Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 4

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
- > • t EDWARD LYMAN BILL-i—?
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including: postage). United States,
Mexico and Canada, $2^00 per year ; all other countries,
$3«o.
ADVERTlSEnENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 22, 1898.
TELEPHONE NUMBER,
1745—EIGHTEENTH STREET
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
" THE EDDY AND WHIRL.
I
N the Courier Annex of last Saturday, ap-
peared a double page advertisement, the
heading of which, brought out in bold type,
was, "Unparalleled Testimonial from Piano
Manufacturers of Greater New York to
Haines Bros., referring to an order of the
Supreme Court."
Then followed a quotation alleged to be
from " A Music Trade Paper." In this the
names of leading manufacturers who have
made strong affidavits to support the position
taken by Haines Bros., were mentioned.
Following the quotation the names of the
firms were again repeated, in conjunction
with the following:
"These affidavits (names of firms here in-
serted) constitute the greatest testimonial
ever given to a piano manufacturer."
One would naturally form the impression
upon scanning the advertisement that Haines
Bros, had betrayed the confidence of the
manufacturers who had generously given them
tfieir affidavits to the effect that Haines
Bros, pianos were the original " Haines " and
known as such to the trade. In other words,
the whole matter looked like a cheap ad-
vertising scheme of Haines Bros., hence
the manufacturers who had exhibited their
willingness to support Haines Bros, in their
claims were exceedingly wroth and put out by
such apparent action on their part to distort
their signatures into a piano testimonial.
Any firm who would gain signatures under
such conditions for cheap advertising certain-
ly would not be worthy of the consideration
or of the sympathy of the members of this
trade, and Saturday many readers turned
with disgust from the advertising announce-
ment in the Annex, which, to all intents,
emanated from Haines Bros. Incor. and
had their sanction. It certainly bore the
imprint upon its face of genuineness, and
had a tremendous effect in turning the
tide of sympathy from Haines Bros, to the
defendants in the pending law suit.
In our opinion this was precisely what was
intended.
When Haines Bros, saw this double page
advertisement they were thunderstruck—
amazed, but they quickly saw what the result
of such an unchallenged announcement would
create. They immediately wired every one of
the manufacturers whose signature was
brought into prominence by the Courier ad-
vertisement, denying any connection with the
matter whatsoever. This was followed up by
a letter thoroughly emphasizing their attitude.
Haines Bros, have written to the Annex
stating that if a complete retraction be not
forthcoming, their future course in the matter
will be guided by the advice of their legal
counsel. Never in the history of music trade
journalism has there been such a seemingly
deliberate intent to wreck a business institu-
tion as is deduced from the illicit announce-
ment in the Courier Annex. It has injured
Haines Bros., and there are many to-day who
will still believe that they were the real
authors of the announcement.
It seems to us that not only have Haines
Bros, a strong case against the Annex, but
that every manufacturer whose name was dis-
honestly used has a right to demand legal
satisfaction before the courts. Such high-
handed methods should not be permitted
to pass without being condemned in the
strongest way that the laws of this country
permit.
Q N E of the best means of judging the feel-
ing of prosperity which exists is through
the condition of the large life insurance com-
panies which reach all classes and are affected
by any change in the condition of the people.
The president of the Equitable Co. in an in-
terview this week said:
" A company like the Equitable transacting
business in every town and hamlet of the
United States, has the opportunity of feeling
the pulse of the public, in regard to the com-
mercial and financial status, with comparative
accuracy. For several years business has
progressed with a brake on. Now the brakes
are off,and there is no question whatever of the
difference in feeling. Hopefulness and con-
fidence are more prevalent, and the very ex-
istence of such a feeling is productive of
greater prosperity. The affairs of this com-
pany during 1897 have shown a constant and
increasing change for the better. Invest-
ment securities have been enhanced in value,
and active agents who in recent years have
found it difficult to meet their business ex-
penses are now finding the public ready to in-
vest in insurance contracts. The outlook for
1898 is very bright, and information comes
in every day through the many arteries reach-
ing out to the most distant parts of the coun-
try that a spirit prevails altogether in con-
trast with the gloom of past years. How
much of this is due to the individual prestige
of the company I cannot say. Probably
both influences have their effect."
|-|AS trade journalism reached the level of
thuggery? Has any man, simply because
he has a paper at his back, the right to scatter
broadcast statements which are intended to
ruin the reputation of honest concerns?
