Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 19

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
ID
cheap piano grated so harshly on your bus-
iness nerve?"
"Well," he said, " I purchased the pi-
anos, got them in my warerooms, and—"
"Pardon me," I again interrupted, "did
you mark these very cheap pianos at the
same percentage of profit which you have
usually figured on your higher price instru-
ments?"
"Well, no; the profit was a trifle higher."
"A trifle higher," I said; "that's been
the trouble of the whole piano business.
You men leave your solid, reliable medium
grade instruments, jump in and purchase a
cheap piano, mark it at a profit twice ex-
ceeding the Dutchman's one per cent., and
push it to the exclusion of your other
makes. Therein is the bone of contention
of the whole cheap piano business, the in-
struments have not been sold under their
proper colors. But the original profit on
these cheap goods has been subsequently
cut down by expenses, by looking after the
instruments, and furthermore, the purchas-
ers of the pianos have naturally become
dissatisfied and their influence is having
considerable effect upon their own circle
of acquaintances."
"The reason of the decline of the very
cheap piano as a prominent trade factor
lies chiefly in the fact that many of you
dealers are not finding in it that beautiful,
smooth, oily profit which was so seductive
at the start. You are learning that it
pays better to pin your energies to in-
struments of sufficient merit that you can
put out, knowing that instead of acting as
a detriment to your business, they will
assist it."
*
*
*
*
Salesmen who have been careful observ-
ers of the trend of retail trade have been
lately remarking that greater care and judg-
ment is shown by dealers in the purchase
of stock. That there was room for 'great
improvement in this regard goes without
saying. No doubt bad storekeeping has
been responsible for more or less trouble
among manufacturers. The events and
snarls of the past three years have—on the
salesmen's say so—transformed a good
many indifferent dealers into good ones.
Buying and selling involve a good deal
more than appears on the surface. A good
buyer, especially of pianos, has to know the
peculiar and especial needs of the people in
his territory. He must know a good deal
about them and their affairs, and supple-
ment that knowledge by a vigorous fprose-
cution of his business, for as a rule all hon-
est buyers need to be urged to purchase
what they ought to have, a little sooner than
they would voluntarily purchase. It is
pleasing to note this advancing standard of
the retailer's ability, and to the salesmen is
due much of the credit of the result. They
are the school-masters.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
One of flason & Hamlin Co.'s Latest Styles,
There is to-day a decided
tendency towards simplicity
and treatment of design, both
in pianos and organs. The
above case is built in accord-
ance with this spirit, and
forms a worthy illustration
of the prevailing feeling.
It is one of the latest styles
of the Mason & Hamlin new
chapel organs, and can be
had in either walnut or oak
case. It contains eleven
stops, besides full organ
knee stop; five octaves, F
scale.
The organs made by the
Mason & Hamlin Co. have
always maintained their su-
premacy as the best of this
class of instruments in the
world, excelling in the more
important qualities gener-
ally. At all of the great
world's exhibitions they have always ob-
tained the highest honors in competition
with the leading makers, while the fact
that the most eminent musicians have tes-
tified to their unequaled musical qualities,
is equally significant and conclusive.
The latest styles of organs which the
Mason & Hamlin Co. are producing, are
Superb Steck Styles.
We have frequently referred to the mag-
nificent line of instruments on exhibition
at the warerooms of Geo. Steck & Co.,
ii East Fourteenth' street. They are
further interesting now by reason of the
fact that a new Steck concert grand is
being displayed, which is a credit and an
honor to a firm who have played such an
honorable and progressive part in the his-
tory of piano making in this city.
The scale of the new Steck grand is a
marvelously fine one; large in volume,
powerful in the bass, brilliant and full in
the treble—a scale that reflects the Steck
characteristics—and that explains every-
thing.
The new Steck concert grand is not,
however, the only novelty on view in the
Steck warerooms, for there are a number of
new style uprights, which are wonderfully
handsome instruments in design, and de-
lightful to the ear.
We would advise our musical friends and
dealers not to overlook dropping in to see
these Steck creations, and also enjoy a chat
with these estimable gentlemen, Messrs.
Nembach, Kammerer and Grass.
