Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
tion, " New York and Norwalk." Now we
ask what right has this Norwalk concern
to use the name of New York, in conjunc-
tion with the sale of their instruments.
As long as they maintained a direct branch
in this city there was, according to the rea-
sonings of some, a reason why they could
use the name of our city, but whatever
right they may have had, we believe that
that right was forfeited upon the aban-
donment of their direct branch in New
York.
Is the action of the A. B. Chase Co. in
continuing to use the name of our city
upon their instruments fair to New York
mamifacturers? Is it not used with the
direct intent of giving to the purchaser
the idea that the A. B. Chase pianos have
their origin in this city? And in this
connection can any one doubt but that
there is some advantage accruing to any
line of artistic goods to have their birth-
place in an art center.
Manufacturers who payjmunicipal rents,
taxes and expenses, should have, accord-
ing to the ethics of trade, all benefits ac-
cruing from their location in industrial
and art centres.
Do the A. B. Chase Co. contribute any-
thing to our city? Have they men em-
ployed at this point? Do they pay even
rents? If not, are not the A. B. Chase
pianos falsely branded when they bear
upon their fallboard the name of New
York?
Manufacturers east and west have ex-
pressed their approbation of our attitude
in this matter from a standpoint of trade
right. We believe the officers of the A.
B. Chase Co. are pursuing a wrong course
in maintaining the stencil of our city upon
their instruments.
Some of the papers have sought to be-
little, and have spoken sneeringly of our
asking the company for a defense of their
position in this matter, but thus far no ar-
gument except abuse, and abuse consti-
tutes no argument, has been made either
by the concern, or through it, by any of
the papers which have attempted to place
a misconstruction upon our action in this
important matter.
The pages of The Review are open to
any argument which the A. B. Chase Co.
can make in defense of their position in
branding the name New York upon their
instruments. If not a defense, an explan-
ation—anything.
If our defense is weak, then it should be
easily destroyed.
There is a vital principle involved in
this subject, and no power on earth shall
prevent The Review from making a con-
sistent, fair and logical advocation of
those principles which tend toward trade
betterment. In fact, the success of this
paper is due largely to the fact that it has
always maintained the dead line between
principle and greed.
their affairs may be in somewhat of a cri-
tical condition.
•*
A gentleman in the trade has expressed
a belief that Marc Blumenberg would
not attend the banquet and reception of
the National Piano Manufacturers in
Boston.
The gentleman evidently does not know
the man to whom he refers. Of course a
sensitive man could hardly be present at
an entertainment which he had sought to
belittle in many ways; but then, pachy-
dermic Marc Blumenberg, is not troubled
with those little qualms of conscience,
which are a part of a sensitive man's
make-up.
Be there, of course he will.—The mere
fact that he has thrown cold water on the
Association in every stage of its growth
would not in the slightest prevent him
from being present to witness its triumph.
His humor is of that density that does not
permit him to note the peculiarity of his
position. Even after stooping to criticise
a typographical error in the secretary's
circular, he would still attempt to find an
opportunity in which to air his ideas.
Even the fact that he failed utterly in his
little plan at the Convention at Manhattan
Beach last year, would not dissuade him
from seeking again to spring a little pet
scheme at the June meeting, but that is
not to be.
But he'll be there just as sure as he will
hurry the vulgar little Tired Extra under
the wings of Courier pere or—
RUMORS AND RELIABILITY.
TN our opinion, trade papers to be of real
service to the trade and to hold trade
respect, must elevate themselves to a dig-
nified position, eschewing as much as pos-
sible the personal affairs of men connected
with the industry.
We see no reason why the personal af-
fairs of a man who was at one time prom-
inent with the music trade affairs of the
country, should be the subject of con-
tinued discussion in the columns of the
trade press.
Another point which is harmful to a
large degree to trade interests, is the fact
that some papers in their impetuous haste
to print news, publish matters which had
better be left unsaid, as their premature
publication oftentimes results in great in-
jury to the interests of the individual or
firms to whom the items directly relate.
Such actions usually have their origin in a
desire on the part of the editor or publish-
er to show to the world that he has a tip
on inside news, and that just a little ink-
ling of it in his columns will show that he
is not only up-to-date, but just a trifle
ahead of the ordinary newspaper proces-
sion.
