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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Mason & Hamlin Co.
A VALUABLE NAME WHAT IT STANDS FOR PROD-
~ 'S'UCTS, ORGANS AND PIANOS, OF SUPERIOR
•
EXCELLENCE—NEW STYLES FORCES
"•WELL ORGANIZED FOR A BIG
. TRADE THIS YEAR.
The name of Mason & Hamlin is of great
importance in the artistic world of music. It
is a household word wherever civilization ex-
ists. Through its association with the cab-
inet or parlor, and, more recently, through
such magnificent organs as the "Liszt," which
have elicited the praise of great masters like
Guilmant, as well as the productions in the
field of piano-making which represent high
attainments in the art industry, the name has
a force and a value which cannot be overes-
timated. The instruments that bear the name
of Mason & Hamlin have the brand of that
high artistic approval which stamp them as
being of especial merit.
It is hardly necessary to expatiate on the
conceded excellence of the organs made by
the Mason & Hamlin Co. They have always
maintained a supremacy as among the best
in the world; excelling, indeed, in the more
important qualities generally. For thorough-
ness of workmanship and material, elegance
of cases, and musical excellence, they have
obtained a pre-eminent reputation which has
hardly been precedented in any country by
that of any musical instruments whatever. At
the great world's exhibitions they have always
obtained the highest honors in competition
with the leading makes of the world.
During their career as piano manufacturers
the Mason & Hamlin Co. have cleaven closely
to those principles which have won them such
distinguished success in the organ field. They
have sought first and foremost to make their
pianos musical instruments in the truest sense
of the word.
The Mason & Hamlin scale—which is virt-
ually the soul of a piano—has been drawn
with the utmost care and skill by an acousti-
cian of experience. This has resulted in a
tone which is recognized by musicians as be-
ing refined, pure, and sympathetic. Many
important improvements are embodied in the
Mason & Hamlin pianos, the best modes of
construction are. employed; their special mer-
its have been recognized by experts, and they
have been widely received into popular favor.
During the period of business depression
which is now happily passing away, the Ma-
son & Hamlin Co. have been engaged in
strengthening their forces in a business way;
they have also been engaged in the produc-
tion of a number of new styles of pianos which
are not only so attractive as to command the
approbation and the attention of the public,
but they are remarkable developments in the
tonal field, as well as embodying a variety of
constructive principles which are peculiar to
this house.
Taken all in all, the Mason & Hamlin pi-
anos of to-day are so perfect in case-work, in
scale, in touch, and in tone that they appeal
strongly to the musical taste. They are
worthy of every recognition. They fittingly
sustain the reputation of an institution which
has done much for the promotion of musical
art in the United States.
The Mason & Hamlin pianos are now man-
ufactured not only on the screw-stringing
' principle, which is a specialty of this house,
but also on the pin-block system. They are
modern pianos in the truest sense of the word.
They are splendid illustrations of the progres-
siveness of this distinguished firm. They are
instruments that will augment the reputation
of the dealer handling them.
The Mason & Hamlin pianos, particularly
the new styles, will be pushed during 1897
with more than the usual vigor. At present
there is a large and growing output in Chi-
cago, in this city, and in Boston; in fact, they
are handled by a number of progressive rep-
resentatives in different parts of the country.
Under the leadership of Mr. E. P. Mason,
who, apart from his conceded ability in the
commercial sphere, is undoubtedly one of the
most cultivated and intellectual musicians in
the piano trade, the Mason & Hamlin pianos
will become more active factors in the trade
field than ever before. Dealers who happen to
become identified with their representation
will, if they possess ability and progressive-
ness, receive the loyal support of the house,
and, with enthusiasm on both sides, success
must come as a matter of course.
We hope in the near future to present illus-
trations of some of the latest styles of the Ma-
son & Hamlin pianos. We think it will be
conceded that architecturally they fulfil our
opinion of them, but it is impossible to form
a fair judgment of the remarkable specimens
of piano-making which the Mason & Hamlin
Co. are now turning out, unless a personal
examination is made. We predict a great
popularity for the Mason & Hamlin products
during 1897. It will be a reflection on the
good judgment of the trade and the public
if they fail to receive due recognition.
