Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
It should be further understood that
this increase is not confined to a partic-
ular line of manufactures; on the contrary,
it includes about all that we make and
sell.
Such astonishing figures will demon-
strate that the inventive skill of America,
when backed by the wonderful productive
power of this country, means that the in-
dustrial banner of Anglo-America will be
dominant in all lands. Small wonder it is
that such a country hardly realizes that a
war is going on. If newspapers all over
the land would give prominence to such
figures, emphasizing the progress that
America is making in manufactures—at
least a modicum of the prominence which
they give to sensational war reports, then
they would be conferring upon the country
untold good.
The fact is, the more we analyze this
question of the dominancy of America,
the more we are brought face to face with
the facts that we have here a young, vig-
orous country, rich in resources, rich in
inventive skill, rich in everything which
makes a country, and we should more and
more realize that our skirmish with Spain
has hardly yet risen to the dignity of
war.
The newspaper men of America exercise
a potent influence in shaping public mind.
Public opinion, to a large degree, is
moulded by the opinions expressed in the
columns of the papers. The press is the
great power; its machinery is so vast that
a great newspaper can obtain news quicker
than the cumbersome machinery of the
Government, the reason being one is well
organized, and only ability counts in a
newspaper office, while there is too much
politics and nepotism in the conduct of
our Governmental affairs.
The newspapers, therefore, then should
be patriotic. They should extol America's
greatness when confronted with such
amazing figures as we print. Such action
on their part would lend renewed confi-
dence to the business man, to the investor,
to the speculator, to the merchant, to the
holder of weekly earnings. All would be
influenced in the right way if the news-
papers would only take up the battle, in-
ject a little less sensationalism and a trifle
more of real Americanism into their col-
umns.
Wendell Phillips once said: "The
Newspaper is parent, school, college, pul-
pit, theatre, example, counselor, all in one.
Every drop of our blood is colored by it.
Let me make the newspaper, and I care
not who makes the religion and its laws."
Then let the newspapers be worthy teachers
•—not vendors of sensationalism.
T T is really interesting to a veteran news-
paper man to see the fuss and feather s
used by some papers at a convention.
Take the trade congress in Boston last
week for illustration. Some of the trade
papers evidently desirous of impressing
the delegates with their importance were
early on the ground with a complete staff,
some as high as four men: all for what ?
To report two banquets, because it was
well known that newspaper men were not
to be admitted to the Convention pro-
ceedings.
The Review had one representative
present, and if that representative had
failed to make a complete report of the
doings in Boston we should have dis-
charged him. This institution is composed
of working newspaper men, and if we have
a man on the force who can not report a
convention fairly he'll be looking for
another position—and that shortly. Not-
withstanding the enormous preponderance
of staff by which some of the other papers
were represented in Boston, it may be
truthfully said that The Review and one
other paper, The Music Trades, were the
only ones having anything to say editori-
ally regarding the trade congress. There
is a difference between conducting a bluff
campaign and one for straight business.
O A N the National Association handle a
more important topic than the one
which embodies credit, for, after all, what
is the basis of credit?
Is it not character?
Character counts continually for credit.
Then, is not character the only true basis
for credit?
If a man purchases a bill of goods to-
day, which a merchant knows that he has
not the money at hand to pay for, what
induced him to grant credit to that indi-
vidual? Is it the money he possesses?
No, it is the character of the man, and
naturally of course, his capacity for busi-
ness.
\ 17E speak sneeringly of "Jersey Jus-
tice," and yet Jersey has far
eclipsed the Empire State in the justice of
her libel laws. The law of libel as it now
stands on the statutes in Jersey makes it
necessary for a plaintiff to show malice in
order to establish a case against a news-
paper, and it also provides for the punish-
ment of any person who gives libelous, or
false statements to a newspaper for publi-
cation..
It is said that A. M. Bronson, for many
years dealer in musical merchandise and
jewelry, at Susquehanna, Pa., will retire
from business,
The fourth annual meeting of the Music
Publishers' Association of the United
States was held at the Broadway Central
Hotel, this city last Tuesday. The offi-
cers and executive committee were unani-
mously re-elected.
It is stated that the suit of Haines Bros,
against Haines & Co., asking for an in-
junction, has been discontinued.
