Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Narrow Escape from Death.
A WELL-KNOWN MUSIC TRADE MAN IN THE
RECENT WRECK ON THE "CENTRAL ROAD."
Joseph Hasslacher, superintendent forC.
Bruno & Son, had rather a narrow escape
during the recent killing railway accident
on the New York Central track, near Gar-
risons, in this State. He and Mrs. Hass-
lacher had been up the State visiting some
friends and were returning on the special.
They occupied opposite berths in the
sleeper " Hermes."
When the train slowed up and the cars
jolted, just as dawn was breaking, the
shock awoke Mrs. Hasslacher. Feeling
instinctively that there was something
wrong, she called to her husband, saying
that an accident had happened. Dress-
ing hurriedly, and taking his bearings as
best he could, Mr. Hasslacher ascertained
that the car had tilted over, leaving only
one means of exit, through the window on
the land side.
The exit was quickly made. Looking
toward the proper front of the train, Mr.
Hasslacher saw but one coach in front of
his own. Beyond that was a wide chasm.
Not a sign of locomotive, tender or coaches
missing from the track was observable.
He says, and it can readily be believed,
that the sensations felt on making this dis-
covery were peculiarly unpleasant.
A relief train came along in due course,
enabling the stranded passengers to reach
their destination without further delay.
After they had left, the car "Hermes"—
during the occupancy of which they had
been rudely ejected from the arms of Mor-
pheus—toppled over and fell into the
river.
A Novel Exhibit.
PHILLIPS A CREW CO. DISPLAY A FISCHER
PIANO TAKEN FROM A HOUSE DE-
STROYED BY FLAMES.
[Special to The Review.]
Atlanta, Ga. Oct. 25, 1897.
The Phillips & Crew company placed in
their wareroom window to-day a Fischer
p.iano that was taken from a house that had
been almost destroyed by fire.
The piano is a complete wreck, the case
having been burnt almost completely from
around the inner works, and the action
and sounding board shows the ravages of
the flames, but, strange to say, the instru-
ment is in good tune, and every note re-
sponds as promptly as before the baptism
of fire. No work whatever has been done
on the instrument, and that one should be
able to get any sound at all from the black-
ened and charred remnants is a surprise,
and each tone produced is an eloquent tes-
timonial to the wonderful character of the
Fischer piano, proving conclusively that
the instruments made by the firm of J. &
C. Fischer are of a superior character and
will withstand any usage, no matter how
abusive.
The Estey & Camp house in Des Moines,
la., has been reopened. Their new place
is at 604 Walnut street, the old location,
only one flight up.
* + -¥ An Important Braumuller Hove. * * *
THE BRAUMULLER CO. SECURE THE SERVICES OF SALVADORF LA GRASSA, ALSO HIS ORIGINAL
SCA1.ES FOR GRANDS AND UPRIGHTS—WILL BE EMBODIED IN THE BRAUMULLER
PRODUCTS JANUARY 1ST —MEANS THE OCCUPANCY OF A STILL MORE
PROMINENT PLACE IN MANUFACTURING RANKS WHAT
MR. BRAUMULLER AND MR. LA GRASSA SAY.
The infusion of new and active interests
into the conduct and carrying on of com-
mercial enterprises is always worthy of
record, no matter what magnitude the en-
terprises represent, or what branch of com-
merce.
When instances occur within the realms
of the music trades, there is reason to wel-
come them with unusual enthusiasm as in-
dicative of a healthy forward movement.
The latest, and one of the most significant
of events along this line in the piano-mak-
ing industry is one of this week's live news
items.
Salvadore La Grassa, who built up a
splendid reputation for himself and for the
firm of Hardman, Peck & Co. during his
service of nearly twenty years with that
firm, joins the Braumuller forces on
Nov. 1st and will henceforth devote his
whole time and energies to the develop-
ment of the already prosperous business of
which Otto Braumuller, president of the
company, is the leading spirit, with W. H.
Turner, the secretary and treasurer, a
close second, and Herman Braumuller ac-
cording hearty support.
The contract has been duly signed by
which Mr. La Grassa's services have been
secured for a term of years. It is well
known that he is one of the best scale-
drawers in the country, one evidence of
his ability being the immense success of
the Hardman products under his superin-
tendency, and the rapid growth of the
Hardman & La Grassa business up to the
very day when the pressure of the last
financial panic necessitated suspension.
When The Review called at the Brau-
muller warerooms for news on Tuesday
Mr. Braumuller stated that in addition
to the accession of Mr. La Grassa, negotia-
tions had been closed whereby the Brau-
muller Co. come into possession of the
original Hardman & La Grassa scales for
uprights and grands. The Hardman & La
Grassa scale for uprights will be embodied
in the Braumuller products early in Janu-
ary.
The contract accords Mr. La Grassa the
full control of the factory work for pur-
poses of production, with the supply of all
facilities necessary in carrying on the task
he has undertaken. He will accept all
responsibility for every part of each in-
strument constructed at the Braumuller
establishment.
The Review saw Mr. La Grassa on Wed-
nesday and requested a brief statement of
his views concerning the contract.
" I feel glad that the contract has been
made," said he, " because I see in its pro-
visions an opportunity to do good work, re-
flecting credit on myself, and, I trust,on the
Braumuller Co. Mr. Braumuller I admire
because he is vigorous, progressive, honest
and broad-minded. Naturally, under the
circumstances, I have been over the
Braumuller factory and made a close in-
spection. I find that he uses the best ma-
terial in the market, actions of high re-
pute and excellent quality, good designs
for cases and, by these and other means,
gives his customers splendid value for
their money.
Frankly the Braumuller
products as I find them are highly credita-
ble in every particular.
"On such a foundation it will not be
hard to build a very big patronage. The
books show good and rapidly growing bus-
iness now, done with solidjreputable firms.
My record shows that when I am not han-
dicapped by interference, lack of proper
facilities, or other unfavorable conditions,
I am able to make rapid and advantageous
headway. I do not anticipate any difficul-
ties under the Braumuller banner, and will
do my level best to raise it even higher
than it floats to-day."
Chase Bros. Style U.
The new scale style U, recently placed
on the market by the Chase Bros. Piano
Co. of Muskegon, Mich., and illustrated
elsewhere in this issue, is sufficient from a
superficial glance to show how keenly alive
this old and progressive house are to artistic
case effects. The Review can also state
that enclosed in this handsome design is a
scale which has commanded encomiums
from musicians for its purity, evenness,
volume and quality. Style U is a beauti-
ful instrument right through and one with
which dealers can make reputation and
money.
Staib Action Improvement.
The contemplated improvement in ac-
tion-making by the Staib Piano Action
Co., announced exclusively in the last issue
of The Review, will be introduced to the
trade within a few days. It will be placed
in the "Twentieth Century" Action, the
effect being to produce pianissimo without
decreasing the dip of keys, giving a lighter
touch when the soft pedal is used, and
taking up all lost motion.
WINNING ITS
WAY TO FAME
The
ERD
PIANO
UPRIGHT PIANOS
GRAND PIANOS
HARPS
Dealers should write to the
ERD PIANO CO., Saginaw, Mich.