Make an Assignment.
Manley B. Ramos & Co., piano and organ
.dealers, 203 E. Main Street, Richmond, Va.,
made an assignment for the benefit of their
creditors on Monday last, January 25th. The
assets are estimated at $40,000.
Released and Rearrested.
CHARLES C. YATES, FORMERLY WITH THE JESSE
FRENCH PIANO COMPANY, IN MORE TROUBLE.
Charles C. Yates, who was arrested some
time ago on a charge of embezzling from the
Jesse French Piano Company, of St. Louis,
Mo., is in more trouble. O. W. Orr, of Coult-
erville, 111., sent John Nesbit, of that place,
to St. Louis to arrange with the authorities
of that city to have Yates taken to Illinois.
Nesbit was told he could not have the man
until his case was settled.
Nesbit then went before Assistant Prose-
cuting Attorney Johnson and swore out a
warrant against Yates, charging him with be-
ing a fugitive from justice.
After the second warrant had been issued,
Yates was given a preliminary hearing in the
Court of Criminal Correction in the first case.
Judge Murphy discharged him. As he was
leaving the court, he was re-arrested on the
second warrant and will be taken to Coulter-
ville, unless habeas corpus proceedings are
commenced.
Haseltine Wants Rent.
TEST SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST N. STETSON & CO.
Charles F. Haseltine, owner of the Hasel-
tine Building, 1416 Chestnut street, Philadel-
phia, which was destroyed by fire on Febru-
ary 2, 1896, has brought the most peculiar
suit against N. Stetson & Co., the piano deal-
ers, that has ever been instituted in Philadel-
phia.
It is to recover rent for the warerooms
they were to have occupied until January 1,
1898, when their lease expires. The rent
agreed upon was $1,000 a month, and, should
the N. Stetson & Co. lose, they would have
to pay $22,000 for twenty-two months' rent,
although they receive no benefits from the
building. The case has been postponed three
times, but will come up for argument at the
next term of the Common Pleas court.
The suit is brought under the common law,
which dates back to feudal times and declares
that unless a tenant be protected by a fire
clause in his contract, he is liable for the rent
as it comes due.
There were nearly fifty tenants in the build-
ing, including lawyers, architects, dentists,
artists, physicians, and music teachers, and,
although suit has been brought against only
one, they are all in the same situation, and
will be liable for rent of rooms in a building
that scarcely exists, if Colonel Haseltine wins
his case.
The Legislature has never changed this pe-
culiar old law and the issue is of great in-
terest to landlords, tenants, and insurance
men, unless the court decides that the com-
mon-law proviso does not apply.
The hearing will be a public service in
warning tenants with long leases to have a
fire clause inserted in the contracts, and per-
haps some member of the Legislature will in-
troduce a bill to amend the old law.
Wages in the Piano Trade.
In the Fourteenth Annual Report of the
New York Bureau of Statistics of Labor, just
issued, considerable space is devoted to the
question of wages in the industries of the State
covering a period of five years, to the average
cost of living during that time, and to the
volume of business done by the firms report-
ing.
We notice that the average wages of the
employees coming under the heading of " mu-
sical instruments and materials " for each of
the five years included in the Bureau's inquiry
are as follows: 1891, $685.78; 1892, $668.77;
1893, $512.36; 1894, $577-34; 1895, $604.69.
According to the report, the lowest weekly
wages received by pianomakers are $3.50, the
highest $18, and the average $10.83.
To Australia, New Zealand, and
Africa.
The Weaver Organ Co., of York, Pa.,
continue to report a magnificent foreign trade.
The closing days of last week they made a
shipment of forty-four organs to Australia
and New Zealand. They also shipped on the
same day four organs to Algoa Bay, South
Africa.