduction. Its great strength is in the our conservatories on account of its un-
fact that it lacks exaggeration and speaks equaled staying and singing qualities, and
of the Mehlin piano accurately and justly: the beauty of its tone. In fact it is the best
In the United States Patent Building piano of the times.
there are thousands of inventions which
A Superb Mason & Hamlin
have never seen the light, or in other words
Piano.
have never been adopted and utilized by
the public. At first thought one might
During a call at the Mason & Hamlin
pity the unfortunate inventor whose labors
and hopes came to naught, but these mis- warerooms a few days ago, Mr. W. P.
fortunes are apparent only in a limited Daniels, the efficient manager, stated that
sense; for while the individual may have while the volume of trade for the past two
suffered by unrequited study and toil, and weeks had not shown any remarkable in-
hopes deferred, and seen the models of his crease, yet the number of inquiries and
inventions shelved forever in an undevel- callers indicated that business was looking
oped state, we realize that they were the up, and they had no reason to complain of
precursors of the great inventions of to-day. the share which is coming their way.
Mr. Daniels received this week an un-
Every invention, no matter how simple,
usually
handsome piano, a style M upright
carries with it a suggestion of improve-
in
dark
mahogany—one of the Mason &
ment. Watt with his tea-kettle made
Hamlin
largest scales—which is certainly
Stephenson's success with his locomotive
a
superb]
instrument, both architecturally
possible; and the great ocean telegraph ca-
and
acoustically.
The scale is a remark-
ble reminds us of Franklin with his kite
ably
even
one.
It
is impossible to detect
and key, and what have grown out of them.
a
break.
The
tonal
volume and quality is
And so, as we look over the vast number of
grand-like,
and
standing
at a distance
inventions whose models are shelved in the
while
shown
off
by
Mr.
Daniels,
one would
great building at Washington, we feel that
readily
conceive
that
they
were
listening
the time, labor and energy have not been
to
a
baby
grand.
Such
instruments
accen-
spent in vain. We know they were valu-
tuate
the
magnificent
reputation
of
the
able contributions from which our present
products
of
the
celebrated
house
of
Mason
success in these lines have sprung. Our
generation has only added something to & Hamlin.
the thought of those who have gone before
Accused of Embezzlement.
us, and no matter how cunning and crea-
tive may be the modern inventor, he de-
Chas. D. Washburn, 3234 Sansom street,
pends largely for results upon the sugges- Philadelphia, was committed to jail by
tions of others who may or may not have Magistrate Eisenbrown last Tuesday, in
succeeded.
default of $1,500 bail, on the charge of
The Mehlin pianos owe their present embezzlement preferred by D. C. Huntec,
state of superiority to the almost number- bookkeeper for the Dearborn Piano Co.,
less suggestions of many inventors of the Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
past—the Mehlins themselves being inven-
tors and having more original patented im-
The Baumeister Piano.
provements of their own than any other
Reinhard Kochmann, now traveling in
manufacturer, the explanations of which
behalf
of the Baumeister interests, is
are described fully in their illustrated cat-
meeting with marked success and is
alogue, which will be mailed upon request. sending in some good orders. He is
The Mehlin pianos are the product of placing the Baumeister with pushing deal-
long study and experience, and rank not ers, and the outlook for this instrument
only among the very highest, but hold an is exceedingly bright. Mr. Kochmann's
undisputed place at the head of their class. success has been a source of great gra-
Their musical qualities have never been tification to himself and to his employer.
Concerning the Mehlin Piano.
Highest Grade Pianofortes
(WREST=PIN AND STRINGER SYSTEMS.)
LISZT t CHURCH, CHAPEL and PARLOR
ORGANS.

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