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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The >Eolian Quarterly.
An Interesting Decision.
John Abbott.
[Special to The Review.]
A MOST INTERESTING PUBLICATION CLEVER-
LY EDITED AND ABOUNDS IN
INFORMATION.
Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 12, '98.
The Kansas City Court of Appeals de-
cided to-day that a conversation over a
telephone may be taken as evidence in a
lawsuit. The decision was on a case from
Hannibal, where a man telephoned to the
agent of a railway and ordered him to send
a certain piano which had been received by
freight to a certain address. The agent
failed to obey orders, and that night the
depot burned, and with it the piano. The
agent swore that he had never received
the message, but the court held that, as
the owner had asked for the agent and the
person at the other end had represented
himself as the agent, it was fair to presume
that he was the agent.
One of the old guard of the early piano
makers of this country passed away on
Dec. 9 in the person of John Abbott who
died at 185 Warren street, Newark, N. J.,
in his 89th year. Mr. Abbott came to
America from England in 1830 and for
the greater part of his life lived at Fort
Lee, N. J. As a clever piano maker he
was highly esteemed among the pioneer
manufacturers. Mr. Abbott was enjoying
fair health up to Nov. 29 when he had a
fall which was followed by an attack of
pneumonia which caused his death. The
funeral took place on Tuesday morning
the burial being at Edgewater, N. J.
The following excerpt from Spillane's
" History of the American Pianoforte"
throws some light on Mr. Abbott's achieve-
ments in the early 30's. It is interesting
reading:
" John Abbott, a graduate from the shop
of R. & W. Nunns, began business at 66
Walker street, in 1832, and became very
successful immediately from the stand-
point of making reputable instruments,
but went out of the trade in the course of
a few years. In 1835, John Abbott took
the gold medal at the Mechanics' Institute
for a pianoforte which won special men-
tion. In 1836 he moved to 267 Bowery.
Abbott exhibited a grand in this year
which won the second premium at the
Mechanics' Institute. This clever piano-
maker is yet living, and is a member of a
family whose connection with the trade
has been of longstanding. James Abbott,
of Abbott & Sons, action-makers, of Fort
Lee, N. J., is his brother, and was con-
nected with him in 1833, when he began
business on Walker street, and is the
youngest of the Abbott family of piano-
makers, which was made up of five broth-
ers in all, four of whom are living. Will-
iam died in 1889. Four of them learned
their business with Nunns & Nunns."
The latest issue of the yEolian Quarterly
—Vol. II, No. 3—furnishes another incon-
trovertible proof of yEolian enterprise,
well directed. Just as in the history of
the firm, every step taken in production of
instruments has been a step in advance, so
with the succeeding issues of the firm's
official magazine, every issue has revealed
a marked improvement over its prede-
cessor.
The current number of the Quarterly is
a model of artistic taste and good editing.
Facing the title-page is an excellent por-
trait of Luigi Mancinelli, who is an ^olian
enthusiast. The first article is from the pen
of Henry T. Finck, already well-known in
connection with ^Eolian publications. He
treats of the "Musical Millennium" and,
whilst deploring the questionable taste of
the general public in the matter of music,
sees in the ^olian a powerful means of
raising the present standard until the mil-
lenium shall be reached.
Luigi Mancinelli contributes an analysis
of his " Hero and Leander; " W. J. Hender-
son writes interestingly on Liszt's Hunga-
rian Rhapsodies; Gustav Kobbo reviews
some of Franz Schubert's marches, and
the editor contributes a number of bright
"Editorial Paragraphs" the uppermost
theme being " A Revolutionary Idea—how
it grows—Evolution and Revolution." In
these pointed paragraphs the progress of
the ^olian Idea is noted.
Under the heading of " Semibreves " is
given an interesting contribution of musi-
cal chat. This is followed by " zEoliana,"
being pertinent remarks concerning the
^Eolian products, and those who admire
them. It includes recent voluntary testi-
mony from many famous musicians. Ed.
Colonne, one of the most celebrated of
French conductors, writing from Paris
under date of Oct. 20, referring to an
^Eolian recital, says: " I am amazed at
what I have just heard. Your ^Eolian, it
seems to me is destined to revolutionize
the music world, and it is my sincere be-
lief that it will achieve a universal suc-
cess."
David Bispham, in a letter dated Chic-
ago, Nov. 7, writes very strongly of the
benefits he derives from the /Eolian, and
Albert Ross Parsons, president of the
American College of Musicians, gives it un-
qualified praise. Taken as a whole, the
current ^Eolian Quarterly reflects great
credit on the iEolian Co. No better means
could possibly be adopted for the further-
ance of ^Eolian business interests.
The Piano.-Maker's Union of Chicago
charges the Board of Education of that
city with telling a falsehood when it stated
recently that it had contracts with piano
manufacturers, lasting until next July,
which would prevent it from complying
with the demand that it purchase only
Union made instruments.
Violation of Contract.
[Special to The Review.]
Deadwood, S. D., Dec. 3, 1898.
In the case of W. J. Dyer & Bro.,
piano dealers, against Smith & Whealan,
of this city, involving moneys not paid for
instruments sold, the jury brought in a
verdict in favor of the plaintiffs. It was
an interesting case. The defendants
claimed that the piano firm had violated
its contract in sending other agents into
their territory to sell instruments, and they
had brought in a counter claim of commis-
missions on the instruments sold by the
outside agents. A similar case is being
tried in Codington county, in which an
agent sues a thrashing machine company
for commissions made by outside agents
sent in by the company. The decision of
the jury in the Deadwood case would un-
doubtedly have been different had it not
been proven that the defendants had vio-
lated the contract first.
More Power for the Estey Co.
A new steam engine has been purchased
by the Estey Organ Company to furnish
power for their factory. The engine was
manufactured in Providence, R. I., and is
of 300 horse power. The drive wheel will
be sixteen feet in diameter, and with a
face of thirty-four inches. The engine
will be put in place as soon as the founda-
tion is laid.
Filed a Petition.
Arthur D. Coe, who was formerly in the
piano business at 172 Euclid avenue,
Cleveland, O., filed a petition in the dis-
trict court, Monday, asking to be declared
a voluntary bankrupt.
He assigned on
April 13, 1896.
Fire at Nashville, Mich.
[Special 10 The Review.]
Nashville, Mich., Dec 12. 1898.
Bird's music store in this place, as well
as his entire stock, have been totally de-
stroyed by fire. Mr. Bird, who slept in
the store, barely escaped with his life,
leaving his clothes containing a consider-
able sum of money to the flames. The
cause is supposed to be a defective chim-
ney.
Chas. A. Rose, of Purdy, Mo., is prepar-
ing to open a piano and music store at
Carthage, Mo.
Mehlin
Pianos
Factory. 461 to 467 West 40th St.,
New York.
'A Leader
among
Leaders."
Main Office and Warerooms :
27 Union Square.