This, after all, is shallowness and shows
a superficial feeling on the part of the edi-
tor who will inject into his columns this
T H E Convention of Piano Manufacturers
sort of sentiment.
which occurs next month in Boston,
Take the case of the Indicator last week
promises
to be the most notable affair in
in its reference to the New England Piano
Co. The mere publication of a rumor is the history of social and business events
not only unfair, but it oftentimes works in this trade. An exhaustive article in re-
serious injury. Such action on the part of lation to what the officers of the two As-
any newspaper purporting to represent the sociations propose to do in the way of en-
best interests of the trade should be most tertainment for the guests, appeared in
The Review of last week, and it is hardly
emphatically condemned.
necessary
to add to it; suffice to say that
The real ability of an editor of a paper
is not found in printing everything he the preparations are going steadily on and
hears, but it is in using discriminating Boston is going to show to the visiting
taste in serving up to his readers a care- members, an occasion that will long be re-
fully arranged, reliable and complete re- membered.
port of the weeks doings. A paper aug- ITANDSOMELY engraved invitations
ments in value when its utterances are
sent by the Boston Music Trade As-
found to be as nearly correct and as devoid sociation, and the National Piano Manu-
of personal animosity as it is possible to facturers' Association, to a reception and
prepare. A righteous attack upon any in- banquet to be given by the two Associa-
dividual or firm for adopting methods con- tions in Boston on June 7th and 8th, have
trary to trade good, should never be con- been received at this office.
founded with abuse, but whatever personal
feeling an editor may have toward an in-
When the war is over, we suppose some
dividual or firm, he should never go so far enterprising manufacturer will make the
as to print rumors which may be ruinously " Dewey" piano, and export it to Cuba
effective upon a concern at a time when and the Philippine Islands.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
STEINWAY AND LYON & HEALY.
some time past, rumors have not been lacking regarding the Stein way interests
in Chicago. All speculation from this time can now cease. The report reached
here this week that the Steinway piano would again be handled by Lyon & Healy.
Calling at Steinway Hall for a corroboration of the report, we were informed that
Lyon & Healy have bought the merchandise and assets of Lyon, Potter & Co., and
have also acquired the agency for the Steinway piano.
That in brief settles the matter, and the rumor reporters can now take a vacation.
Substitute for Corporation Tax. The Battle of the Roses—and
Klaber.
IT IS INTENDED TO TAX THE LARGE MONOP-
OLIES OR TRUSTS INSTEAD OF THE
GENERAL TAX UPON CORPORA-
TIONS AND BANKS SUGGESTED.
Final action on the War Revenue bill
will probably be much expedited by a
compromise on the corporation tax feature
of the measure brought forward Thursday,
by Senator Gorman.
As reported by the Senate Committee,
the bill proposes to impose a tax on the
gross receipts of all corporations and upon
deposits in all banks. Most of the debate
in the Senate has been devoted to this part
of the bill, and the opposition to the cor-
poration tax is very strong.
Senator Gorman's amendment propo-
ses to impose a tax only upon persons,
firms, companies and corporations engaged
in the business of transportation, telegraph,
telephone, gas, electric light, electric heat,
steam heat, steam power, petroleum refin-
ing, sugar refining and transporting oil or
other products by pipe lines. The rate is
made one-half of one per cent, on the gross
annual receipts of such corporations when
they exceed $250,000 a year.
It is the consensus of opinion that this
amendment will be adopted—it takes the
tax off the smaller business interests and
banks and places them on the trusts or
monopolies.
Pretty Rich.
Emile Klaber, of Automaton fame, fig-
ured in the West Side Police Court on
Thursday last. He was charged by Ar-
thur M. Rose & Co., designers and dec-
orators, with malicious mischief. It seems
that Klaber is a tenant of the foregoing
company and occupies the ground floor, at
121 West 42d Street. For five months
there has beeen a continual warfare be-
tween the Roses and Klaber over the ques-
tion of the color of a sign and the store
front. The building is decorated in a
pale orange yellow relieved by dashes of
green and pink, and with rare esthetic
taste, Arthur M. Rose insisted on Klaber
printing his signs in harmony with the
colors used in front of the building.
Klaber demurred, saying that he-would
paint his signs any color he pleased, and
proceeded to paint the signs sky blue with
gilt letters. Klaber's taste did not meet
with Rose's approbation, and someone
under the cover of night defaced Mr. Kla-
ber's sign. Meanwhile the merry war
went on for several weeks, each side in-
sisting upon his rights, much to the merri-
ment of neighbors and onlookers. Then
the case was carried to the Court, and last
February Judge O'Gorman held that the
landlord was justified in protesting against
the disfigurement of his building.
