Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
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From the Editor's Note Book.
YORK
[BRARY
ASTDR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
BOSTON S NEW HOTEL—THE MAGNIFICENT CHICKERING GRAND PLACED THEREIN VALUE OF
PIANOS IN PUBLIC PLACES DIVERSITY OF TRADE OPINION REGARDING THE FUTURE
OF THE CHEAP AND MEDIUM INSTRUMENTS VOSE PROGRESSIVENESS—BUSI-
NESS PROSPECTS—HENRY F. MILLER UPON ASSOCIATION FUTURE.
HE question has oft been pro-
pounded to me during- my
tarry in Boston, "Have you
seen the Touraine?"
The Touraine is Boston's
new hostelry located on that
spot of ground where the Steinerts won
their spurs as great factors of the Boston
trade, likewise a bonus on their lease of
a cool $100,000, and where Thomas F. Scan-
Ian, that potent force not only in the piano
trade of Boston, but in the nation as well,
also conducted a vast music trade emporium
On that ground is erected a hotel which
for aesthetic fittings throughout is perhaps
unsurpassed by any other hotel in Amer-
ica. The glory of catering to the musical
tastes of the patrons of the Touraine has
fallen upon Chickering & Sons, as their in-
struments have exclusive sway in the new
building. A Chickering grand specially de-
signed for the Touraine is located in the
main parlor, and I noticed it came in for no
small share of the attention, and I may add,
admiration from the people who thronged
the ( hotel during the first two or three days
following its inaugural as a public hostelry.
A number of Chickering pianos will short-
ly follow to complete the musical equipment
of the hotel.
There is no question in my mind as to
the advantages accruing from placing pia-
nos in such hotels as the Touraine, the
Waldorf and other of our leading hotels
which are patronized by the very best class
of citizens.
Take that magnificent Chickering grand
which reposes in the parlor of the Tou-
raine. It certainly must impress every
visitor who has an eye for the artistic, and
such impressions are retained on the sen-
sitive plate of the brain for many years
and oftentimes result in business augmen-
tation for the firm whose art products are
thus displayed.
There is one particular point which I
believe it is desirable to make in this con-
nection, and that is this: In my travels
over America I have often noted the fact
that instruments in hotels are not at all
times kept in perfect condition.
I think this is a great mistake. If it is
worth anything to have a piano in a promi-
nent public position, and no one would
dispute but that it is, it is worth at least
enough to maintain the instrument at all
times in perfect tune. I have been present at
musicales held in the parlors of different
hotels where instruments of some of the best
makers have been played upon, and have
noted that man) r comments were made by
those present not complimentary to the
instruments upon which various artists
have played.
I think if manufacturers would counsel
their representatives in every city where
they have pianos placed in public places to
see that the instruments are at all times
kept in tune, they would reap much more
beneficial results than at the present time
accrue to them.
It is interesting to note the diversity of
opinions regarding the future of the piano
business. There are some who believe
that notwithstanding the tendency to ad-
vance prices in everything that pianos will
steadily descend in price, and that the inter-
mediate piano in time will become almost
extinct. Then there are others who assert
that the cheap piano must steadily advance
in price, as many have been selling them
at less than the cost to manufacture, and
that with the increased cost of materials it
will approach so nearly to a medium
priced piano that it will be merged into
that grade, so to speak.
Others who have abiding faith in the
discriminating qualities of the American
people to purchase pianos of high merit
have refused to yield to the cheap craze
which has been dominant in all parts of
the country during the past three or four
years.
Then, of course, among the oldest makers
are the names which have added lustre to
the piano industry, whose mechanical
achievements will forever brighten the
pages of piano history, and who know that
there will always be some people who will
gladly pay for instruments upon whose fall
boards are imprinted names which are
synonyms for all that is good and great in
the piano maker's art.
We are not endowed with that gift of fore-
sight by which we are enabled to thrust
aside the veil which separates us from the
future and base our actions upon a cer-
tainty of what is to come.
That there are changes constantly going
on no one for a moment will dispute, and
just how far these changes will affect the
piano industry as a whole is at the present
time problematical.
The attitude of the Vose concern during
the period of depression furnishes an ex-
cellent illustration of a firm who believe
that with the dawn of better times people
will demand better goods instead of those
of inferior make.
The number of new Vose styles prove
beyond argument that progression per-
meates every part of the mechanical de-
partment of the Vose interests. Their
latest creation, style "P," the novel intro-
duction of which has been the subject of
much comment in the trade, is unques-
tionably a magnificent instrument. In
case work, design, and close attention to
detail work, it is an instrument which
reflects much credit upon the progressive
qualities of the Vose house. Style " P " is
destined to still further augment the Vose
fame.
While writing of the new Vose creation
I must add that there is a still further
novel feature which has not as yet been
published regarding its trade introduction.
We have all seen that mysterious " P "
which has appeared in the various trade
papers, but now all loyal Vose agents wear
a reproduction of the famous letter "P,"
as Vose buttons bearing the " P " imprint
they have already been distributed to the
Vose contingent throughout the country.
*
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*
*
Owing to business engagements I was
unable to accept the invitation sent me to
attend the celebration of the golden wed-
ding of Mr. James W. Vose, the honored
head of the Vose company.
*
*
*
*
Retail trade in Boston is already feeling
the inspiring touches of early fall. There
is no misinterpreting the signs every where
seen throughout New England. The pi-
ano trade in common with other industries
will enjoy a satisfactory fall trade.
In accordance with a circular letter is-
sued to the stockholders of the Mason &
Hamlin Co., a special meeting of the
stockholders of that concern will be
held at the company's office, Cambridge-
port, on September 14, in the after-
noon. The call is issued to consider the
increase of the working capital of the com-
pany by $100,000.
*
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*
*
Henry F. Miller said to me while con-
versing upon association topics: "It is my
opinion that the national association which
was formed at Manhattan Beach will re-
sult in promoting better conditions in this
trade. I believe that when the impression
is entirely removed that it is farthest from
the association's desire to interfere in the