Dolgeville as an industrial center seems
to be making steady advancement. The
"An Attractive Window.'
latest addition to the industries of this
thriving little town is the American Glove
Under the above caption our esteemed
Co. which will commence operations at London contemporary Music treats of a
once.
subject as important to music dealers in
NEW CHAPEL STYLE CASE l 8 6 .
splendid testimony to their progressive-
ness and a credit to their skill and judg-
ment. This is particularly evident in the
smaller styles of chapel organs, one of
which we reproduce herewith. For thor-
oughness of workmanship and material,
tonal quality and effects, and quiet ele-
gance of cases they can hardly be excelled.
this country as to our cousins across the
big pond. There is nothing, perhaps,
which demonstrates the dealer's business
ability or lack of ability so forcibly as
the appearance of his window. If it
is unattractive, ill-arranged, dusty, you
may depend upon it that the trades-
man is a careless, inert and unpro-
gressive person. On the other hand,
if his window display is striking, you may
accept that fact as evidence of a wise and
an energetic regard for the success of his
undertaking. People take a good deal of
notice of shop windows. They look in
them with the hope of finding something to
interest them. If they don't find anything
that interests them, they naturally con-
clude that the proprietor of the shop hasn't
got anything interesting. Tradesmen
should realize this. And as it is not pos-
sible to exhibit everything in the window,
the wisest policy is to show what is most
in demand and novelties of all descrip-
tions. Constant re-arrangement of the
window is essential. People take a hasty
survey of familiar shops, and if there is
nothing fresh to catch the eye, pass on.
Don't let them pass on—if you can help it.
Make your window display compel atten-
tion by ingenious arrangement, neatness
and orderliness. There are few things
which lend themselves to better disposition
than musical instruments and sheet music.
And there is no shop that the public take
more interest in, provided the proprietor
has acumen enough to set it out attrac-
tively.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Pioneer Piano flakers of the West.
THE
CHASE BROS. PIANO CO. MOVING STEADILY FORWARD—THEIR INSTRUMENTS BETTER
THAN EVER—SPLENDIDLY
EQUIPPED TO MEET A GROWING TRADE—THE
" H A C K L E Y " A TRADE WINNER GREAT VALUE FOR THE MONEY.
Among the Western piano firms whose
products are shedding lustre on that sec-
tion of our common country, there is one
located in Muskegon, Mich., whose wares
are steadily becoming wider and wider
known.
Of course, we refer to the Chase Bros.
Piano Co., the pioneer piano makers of the
West.
The Chase Bros, pianos are becoming
known, because they are built on advanced
lines, by thoroughly practical men, who un-
derstand what constitutes a good piano,
and have aimed and succeeded in supply-
ing all demands in this special field.
The progress of this house has not been
marked by undue ostentation. Their suc-
cess is due to patient labor and persever-
ance, and a rigid adherence to a determin-
ation to attain a certain ideal. While this
ideal has not exactly reached; yet, judg-
ing from their recent efforts in the line of
piano making, it will not be delayed for
long.
The practical members of the firm are
accomplished and brainy men, who are
competent by virtue of their technical
knowledge to pronounce upon the patented
improvements which they have embodied
in their instruments, and especially as to
what constitutes a perfect and satisfying
tone. To their instruments they have de-
voted a vast amount of thought and much
skillful experiment, and the result is ap-
parent in the excellence of their products.
Apart from their technical skill, Chase
Bros, possess immense pecuniary resources,
so that they are enabled to give their piano
that support which is essential to success.
The Chase Bros. Piano Co.'s factory at
Muskegon is not only impressive in exter-
nal appearance, but complete and interest-
ing in its internal arrangement—a plant
that is thoroughly up-to-date in every re-
spect, and amply equipped to meet the de-
mands of their growing business. Situated
on the shores of Lake Michigan they have
all essential conveniences in the matter of
shipping, which aid materially in the suc-
cesssul prosecution of a large business such
as this.
In addition to the Chase Bros, piano, the
company are making a second grade instru-
ment which is called the "Hackley" in
honor of their principal btockholder, a well-
known millionaire lumber man. The
"Hackley" is in no sense of the word a
cheap piano. It is a thoroughly well made
instrument, attractive in design, possess-
ing a fine tonal quality, and just such an
instrument as can be handled by dealers
with safety and with profit. It appeals
specially to dealers who are not anxious to
injure their reputation by handling ques-
tionable goods. They can sell the '' Hack-
ley" and feel confident that it will please
and make friends. That is why this piano
has met with such warm trade approval
and why it is steadily growing in popular-
ity.