A little matter like the decision of a
judge did not worry Mr. Klaber, and again
his painters were at work with similar
activity on the part of the Roses to inter-
fere with Klaber's labors.
As a last resort the Roses secured a
summons from Magistrate Brann to re-
strain Mr. Klaber. In the court the latter
said that he was willing to end the litiga-
tion by painting the store front as the land-
lord desired, but as to the sign he reserved
the right to paint it any color he pleased.
The Magistrate after perusing elaborate
maps and studying colors, et al, could not
decide this important battle of the Roses,
so reserved decision until June 8th.
Our good friend, the Indicator, is noted
among other things, for its leaning towards
self-laudation. In a column of matter in
last Tuesday's issue, devoted to Steinway
interests in Chicago, it has much to say in
this vein:
"When any change is made in the
Steinway representation in Chicago the
Indicator will duly announce it, and not
before. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.
" It is extremely gratifying to note a con-
clusion in the Steinway affairs. The vari-
ous rumors were certainly perturbing and
Oliver Ditson Co. Report.
kept one from securing one's quota of
sleep. Now if that board of strategy at
Boston, Mass., May 24, 1898.
Washington, aided by Admiral Sampson,
The Oliver Ditson Co. have filed a certifi-
will catch and sink the Spanish flying cate of condition. J. C. Haynes is presi-
squadron we shall be infinitely happy. dent, C. H. Ditson is treasurer. Assets:
That and the Steinway rumors were en- Machinery, $1,500; cash and debts receiv-
tirely too much. One has been settled; able, $159,346; manufactures, merchan-
let the other be done up without delay."
dise, stock in process, $388,165; miscella-
And the Steinway rooms hardly two neous, $1,800; total, $550,812. Liabilities:
blocks away. Well! well! Did someone Capital stock, $300,000; debts, $250,351;
say "scoop? "
balance, profit and loss, $460,
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hoffman, of Kansas
City, Mo., celebrated their silver wedding
at their home, 514 Gladstone Boulevard,
last evening. A host of friends including
The Review, extend to the happy couple
best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
Geo. Dougherty, an engineer in the W.
W. Kimball Co.'s factory, Chicago, was
thrown from his wheel while out riding
last Sunday and is suffering from concus-
sion of the brain which may prove fatal.
Business at the Kelso factory this sea-
son has been active in both wholesale and
retail departments.
Mr. Kelso, whose
health during the past few months has not
been perfect, found much benefit from his
sojourn in Florida, and is again at his
desk.
Retail trade, ordinarily quiet at this
time of the year, has not been helped by
the extended spell of inclement weather,
which is demoralizing business of all
kinds.
The Royal Italian Opera Co., who have
been playing at Wallack's Theatre, for the
past two weeks, state in the program that
they are using, for orchestral purposes,
the Weser piano with harp attachment.
The new Regina warerooms, Twenty-
Second Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broad-
way, are now out of the hands of the dec-
orators, and stock is being rapidly placed
in position.
Reinhard Kochman, the Krakauer
"Knight of the Road," will visit the
Eastern agents of the house next week.
Mr. Kochman has covered quite some
grounds in the Krakauer interests since
the first of the year.
Work at the Gibson Piano Co. factory is
being actively carried on.
Win. F.
Boothe left on Thursday for Philadelphia.
On his return he will start for Montreal in
:
the interest of the Gibson Co.
A. B. Cameron, of the A. B. Cameron
Co., returned early in the week from,
a brief trip. He was successful in secur-
ing several desirable new connections.
The piano warerooms and factories will
be closed on Monday next,—Memorial
Day.
Chickering & Sons are now represented
in Paris, France, by F. Clafat, at 28
Champs Elyses.
Chas. H. Parsons, president of the Need-
ham Piano & Organ Co., is due in town
to-day from Europe.
H. G. Deane, of New Bedford, Mass., an
old time organ maker, died last week.
H. G. Farnham is touring the South for
the Needham.
Grass All Right.
We are pleased to see that Geo. N.
Grass, who was reported last week to be
seriously ill, has been down to the Steck
ware-rooms several times during the week.

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