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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
W. W. Kimball Co.
REVIEWLETS.
THE POLICY WHICH HAS MADE THEIR HOUSE
AND PRODUCTS KNOWN THE WORLD OVER
EXEMPLIFIED IN THEIR ARTISTIC
ADVERTISING.
The bill introduced in the New York Sen-
ate by Senator Guy making it a misdemeanor
to fraudulently advertise or misrepresent
goods for sale, and which was passed by the
Senate ten days ago, was favorably reported
by the committee on rules to the Assembly
Wednesday.
The vote in favor of it was almost unani-
mous. This bill is supported by the Mer-
chants' and Manufacturers' Board of Trade,
and should be effective in preventing the
private house sales of pianos now so com-
monly made through misrepresentation. It
also affects fraudulent fire and auction sales,
and if properly applied, should be prolific of
good results.
Governor Black is said to be in favor of
the measure, so that almost insures it becom-
ing a law.
An unique and exceedingly artistic achieve-
ment in the line of publicity is the advertise-
ment elsewhere in this issue from the W. W.
Kimball Co., Chicago. The utilization of
such a charming and poetic idea as is ex-
pressed in the illustration is in keeping with
the trend—so apparent in this field particu-
larly—to subserve art to commerce. Such
advertising commands and holds the atten-
tion of the reader, and incidentally brings on
the mental stage the great Kimball firm,
which have been distinguished by the energy,
integrity and ambition of the men identified
with the destinies of this establishment.
The history of the Kimball house may be
said to be the history of the modern West.
The growth of the business—from the meagre
proportions of the past to the present, when
Kimball pianos, reed organs and pipe organs
have attained a world-wide popularity, with
an output yearly in the tens of thousands—
speaks more eloquently of the standing of the
house and the popularity of their products than
any words that might be printed.
In the development of this enormous busi-
ness, immense plant and the attainment of
such marvelous prosperity, the Kimball Co.
have ever recognized the value of advertising.
They have spent millions of dollars in bring-
ing their goods to the notice of the public,
and it has been a big dividend-paying invest-
ment.
In this department, Albert G. Cone, treas-
urer of the company, is entitled to especial
praise for his originality in ideas and masterly
ability in execution. He is an expert who
understands the value of art in advertising,
and moreover, has a proper comprehension
of the value of words.
Meanwhile, with due appreciation of the
part that advertising has played in the up-
holding of the Kimball interests, it is to the
commanding intellect of the head of the firm,
W. W. Kimball, aided by Messrs. Conway,
Cone and Kimball, Jr., all of whom are in full
possession of a knowledge of the possibilities
and tendencies of the music trade—that is
due the credit for the altitude occupied by
the W. W. Kimball Co. in the commercial
field of this country.
W. W. Kimball in his various moves re-
minds one of Gen. Grant. He says little,
arid as our Ethiopian friends would say, "does
a pow'ful lot of thinkin', 1 ' a n d mark you, just
like Grant, he "always gets there."
The New England Piano Co.
In the New York and Boston establish-
ments of the New England Piano Co. busi-
ness is reported as active. Some of the lat-
est productions of this concern now on ex-
hibition at the Boston headquarters are com-
manding unusual attention and have been
warmly praised by dealers. Thomas F. Scan-
Ian, president of the company, is making pre-
parations for an active campaign during '98,
and as a consequence the New England
pianos are going to be more in evidence than
ever before.
The foreign trade of the United States
during February, according to the preliminary
figures just issued by the Treasury Depart-
ment, showed a gain in exports of over
$15,100,000 and a decline in imports com-
pared with the same month a year previously
°f $6,155,000, the figures being: Exports,
1898, $94,981,017; 1897, $79,821,086. Im-
ports, 1898, $53,082,117; 1897, $59, 2 37,377-
For the eight months ending in February
there has been an increase in exports of $78,-
371,858 and a decline in imports of $28,-
806,428.
