Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 25 N. 4

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
most reliable and authoritative reports, are
shaping themselves toward a decided im-
provement in business the coming fall.
Much of the present activity is due to the
desire of
manufacturers
to have a fair
amount of stock ready for the fall.
they are acting wisely.
In this
The increase in
the volume of trade this fall will be decid-
edl} T marked, but—observe the qualification
—not sufficient
exertions.
and
to compel extraordinary
The betterment will be steady
healthy, and
manufacturers should
Visitors to Chickering Hall these days
are amazed at the wonderful transforma-
#
#
tion effected in the appearance of that noted
The populist and free silverite will soon musical landmark. The entire building,
from roof to cellar, has been renovated and
lack employment!
Crops all over the
a number of repairs, alterations and im-
country are bountiful, and prices, owing to provements made in the hall and other
a shortage in Europe, are steadily advanc- parts of the building looking to the com-
ing.
fort of visitors.
It is a long term of
The outlook for the agricultural element years since the building presented such a
never was brighter, and good times with spick and span appearance as it does now,
and Mr. Brown is entitled to congratula-
the farmer means good times all around.
tions for his work in this connection.
The populists and free silver men who have Through his thoughtfulness and enterprise,
asserted that wheat and silver move togeth- and by the aid of painters, decorators, etc.,
er had their theories exploded in the recent he has virtually prepared a new hall for the
rise in wheat and decline in silver. Thurs- public.
*
*
*
*
day silver touched the lowest price ever
The prosperity of the farmer means the
recorded for the white metal in this city,
prosperity of the dealer and manufacturer;
while wheat is steadily advancing. One hence the careful crop reports made to the
year ago wheat sold in New York at 6 3 ^ railroad companies whose iron steeds trav-
cents a bushel: Thursday it closed at erse the great grain growing regions of the
85^ cents. Silver on July 22d, 1896, sold West are highly significant. These reports,
at 69.25 cents an ounce; on July 22d, 1897, as the harvest draws near, tell this week of
unusual crops everywhere. They indicate
its price was 59.45 cents an ounce.
beyond question that the country's yield
Such a condition of affairs must show of wheat, corn and oats is to be greater
even to prejudiced minds that there is this season than for many years past.
With this good news comes also tidings
something in the law of supply and demand
of a great foreign demand, so great that
after all. All crank theories must be swept
the price of wheat is now 19 cents a bushel
aside by the returning wave of prosperity higher than it was a year ago. This ad-
as a wreath of mist disappears before the vance in price, even without a greater crop,
morning sun.
would pour money by millions into the
laps of the farmers.
H
\
The reports show that these conditions
In our list of summer resorts for mem- are producing their legitimate results—a
bers of the music trade we have failed to general revival of confidence and a great
discover one of our craft who has sought the increase in the consumption'of general mer-
cooling regions of the Klondike fields. chandise. The merchants all over the
West are stocking up. Their purchases
Alaska temperature would be very satis-
have so increased that many of the rail-
fying in these humid July days, but from roads are running 100 to 150 more cars a
reports all over the country which indicate day than they did last year.
*
*
*
*
good crops and prices as well, it means that
The
outlook
at
the.
South
seems equally
the music trade will have a pretty good
encouraging. The cotton crop is generally
gold mine to work in its own field without
in good condition, and the price of cotton
going to Alaska to find the yellow metal. is quite one cent a pound higher than it
was a year ago. On an average crop of
7,000,000 bales this advance means no less
Steinway Sails.
than $35,000,000 added to the incomes of
Chas. H. Steinway accompanied by his the cotton-growers.
These things lie at the basis of prosper-
wife sailed for Europe last Thursday on
the steamer " Fuerst Bismarck." It is ity. All wealth is ultimately dug out of
some forty odd times that Mr. Steinway the ground, and when the yield of the earth
has journeyed across the Atlantic, and he is so greatly increased as it promises to be
thinks no more of taking a trip to the other this year, both in amount and in value,
side than the rest of us do to journey out to very little else is needed to restore pros-
perity throughout the land.
• Chicago.
work along these lines.
If the promise of the harvest fields is
fulfilled it will be hard for theorists to per-
suade a thriving people that they need
monetary panaceas to keep them out of the
poorhouse.
The.case of the farmers has certainly
been hard for several years yast. It has
been a principal cause of discontent and
the fruitful
mother of wild financial
schemes. With that betterment which is
now so surely approaching, the occupation
of the demagogue and the Utopian dreamer
will be gone. At its best this country is
itseLf about as good a Utopia as has ever
been known.