Who gave him that right? Who supports
PARLY Monday morning an employee of the thuggery to-day?
Courier Annex appeared at the warerooms of
We hear of men denouncing the methods of
the Haines Bros, factory. He said to Mr. trade papers, and yet when an occasion arises
Wm. P. Haines: "Well, what do you think of whereby a determined stand for trade honor
our card in the paper last Saturday, rather is necessary, what do we find?
clever, was it not?"
Do they stand shoulder to shoulder united
Mr. Haines looked at him aghast. Simply the to free the trade from a journalistic leper?
display of such unmitigated gall and monumen-
What can any fair-minded, self-respecting
tal brass in attempting to turn what appeared man think of a paper that will plot to ruin
to Mr. Haines to be a direct and deliberate men? Such action on the part of an edi-
intent to injure his business, into an effort in tor places him beyond the pale of decency,
its behalf, was beyond his comprehension.
and if in his life he committed no other un-
•'Yes," the representative continued, "Mr. worthy act, it should remove him forever be-
Blumenberg first thought of one page, but yond the recognition of gentlemen and be-
then he decided to make a really good thing yond all claims to respectability. It is sim-
for you and to do so it required two, so he ply incomprehensible that this trade can for
one moment permit rank baseness to pass un-
placed them in the paper."
Is there no limit to the nerve of this man noticed. The actions of a highwayman are
many times more honorable than a journalistic
Blumenberg?
Is it possible he even expected Haines thug, because armed with the bludgeon and
Bros, to make a monetary contribution to mask we look for such onslaughs from
the outcasts of society, but from a pa-
their own ruin?
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
per which carries among its advertisers dis-
tinguished business concerns, it is hardly to
be expected. If such methods obtain in this
trade, then surely decency is sidetracked for
baseness.
The man who will stoop to malignant, base,
premeditated injury to an honorable manufac-
turer, is not fit to be mentioned in the same
week as the respectable trade journalist. Such
doings are unprincipled, and the amazing part
of it is that manufacturers whose methods are
honorable, can countenance such work by
supporting the man who stands at the head of
the institution spreading such leprous spots
upon the fair escutcheon of the trade. If
such methods are to win, then good bye to
decency, to honor, to self-respect, to every-
thing which makes a man and makes an in-
dustry.
If brains are to be supplanted by brass, if
highwaymen methods are to replace legitimate
journalism, then it is high time that we par-
aded under another garb.
A thief in the night follows a more
honorable pursuit than a man who masque-
rades under the fair title of journalism and
plots to stab a legitimate business to its
heart.
And you will call this brains?
If it be so, then thank God the rest of us
have less brains.
Q N next Wednesday evening, Jan. 26th,
Chickering & Sons will tender a magnifi-
cent reception to Professor Franz Rummel
and wife at Chickering Hall. This reception
will be a notable one. The hall will be
decorated in honor of the distinguished
visitors to our shores. Sebrecht, the well-
known florist, will have charge of the florai
decorations, while Sherry will cater to the
more substantial wants of the guests and
Lander's famous orchestra will discourse
sweet music for the occasion.
The Rummel reception will be a great af-
fair. In the meanwhile J. Burns Brown, who
has complete management of the recep-
tion, is working day and night to make it one
of the most notable social functions ever giv-
en in recognition of art in the history of the
metropolis. The list of guests who will be
present on that occasion' will, of course, in-
clude the elite of our city.
AN extended account is given in another
portion of this paper of the ceremonies
which occurred at the starting of the great
electric plant at Dolgeville. That deep in-
terest is manifested in the harnessing of
natural forces, so that they may be controlled
by the will of man, is evidenced in the fact
that extended reports of the Dolgeville cele-
bration appeared in all of the leading papers
in New York City and elsewhere. It was
considered of enough importance as an in-
dustrial enterprise for the Associated Press to
handle the matter as a leading news item.
Q U T in Denver there has been recently a
peculiar battle. All of the department
stores organized and agreed not to patronize
the local press of Denver unless the publish-
ers lowered their advertising rates thirty per
cent.
