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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
21
THE "SMALL GOODS" TRADE
The Zobo flanufacturing Co.
The Zobo Mfg. Co., the incorporation of
which was recently announced in The Re-
view, has been organized with W. H.
Frost, president; E. R. Crakow, vice-presi-
dent, and L. N. Crakow, secretary-treas-
urer.
This concern is amply equipped not only
to carry on the business so well developed
by Mr. Frost, but to broaden its scope and
make better known the zobo, which is now
rapidly becoming one of the stock musical
instruments.
Of the popularity of the zobo band in-
struments it is almost unnecessary to speak.
They are scoring one success after another;
probably the most pronounced is that made
in "Courted into Court" at the Bijou
Theatre, this city, where May Irvvin has
appeared for over a hundred nights con-
secutively as drum-major of a very excel-
lent zobo band.
In church, as well as theatrical circles,
the zobo has become an established favo-
rite. The New York Zobo Band, which
was organized over a year ago, and now a
well established musical organization of
nineteen members, has recently given many
concerts in church and society circles. The
repertory is extensive, including many
popular instrumental pieces.
It may be interesting to learn that
through the receipts of some concerts given
by this organization two churches in this
city were enabled to keep open doors dur-
ing the past year. Enough money was
donated by the band to the congregations
to pay off the interest on the mortgages. It
would be a good point for members of
churches who are breaking their heads try-
ing to pay their ministers' salaries to en-
gage or organize a zobo band. The New
York Zobo Band referred to has demon-
strated effectively how salaries can be paid
and the church mortgage debt decreased.
Mr. Louis N. Crakow, secretary of the
company, will be prominently identified
with the business hereafter, as Mr. Frost,
always a busy man, is interested in several
enterprises. Mr. Crakow is a genial and
accomplished gentleman, and is destined to
advance the interests of his house.
Aluminum Mandolins flake a
"Hit."
The exhibit of aluminum mandolinsmade
by the Hutchins Mfg. Co., of Springfield,
Mass., at the Sportsmen's Exposition, which
closed last Saturday night, in this city,
was the center of attraction for the crowds
that filled the Madison Square Garden dur-
ing the week. Thousands examined the
.mandolins, and it was curious to observe
how skeptical they were as to its musical
possibilities, and later to note the profuse-
ness of their compliments anent the tonal
clearness, brilliancy, and carrying power
of the instrument.
Among the callers during the week were
a number of music trade men, who were
quite interested in the exhibit. They were
most enthusiastic in their praise of the in-
struments, and complimented the Hutchins
Co. on their enterprise and go-aheadness.
The exhibit was a tasteful and showy one,
and no expense was spared to introduce
the aluminum mandolins to the public of
this city in a fitting manner.
The sportsmen who visited the Expo-
sition were impressed with the fact that
these instruments are not liable to injury
either from rough handling in transporta-
tion or to warp or crack because of atmos-
pheric influences or climatic changes. Many
orders were placed.
Judging from the progress made by the
Hutchins Mfg. Co. so far, the success of the
aluminum mandolin and other string in-
struments which they are about to manu-
facture is assured. Travelers will soon
make these instruments better known to
the trade. In the meantime, all who de-
sire to handle an instrument of musical
merit, that will attract the attention of
musicians and the public by its merits and
novelty, should write the manufacturers at
once.
Menzenhauer & Schmidt.
New York contains many old and new
curiosity shops, but none contains a more
interesting collection of mechanical oddi-
ties than that of Mr. Oscar Schmidt, of
the Menzenhauer Guitar-Zither Co., 165
Eldridge street.
Musical fancies from
France and Germany predominate. These
take the form of musical clocks, mu-
sical albums and a multitude of other
devices, each and all concealing in one
WE ARE NOW PREPARED TO
APPOINT AGENCIES FOR
THE ONLY ALL
ALUMINUM MANDOLIN
The Greatest Musical Invention
of the Century
Hutchins flanufacturing Co.
MAKERS OF
THE ALUMINUM MANDOLIN
Springfield, fiass.
CHAS. H. PARSONS
Prest.
F. EDWARDS
Treas.
C. \V. HUTCHINS
Manager
part or another of their round, square and
oblong bodies a number of wheels and cyl-
inders sufficient to produce melody. Mr.
Schmidt's warerooms are well worth a visit.
Wm. R. Gratz Returns.
SECURES BIG ORDERS FOR GRATZ SPECIALTIES.
Congratulations for the firm of William
R. Gratz & Co., 18 East Fourteenth street,
are now in order. Mr. Gratz, who returned
to the city a few days ago, came back laden
with orders. Mr. Frank Ingersoll, a trav-
eling representative, is expected on Satur-
day. He has had a very successful trip.
Both have done well with the symphonion-
zither, now a popular favorite. They also
did some very good business with the
Koscht violins of fine quality which Mr.
Gratz has made a specialty.
When The Review called on Tuesday,
one of the finest specimens of the sympho-
nion, in handsome clock-shaped case about
nine feet in height, was on exhibition. It
is a marvelous piece of work. There are
three discs. They work simultaneously,
producing a volume of sound almost or-
chestral in quality. The machinery is ad-
justed so that if desired it will play every
hour, day or night, or both. These instru-
ments known as the "Symphonion Eroica"
have a retail value of several hundred dol-
lars, yet so great is the demand that com-
paratively small dealers write for five and
six at a time to fill actual orders!
The Gordon Specialties.
In the various departments of the music
trades, the individuals and corporations
scoring the greatest commercial and ar-
tistic successes are those who display the
greatest enterprise. The people who are
content to sit down and wait for good re-
sults without first taking active steps to
bring about such results by keeping abreast
of the times are still waiting as The Re-
view goes to press, and the same state-
ments will be equally true of them a year
or ten years hence!
One of the most truly progressive "small
goods" establishments in this city, with a
first rate assortment of large goods too, by
the way, is that of Hamilton S. Gordon,
139 Fifth avenue. The Review has more
than once taken occasion to note the com-
pleteness and class of stock kept. The
latest news is of large orders placed in
Europe for instruments to fill orders re-
ceived here from representatives and
agents. A mammoth catalogue, too, is
under way. Calls for the Gordon special-
ties are frequent and substantial. Visitors
are many and purchases incessant. Alto-
gether, the Gordon report is highly satis-
factory.