*
*
*
*
Everybody—that is, the prominent mem-
bers of the trade with whom The Review
has talked recently—expects a good, rous-
ing speech, chock full of "meat," from
"Fighting Bob" Widenmann, of Strich &
Zeidler, at the forthcoming Manufactur-
ers' Dinner. One thing sure, if he decides
to speak—and there is no reason why he
shouldn't—there will be few ambiguous
phrases, but big nuggets of common sense
can be looked for. " B o b " Widenmann
has a national reputation as a speaker, and
is a man of warm impulses, which always
lean to the right side.
*
*
*
*
In an Omaha, Neb., paper bearing date
of July 17, I notice a conspicuous ad.
from the Mueller Piano and Organ Co.
of Council Bluffs, Western branch of
Hardman, Peck & Co. of this city, in con-
nection with which there appears an im-
posing illustration representing Queen
Victoria presiding at a Hardman grand
piano,above which is the following caption:
"Her gracious majesty the Queen of Eng-
land playing on her Hardman piano at
Balmoral Castle." This enterprising West-
ern house also inform the public that they
sell the "Royal Hardman," Harrington
and other pianos. The "Royal Hardman"
is something new. The announcement is
unique.
*
*
*
*
An Italian genius has invented a mechan-
ical orchestral conductor which is said to fill
a long-felt need in Italy, and would doubt-
less be as much appreciated here. The di-
rectors of the bands in Italian cafes chan-
tants are called upon to play the violin or
the piano besides conducting, so the most
that they can do is to start the music and
then every member of the orchestra con-
tinues it in accordance with his own idea
df what it ought to be. Two mechanics of
Turin have invented a remedy for this
lamentable state of affairs which ought to
be useful in some of the east side cafes and
concert halls here.
This invention puts an automaton in the
director's seat, and in his hand is a baton
which is operated by the pedals of the pi-
ano on which the conductor is playing; or
if he happens to be a violinist the pedals
are placed near his feet in such a way that
he can move the arms of the automaton as
freely as if they were his own. The me-
chanism has already been tried in Turin
with success, and the amusement it created
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
would cause the idea to seem an unmixed
blessing if it did not appear dangerous to
increase the number of mechanical direct-
ors by any means.
*
*
*
*
A man who seems always impervious to
torrid or humid weather or any of the con-
flicting cares which come to the surface in
business operations is A. M. Wright, the
genial manager of the local Everett ware-
rooms. No matter how often you visit this
establishment, and no matter how busy he
is, he finds time to extend a warm wel-
come and make you feel just at home.
Mr. Wright is by no means a demonstra-
tive man. Although the personification of
alertness and progressiveness, yet there is
a quiet dignity about his movements which
are opposed to undue display whether in
public or private life. He is a thorough
believer in "deeds not words," and while a
warm friend of the newspaper man he is a
pretty hard man to get to talk about himself.
Under Mr. Wright's management the lo-
cal establishment has made steady progress
since its inception, and the record at the
close of the fiscal year was in every way
encouraging. Next fall some important
moves can be looked for which will tend to
advance the Everett interests not only in
this city and locality but wherever the
Everett piano is sold.
A Remarkable Instrument.
Mr. Demorte Wood, of Indiana, after
eighteen years of scientific application of
the various string instruments, has com-
pleted a guitar, with zither, mandolin and
various other attachments, which have
created a stir in the music world. By the
simple pressure of a finger the sweet trill
of a mandolin is blended with that of a
zither, while he himself fingers the accom-
paniment of a guitar. The weight of this
wonderful instrument is eighteen pounds
and is carried around in a case made
especially by the Professor, containing all
tools necessary to the guitar.
Mr. Wood is a master of all string instru-
ments and is an American by birth. His first
attempt at this instument was a double neck
guitar. His next addition was the mouth-
piece, acts as a performer, before the zither
tremolo. Next was the mandolin, which is
put in motion by a set of clock works on the
inside of the box wheel at the end of the
instrument gives speed to the picker. It
is cone-shaped, and as the spring runs
down the cord moves down the cone, and
acquires steady motion. The fingering is
managed by the mouthpiece. It moves up
and down the neck on a small wheel which
governs the two extra treble strings; there
are four extra bass strings, which are
manipulated with the thumbs. The tremolo
combination is very remarkable for its
great similarity to the human voice, the
instrument itself being of a sweet tone,
and the very soft, mellow sound of the
tremolo and zither together with the soft
trill of the mandolin, which makes one of
the grandest combinations imaginable.
J. H. Procter, the Braumuller Co.'s
road representative returned from Europe
on Monday last. He is preparing to " take
off his coat," metaphorically speaking, and
start in "bright and early," to do some
effective
hustling for the Braumnller piano.
R. C. Kammerer in speaking to The Re-
view on Thursday, relative to the trade
Karl Fink and Edmund R. Wanckel, of
dinner at Manhattan Beach on August 18th, this city, attended the annual meeting of
said that letters of acceptance are coming the stockholders of the Little Falls and
in satisfactorily and everything points to Dolgeville Railroad Co., held in Dolge-
a large attendance and a successful dinner. ville last Wednesday.
