Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 27 N. 16

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
number of poems, among them "Our Flag,"
a stirring poem surcharged with patriotism.
In a business way Mr. Mann is widely
THE MAN WHO IS FOREVER BEING MIXED UP IN TRAGEDIES IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,
known, as the concern of Mann & Eccles,
Jos. M. Mann, or as he is known in the dence, is such that when the people see appropriately named "the modern piano
vernacular, " J o e " Mann, has become a " Joe " Mann coming down the street with dealers," have a wide reputation through-
trade celebrity. This reputation has been his grip in one hand, if they are booked out the East. Thoroughly up-to-date and
acquired not through any desire on the for the same train, they always prefer a strictly honorable in their dealings, they
part of Mr. Mann to court publicity—for later one. His friends now, if they are have largely increased their trade by the
he is extremely modest—but due largely going off on a business trip, or a yacht- introduction of novel features in their ad-
to the fact that he is pursued by some ing excursion always telephone over to vertising department and the demolition
strange fatality which is persistently bring- see if " Joe " is going. If he is to be of old-fogyism which for years obscured
the piano atmosphere of Providence.
ing him into close encounters with all sorts present, that settles it, they remain away.
It is not Mr. Mann's fault, but people Mann & Eccles are hustlers, and as far as
of tragedies as well as the oddest experi-
"Joe" Mann is concerned he is a celebrity,
a national character.
A Trade Celebrity—"Joe" Mann,
Vose Co.'s Winning Policy.
One of the latest creations of the Vose
house appears in their advertisement on
the cover page of this issue. It is not
necessary to dilate on the attractiveness of
this piano; it speaks for itself. There is
a charm in its simple but artistically pro-
portioned lines that must delight all who
appreciate art in piano designing. It is
with such instruments as this that the
Vose & Sons Piano Co. are winning a
reputation that is now "becoming a part of
our industrial history. The popularity of
the Vose piano and the success of its
makers are due to intelligent publicity,
and also to the intrinsic musical merits of
the instrument itself. The Vose people
believe in educating the public regarding
the merits of their instruments, thus mak-
ing it easy for the dealers to effect sales.
This policy is a winning one.
The Capen with Lyon & Healy.
JOSEPH M. MANN.
ences known to man. It was last Winter
when he was on a trip South that he
witnessed the blowing up of the " Maine "
in Havana harbor. Mr. Mann's words on
that occasion have become historic, and it
was his interviews printed in some of the
prominent papers which helped to stir the
national feeling to that intensity of excite-
ment which resulted in the war with Spain.
Later he boarded the train on the way
for Boston, and through some peculiar
Mannism the train was wrecked, a number
of people killed, but " J o e " Mann came
out unscathed. That's his way of doing
things. And so we could go on ad in fin i-
tunt. A few weeks ago while on a vaca-
tion, in the maritime provinces, he went
into a barber's shop for a shave. Scarcely
had he taken a seat, than the man who
occupied the adjoining chair, pulled out a
pistol and shot himself through the head.
Another Mann experience. Forever being
mixed tip in tragedies.
His reputation, however, up in Provi-
are beginning to avoid his company travel-
ing. They say it is fatal. They are will-
ing to lose the pleasure of Mr. Mann's
society on a voyage, rather than to take
the risk of encountering some fearful
tragedy with him. Personally, Mr. Mann
is one of the most companionable of fel-
lows; has a frank, open way, and a charm-
ing conversational style. His dramatic
description of the variety of tragedies
which he has encountered is thrilling in
the extreme.
They tell a story up in Providence that
a certain gentleman had invited a party of
guests to accompany him on a little yacht-
ing trip. To his utter amazement he re-
ceived from nearly every man a polite let-
ter of declination. The joke leaked out
later that one fellow had gone around and
said that he understood that "Joe" Mann
was going and that the risk was too great
to go w T ith him. That settled it, they had
no yachting trip. Mr. Mann has poetical
ability of no small order. He has written a
Arrangements have been made whereby
Lyon & Healy will hereafter handle the
Capen piano made by the Brockport Piano
Co. This important deal was consum-
mated by John Summers, the traveling
representative of the company, who is at
present making Chicago his headquarters.
