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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
; C. J. Whitney has a large sign in front
of his place, announcing a special sale.
The pianos which he handles are those
made by the Schiller Piano Co., Ore-
gon, 111. They are as follows: The
C. J. Whitney, the ^Williams Bros, and
the Schiller. Mr. Whitney said in the
course of our conversation: "I have looked
into this piano business carefully and be-
lieve that the most money lies in a moder-
ate priced instrument. I have become a
stock-holder in the Schiller Co. and am one
of its directors." I said: "Well, Mr. Whit-
ney, it seems that you can hardly keep
away from your first love—the piano bus-
iness." He replied: "Well, I was forced
in a measure to begin in this, as I had
so many old accounts to settle up."
Grinnell Bros, have large -and imposing
quarters, which give their business a very
much better representation in the city, and
unquestionably places them in a position to
cater to a better trade than they were in
heretofore. They have a frontage of sixty
feet on Woodward avenue, and have four
stories and basement devoted entirely to
their business.
The Grinnell Bros, are born traders, and
whatever stock they trade in, they find
ready avenues to dispose of it.
" The other day," said Mr. Grinnell, " I
had a customer who traded me a hearse. I
did not know but I had struck an elephant
this time; but inside of three days I dis-
posed of that hearse for $175 cash."
The S. E. Clark Co., who are the Stein-
way agents for Detroit, have a well-planned
business establishment. You know they
purchased the stock of sheet music and
musical merchandise of J. P. Weiss, one of
Detroit's old-time music dealers. This de-
partment of the business is presided over
by a son of Mr. Weit>s.
Milton A. Van Wagoner, proprietor of
the Detroit Music Co., is one of the few
dealers I have met who eschews the
cheap piano. " W e may have to come to
it," said Mr. Van Wagoner, " but, to tell
the truth, I feel a little loath to handle
them."
C. W. Marvin, agent for the Chickering
in Detroit, evidently believes in a certain
amount of conservatism in these times.
He said: " I have cut my expenses down
to the minimum and propose to take
things easy until I see that we have
reached better trade conditions." I un-
derstand that Mr. Marvin received from
Mr. Whitney an amount approximating
$8,000 for the relinquishment of the
contract which he held, withholding the
right for the latter to use his name in bus-
iness in Detroit.
ANN ARBOR.
Down at Ann Arbor, Mich., is one of
the snuggest, best appointed factories in
this trade. It was specially designed and
constructed for the manufacture of organs.
I refer to the plant of the Ann Arbor Or-
gan Co. In these days of decadent bus-
iness, it is refreshing to run across a man-
ufacturing establishment that is. running
to its fullest capacity. And such I find to
. i i .„• 1
be the case with the Ann Arbor Organ Co.
Mr. J. C. Henderson, the general manager,
will ^have started, I presume, ere you see
this, on a trip to the Pacific Coast. Mr.
Henderson is a keen, energetic, forceful
man, and during his connection with this
trade has fully earned the reputation of
being one of its progressive members.
He has made some very good deals with
some of the best houses in the country.
Shortly, the Ann Arbor Organ Co. will
place a piano on the market, the date of
which I am not able to announce,
MUSKEQON.
At Muskegon there is located a factory
whose wares are steadily becoming wider
and wider known. The Chase Bros. Piano
Co.'s superb plant is located at this point.
Chase Bros, lay claim to the title, and
rightly, too, of being the pioneer piano
makers of the West. Braton S. Chase de-
votes his entire time to the general man-
agement of the business, while his brother,
Leon A., attends to the road duties of the
company.
Chase Bros, have been successfully manu-
facturing for the past year a second grade
to the Chase, known as the Hackley, named
after the great millionaire lumberman, who
is president of the corporation. The Hack-
ley seems to have met with warm trade ap-
proval, and is steadily growing in popu-
arity.
GRAND RAPIDS.
At Grand Rapids I enjoyed a long visit
with my old friend, Julius A. J. Friedrich.
Mr. Friedrich has the most extensive music
establishment in Western Michigan ; and
whether times are depressed or not he al-
ways conducts a fair business. Mr. Rob-
bins, his aide, has been with him for twen-
ty years, and what Mr. Robbins does not
know about selling a piano—well, it is hard
indeed to learn.