Charles Keidel, Sr., of Wm. Knabe & Co.,
During the visit of the delegation of
accompanied by his wife sailed for Europe Spanish-American merchants to Detroit,
this week inthe Fuerst Bismarck. They will Mich., last week, the Farrand & Votey Or-
land at Cherbourg, pay a short visit to gan Co.'s plant proved quite an attraction
Paris, then journey on to their destination to the visitors.
in Switzerland.
M. F. Hyatt's music store at Belton,
Enrique Heuer, the popular music trade Tex., was damaged last week by fire and
dealer of Mexico City, who has been in the smoke to the amount of $600. Loss cov-
States for the past month, leaves for home ered by insurance.
to-day by way of Vera Cruz.
Paul M. Zeidler, of Strich & Zeidler,
Arrangements have been consummated made a flying visit to Dolgeville, Tues-
whereby the Boylston Piano Co., of Boston, day of this week and was entertained by
will represent the celebrated Steck piano Mr. Shelsky, of Stultz & Shelsky, the pi-
in that city.
ano case manufacturers.
Albert Krell, Sr., will visit New York on
T. Bahnsen, the piano manufacturer, of
Aug. i, staying a short time and combin- St. Louis, is in town, and will tarry a while
ing business with pleasure.
within our gates, picking up trade point-
Geo. E. Poulter, who has been known for ers while he is enjoying the sea breezes.
many years as an agent for musical instru-
Stephen Brambach, of the Estey Piano
ments in Greenville, Mass., died in Denver, Co., accompanied by his wife and family,
Col., last Monday, where he journeyed a left on the new steamer of the Hamburg
week before with the hope of fighting off line yesterday. Mr. Brambach will take a
consumption. A widow and daughter well-earned vacation and will visit his
survive him.
birthplace at Bonn, Germany.
The thieves who broke into the music
C. W. Oster of Rochester, N. Y., and
store of Fred Caperio of Jersey City and Geo. R. Fleming, Philadelphia, were visi-
the man who received the stolen goods tors to the Everett warerooms during the
pleaded guilty this week and were sen- week.
tenced by Judge Hudsbeth.
Levi M. Pierce, music dealer, Spring-
Estey & Camp's branch house at Des field, Mass., has sold out his interest in the
Moines, la., has been closed by order of business to John O'Shea, who has been as-
J. B. Wilbur, the trustee.
sociated with him for the past nine years.
L. S. Sherman of Sherman, Clay & Co.,
The Southwestern Band Association,
San Francisco, was in town this week on at Carthage, Mo., held a three days reunion,
his way to Europe. His family have re- commencing last Monday. Bands were in
sided for some years in Paris.
attendance from Springfield, Lebanon, Mt.
It is understood that Chas. E. Bourne, of Vernon, Purdy, Pierce City, Neosho, Jop-
Wm. Bourne & Son, who last week was lin, Webb City, Diamond and Carthage. A
granted a discharge in insolvency on the number of contests were held, and prizes
basis of ten cents on the dollar, will resume given.
manufacturing in Boston, and at the old
We are compelled to hold over for our
quarters, instead of in the West, as men- next issue an exceedingly interesting lec-
tioned by some of our contemporaries.
ture-recital entitled "Some Old Chapters of
Keyboard
Literature and How They Should
Vaughn & Tanner, of Detroit, Mich.,
have purchased the Tees & Leonard stock be Interpreted" given by Prof. Dunkleyof
of sheet music, which was sold on foreclo- Albany, N. Y., at the recent Convention
of the N. Y. Music Teachers' Association,
sure, for $1,025.
In its last issue, the Chicago Musical in which the adaptability of the "Crown"
Times pays P. J. Healy, of Lyon & Healy, piano was set forth most effectively as a
a well merited tribute anent his unfailing medium for interpreting the works of the
courtesy, approachableness and kindliness old masters.
of nature. Few men are more worthy of
this well-meaning and timely compliment.
The exports for the fiscal year ending
June 30, which have just been given out
by the Bureau of Statistics, were the largest
in
the history of the country, exceeding by
William Knabe and Charles Keidel, Jr.,
arrived from Europe on Saturday last, and over $21,700,000 the largest preceding to-
tal, which was recorded in the year 1892.
returned to Baltimore.
Mason & Hamlin Visitors.
Representatives of Mason & Hamlin
from Buenos Ayres, Jamaica, W. I., and
New Zealand are in town this week select-
ing stock and completing arrangements
for a further extension of the firm's busi-
ness in their respective territories.

Download Page 5: PDF File | Image

Download Page 6 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.