The papers combined and refused to accede
to the demands of the merchants, claiming
if they permitted them to dictate in such a
matter, there would be no end to their de-
mands, and that the papers themselves would
lose their independence, and be a sort of an
appendage to the department stores.
To the glory of newspaper men it may be
said that the Denver publishers saw the ad-
vertisements of every department store dis-
appear from their columns, and refused to
knuckle to the merchants' arbitrary wishes.
The tide soon turned their way, the sympa-
thy of the people was aroused to such an ex-
tent that they refused to patronize the de^
partment stores, and in a short time the
stores were occupied solely by the employees
of the establishment.
Eastern wholesale houses then began to show
their interest in the matter as they carried
large accounts with the Denver merchants,
and the result was, instead of the newspaper
men being forced to capitulate to the de-
mands of the merchants, the latter were
mighty glad to get representation in the col-
umns of the press at the old rates.
It doesn't do to monkey with a buzz saw,
and it doesn't pay to attempt to dictate too
strongly as to the editorial or business policy
of newspaper institutions.
The men behind
them usually have ideas of their own.
T H E R E is a great deal of real news in this
issue of The Review. There is in every
issue for that matter, because The Review
is every sense a purveyor of news and
not of rumors. The Review's hand is on the
trade pulse in every section of the Union, and
its beatings are carefully noted.
In fact
truthfulness and accuracy have been the cor-
nerstones of Review success.
T H E R E was a little music introduced at the
Harlem Philharmonic last Thursday, which
was not quite harmonious. Just a little piano
war at the concert at which Mr. and Mrs.
Henschel appeared. Harry Fleck won, how-
ever, and the Everett piano was played.
T H E C. C. Mellor Co., successors to Mellor
& Hoene, Pittsburg, Pa., have large ads in
the Pittsburg papers announcing a " Grand
Dissolution Sale." As will be seen by an an-
nouncement in another part of this paper,
this concern has been fortunate enough to
secure the agency for the Steinway for Pitts-
burg.
T H I S is from the Musical Age, and as an
example of newspaper enterprise, it is un-
paralleled in the annals of this trade.
In a column and a half of descriptive mat-
ter, all of which bears upon "a personal
test" of the new "baby grand" Everett, and
speaks of its "amazing, silver and crystal-
like quality," the Musical Age among other
things says:
At the invitation of Mr. A. M. Wright,
manager of the Everett warerooms in New
York, and Mr. Melbourne A. Marks, super-
intendent of the Everett factory in Boston,
we called on Tuesday of this week at the
Fifth avenue warerooms and examined the
new Everett "baby grand," which had just
been received
The same remarkable evenness of scale
that so distinguished the Everett concert
grand was immediately apparent in that new
seeker for public favor, the Everett "baby
grand."
The richness of this article lies in the fact
that the Everett "baby grand" has not as yet
been located in the warerooms of the Everett
Company, and it is hardly necessary to say
that Mr. Wright would not send out invita-
tions to inspect something which is not yet
in evidence. Hence the remarkable enter-
prise of our contemporary.
DENT, yclept Geo. P., the only and origi-
nal, is fertile in resources, and it is a
mighty cold day, with the wind blowing
violently as well, when he doesn't turn a point
to his own advantage, and the augmentation
of the "Crown" fame. A thoroughly wide-
awake business man and a brilliant of
Kohinoor magnitude is Geo. P. Bent.
IF Senator Grady's revision of the Ellsworth
Bill relating to newspapers should go on
the statutes—in which immunity from the law
is given to any person who should chastise
the libeler with a club for being libeled and
then apologizes for it—it is believed that
Marc Blumenberg will immediately purchase
an eiderdown couch in order that he may rest
easy.
P VERY point that can be studied in the me-
chanical department of a paper to improve
its typographical appearance is always amove
in advance. The Review is improved some-
what this week by an entirely new dress of
type.
There was quite a gathering of Steinway
agents at the Hall this week—Otto Wagner,
of Mexico City; Ernest Urchs, of Cincinnati;
Wm. Grinnell, of Detroit, and Ollie K.
Houck, of Memphis.

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