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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Committees Appointed.
The appointment of the following com-
mittees in connection with the annual
meeting of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association of America, which will
meet in Washington, on April 12th, was an-
nounced this week.
Committee of Arrangements: N. Stet-
son, Chairman, of Steinway & Sons; Chas.
H. Parsons of Needham P. & O. Co. ; W.
Dalliba Dutton for Hardman, Peck & Co. ;
Robert Proddow of Estey Piano Co. ; A.
H. Fischer of J. & C. Fischer, and Robert
A. Widenmann of Strich & Zeidler, all of
New York; Henry L. Mason of Mason &
Hamlin Co., New York Branch; Henry F.
Miller of Henry F. Miller & Sons P. Co.,
Boston; Fred. P. Stieff of Chas. M. Stieff,
Baltimore; Calvin H. Whitney of A. B.
Chase Co., Norwalk, Ohio, and E. S.
Conway of W. W. Kimball Co., Chicago.
Dinner Committee: Fred. P. Stieff,
Chairman; N. Stetson, Robert A. Widen-
mann.
Committee on Invitations and the Press:
W. Dalliba Dutton, Chairman; Henry L.
Mason, A. H. Fischer.
Committee on Speakers and Reception:
Henry F. Miller, Chairman; Chas. H. Par-
sons, Robert Proddow, Calvin H.Whitney,
E. S. Conway.
Bothners==Men of Action.
The Review noted recently that George
Bothner won a wrestling bout in this city.
Presuming that the man of action was also
the man of actions, congratulations were
extended to the latter during a visit to the
Bothner factory on Wednesday.
It turned out, however, that George
Bothner the wrestler is a cousin of the
action maker at the head of the business.
Still, he is not so far removed in body as in
relationship, being also an action maker in
the Bothner factory. The wrestling George
Bothner has won many bouts. In fact, he
has a habit of winning and cannot break
himself of it, although his antagonists try
hard to persuade him to the contrary.
A Humorous Situation.
They have an automatic piano in the art
room of the Herald Square Theatre, and
the electrician has perfected a system by
which the room is lighted and the piano
started simultaneously by one touch of a
button in the switchboard back of the
stage. The piano plays between the acts,
and the lights are turned on as soon as the
curtain falls. The room is dark while the
play is in progress. The boy whose duty
it is to switch on and off the lights was not
informed of the electrician's double connec-
tion, and when he turned on the current
one evening last week, as the curtain was
slowly dropping on Mr. Herne's effective
prayer scene in "Rev. Griffith Davenport,"
surrounded by his great gathering of
slaves, the auditors were startled by the
sudden banging of the piano as it burst
forth with the chorus of "All Coons Look
Alike to Me."
The Knabe Move in Philadelphia.
GIMIJEL BROS. SECURE THE AGENCY WM. KNABE TALKS WITH THE REVIEW ON THE SITUA-
TION A DEFINITE UNDERSTANDING REGARDING PRICES NO CHANGES CONTEMPLA-
TED ELSEWHERE SOME PERTINENT REMARKS ON THE UTILIZATION OF
DEPARTMENT STORES AS AGENCIES.
William Knabe & Co. have placed their
Philadelphia agency in the hands of Gim-
bel Brothers, owners of a well and favor-
ably known department store in that city.
This decision was not reached until late on
Saturday evening, after The Review had
been issued. Announcements of alleged
"facts" in this connection prior to Satur-
day evening were premature.
When seen by The Review on Tuesday
concerning the arrangements now consum-
mated with the Gimbel Bros., William
Knabe spoke unreservedly on the subject,
saying that the firm's deliberations leading
up to the event extended over a month, at
least.
"Then you viewed the matter carefully
from every point before deciding?" sug-
gested The Review.
"Yes," was Mr. Knabe's response, "we
did. For years we have been confronted
by unfavorable conditions in the Quaker
City. Our products have not had an ad-
vantageous showing in Philadelphia for
years. We have always been on the alert
for a good opportunity, but failed to find
one until very recently. When found, we
took advantage of it.''
"If it is a fair question, Mr. Knabe, have
you a definite understanding with your
new agents as to the selling prices of the
Knabe products? "
"Assuredly.- The agreement calls for a
strict adherence to our retail figures for all
styles. There is a definite understanding
on that point."
"Will Gimbel Bros, handle the Knabe
products exclusively under your agree-
ment? "
" There are no restrictions distinctly laid
down along that line. As a matter of fact,
competition and comparison, according to
our view, cannot hurt us. The Knabe
piano remains a Knabe piano. If our
agents feel inclined to place in their piano
department a number of instruments pur-
chased by the hundred or the gross, that is
their affair, not ours. It will not injure
our reputation."
"Naturally you have arranged for proper
representation as to space, etc., Mr. Knabe?"
"That has been adjusted to our satisfac-
tion. One part of the Gimbel establish-
ment is to be set apart for a piano exhibit,
so that the grands and uprights may be
seen and heard under favorable con-
ditions. Mr. B. F. Owen, a well-known
and competent piano man and a Philadel-
phian, will be in charge. We have every
confidence in him."
"Have you in mind any similar arrange-
ments with department stores in other
cities, say New York, for example ? "
"No; the reasons leading up to the
change in Philadelphia do not at pres-
ent exist elsewhere. Our representatives
throughout the country are loyal and earn-
est and are good result-producers."
"What is your opinion, Mr. Knabe, con-
cerning this latest development in the
piano business—the utilization of depart-
ment stores as agencies ? "
" It shows that piano manufacturers are
noting the trend of events in commerce.
There has always been a strong tendency
among the best makers toward what might
justly be termed 'the sentimental' in piano
making and selling.
"This is a good trait and ought to be
retained, but not at the expense of actual
business. Business, to be successful, must •
be conducted on business principles, and
sentiment must give way to commercial
necessity when once a piano is made and
placed on the market. Competition, in
the department store or out of it, has no
terrors for us, and if we cannot get proper,
live, up-to-date representation outside of
the strictly commercial realm, then we
will meet buyers on their own ground.
"I remember very well when we began
to advertise the fact that we had cheap
pianos for sale on our floors. It was an
innovation—for us, and our friends con-
demned the move. But we went ahead
because we saw clearly that if we did not,
we would be left behind and results have
justified the move.
"The people must know what is for sale.
They must be constantly reminded, too, so
that in the turmoil of life from day to day
they may not forget. We are proud of the
Knabe products, as we have a right to be,
and, according to our view, the presence of
our pianos in a purely commercial atmos-
phere, so long as we maintain the highest
standard of merit, takes nothing away from
our prestige.
"On the contrary we are enthusiastic
enough to believe that the agency for our
products as they are to-day is far from det-
rimental to the interests of those who
hold it."
Kroeger Advance.
The Gildemeester & Kroeger piano con-
tinues to make steady headway, keen com-
petition notwithstanding. Its prestige is
gaining in strength with each month. No
more arduous, enthusiastic advocates of its
merits could be found than Chris. Garrit-
son and Thos. La M. Couch.
At frequent intervals these invincible
warriors buckle on their armor and go
forth challenging all to combat. Victory
perches on their banner at the end of every
conflict and they return home with many
trophies in the shape of orders. These
they value more than medals or even scars.
Messrs. Garritson, Kroeger and Couch
are sincere "expansionists." They are al-
ways on the lookout for uncovered terri-
tory. When they find it the G. & K. flag
goes up and Chris. Garritson issues the
order "if any man attempts to haul down
this flag . . . shoot him on the spot."