This arrangement cannot fail to be of mu-
tual benefit.
Wm. Knabe & Co.
Visitors to the Knabe warerooms in Bal-
timore these days are commenting on the
important changes and improvements
made in that establishment within recent
date. A new concert hall has been ar-
ranged on the second floor which will have
a seating capacity of about five hundred,
while the entire building has been newly
decorated and lighted with electricity. At
the Knabe factory the rush of orders is
unprecedented, and this has been the case
since the summer, with every prospect of
continuance.
The latest issue of the Journalist con-
tains a handsome portrait of John C.
Freund and a well-written notice of his
achievements as an author and journalist,
contributed by Stephen Fiske and the edit-
or, Allan Forman.
The Erd Piano & Harp Co., of Saginaw,
Mich., made a magnificent display at the
State Fair held at Grand Rapids recently.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Mechanics'Association Fair Open.
[Special to The Review.]
The Industrial Commission.
LSpecial to The Review.]
Boston, Mass., Oct. n , 1898.
The twentieth exhibition of the Massa-
chusetts Mechanics' Association opened
yesterday and promises to be one of the
most successful ever held. There is a big
showing of exhibitors. Among the out of
town piano houses represented are the
Estey Co., who make a display of pianos
and organs; Geo. Steck & Co., through
their local agent, A. E. Pennell; Chas. M.
Stieff, Baltimore, through Gardner &
Osgood; Kranich & Bach, through Mr.
Berry; Jacob Bros., through Geo. W.
Beardsley.
The latter's exhibit is an unusually fine
one, embracing the two latest Jacob styles,
10 Special and 16. These instruments are
excellent values and have won much praise
from all who have inspected them, in fact
two dealers were so captivated that
they selected two instruments for their
own houses. J. W. Stevens, the Jacob rep-
resentative is assisting Mr. Beardsley in
showing off these wares.
The Steck, Kranich & Bach and Estey
exhibits are attracting much attention.
The general consensus of opinion is that
the exhibition will be of material value to
those participating. It will remain open
until Dec. 3d.
Washington, D. C , Oct. n , 1898.
Senator Kyle has issued a call to the
Federal Industrial Commission, of which he
is chairman, to meet in this city October
17 th. The first meeting will be preliminary
and for the purpose of effecting an organ-
ization. Subsequently the detailed work
of the commission will be outlined and
prosecuted by sub-committees.
The commission will take early occasion
to prepare an extensive itinerary of a tour
that will be made by sub-committees em-
bracing all the great manufacturing centres
and the leading industries in all parts of
the country. A special sub-committee will
make a study of the condition of the farmer
both in the East and the West. The in-
vestigation will be conducted as rapidly as
possible, with a view to formulating some
legislation at the coming session of Con-
gress, which will adjourn March 4th, but
it is quite possible that it will not be found
practicable to secure consideration of the
commission's recommendations before the
convening of the special session next
spring, which now seems to be a foregone
conclusion.
Piano Tax Refunded.
Chicago, 111., Oct. 12, 1898.
The main facts in the purchase of the J.
A. Norris Co. 's business, of this city, by the
Smith & Barnes Co., appeared in last
week's Review. There is little to add save
that Smith & Barnes Co. took formal pos-
session of the new quarters on Monday.
They have secured as manager of the retail
department Mr. Henry B. Tuttle who, for
a long period of years, has been connected
with the Lyon & Healy establishment.
Mr. Tuttle is an able and experienced
business man who will help the company
materially in the development of their
plans.
Mr. W. N. Van Matre, secretary of the
Smith & Barnes Co., will have his office in
the Wabash avenue rooms, and with
president C. A. Smith will look after the
wants of dealers who may call as well as
the wholesale trade generally.
As announced the Mason & Hamlin
piano will be the Smith & Barnes leader.
Meanwhile it is the intention of the com-
pany to give the C. A. Smith and the
Smith & Barnes pianos a great prominence
in the retail trade.
Smith & Barnes Aftermath.
[Special to The Review.]
[Soecial to The Review.]
Cincinnati, O., Oct. 10, 1898.
The $10 war revenue tax on pianos will
be refunded by International Revenue
Collector Bettmann.
All pianos which were played in public
places were taxed.