Braton S. Chase, who devotes his entire
time to the general management of the
Chase Bros, business, is a tireless worker
who is constantly planning ahead for the
further extension of the business by the
production of new styles, and the originat-
ing of new ideas which will help to make
the Chase Bros, piano achieve that greater
success which it so thoroughly and deserv-
edly merits.
Always a strong factor in the trade, the
Chase Bros, piano promises to be a still
greater force in the future.
Failure Caused Suicide.
MISS V. A. BOYNTON DID UNSUCCESSFUL BUSI-
NESS IN THE SALE OF PIANOS.
II
Some
important incorporations.
THE VOTEY ORGAN CO.
The Votey Organ Company filed arti-
cles of incorporation May 1, at Elizabeth,
N. J., and is capitalized for $100,000, all
paid in. The factory will be located in
Westfield, N. J.
HOLBEK PIANO CO.
Holbek Piano Company, La Crosse, Wis.,
capital $15,000; incorporators, W. C. Hol-
bek, Charlotte E. Simon, E. C. Josten, T.
G. Jones and others.
J. FORD FOX PIANO MANUFACTURING CO.
Mr. Dempsey introduced a bill in the
Delaware Legislature this week to incorpo-
rate the J. Ford Fox Piano Manufacturing
Company of Wilmington. No notice had
been given of the bill, but by unanimous
consent Mr. Dempsey was allowed to intro-
duce it on a notice of an act for the relief
of school district No. 29 in New Castle
county. The proposed corporators are J.
Ford Fox, Dudley E. Hunter and C. E. Bar-
rett, and if chartered the company will man-
ufacture pianos in the city of Wilmington.
C. H. HICKOK MUSIC CO.
The Charles H. Hickok Music Company
of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., was incorporated in
Albany, May 1, with a capital stock of
$5,000. Directors, I. Reynolds Adriance
and Marion J. Hickok of Poughkeepsie
and Ida May Hickok of New York.
WHITE-SMITH MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
A recent incorporation under the Massa-
chusetts laws was that of the White-Smith
Music Publishing Company of Boston, with
a capital stock of $100,000,all paid in. The
following officers have been elected: D. L.
White, president; W. M. Bacon, treasurer;
B. M. Davidson, manager publications; J.
J. McGuire, superintendent. The forego-
ing with L. P. McGuire of the New York
city branch constitute the board of direc-
tors. The incorporation will not in any
way affect the policy of the house.
A dispatch from Marblehead, Mass., un-
der date of May i, says:
The body of Miss. F. A. Boynton, of
Lynn, aged 60, was found at the Neck to-
night. Coroner Carleton was summoned
and the police communicated with Marshal
Wells of Lynn, who came over and identi-
fied the body. He stated that he had in
his possession a letter written by Miss Boyn-
ton, stating that if her business should
A Flanner Publication.
prove a failure, her body would be found
in the Atlantic ocean. The Marshal thinks
"La Bella Serrana" is the title of an un-
she left Lynn and came to Marblehead at usually pretty waltz, by A lice C. Severance,
10 A. M. to-day. Miss Boynton was a na- which has just been published and sent to
tive of Maine and did an unsuccessful bus- The Review by Joseph Flanner of Milwau-
iness in the sale of pianos, etc., on Exchange kee. The melody is pleasing and the va-
street, Lynn, which came to a close by rious movements are blended skillfully; it
failure this morning.
is not over difficult.
: : SCHOriACKER : :
THE RECOGNIZED STANDARD PIANO OF THE WORLD.
Established 1838.
Sold to every part of the Globe.
Preferred by all the Leading Artists.
O n l f l ^ f f i n C T C Emit a purer sympathetic tone, proof against atmospheric action,
VJIMU C L I I I I ^ S extraordinary power and durability, with great beauty and evenness
of touch. Pre-eminently the best and most highly improved instrument now manufactured in this or
any other country in the world. Highest honor ever accorded any maker. Unanimous verdict.
1851—Jury Group, International Exposition—1876, for Grand, Square, and Upright Pianos.
Illustrated Catalogue mailed on application.
Schomacker Piano=Forte flfg. Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
W OFFICIAUUDQES 1893
FACTORIES: 764, 766, 768, 770 and 77a SOUTH 11th STREET, Philadelphia, PA.

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