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
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.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Hugo Sohmer Talks on Fall Trade
AND OTHER TOPICS OF GENERAL INTEREST TRADE REFORMS—THE NEED OF A CREDIT
SYSTEM PIANO ARCHITECTURE GRAND APPRECIATION OUTLOOK FOR EXPORTS
PRICES OF PIANOS THE "COMMERCIAL" PIANO VALUE OF TRADE JOURNALS.
In the course of a round of visits in the
called at the Sohmer warerooms. After
-an exchange of greetings, it was noted
that Hugo Sohmer had just disposed of
his morning's mail and was enjoying a
brief respite from the almost incessant
•demands made upon his time by corres-
pondence and customers.
The opportunity to learn Mr. Sohmer's
views on current topics seemed too good to
be lost. The Review therefore determined
to secure for its readers his opinions,
always well worthy of consideration by
reason of his experience in the business of
piano manufacturing and the conspicuous,
uncontradictable fact that owing to his
enterprise and sound judgment the firm
of Sohmer & Co. hold a foremost place in
the ranks of those who have earned legiti-
mate prosperity.
"Mr. Sohmer," said The Review, "do
you think that with the passing of the new
Tariff law our old-time prosperity will
return?"
"Certainly I do," he replied, without
hesitation, "but I am not sanguine enough
*to look for any sudden improvement. A
year from now, perhaps, when the pro-
posed changes have made their effects felt
through every section of the country, there
ought to be, and I believe will be material
signs of a strongly marked change for the
better. Still, from now on, a gradually
growing difference will be plainly per-
ceptible."
"From this, The Review gathers that you
look for a healthy fall trade this year, and
a somewhat greater demand in proportion
than was experienced in the fall of 1896?"
"Yes," responded the head of the house
of Sohmer, "even without the new tariff
we were making; ready for a big call in
September and following months. With
it, I think a satisfactory season can reason-
ably be expected.
"One thing we have to bear in mind in
connection with anticipated prosperity on
the strength of new tariff legislation.
The piano and kindred trades must wait
for their share in the promised good for-
tune. Direct benefit must, naturally, be
enjoyed first of all in those branches of in-
dustry dealing with the necessities of life.
We furnish the people with luxuries—
things they can do without until money is
plentiful. Hence, as I said in effect just
now, it would be foolish for us to expect a
sudden change in the near future. Those
who make calculations on any such basis
will be sadly disappointed. We must be
content to wait until it comes to our turn,
meanwhile enjoying whatever extra patron-
age the luckiest of fortune's favorites may
place within our reach."
"How does the volume of Sohmer busi-
ness during the past twelve months com-
pare with that of the year preceding?"
"Favorably. Like all other manufacturing
firms in which the books are systematically
kept, we can readily compare, month by
month. Not very long ago I went over
the ground indicated in your question and
found that each month of the twelve just
past shows an increase over the correspond-
ing period of the year before. I noted
that the increase was more remarkable in
the local retail departments than in the
wholesale. The latter, however, shows a
good average of increase right along."
' 'It is well known, Mr. Sohmer, that you
keep abreast of the times, and it is also
well understood that you have the interests
HUGO SOHMfcR.
of the trade at heart, doing all you can to
help in maintaining its prestige and
dignity. What is there, at this present
time—taking, as it were, a bird's-eye
view of the piano manufacturing industry-—
that, in your judgment, needs reform?"
"Looking at the trade from the stand-
points you suggest," Mr. Sohmer answered,
"there is but one important matter I care
to mention. But I deem it very important
and worthy, I think, of serious considera-
tion. The system of credits now existing
in the trade is, in my opinion, too loose.
It needs careful readjustment upon a more
safe and prudent basis. Such reform, if
wisely carried out, would be highly bene-
ficial to all parties. Credit is necessary
in every branch of commerce, but I take it
that there is something to be learned by
us from other industries in this matter."
"Concerning some of the more recent in-
stances where names of firms and trade
marks have been imitated with seeming
fraudulent intent, do you agree with The
Review that piano manufacturers ought to
unite without further delay for self-protec-
tion?"
"I do. For certain reasons I have re-
frained thus far from participating in
movements having this or similar ends in
view, but it would be an immense benefit,
in my opinion, if, as in Germany, manu-
facturers joined for protection of commer-
cial interests against fraud of every kind.
Properly managed, in a business-like way,
for business purposes, much good could
and doubtless would ensue."
"Do you look for any radical changes of
style in piano making, Mr. Sohmer?"
"No. Those at present in use appear to
meet ordinary requirements. If there is
any fault, I think it may be that customers
do not get a sufficient choice. The rule of
our firm has always been to keep a good
variety of styles. Some firms, on the
contrary, are averse to variety. Our
experience has proved that the greater
the choice we have to offer the better
the chance of doing business. There
is one point I think of. It has often
occurred to me that we in the United
States hardly treat this matter of
variety in styles with sufficient con-
sideration. In Europe, experts—the
very best that can be found—are kept
constantly at work making new de-
signs. It is the rule. Here it is the
exception, and if we are to maintain a
strictly up to date attitude we must
pay more attention—and, incidentally
more money-—for a development of
this branch of our industry."
"What veneers are most in demand
for the Sohmer pianos?"
"The call for mahogany veneers
largely exceeds that for cases of any
other wood."
"Judging from observation, Mr. Soh-
mer, do you think purchasers of pianos
lean, in their desires, more to grands
than to uprights?"
"Yes, the tendency is in that direc-
tion among those who are able to
procure instruments at good figures.
For that reason, as well as others, we have
developed our "Baby Grands," until now
we are able to give visitors and repre-
sentatives a choice of four styles. This
is unusual, but necessary. Nor have we
had any occasion to regret our enterprise
in this branch."
"How about exports, Mr. Sohmer? What
is the outlook for the exportation of Amer-
ican pianos in the near future—any better
than in the past?"
" I am afraid not," was the response.
" So far as Europe is concerned at any rate.
People over there have their own ideas
about pianos, and we can hardly undertake,
after all expenses are paid, to supply the
best of our products at a price liable to
tempt purchasers away from home manu-
factures. But in the other direction the
outlook I think is very bright. Mexico,
Central and South America, and neighbor-
ing places are full of promise for us. Even
in the Orient there is a growing demand.

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