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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
... . SOME DEALERS WHOM WE KNOW.. .
GLANCES AT SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE MUSIC TRADE HISTORY IH THE FAR WEST
ADOLPH BRUENN.
It was an interesting sketch which
Adolph Bruenn gave me of his career
when I saw him recently in San Francisco.
He has the whole history of the trade on
the Pacific Coast at his finger tips, as he
told me more than I ever knew before
about the rise and fall of Tom Antisell and
that I was much the superior at blowing
my own horn than at playing my own
piano.
'' I agreed with them and decided to
adopt a vocation in which blowing one's
own horn was productive of the best re-
sults..-'
" I t is needless to add that I entered the
piano trade.
"This was in 1878 at the City of Oakland,
Cal. In 1881 I began the manufacture of
the Bruenn Piano, the ' Piano with a
soul,' as we delight to call it. In 1893 I
transferred my headquarters, to San Fran-
cisco, being now located at 208 Post St.,
the old Stein way headquarters," where the
tooting of the horn, in honor and'praise of
the Bruenn Piano, is being actively prose-
cuted. I handle a line of eastern pianos, in
addition to my own, and carry a full stock
of sheet music and musical goods."
PHILIP A. COLLINS.
Philip A. Collins, proprietor of the
Pasadena Music Co., located in the charm-
ADOLPH BRUENN,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
;
several other well-known men who have
long since passed off the active stage. Mr.
Bruenn is a musician, piano dealer and
manufacturer, conducting the only piano
factory at present on the Pacific Slope. As
for the sketch of his career, he tells it in
such a unique way that I am going to quote
his own words. He says:
• • • . :;••
" I was born in the city of New Orleans,
in the year 1854. At the very earliest age
I evinced great musical talent. At the
age of three months I was known to play
with my toes. At a later age I
began to blow my horn with considerable
effect, which decided my parents to give
me a thorotigh musical education. I con-
PHILIP A. COLLINS, '
sequently took a complete course in piano
1'ASADBNA, CAL.
playing and musical theory at the Conser-
vatory at Stuttgardt, Germany. When I ing town of Pasadena, Cal., may be rated
returned to the U. S. I decided to come to as one of the successful young business
this Coast, for I had heard that gold was men of the Pacific Slope. It was some six
so plentiful here that it was used for the years ago when after looking over the
basest purposes; such as bribing Legis- business advantages of Pasadena Mr.
lators and other politicians.
Collins decided it would be an excellent
" I found the latter statement correct, opening for a music store at that point.
and I have never ceased to regret that my He commenced a vigorous prosecution of
short-sighted parents had me educated as business matters, and in six years has suc-
ceeded in building up what ranks as a suc-
a musician instead of as a politician.
"Being a musician, however, and for cessful business enterprise. He is well
that reason being forced to eat occasion- known outside of Pasadena as he has sold
ally, and drink often, I condescended for many pianos to celebrated ranchmen in his
. .
• ' _ .
,
a few years to teach the golden youth of locality.
both sexes that playing G with the right
Mr. Collins said recently: " I am much
hand and G sharp with the left, at one and gratified at the success with which my
the same time, was not conducive of the efforts have been crowned at this point. I
harmony which should exist between have delivered good values, and the people
teacher and pupil.
here appreciate them. The Needham piano
" All this time however, I had not neg- is my leader while I handle the Bentley and
lected my hornblowing accomplishment, Schirmer as well, also I handle the Estey
and my best friends and critics all agreed and Needham organs. I consider the
Needham a splendid instrument. It pos-
sesses excellent selling qualities, and I have
made. it well known in this part of Cal-
ifornia. The Estey organ, as you well
know, is one of the old trade standbys and
it is a pleasure to sell such goods as the
Esteys manufacture."
Mr. Collins has a happy and genial dis-
position, and is extremely popular in
Southern California where he is constantly
adding to his social as well as business
friends.
C M . HOBSON.
The Spanish-American war brought the
name of Hobson, through the mediumship
of the hero of the Merrimac, into great
prominence throughout the Union. Out
in.Colorado, however, there has been for
years one of the Hobson family who has
acquired a wide notoriety on account of
"his- excellent business qualifications.
I
refer to C. M. Hobson, president of the
Hobson Piano Co., located at 619 21 Harri-
son avenue,. Leadville, Col. Leadville is
known as a hustling mining town, and the
Hobson Piano Co. have the reputation of
possessing all the characteristics belonging
to that energetic locality.
C. M. Hobson has been in the music
business for fifteen years having traveled
for some of the leading houses in Denver.
In 1896 he thought it was about time to
commence business on his own account so
he established the Hobson Piano Co. in
Leadville, where he is now directing a very
satisfactory business.
In the Hobson establishment may be
found almost everything in the music line,
including pianos, organs, small goods and
sheet music, etc. The stock of music car-
ried by this concern is a credit to Lead-
ville; the store is located in the Masonic
Building in the best business part of the
c. M. HOBSON,
LEADVILLE, COLO.
city. This year the company will open
branches at Aspen, Grand Junction and
Canon City. Mr. Hobson resides on Capi-
tal Hill, the finest residential district of
Leadville. He has a very elegant -mansion
there with spacious grounds'
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