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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
upon to test the Knabe concert grand, and
needless to say she simply electrified her select
audience by her matchless playing. What is
of greater importance, however, was her splen-
did indorsement of the new scale Knabe in-
strument. She expressed herself as being most
highly gratified with the magnificent instru-
ments placed at her disposal.
Strich & Zeidler.;
" Orders are coming in very nicely," stated
Mr. W. Strich to The Review on Thursday
last. " We are more than pleased with the
trade outlook for 1897."
From a close personal knowledge of the
men who control the destinies of the Strich &
Zeidler house, and having taken special pains
to acquaint ourselves with the intrinsic value
of their product, we feel fully justified in again
reiterating our belief in the exceptionally good
prospects in store for this enterprising firm.
Strich & Zeidler are men of few words, but
they know their business from A to Z; both
partners are practical piano men, who look
upon piano-making as an art rather than a
mere mercantile calling.
Their instruments possess merit—special
merit. They are the outcome of much thought
and careful and elaborate experiment. The
house is conservative and sound. Mr. Robt.
A. Widenmann, also a member of the firm, is
not only a gentleman of considerable erudition
but one of the hardest and most successful
workers on the road. He is widely known and
always welcomed by his numerous friends.
Strich & Zeidler are right in line, and it will
well repay live dealers to carefully examine
their excellent product.
Krell Enlargement.
Certain plans are under consideration by the
Krell Piano Co., of Cincinnati, whereby their
local branch house, The Geo. C. Crane Co.,
will be reorganized, new capital interested, and
larger warerooms secured. The project is
not yet sufficiently developed to give details.
It may be said, however, that around the first
of February definite particulars will be forth-
coming.
It is no doubt true that when a new inven-
tion is introduced which revolutionizes some
particular art or branch of business, it at first
decreases the number of persons employed in
that particular line; but that is only temporary,
for in a short time the result is a cheapening of
the product, a greatly increased demand for it,
because of this cheapening, and then neces-
sarily an increased demand for laborers in that
line, and almost universally at increased wages.
The statistics show this to be true beyond the
possibility of a question. The records of the
Labor Bureau of the United States show that,
from i860 to 1880, the most prolific period of
inventions, and the most intensified in all di-
rections of their introduction, the population
increased 59.51 per cent., while in the same
period the number of persons employed in all
occupations—manufacturing, agriculture, do-
mestic service, and everything—increased
109.87 per cent., and in the decade from 1870
to 1880 the population increased 30.08 per
cent., while the number of persons employed
increased 30 per cent.
C. J. Heppe & Son, the Philadelphia music
trade dealers, are the owners of a patent at-
tachment for pianos called the " Vibraphone."
We are pleased to say that Frank H. King,
the Wissner ambassador, has about recovered
from his recent attack of illness and is up and
around again.
At the dinner of the Boston Music Trade
Association, to be held at the Hotel Brunswick
this (Saturday) evening, it is expected that the
Governor of Massachusetts, the Mayor of the
eity of Boston, and delegates from the leading
mercantile associations of that city will be
present. Representatives of the music trade
from Chicago and New York have also prom-
ised to attend.
The new baby grand piano which has been
placed on the market by the McPhail Piano
Co. of Boston has been highly praised by com-
petent judges.
The " First Zobo Band of New York," a
Harlem organization, recently presented W.
H. Frost, the well-known zobo manufacturer,
with a handsomely framed photographic
group of its members. The picture is 15 x 18
inches in size, and has been accorded a prom-
inent position in Mr. Frost's private office, 123
Liberty Street, this city.
F. G. Smith has contributed one hundred
dollars toward the McKinley inaugural fund
through his Washington branch house, of
which W. P. Van Wickle is manager.
Some party or parties unknown, in Benton
Harbor, Mich., have such a love for music in
their souls that last week they carried off the
church organ, stool, and gospel music from
the Franklin Church, Berrian Centre. The
sacrilegious burglars covered their escape so
cleverly that they are, according to latest ac-
counts, enjoying the gospel hymns in perfect
security.
The Newell Block, State Street, Ogdens-
burg, N. Y., in which is located the Ogdens-
burg Music Store, was almost destroyed by
fire the closing days of last week. The music
store, which is located on the first floor, very
fortunately escaped with slight damage, most-
ly caused by water.
The Needham Piano & Organ Co. have se-
cured Messrs. Blasius & Son as their Phila-
delphia agents—a very excellent deal, which
will be of value to both concerns interested.
Charles H. Loomis, of C. M. Loomis' Sons,
New Haven, Conn., was a visitor to the Strich
& Zeidler factory, this city, on Thursday last.
The firm are enthusiastic Strich & Zeidler rep-
resentatives and do an excellent trade with
these instruments.
Robt. C. Kammerer, of Geo. Steck & Co.,
is actively interested in the several celebrations
being held in honor of the fiftieth anniversary
of the Leiderkranz.
Geo. P. Bent, manufacturer of the " Crown "
pianos, of Chicago, will visit Mexico in the
near future.
Cyrus Gill, a former music dealer in Charles-
ton, S. C, died at his home in that city last
week. He was born in London, Eng., and was
in his eighty-second year.
Benjamin Thomas, for many years book-
keeper for Samuel Hamilton of Pittsburg, Pa.,
died in that city last week.
John A. Boyden, who was at one time con-
nected with F. G. Smith's piano-case factory
at Leominster, Mass., died last week at his
home in Fitchburg, Mass. He was forty-
three years of age.
G. B. Miller, music trade dealer, Rochester,
N. Y., suffered some loss from damage to his
stock of pianos by a fire which occurred next
door on January 1st.
John Lichtenburg, a piano maker employed
in a Morrisania piano factory, his wife, and
two children were found insensible at their
home in North New York Wednesday night
of last week. Escaping gas is supposed to be
the cause. After heroic work the doctors suc-
ceeded in saving the lives of Lichtenburg and
one of his children.
A fiddle-maker in Maine says that a good
fiddle is made of good sound wood and good
sound sense.
A petition to Major McKinley, urging the
appointment of Chas. H. MacDonald to the
Consulship of Vienna, is being signed by the
New York trade.
George S. Wheeler has opened a music store
at Nashua.
The M. Steinert & Sons Co., of Providence,
R. I., will remove about March 1st, from their
present location in the Billings Block, corner
of Westminster and Union Streets, to the
Studley Building, corner Westminster and
Moulton Streets.
The Kimball Piano Co., of Toledo, O., have
removed from the Chamber of Commerce
Building to 414 Adams Street.
The business of the Wenzel Music House,
Charleston, S. C, formerly run by the late
Theo. Wenzel, will be continued by Mrs. J. F.
Wenzel.
Boston has always been celebrated for her
pianos. The manufacture of standard instru-
ments was well established there long before
the industry began to gain a foothold in other
cities of the country. With all the competition
of late years Boston has retained supremacy
in the making of all grades of pianos and has
set the standard for the entire country.
The Trade Directory, which is a feature of The
Review each month, is complete. In it appears
the names and addresses of all firms engaged in
the manufacture of musical instruments and the
allied trades. The Review is sent to the United
States Consulates throughout the world, and is
on file in the reading rooms of the principal hotels
in America,