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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The "Cheap'* Piano Question.
In the course of an informal chat with
Geo. C. Crane, 97 Fifth avenue, this city,
a few days ago he said: " Wholesale trade
with the Krell Piano Co. is remarkably
good; the factory forces have been com-
pelled to work until ten o'clock at night to
catch up with the orders now on hand."
H. PAUL MEHLIN ON THIS TIMELY TOPIC.
It is quite apparent to those who are
brought into close relationship with the
noted piano house of Paul G. Mehlin &
Sons of this city, that the deft hand of Mr.
H. Paul Mehlin has much to do in forward-
ing the interests of this house. That Paul
G. Mehlin & Sons are making an exception-
ally fine instrument is conceded by all well
posted judges in the music trade of this
country; that Mr. Mehlin, Sr., is one of
the best scientific scale-makers in Ameri-
ca, is also more or less known, but to Mr.
H. Paul Mehlin must be accorded a full
measure of praise inasmuch as through his
ripe judgment and by his natural force and
perspicuity he has taken hold of the forces
at his command and placed the celebrated
Mehlin instruments fairly in the "top sec-
tion."
In a recent conversation on general trade
topics, Mr. H. Paul Mehlin stated in sub-
stance: "The prevailing demand just now
for cheap instruments cannot be gainsaid;
it won't last, however, and we are all hoping
that things will readjust themselves be-
fore very long. To use plain language,
those dealers who are forcing the sale of
'cheap' pianos, and selling them at big
prices, thereby comparatively killing all
chances of the sale of a higher grade instru-
ment, are simply swindling the public:
yes, sir,"repeated Mr. Mehlin emphatically,
"swindling the public, and the public
will get on to the game, and woe betide the
unprincipled dealers, when such time ar-
rives.
"So far as we are concerned,"stated Mr.
Mehlin, "we are determined to keep up
fully the price and quality of our pianos;
we will not cheapen; we endeavor to sell
as cheaply as is consistent with the highest
class of workmanship; but quality first,
second, and all the time."
The Princess Organ.
Whenever the self-playing Princess organ
of the .^Eolian Co. is brought to the notice of
a prospective buyer, the statement that near-
ly ten thousand different compositions are
available for every player is found to be a
very strong point in its favor, apart from its
other attractive features. When visiting
the ^Eolian warerooms this week, The Re-
view noted an imposing display of these
delightful home entertainers. It is no won-
der that they are finding favor with dealers
who want and can sell popular novelties of
the first class.
The Braumuller Co.
There is cheering news this week from
the Braumuller factory, 402-410 West Four-
teenth street. The head of that enterpris-
ing firm, and the treasurer, Mr. W. H.
Turner, both of whom are traveling in the
interests of the house, report splendid pro-
gress. New agents have been appointed,
good orders taken; in fact, indications of
practical appreciation of the Braumuller
products are seen and heard on every hand.
* *
The Review was present at a memorable
event last Saturday morning when the first
piano sale was closed in the new Everett
Building. The warerooms were not opened
for business until Monday; meanwhile a
feminine admirer of the " Everett " found
her way in on that day, and under the
chaperonage of Mr. Levy purchased one of
the three pianos which had just been placed
on the floor—the first one I believe. The
wonder is that there was pen or paper
around, the place was then so incomplete,
but Mr. Wright is not as slow as the build-
ers and painters, and that end of the busi-
ness was O. K.
Geo. J. Dowling, who has been helping
Mr. Wright to get things in place this
week, told me that he had received quite a
number of orders for pianos from out of
town customers, and that the factory can-
not turn out Harvard pianos fast enough
to meet the demand.
There have been quite a number of visit
ors to the Everett warerooms this week—
people who were acquainted with the piano
in the West and down East—in fact I may
say that a goodly number of retail sales
have been closed for the past few days.
This augurs well for the future of the
Everett in New York.
General Stewart L. Woodford, president
of N. Stetson & Co., Philadelphia, is being
highly recommended fora place in McKin-
ley's Cabinet. Should he be so favored the
new administration will have a strong
music trade tendency.
Vice-President
Hobart is connected with the Needham
Co., and will represent the trade in the
Senate, while General Woodford would
certainly do us honor as a member of the
new administration.
* *
When The Review called at the office
of Strauch Bros., 26 Tenth avenue, on
Thursday, Mr. Albert Strauch reported
that the demand for Strauch actions, keys
and hammers is "steady and satisfactory."
There is every reason why this should be
so. The firm take a pride in turning out
the very best, with the result that custom-
ers once gained are never lost.
*
The Review came across Geo. N. Grass,
of Geo. Steck & Co., dodging a cable car at
Union Square, on Wednesday. When asked
about business he said "somewhat spurty,
but we cannot complain. Yesterday after-
noon we sold a grand and three uprights.
If this thing continues we won't say a
word."
The bill to raise the rank and pay of the
leader of the Marine Band to that of First
Lieutenant of the Marines has been re-
ported favorably by Senator Cameron of
the committee on naval affairs. Secretary
Herbert, however, takes exception to the
rank, which he says should be second in-
stead of first lieutenant.
* *
"Although a little * quiet just now, busi-
ness so far for February with Chickering
& Sons has been much better this year than
the same period a year ago." This is a con-
sensus of the views expressed by Messrs.
Pfaffiin and Brown of the New York house
of Chickering & Sons when seen by The
Review this week.
* *
*
Tom Cannon, secretary of the Manufact-
urers Association, St. Louis, has received a
communication from a large Michigan pi-
ano and harp manufacturing company (pre-
sumably Frank H. Erd of Saginaw,) who
desire to remove their plant to St. Louis
because of the better facilities for manu-
facturing and distributing the output than
in its present location. If a deal can be
consummated, this will be the first piano
factory in St. Louis.
Hamilton S. Gordon is recovering from
a bad attack of the grip.
F. B. Burns, the stool and scarf manu-
facturer, starts this week on an extended
Western trip.
E. E. Miller, music dealer of Yates Cen-
ter, Kan., has been arrested on a charge of
embezzlement.
" J a c k " H. Spies, son of Mr. Henry
Spies of "Majestic" fame, will entertain
the officers and members of Company D,
Twelfth Regiment, of which he is a mem-
ber, at his home this evening.
Look out for a big boom for the McPhail
piano in the West.
W. P. Haines, of Haines Bros., Incor.,
is visiting Washington.
P. J. Gildemeester's eldest son is now
connected with Steinway & Sons as assist-
ant salesman.
The Armstrong vs. Steinert case has
been set down for trial in Providence, R.
I., for the 25th inst.
E. A. Potter, of Lyon, Potter & Co., is
being mentioned by the Chicago papers as
a fit and proper man for Mayor of that great
city.
Geo. P. Bent of "Crown" fame left Chi-
cago Friday of last week for Mexico. He
will be absent about two months, and will
make a thorough canvass of the Southern
rade.