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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ing with George C. Pearson, the well-
known dealer in Indianapolis, upon this
subject, he said:
" My city trade is slow yet, in fact it
has not been up to my expectations this
fall, but the trade we are getting from the
small towns adjacent is something surpris-
ing. All of my outside salesmen are doing
well, in tact we are really devoting the
greater part of our energies towards the
development of outside trade. One of my
men shipped two pianos this week down to
a small town, and I have heard from him
to-day that he has disposed of both instru-
ments."
I find that the dealers who are working
the small towns are the ones who are clip-
ping off the trade coupons this fall.
I found most of the dealers in Indian-
apolis enjoying a fair trade. Rich & Mc-
Vey are doing well with the Chickering
piano.
Mr. McVey is enthusiastic over the mer-
its of the new Chickering grand. He had
just sold one on the morning of my call.
His business associate, Mr. Rich, is in
Leipsic, where he has gone to place his
young son under the tutelage of the great
masters of the violin. Young Thaddeus
Rich, who is but twelve years of age, ranks
as a musical prodigy.
Emil Wulchner & Son, aside from a large
retail trade in Indianapolis, have a stead-
ily growing wholesale demand for their
musical instruments. They make a spe-
cialty of the "Regal" mandolins and gui-
tars, which they manufacture. Alexander
Stewart, who took me through the estab-
lishment, said that the demand for the
"Regal" goods came from the best class
of professional musicians and that their
present facilities were inadequate to meet
the call for them.
*
*
* *
On my way out I wrote that I found
manufacturers busy all along the line. On
my home run the same satisfactory condi-
tion is observed. At Ft. Wayne, there is
activity in both departments of the Ft.
Wayne Organ Co. The Packard pianos
and organs are in demand to such an ex-
tent that the factory is running overtime,
and when a manufacturing establishment
is - running fifteen hours out of the twen-
ty-four it must be conceded that they are
fairly busy.
The Packard piano is steadily winning
its way in trade esteem. Built upon those
lines of accuracy, excellence and reliabil-
ity which have made its sister product,
the Packard organ, a success, its trade
future is assured. It is well known that
the Packard organ has a world wide dis-
tribution and now the piano is a close fol-
lower. Packard pianos have been shipped
to England, South Africa and Australia.
*
*
* *
It sort of warms up the cockles of one's
heart to receive a greeting from a big bluff
King Hal like Ben Starr. It is so hearty
and so genuine that to a world-tossed
traveler it is worth going to Richmond to
get. There is honest friendship in that
strong handshake of Ben Starr's.
"Business," he said; "well, we are
just running this factory at such a pace,
I declare, I am just getting worn out; can't
keep any stock ahead and the orders just
keep pouring in upon us."
"And Ben," I asked, "have you put up
another factory addition since I was here
last spring? About every time I come out
you have extended the factory by a sub-
stantial addition, you will have the valley
covered with buildings yet."
"Just one this time,"answered Ben, and
he pointed in the direction of a red brick
extension that had been made to the Starr
factory during the summer.
Could there be stronger proof of the
popularity of a piano than is evidenced in
the steadily augmenting factory facilities
as illustrated in the case of the Starr plant
at Richmond?
The trade firmament is well illuminated
with Starrs, and their sparkling brilliancy
is undimmed.
*
*
*
*
If a powerful search-light were turned
upon the trade, where could an institution
be found which reaches out through its
various ramifications and touches the very
citadel—the inner heart of musical America
—in like manner to the John Church Co. ?
Under that corporate name are grouped
vast enterprises — the manufacture of
pianos, of small goods, the publication of
musical books and compositions; in fact,
so comprehensive is the scope of the John
Church Co. [that their influence is felt in
every hamlet in the land. In the great cities
of New York, Chicago and Cincinnati the
John Church Co. occupy imposing edifices
in the center of the trade marts in the re-
spective municipalities. No one unless a
traveler, a student and an observer can
fully appreciate the tremendous importance
which this aggregation of brains and capi-
tal occupies in the musico-industrial des-
tiny of America.
During my morning call upon Mr.
Frank A. Lee, the chief executive of the
company, he showed me a catalogue
fresh from the printers which is a distinct
novelty in the catalogue world. Its colors
are ultra fashionable green and yellow.
On the cover page in silver appears the
following, "The Everett Piano," "what
dealers say: "
:
"Read not to contradict and confute,
Neither to believe and take for granted,
But to weigh and consider."
The entire catalogue is made up with re-
productions of letters received from deal-
ers endorsing the Everett piano. The
communications are from every part of
America and tell in unmistakable language
of the high opinion in which the Everett
pianos are held by the men who have sold
them for years. In order to compile the
catalogue wholly with dealers' testimonials
it was not necessary to delve into ancient
history, as all the letters bear the date of last
summer. It is an unique and original vol-
ume, and the first I believe ever issued
containing solely laudatory words upon
any make of piano by the men who have
actually sold it. Such literature is convinc-
ing in that it carries a merchant's opinion,
which of necessity must be a practical opin-
ion.
I suppose you have all read of the grace-
ful speech made by Lucien Wulsin, presi-
dent of the Commercial Club, on the occa-
sion of President McKinley's recent visit
to Cincinnati, when he was the guest of
honor of the club. George W. Armstrong,
his business associate in the Baldwin Co.,
is away on a visit to the Pacific Slope; he
will be absent several weeks and will jour-
ney as far north as Vancouver.
I learn that the health of Mr. D. H.
Baldwin, that honored member of the
Cincinnati house, has much improved.
Business with the D. H. Baldwin Co., I
am informed, in all their products, Bald-
win, Ellington, Valley Gem pianos and
Hamilton organs, is most gratifying.
Albert Krell, Sr., said:
" We are very busy down at the factory.
Both the Krell and Royal pianos are in
big demand; we are sending out a big num-
ber of pianos weekly."
Ernest Urchs told me trade was excel-
lent, "particularly," he added, " i n high
grade pianos. I have just returned from
New York and the news I received while
there was so encouraging that I doubled
my order for Steinway pianos."
A call upon the retail establishments in
Cincinnati elicited the information that
trade was fair.
*
*
* *
Since the first of September, with but a
short tarry at the home office, I have been
in constant travel, and methinks about
the 20th inst. I shall once more sight the
old familiar walls of Greater Tammany town
and bid farewell for a few days at least to
Hotel de Pullman.
Dewing Hust Pay His Fine.
[Special to The Review.]
San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 6, 1897.
Judge Carroll Cook yesterday denied the
application for a rehearing in the case of
Dewing, the piano dealer, who was con-
victed of assault and battery on a lady
from whom he was attempting to recover
a piano that had been sold to her on the
installment plan. Dewing will therefore
be compelled to pay his fine of $250. His
companion, Shepherd, will share the same
fate.
SELF-CONTROLLING
SELF-OPERATING
Perfection Has at Last Been Reached.
THE "AUTONO"
PIANO ATTACHMENT
is the only practical and reliable self-playing at-
tachment on the market which can be applied to
a piano without disfiguring it. Musical results are
marvelous.
Considered by experts to be the
KING OF ATTACHnENTS.
Can be placed in an instrument in twenty-four
hours by any tuner. Built to last and give satis-
faction. We invite investigation and correspond-
ence. This attachment should not be confused
with any devices hitherto sold to the trade as
piano attachments. It is unique—unequaled.
WEBER, GOOLriAN & CO.,
rianufacturers of the " Autono" Self-playing
Attachment.
7 West 14th Street,
New York.