CHICAGO.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE CHICACO MUSIC CO.
When I reached Chicago the main topic
of conversation in the warerooms was the
closing of the Chicago Music Co. by the
Sheriff, which occurred, as you know, last
Tuesday night. Everywhere I have heard
the warmest sympathy expressed for Mr.
Gibbs in his present unfortunate position.
There also is much speculation going on
as to whether he will be able to resus-
citate his business and place it on
a firm basis.
To my mind, at this
time of writing the purely business feature
of the Chicago Music Co. is entirely prob-
lematical. I have heard strong condemna-
tory words expressed against Smith &
Barnes, anent their recent action against
Mr. Gibbs. Some have even expressed
themselves in indignant language, alleging
that their course was entirely too harsh and
that Mr. Gibbs has been established for so
many years and had maintained a good
business reputation, and surely wasentitled
to more consideration than he received at
their hands. At first it seemed to me that
the trade as a whole seemed to resent the
action taken by Smith & Barnes in placing
]I
the sheriff in control of the store. I have,
however, learned by years of experience
that it is well to hear both sides of a question
before expressing an opinion. Therefore,
I called upon Messrs. Smith & Barnes at
their factory and interviewed them rela-
tive to the Gibbs matter. I must say that
after hearing the presentation which they
made, I consider the course taken by them
was not only just and proper under the cir-
cumstances, but 1 can say more; and that
is—that their treatment of Mr. Gibbs has
been even more than generous. The $6,-
000, for which amount the sheriff's levy
was made, was a cash loan made for the
sole purpose of extricating Mr. Gibbs from
an unpleasant business position. He ig-
nored the payments of this loan; and it is
not correct to say that the latter action of
Smith & Barnes was entirely unexpected by
him. I saw the copy of a letter addressed
to Mr. Gibbs, which was not only courteous
in tone, but almost pleading as well; ask-
ing that he make some payment on this
loan. Smith & Barnes received noreply to
this or other communications; hence their
action. It should also be taken into con-
sideration that aside from this $6,000
money loan, for which the lev) was made,
the ^Chicago Music Co. are indebted to
Smith & Barnes f^r $2,000 merchandise
additional; besides Mr. Smith personally
has made a money loan to Mr. Gibbs. I
learn that Mr. Gibbs has been appointed
receiver for that portion of the property of
the Chicago Music Co. not covered in the
Smith & Barnes levy. That includes bills
receivable, open accounts, leases, etc. If
Mr. Gibbs can find friends who will come
forward and guarantee the payment of the
$6,000 to Smith & Barnes, I have no doubt
it can be arranged to continue business.
But under no other circumstances will
Smith & Barnes show signs of relinquish-
ment.
Mr. Bauer, of the Stultz & Bauer firm, of
New York, is here. As you know, the
Chicago Music Co. have been for years
large handlers of the Stultz & Bauer pianos.
It is possible that this whole matter was
precipitated by reason of Mr. Gibbs 1 illness.
It was not generally known that he had
been quite ill, but he had been confined to
his home for some time. Smith & Barnes,
themselves, were ignorant of this; and had
Mr. Gibbs been in good health and attended
strictly to the conduct of his business af-
fairs, undoubtedly he would have found
means to have averted the stroke which
threatens to annihilate his business.
AMKUHL BROS. WILL HANDLE THE KIMIiALL
IN PITTSHURG.
I met George E. Ambubl in the Kimball
warerooms yesterday. He told me of a
deal that had just been consummated
whereby he and his brother, C. Rollin,
under the firm name of Ambuhl "Bros.,
would handle the Kimball piano for Pitts-
burg, Pa., and vicinity. Ambuhl Bros,
have secured the old premises occupied re-
cently by the Hcndricks Music Co., Nos.
538-540 Penn avenue.
The warerooms will be opened immedi-
ately. C. Rollin is now in Pittsburg for
that purpose.
Ohmie Houghton is laid up at the Wel-
lington with an attack of rheumatism.
In the language of our distinguished
citizen, lohn Y. McKane, and applied
specifically to pianos, Injunctions don't go
here.