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14
THfc. MUSIC TRACE REVIEW
. . . THE HARLEM PIANO flAP
. . .
SPREADS OVER A GOOD BIT OF SURFACE AND INCLUDES SOME IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS-
PEREGRINATIONS OF THE REVIEW IN THAT PART OF THE EIANO WORLD PRESENT
CONDITIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS.
The Harlem district is a mighty import-
ant spot on the piano map and this week
in the peregrinations of The Review much
was seen to emphasize the belief that Har-
lem piano manufacturers are well in the
front as far as business activity goes.
While not rushing, trade may be said to
be in a fairly satisfactory state. The
Spring is all right but, naturally, there
will come a lull with the hot weather, but
there are reliable indications pointing to a
big fall trade, beginning early, for the
Harlem manufacturers as for all others.
Concerning existing trade conditions, it
is well worth while to survey the present
situation in Harlem, as The Review sees
it. For a starting point, take that section
bounded by 134th street on the north,
the Harlem River on the south, Alexander
avenue on the east and Third avenue on
the west.
In the big L-shaped brick
building just north of the railroad and
standing between 133d and 133d streets is
the
KROEGER FACTORY.
Who will deny that prosperity reigns
within the well-populated dominion of
Chris. Garritson and his worthy colleagues?
It is evident to any wide-awake observer
that a vigorous, alert, up-to-date adminis-
tration is holding office, and holding it to
some purpose, within that territory. The
products, including the latest " G. & K."
parlor grand, just completed, and the meth-
ods and materials used in their manufac-
ture tell the story, supplying several good
and sufficient reasons for the firm's pros-
perity.
•
The men at the benches are at work.
They labor skilfully, silently, earnestly.
They are well supervised. They use the
raw material to the best advantage, and
when a "G. & K." or a Kroegeris finished,
it will bear critical inspection and the
severest tests. The Kroeger Co. prosper,
and why not ? Honest, straightforward,
aggressive business methods never fail to
triumph over questionable, sinuous and
"last-century-style " operations.
Near by, in close proximity to the rail-
road, is the big case-making factory of
KRAKAUER BROS.
The words "Krakauer" and " Prosperity"
run well together and have always been
intimately associated. The main Krakauer
factory lies south of the Harlem, but, in
dealing with the present condition of af-
fairs, it may fittingly be included in this
place. To-day, even with largely in-
creased facilities embracing every modern
mechanical device for securing the best
possible results in the briefest possible
period of time, the Krakauer output is un-
able to keep pace with orders.
If this is not prosperity, what is it? And
it is prosperity won by persistent, consci-
entious endeavor. Close attention to busi-
ness ; a keen supervision over the details
of every department; an insistence that
every man within the factory walls—from
the sawyer to the senior partner—shall do
his full duty according to his allotted task,
and a proper regard for the rights and
privileges of out-of-town representatives—
these are among the chief reasons why the
Krakauers have thriven in the past, are
thriving now, and are bound to thrive in
the future. Within a stone's throw of the
Krakauer and Kroeger factories is the ca-
pacious Spies Building, in which is located
the factory of the
SPIES PIANO CO.
Here the now famous n Majestic " piano
is made. This instrument is youthful in
years compared with others made in the
immediate vicinity, but, like most latter-
day infants, it is precocious. It has just
as much to say for itself as any of its sen-
iors, and is able to take its own part, ask-
ing only for " a fair field and no favor."
The enterprise of Henry Spies and his as-
sociates is rapidly gaining recognition, and
a goodly share of the general prosperity is
being enjoyed at the Spies factory. The
best evidence of favorable present con-
ditions is found in the fact that several
new styles are now in active preparation.
As The Review passes on its way to 134th
street, the great
ESTEY PIANO FACTORY
—where Robert Proddow holds sway and
controls, with a wise hand, the operations
of a big force—looms up, that useful Har-
lem landmark, the Estey clock-tower,
overshadowing all other structures in its
vicinity. Standing at the northern bound-
ary of the area described at the outset is
the factory of the
SCHUBERT PIANO CO.
of which Peter Duffy is the able president.
Here is another conspicuous example of
existing prosperity resulting from good
business and artistic methods properly ap-
plied to the manufacture of pianos. There
is never any difficulty in securing orders
for the Schubert piano. It has sold from
the start because it is an honest instrument
honestly made.
It is selling to-day for the same reason,
and the Schubert firm report business as
good, and the outlook excellent. This is a
perfectly natural state of affairs. The
men chiefly interested in pianos next to
the manufacturers, are the dealers—the
men who have to sell the goods at retail.
They order Schuberts, sell them, and ask
for more, because they get and are able to
give good values, at the same time enjoy-
ing a living profit for themselves.
Leaving the south-western end of Har-
lem territory for a time, and traveling
eastward along 134th street, Brook avenue
is reached. There at the south-west cor-
ner, stands the
STRICH & ZEIDLER
factory, an imposing structure, well adapt-
ed for manufacturing purposes. The high
standard of the Strich & Zeidler products
is well-known to-day throughout the trade
and among professional pianists.
To
maintain that high standard throughout a
long period of commercial depression and
in the face of many temptations to lower it
has been a task calling for the exercise of
much patience, courage and endurance on
the part of this young firm.
But the reward is now within easy dis-
tance. These are prosperous times,- and
piano purchasers are willing to pay more
than formerly. In other words, they are
willing to pay a fair price for material and
workmanship.
Hence it happens that
Strich & Zeidler are getting a goodly share
of the business now being done in high-
grade pianos. And the best wishes of the
trade are with them in their policy of
steadfastness to principle.
May they
prosper more and more in their efforts to
maintain a well-earned reputation for care-
ful, clever and artistic work!
Still moving eastward the Southern
Boulevard comes in view, and with it is
revealed the outlines of the Doll, Connor,
Decker and Ludwig factories, all thriving
institutions at this present time. Pros-
perity may be said to appear at every turn
as we move from factory to factory. Start-
ing to the southward, the
JACOB DOLL
factory stands out boldly. When a manu-
facturer absorbs eleven city lots as an addi-
tion to an already capacious seven-story
building, it is fair to assume that he is pros-
pering, is it not? Well, that is what Jacob
Doll has just done, and he is not the kind
of man to put up seven-story buildings
unless he intends to use them.
The Doll products are selling well on
their merits, and their merits are becoming
more and more pronounced every year.
Three new styles have recently been added
in uprights and each is a highly creditable
addition to the Doll catalogue, more than
likely to bring even still greater prosperity
to this enterprising manufacturer than he
now enjoys. Immediately to the eastward
of the Doll factory is that of
FRANCIS CONNOR,
another large and imposing structure. The
Connor products have been well and favor-
ably known to the trade these many years.
Francis Connor, a manufacturer of the old
school, has many friends and patrons who
know the reliable character of the Connor
pianos and appreciate their sterling quali-
ties.
In common with his neighbors, Francis
Connor is feeling the good effects of gen-
eral prosperity and in both the wholesale
and retail branches of his business is doing
well. To the northeast is the factory of
DECKER & SON.
Myron A. Decker is another of the old
school of piano makers. He cherishes the
best traditions of the trade and is a firm
upholder of its rights and privileges. Able
support is accorded him in his conduct of
the business by his son, Frank C. Decker,
who, like his father, is, in every sense of
the term, a practical man.