At the Kranich & Bach warerooms this
week The Review noted, in the exhibit
room devoted to grands, an admirable ex-
ample of the Kranich & Bach products
recently completed. It is a Kranich &
Bach Style A, Parlor Grand, in figured
mahogany. It is in every way a perfect
instrument, containing every modern im-
provement and embracing all of the Kran-
ich & Bach patents. The desk, with
carved top, and fancy edging, is from a
special design by Mr. Helmuth Kranich,
the head of the firm, and is as tasteful as
it is elegant.
Jacob Doll will pass the next three
months at his country seat, Connecticut,
the post office address of which is Bantam,
a name, by the way, which seems singu-
larly inappropriate for Jacob Doll.* Noth-
ing small sized about him either in self or
actions.
Adolph Slomosky has developed an as-
tonishingly good trade throughout the
County of Westchester. Mr. Slomosky is
manager of a very tasty and appropriately
fitted warerooms on Fourth avenue, Mt.
Vernon. He not only controls an excel-
lent trade in the city, but he has worked
the adjacent territory with excellent re-
sults.
As I understand it the announcement of
the retirement from the manufacturing
field of the Brown & Simpson Co., of
Worcester, Mass., is a trifle premature.
While some changes are anticipated in the
company, it is also stated that the Brown
& Simpson piano will continue to be
manufactured.
Mr. Shapiro, music dealer, of Bel Air,
Md., has recently remodeled his establish-
ment, putting in large show windows and
a variety of other improvements which
will make his establishment most attractive
and help to display to better advantage
the various lines of goods which he is
carrying.
H. J. Burtis, piano dealer, Trenton, N.
J., has a column or two devoted in the
Trenton papers regarding his treatment of
a man to whom he extended considerable
assistance, who showed his appreciation of
Mr. Burtis' kindness by appropriating a
substantial cash payment on a piano with^
put notifying Mr,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
and the money we have been sure of all
the time. Now we know, the ships are
O. K. Time, patience and skill will do
the rest?"
dorsed by their customers in numerous
instances, otherwise we would not be in
receipt of so many duplicate orders."
known houses in the trade is interested in
the patent, although their name does not
appear in the suit.
George Reichmann, of Sohmer & Co. :—
William R. Gratz, of William R. Gratz
'' There seems to be no reason why the
fall trade should not be a healthy one, but,
to my mind, it would be folly to expect
any special demand based on the sudden
influx of coin and currency, now being
distributed in payment of war expenses.
That is rather too long a reach, from my
own point of^ view.
"Concerning the Sohmer products, the
indications for fall are in line with what I
have just said. Like our neighbors, we
enjoyed—or, rather, we did not enjoy—an
almost complete rest from the interrup-
tions of customers for a week or two after
war was declared, but matters are now
assuming a normal condition and will
probably so remain."
Henderson East.
& Co.:—"Will the war affect the Fall
trade? Yes. I believe it will affect it—
favorably. Naturally, at the beginning,
there was a brief period of uncertainty.
Now, the people know that victory and
triumph will crown their efforts to free
Cuba for the sake of humanity. Evi-
dences of coming increased prosperity are
here—yes, right in front of me, on this
desk.
" If there were any doubts in the public
mind as to the outcome, we might expect
a gloomy time ahead. But there are not,
nor can there be any doubts. For this
reason, the Fall is full of promise. The
people will be happy, as they have every
right to be, and our Symphonions will, I
hope, add to their happiness."
John Weser, of Weser Bros.: — " W e
cannot say that the war has hurt our busi-
ness. For a couple of weeks or so there
was a lull, but it has been more than com-
pensated for since the strength and gen-
eral effectiveness of the navy have been
proved. As for the fall trade, we feel that
it will be unusually active.
"Fortunately, the latest addition of at-
tachments, as used in our five-pedal in-
struments, has hit the popular taste. We
cannot make them fast enough. I am
now working on some other instruments
which, in my opinion, will show a decided
advance over anything now on the market.
Yes, we shall have a busy fall."
A. E. Paillard, of T\. J. Paillard & Co.:—
"Our out-of-town advices, added to obser-
vations made when traveling recently,
lead us to believe that the fall business in
our branch will be very satisfactory.
There will, in our opinion, be a big call
for ' Criterions.' It is this belief, based
on a knowledge of the trade and trade con-
ditions, that has led us to prepare an ade-
quate supply to meet the expected demand.
"We have not felt any bad effects worth
mentioning of the so-called ' war-scare.'
