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VOL. XXIV.
No. 4.
Published Every Saturday, at 3 East FourteeHW^SUeet.' New
In The West.
WICKHAM, CHAPMAN & CO. PURCHASE THE GARDEN CITY FOUNDRY PLANT E. S. CONWAY REFUSES
MR. NORTHROP'S ADVANCEMENT STEGER ELECTION HOCKEFT-PUNTENNEY CO.'s
AFFAIRS BETTER FEELING IN THE TRADE A TOLEDO DEALER
ON THE PIANO BUSINESS OTHER NEWS.
Wickham, Chapman & Co., the piano plate
makers of Springfield, O., made a very im-
portant move this week when they purchased
the extensive plant of the Garden City Foun-
dry Co., this city, which became involved
some months ago and was sold in Court on
Monday last. They will hereafter manufacture
in Chicago, and their headquarters will be es-
tablished in this city. This will bring them
directly in touch with the trade, and it is evi-
dent that they are going to cater more actively
than before for patronage.
Mr. E. S. Conway, of the W. W. Kimball
Co., received a despatch from Representative
Thiermann, from Springfield, O., on Monday
last, desiring to know whether he would al-
low his name to be presented for United States
Senator to the caucus which was to be held
that evening. In answer Mr. Conway tele-
graphed as follows: "While I am not un-
mindful of the high compliment paid me by
the ' Tribune ' vote and also by friends and
representatives, in urging my name as a can-
didate for United States Senator, I beg leave
through you to say to my friends in the Legis-
lature that I am not a candidate for the office."
Thus ends the big effort made to force Mr.
Conway into politics.
The good news reached us on Wednesday
that that popular and estimable gentleman
John W. Northrop had become a member of
the Emerson Piano Co. He has done splen-
did work for the Emerson in this city. As a
worthy representative of the industry and an
all-round square man, Mr. Northrop deserves
every honor that can be thrust upon him.
On Monday next the new town of Steger
will elect officers for the ensuing year.
Whether John V. will be the first mayor re-
mains to be told.
I understand that the Hockett-Puntenney
Co., of Cincinnati, are to meet to-day (Wednes-
day), in that city for the purpose of getting an
idea of the financial standing of the concern,
and if satisfactory, continuing the business.
There is a little better feeling prevailing in
trade circles this week, and orders have been
coming in pretty lively right along the line. It
looks now as if spring trade would be early.
.nuary 23, 1897.
$3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
Booming the Norris & Hyde.
The B. Drehers' Sons Co., are doing some
splendid advertising for the Norris & Hyde
Transposing Piano in the Cleveland, O., pa-
pers. One advertisement which we noticed
in the " Plain Dealer " of January 16th, has a
very neat design at the top containing a piano
and the words " Norris & Hyde Transposing
Piano," underneath which appear, " used in
Cleveland by Professor Wilson G. Smith, Pro-
fessor C. B. Ellinwood, music teachers; Lewis
Burgess, of Odeon Quartette; G. T. Leighton,
director Criterion Chorus; Ralph Worthing-
ton, C. A. Krauss, tenor singer, and many
others.
The W. W. Kimball Co., Steger & Co., Story
& Clark are busy, while the retail trade with
the J. A. Norris Co., Lyon, Potter & Co., Lyon
& Healy, the Emerson Piano Co., the Manu-
facturers' Piano Co. is very fair. There is an
excellent demand at Steinway Hall for high-
priced pianos.
I noticed in a Toledo, O., paper—the
" Blade," I believe—a talk with a leading
jEolian Affairs.
dealer in that city about the piano business.
Among other things, he was asked, " How
A magnificent style V, Orchestral
about the price of pianos as compared with that
in figured burl walnut, the retail price of
of ten years ago? " I consider his reply worthy
which is $1,350, adorns the imposing ware-
of mention. He said:
rooms of the /Eolian Company, this city.
" You perhaps would be surprised to hear
In speaking of the instrument to The Re-
that there is no change in the wholesale price
view during the week, Mr. E. R. Perkins
in standard makes from that of ten years ago.
stated: " We have had a big sale for style V,
Any change in retail price must come by the
as a matter of fact this is the first one we have
retail dealer cutting down his profits. Piano
had on view in our warerooms since we started
factories make the fight on the quality of the
manufacturing them, and the instrument you
piano. They maintain the old price, but put
see is actually sold and being held under pro-
greater worth into it. This applies to all
test. We have sold two of these instruments
standard makes.
to-day, and have no difficulty in placing all
" There is another class of manufacturers
we can manufacture."
who work to put up a cheap piano. They take
The heavy demand by the trade for the
culled lumber, and, paying no attention to
yEolian
" Princess" organs continues un-
knots, throw a piano together and put it on
abated.
This marvellous little instrument
the market at a low figure, but a comparison
seems
destined
to achieve phenomenal popu-
with the high grades of pianos will show the
larity;
sold
at
$75 retail, and from a tonal
difference. The fact is, manufacturers cannot
standpoint
being
absolutely perfect, the de-
make good pianos any cheaper than they
mand
for
same
will
undoubtedly only be
could ten years ago. Their employees cost
limited
by
the
supply.
them as much, and lumber is certainly no
" The ' Princess ' business is on the jump,"
cheaper. Hence they maintain the old price."
^stated Mr. Perkins, " they are selling like hot
Among the visitors to town this week were
cakes. You will perhaps notice that we have
F. B. T. Hollenberg of Little Rock, Ark., C.
somewhat improved the general appearance
A. Elmendorf of Minneapolis, and Albert
of the instrument by adding a high back and
Krell, Jr., of Cincinnati. J. R. Mason of the
substituting a fancy fall board for the plainer
Sterling Co., and Mr. Blake of the McPhail
one we used at first. We supply the instru-
Piano Co., are expected in town.
ment in oak and mahogany."
Lyon and Healy are plaintiffs in a replevin
suit in the Superior Court to recover posses-
Andrus with Weber-Wheelock Co.
sion of a harp alleged to be worth $400. The
V. R. Andrus, until recently a piano dealer
defendant is Gertrude I. Robinson, a music
teacher. The plaintiffs allege that the instru- in Kansas City, Mo., has made arrangements
ment was sold to the defendant on time, the with the Weber-Wheelock Co., of this city,
price being $400, and a mortgage given. The whereby he will occupy the position of floor
defendant is now, it is alleged, $133 in debt to salesman for that firm on and after February
1 st.
the plaintiffs, and in default in her payments.