The musical harvest season is reaching its
end. Pol Plancon sailed away to Europe on
the Normannia Thursday, after one last sweet
song at Wednesday's Astoria matin6e. Raoul
Pugno gives his last piano concert at Indian-
apolis Thursday night, and will leave this port
for France one week from to-day. It is said
that the tidy sum of $30,000 will accompany
Monsieur Pugno on that trip. Other soloists
are buying the usual letters of credit for
presentation at European exchanges, and the
American season accordingly sees its finish.
No better proof of the healthy and normal
condition of the country is needed than to
note the amount of gold which is flowing in
every week from abroad. It furnishes an idea
of the growth of our foreign trade and the
confidence the moneyed interests of Europe
have in the United States; it, moreover,
blocks any drift toward a stringency in rates
for money.
"Order is Heaven's first law" and it is also
law at the small goods factory of the John
Church Co. in Cincinnati. A short time ago
an order was promulgated by the firm pro-
hibiting the workmen from "rushing the
growler" while at work. This, however, was
disregarded the other day, and as a result five
men are now hunting for positions. This
should serve as an object lesson to other em-
ployees.
On the Maine coast experimenters are try-
ing to get gold out of salt water. There was
a time, not very remote either, when experi-
menters were trying to get gold out of the
piano business. They, however, overlooked
the venerable proverb which refers to the
dangers which beset him who "hasteth to be
rich."
Frederick L. Wing, a real estate broker
and at one time connected with the firm of
Wing & Son, dealers in pianos at 449 West
Thirteenth street, this city, committed suicide
while delirious from pneumonia at his home
in Brooklyn, last Tuesday morning. Mr.
Wing was thirty-eight years old, and was a
member of several prominent Brooklyn clubs.
Ferdinand Mayer, manager of the local
house of Wm. Knabe & Co., has been given
some very gracious "send-offs" by the daily
papers in connection with the recent an-
nouncement that he had been admitted to an
interest in the Knabe corporation as well as
directorate.
The Gabler showrooms are now filled with
choice examples of the latest Gabler styles in
grands and uprights. Local trade, whole-
sale and retail, and out-of-town business in
air sections, is active—so active that the im-
mense resources at the factory are continu-
ally brought into play in order to keep pace
with the demand.
The music store of Voliva & Johnson at
Havana, 111., has been purchased by the Rev.
C. A. James. This is rather a harmonious
combination—the saving of souls and the
selling of pianos. They are both mighty hard
to accomplish sometimes.
Mr. Nahum Stetson, of Steinway & Sons,
is at Old Point Comfort for a short vacation.
C. M. Southall's music store in Florence,
Ala., was damaged by fire and water on March
19th, to the extent of $750. There is an in-
surance of $6,500.
Among the dealers who called at the Soh-
mer warerooms during the week was Mr.
Kluppelberg, of Hagerstown, N. J.
"Very busy," is the report this week at the
Gibson factory. Mr. Boothe left town on
Monday for a three-weeks' tour.
Thos. La M. Couch left town on Tuesday
for a lengthy tour in the interests of the "G.
& K." His last trip was very successful.
flay Sell the $6,000 Strad.
The genuine Stradivarius, valued at $6,000,
now on exhibition at the Krell warerooms, is
likely to find a purchaser. A visitor who
called early in the week saw it and was seized
with a violent desire to become its possessor.
Money is no object to the man who wants it,
and as he knows it is worth infinitely more
than the price asked, its sale is likely to be
recorded in the near future.
SGHAEFFER PIANOS
Established in New York 1876.
The daily papers for the past few days re-
port the annual spring tale of floods, with the
opening chapter in Ohio. The towns flooded
included Springfield, in which are located the
piano plants of Wickham, Chapman & Co.
and the O, S, Kelley Co.
In Chicago, 188
HIGH GRADE AT MODERATE PRICE
Factory at Rlvervlew, III.
Capacity, Two Hundred Pianos per month
SGHAEFFER PIANO MFG. CO.
Office, 239-241 Wabash Avenue, Chicago
Reorganized and Incorporated January, 1898