For a few days there was a dropping off in
the number of orders received, but that
has been made up, and the month's total
in the books fails to show anything like
the suspended animation supposed to pre-
vail in all branches of the trade. We
found this belief in a healthy fall trade
prevalent among those we visited."
Charles H. Parsons, President of the
Needham Piano and Organ Co.:—"I cov-
ered this ground pretty thoroughly in a
general way when The Review asked for
my views two weeks ago. Concerning the
fall trade, specifically, I am convinced that,
when the early fall arrives, conditions will
be such, agriculturally and otherwise, that
a prosperous season must ensue. And we
shall all be ready for it."
Steinert's Woonsocket Branch.
[Special to The Review.]
Woonsocket, R. I., June 10, 1898.
The M. Steinert & Sons Co., the great
New England music concern, has added
one more establishment to its many
branches by opening piano warerooms in
Woonsocket, at room 6, Longley Building.
The concern will carry a selected line of
pianos here, is one of the oldest piano
firms in the country, and its goods are of
substantial value. Capt. A. W. Seaholm,
R. S. A., late of His Majesty's consular
service, will manage the local branch for
the M. Steinert & Sons Co., and Mr. A. P.
Cote will be the salesman.
Suit for Alleged Infringement.
Suit was recently commenced against
George Howlett Davis and Fred C. Alden,
trading as the Pianophone Co., by Roswell
P. Smith, of Nashua, N. H., through E.
Klaber, attorney in fact, who owns, as in-
ventor, a large number of fundamental
patents for electric and mechanical self-
John D. Pease, of the Pease Piano Co.: playing piano devices, asking for a writ of
— " I believe we shall have a good fall injunction restraining the defendant from
business, and are making every prepara- directly or indirectly making use, vending,
tion for it. Our books do not show any or putting into practice or use, or in any
very perceptible falling off since the war way counterfeiting or imitating an im-
began. It is a slow season, anyway. provement in self-playing piano attach-
Nobody expects to be overrun with orders ment, patented under letters patent of the
between May and September, except for United States, No. 346,237 to Roswell P.
fall delivery.
Smith. The bill of complaint was filed in
"We are not short of fall orders, and the Circuit Court of the United States on
the indications are favorable for many the 13th of April, 1898. The well-known
more. Without exception, our styles for patent attorney, Jerome Casty, is the
1898 have taken well with dealers, and attorney for Messrs. Smith and Klaber.
their judgment has evidently been in- One of the most responsible and best
J. C. Henderson, manager of the Ann
Arbor Organ Co., is East on a business
trip. Mr. Henderson came in to pay his
respects to The Review Wednesday and
said during a conversation: "Business
with us is holding up wonderfully well.
We feel decidedly encouraged as to the
outlook for fall trade. I have made a
number of stops on my way East, and feel
that my trip has been successful."
Grass Convalescing.
An operation for appendicitis was per-
formed on Geo. N. Grass at the New York
Hospital last Saturday. Mr. Grass was in
excellent physical condition, and his
splendid recuperative powers have been
well proven in the rapid improvement
which he has made since the operation. It
is well, too, that it was not delayed later
as serious complications may have resulted.
Mr. Grass' many friends will know that he
has safely passed the critical period.
Raymore Activity.
Judging from reports which reach us
from Albany, the Raymore Piano Co. are
getting ready for an active Fall campaign.
Mr. Raymore is a hard worker and is
making preparations for a large business
this fall. We shall hear much of the
Raymore piano later.
Steinway Preparations.
Extended reference has been made in
these columns to the superb specimens of
the piano-maker's art as demonstrated in
the special product of Steinway & Sons.
We may here remark that the unbounded
faith of this concern in the fall business is
evidenced in the fact that their special
corps of artists and artisans are now at
work preparing a stock which will be
without doubt the largest ever produced in
the world of special designs.
Incorporated
At Albany June 5th, Woods Piano
House, of New York City. Capital, $5,000,
and directors: Frederick Bauer, of 706
Putnam Avenue, Carl Bauer, of Brooklyn,
and Albert F. Woods, of Hartford, Conn.
Prescott Recital.
[Special to The Review.]
Concord, N. H., June 14, '98.
This evening, at the warerooms of the
Prescott Piano Company, a recital was
given by the pupils of Miss Ada Aspin-
wall, who was assisted by Mrs. John Van-
nevar, soprano, and Carl Blaisdell, violin-
ist. The pupils showed that their train-
ing had been the best and the whole af-
fair was a great credit to them and to Miss
Aspinwall.

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