Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A8TOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
ill
VOL XXIV.
No. 19.
Published Every Saturday, at 3 East Fourteenth Street,
From the City by the Lake.
Chicago, May 5, '97.
The old saw has it that "no news is good
news," therefore there is an abundance of
"good news" in this section. Business is
quiet in a retail way, while the prospects
are a little more hopeful in the wholesale
line.
The W. W. Kimball Co. are doing a big
trade with their pipe organs, which are ev-
idently becoming better appreciated every
day. Their piano business is also excel-
lent everything considered. Messrs. Cone
and Con way are not complaining notwith-
standing they are well prepared for more
business. Mr. Kimball returned Monday
from the East. He spent a few weeks at
Hot Springs and visited your city on his
way home.
Strike signs are becoming more ominous
as spring grows older, and although thou-
sands of workingmen are idle in this city
yet there are to be found thousands of
others who are ready to relinquish lucra-
tive positions at the behest of societies and
thus increase the ranks of the unemployed.
The strike agitation is not alone confined
to the building trades, for last week the
employees of Smith & Barnes decided to
throw up their positions in preference to
submitting to a temporary reduction
in their wages. About one-third of the
employees, particularly in the varnish-
ing, finishing and regulating depart-
ments, are out at the time of writing, and
the firm seem determined not to take them
back unless they return to work by to-mor-
row.
The Chicago Cottage Organ Co. report a
brighter condition of business affairs. The
demand for their organs from abroad seems
to be increasing, while in the piano field
the Conover is making a steady headway.
The latest styles of these instruments are
really admirable creations both as to case
and tone. From a musical standpoint it
would be hard to find a more satisfying
instrument.
At Steinway Hall the more expensive
styles of Steinway pianos have lately been
in demand, and business generally, while
not startlingly large in volume is on the
whole good..
P. J. Healy, of Lyon & Healy, has not
yet returned from his Eastern visit.
W. B. Tremaine, of the ^Eolian Com-
pany, is in town.
New York, May 8,1897.
There is some talk about Story & Clark
opening downtown warerooms, but no defi-
nite steps have as yet been taken in this
direction.
A proposition has been made to the cred-
itors of the Chicago Music Company to
effect a settlement on the basis of about
twenty-five per cent, in cash. It is likely
that the offer will be favorably considered.
J. A. Norris, of the J. A. Norris Com-
pany, is back from a hasty visit to Boston.
Mr. Norris' trade is in excellent con-
dition and he is making good headway.
The Mason & Hamlin instruments on ex-
hibition here are inviting much criticism
of a favorable nature. By the way Mr.
McGuire, who was connected with the Wiss-
ner branch, is now connected with the J. A.
Norris Company.
Steger & Co. have entered into the manu-
facture of cases, that is for the instru-
ments in which they are interested—the
Steger and Singer. A wise move when
the big output of these instruments is con-
sidered.
Strange to say there is nothing startling
to relate about W. C. Camp this week.
I understand W. L. Bush has left your
section for Denver, Col.
Among the members of the trade in town
recently were Charlie Sisson, the Decker
ambassador, who is picking up some sub-
stantial orders, W. J. McCarter, president
of the Colby Piano Company, who went
from here to Detroit relative to S. E.
Clark & Co. 's affairs, and R. S. Howard,
the J. & C. Fischer road representative.
National flusical String Co.
INCORPORATED
TO DO BUSINESS IN DOLGE-
VILLE, N. Y.
Papers incorporating the National Musi-
cal String Co. of Dolgeville, were filed with
the Secretary of State on May 5. The new
concern is capitalized at $5,000, divided
into one hundred shares, and is to begin
business with $500. Its objects are stated
to be to import, manufacture and sell mu-
sical strings. The directors for the first
year are: Rudolf Giese and Geo. W. Ward
of Dolgeville, and Jas. E. Palmer of Troy.
This was formerly the Giese Wire Co.
and has been located in Dolgeville three
years. There is a well equipped factory
and employment is given to about twenty-
five hands, but nothing much has been
done at the factory thus far, because of the
fj.oo PER YEAK
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS
unfavorable conditions of trade. Giese is
formerly of Germany, where he and his
brothers conducted a like business.
Action by Piano Dealers.
RULES ADOPTED TO ABOLISH CERTAIN EVILS
IN THE TRADE.
At a meeting of the piano dealers of
Worcester, Mass., held in the Board of
Trade rooms last Tuesday evening, a list of
rules and regulations was drawn up to pro-
tect the dealers against certain evils which
have crept into the trade. Every house was
represented by its head, and the action was
entirely unanimous.
Among the rules and regulations adopted
were some affecting advertising schemes
and certain prices. It was decided not to
furnish programs or prizes or presents for
fairs and the like, and also to close every
night except Saturday.
Tonk Drops Herrburger.
Wrr. Tonk & Bro., who, for the past
twelve years, have been American agents
for the Herrburger-Schwander action, have
issued the following, under date of May 1.
We beg to inform you that owing to our
inability to devote our time to this branch
of business, we have this day withdrawn
from the management of the Herrburger-
Schwander & Fils Piano Actions.
Mr. A. Palle, at present superintendent
of the factory, 88-92 Lincoln avenue, will
also undertake the business management,
and we trust you will extend to him the
same courtesies you have at all times ac-
corded to us.
Ludwig's Philadelphia Move.
The Ludwig Piano Co. is the title of a
new retail establishment which will open
up at 1715 Chestnut street, Philadelphia,
this week. The parties interested in the
new concern are Joseph F. Allen and H.
C. Schoeppy,both of whom were connected
with Geo. F. Dearborn's establishment, and
Ludwig & Co. of this city. As a matter of
course the Ludwig piano will be handled
by the firm and they will also carry three
or four other instruments but the line has
not been definitely decided upon.
John Ludwig and Mr. Erricson, of
Ludwig & Co., have been in Philadelphia
since Wednesday in connection with the
foregoing move.