Collector Bettmann also received orders
not to remit any more of the penalties col-
lected under the war-tax act.
Another Deal of DelPs.
HAYDEN BROS., OF OMAHA, SAID TO BE
VICTIMS OF THE PIANO ''PROMOTER."
[Special to The Review.]
Kansas City, Mo., Oct. n , 1898.
Another of the transactions of A. M.
Dell, the piano "promoter" with many
aliases, whose arrest was reported in last
week's Review, through the clever work of
Kansas City's woman detective, "Mrs. J.
C. Canterbury," was brought to light yes-
terday. This time it was Hayden Bros.,
of Omaha, who were victimized. Dell is
said to have rented a piano from them,
which he subsequently sold to a Mr. Gra-
ham, of St. Joseph. The detectives are
confident that they have in Dell a notori-
ous piano swindler who has operated in
many of the cities of the United States.
The Bankruptcy Law.
The United States Supreme Court,
which met in session last Monday, has
under consideration the establishment of
rules, forms and orders for the execution
of the national bankruptcy law now in
force. Until these are furnished the bank-
ruptcy tribunals all over the country will
be practically at a standstill.
" The Bradbury Building."
In chronicling exclusively some two
weeks ago, F. G. Smith's new move in this
city, whereby he secured a lease of the new
building now being erected on the North-
west corner of 19th street and Fifth ave-
nue, we omitted to mention that the struc-
ture will be known as "The Bradbury
Building." This is in accordance with the
arrangement consummated by Mr. Smith.
The premises will be occupied about the
first of February, 1899, and will give the
Bradbury piano an exceptionally fine met-
ropolitan prominence.
Receiver for Lesnowski &
Krahnke.
Judge Smyth, of the Supreme Court, on
Thursday appointed James J. Nealis re-
ceiver for the firm of Lesnowski & Krahnke,
piano manufacturers, at Nos. 511 and 573
East 137th street, this city, in a suit brought
by Bertha Krahnke against Anna Lesnow-
ski for a dissolution of partnership on
account of a disagreement between them.
The liabilities are said to be about $2000,
and assets $3,400.
New Jersey Incorporation.
The Strauss Manufacturing Co. whose
principal office is at Fifteenth and Madison
streets, Hoboken, N. J., was incorporated
on Wednesday last October 12. They will
manufacture musical instruments, notion
specialties, etc. Capital, $10,000. Incor-
porators: Ferdinand Strauss, East Orange,
N. J. ; A. Wm. Toennies, No. 145 Hutton
street, Jersey City, N. J. ; Sigmund Blum-
enthal, No. 131 West Forty-third street,
New York City.
Hugh Hardman.
The death is announced of Hugh Hard-
man which occurred at the residence of his
daughter, Mrs. Agnes Dowling, 407 St.
Nicholas avenue, this city, on Thursday
last. Mr. Hardman was one of the found-
ers of the firm of Hardman, Peck & Co.,
starting in 1842. He retired from that
business early in life, his place meanwhile
being taken by his son, John Hardman,
who died in 1889. During a recent period,
he re-entered the trade, having been con-
nected for a short time with the de-
funct concern of Hardman & La Grassa.
Mr. Hardman was one of the old school of
piano-makers. He was well and favorably
known and highly esteemed. The funeral
takes place this morning at 9 A. M. from
the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Fifty-
ninth street and Columbus avenue.
The HcPhail Piano Co.
The McPhail Piano Co. present a pretty
strong case for the consideration of the
trade in their advertisement elsewhere in
this paper. They say, their products have
been before the public " for three genera-
tions" and we may add "they have not
been found wanting. " They have earned
great honors which are testified to in
diplomas and medals, but best of all the
McPhail pianos have kept in touch with
mechanical and artistic developments, and
hence are modern products whether criti-
cised from the standpoint of architecture
or tonal attributes. It is this combination
of merit and progress that has given the
McPhail Piano Co. a unique force.
They
are proud of their reputation, proud of the
instruments which bear their name and un-
derstand how to bring the merits of the
McPhail pianos to the public attention by
well-directed and intelligent
business
management. The McPhail Piano Co. is
a wide awake institution with which it
will pay progressive dealers to become
better acquainted.

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