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VOL XXIV.
N o . 21
Published Every Saturday, at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, May 22,1897.
From the City by the Lake.
[Specialto The Review.]
Chicago, May 19, 1897.
Traveling is a great educator; that is
why Geo. P. Bent is such a "larn'd" man.
Last year he peregrinated through the pos-
sessions of the effete "Crown" heads of
Europe, and now he has returned from a
journey through Mexico and the far West
as chipper and lively as a lark. His trip
was not only successful from a physical
standpoint—as his avoirdupois has increas-
ed—but in a business way he was highly
successful, a number of valuable connec-
tions being made, while he met many of
his representatives with whom he had not
been previously personally acquainted.
Better than all, he did not hear a complaint
about the "Crown" instruments duringhis
journeyings. Kindly words for his prod-
uct and a hearty welcome awaited him
everywhere.
Speaking of trade prospects and con-
ditions he said in a recent interview with
an Indicator reporter:
"I found affairs out West so much better
than I expected to find them that I am
greatly encouraged. There is no boom out
there—and who issofoolish as to expect it?
—but everyone is feeling much better than
at any time since the depression began. I
believe, and so do all those believe with
whom I have talked, that a permanent bus-
iness revival is at hand. In the West the
recuperative period is a little while behind
ours—that is, the East is a little ahead in
its progress toward more satisfactory con-
ditions—but everyone seems to be satisfied
with the prospects. I received some sub-
stantial orders besides making a number of
new agents that will roll up my business
considerably in the future."
Wickham, Chapman & Co., the piano
plate makers of Springfield, O., who opened
a branch foundry in this city, have, after
consideration, decided that they will not
continue the same, and the patterns and
machinery have been shipped back to
Springfield. It is not yet decided whether
they will maintain a finishing department
in the city.
Thomas Floyd-Jones, of Haines Bros.
Incor., was in town last week. It is need-
less to say he received a cheery welcome
from his old time Chicago friends. Dur-
ing Mr. Floyd-Jones' short trip West he
found business looking up in an encourag-
ing way, at least as far as the Haines piano
is concerned.
It is said that we are to have a new ware-
rooms on the West side, in the building
now occupied by Adam Schaaf on West
Madison street. It is also rumored that the
owners of the building, the Spry Lumber
Co., will be financially interested in the new
venture. Nothing definite can be ascer-
tained.
Little, in the way of news, can be gleaned
at the Kim ball headquarters; business is
good, pianos are being made in large quan-
tities, and what is gratifying, they are be-
ing sold, judging from the output. Retail
trade with the Kimball Co. is not large in
volume, but there is something new all the
time. In fact retail business in general is
not at all what was expected this spring;
all are hoping that we may have a fair
summer trade, and that things will brighten
up after midsummer.
Henry W. Chant, who was at one time
engaged in the manufacture of organs in
this city, died in Opala, Fla., May 12.
The Chicago Music Co. are now occupy-
ing the second floor of 152-54 Wabash av-
enue, where the receiver's sale is being con-
tinued.
J. L. Mahan has not left the piano busi-
ness as predicted some months ago, but has
removed his warerooms from Wabash av-
enue to the second floor of the building on
the corner of State and Van Buren streets.
Chickering Musicale.
Chickering Hall was crowded to the
doors by a fashionable and enthusiastic
audience last Tuesday, the occasion being
the closing matinee musicale of the season
given by Chickering & Sons.
The program, which appeared in last
week's Review, was of rare interest. Dr.
Hanchett gave a finished reading of Schu-
bert's Faniasie in C, op. 15 (Liszt version
somewhat abridged) and three smaller
numbers. The vocal soloists, Emilio De
Gorgorza and Mme. Torriani, commanded
considerable applause by their excellent
singing, while Frank Taft at the organ and
John A. Frank, bass trumpet soloist, made
the hit of the concert. It was a novel
feature and was appreciated so highly that
the audience were not satisfied until Messrs.
Taft and Frank gratified them with an
encore.
The closing Chickering musicale was
unquestionably one of the most successful
of the many given the past season by
Messrs. Chickering & Sons.
S3.00 PER YBAK
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS
A Wing-Ribbed Sounding Board.
[Special to The Review.]
Charleston, S. C , May 17, 1897.
Dustonsmith & Cody, who meandered
here from Plattsburg, N. Y., a little while
ago, have been getting lengthy notices in
the local papers during the past few days
over the amazing prospects in store for
their piano manufacturing business. Not
only have columns been devoted to the
subject, but a lengthy editorial has ap-
peared in the News which affords ample
evidence of the ignorance of the editor re-
garding piano making.
Dustonsmith informed a reporter of that
paper that it was the object of their firm to
build pianos for the wholesale trade. They
will make the entire instruments, mark
you, "by hand" and will have, when in
full running order, "a capacity for five to
six pianos a week." Mr. Dustonsmith said
further: "We are now working on an order
for twenty instruments for a Western con-
cern, and this is an unusually large order
for even the biggest manufactories."
In a later issue Mr. Dustonsmith points
with pride to his numerous special patents
—the "wing-ribbed sounding board" and
the "sustaining pedal."
Referring to his "wing-ribbed sounding
board" he says: "There is nothing like it
in use by any other manufacturer in this
country, and it gives the pianos a particu-
larly soft tone."
The News informs its readers that Mr.
Dustonsmith had for some time an exten-
sive piano factory in Plattsburg, N. Y.,
and has a wide experience in the business.
Fire destroyed his plant in Plattsburg, and
although he had innumerable offers from
all sections of the country offering him big
bonuses to locate, he preferred Charleston.
It is further stated that Mr. Dustonsmith
expects to get some highly skilled work-
men within the next few days from "the
Steinway Piano Manufacturing Co. of New
York, whose reputation in the manufacture
of pianos is world renowned."
This is only a "tiny" sample of the vol-
uminous gush which has been filling our
papers and which has amused intelligent
dealers and musicians.
The International Piano Makers' Union
has organized the men in the following
four shops: Wheelock, Hardman, Kranich
& Bach and Krakauer Brothers. Four
other shops are also being organized.