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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Is the Jobber Doomed ?
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION WHICH IS BEING
CARRIED ON IN THE COLUMNS OF A
CONTEMPORARY.
In the New York Cominercial a discus-
sion has been going on as to whether the
jobber in trade is to be driven from his
stronghold. The opinions on this subject
naturally differ widely. The jobber, the
retailer and the manufacturer all view it
from their special standpoint.
A. G. Cone, treasurer of the W. W.
Kim'ball Co., when asked for his opinion
said: "Yes, sir, the jobber is going, and
so is the small manufacturer, and it is the
pool that is going to do the business. I
think the tendency is to concentrate busi-
ness in the hands of the larger manufac-
turer."
A number of manufacturers meanwhile
consider that jobbers are necessary, but
that in many lines of business their use-
fulness is passing away. Many of those
heretofore known as jobbers have become
manufacturers, seeing that the position is
becoming undermined.
Alex. H. Re veil, the furniture man, when
asked his opinion, said : " There is a great
middle ground between the maker and the
consumer, and I cannot help but think
that the retailer is the man to occupy that
ground. So far as the jobber is concerned
I feel that the jobber has got to go. To me
there seems to be no use for him and I be-
lieve the natural tendency is to weed him
out."
A contrary opinion to that just expressed
is from James S. Kirk, a prominent manu-
facturer, who says:
" The jobber is the natural distributor;
he can do it cheaper than can the manufac-
turer, and just as long as that is the case
the manufacturer will use him. In my
opinion he is a necessary factor and an ab-
solute fixture in commerce."
The Staib Co. announce that they are
ready to supply the soft-pedal attachments
for their actions.
FACTORY AND
LOTS FOR SALE.
Felt Factories
To Combine.
The combination of felt makers, con-
cerning which numerous rumors have been
in existence for some time past, is rapidly
developing into a substantial reality.
No decisive step has yet been taken in
the matter of title, location of operating
plant, total paid-up capital and similar de-
tails necessary to perfect the organization,
but negotiations are sufficiently advanced
to justify the statement that a combine of
capital and mutual interests in the felt-
making industry is certain to assume prac-
tical shape within the next few days.
From the most reliable sources it is
learned that the firms already consenting
to amalgamate are the American Felt
Manufacturing Co., Tingue, House & Co.,
Taylor & Bloodgood, and the City Mills of
Franklin, Mass.
Preliminary details are now being work-
ed out and a meeting for organization
purposes will probably be held early in the
ensuing week. In a dispatch received on
' Thursday evening from Boston, the New
York Times says:—
" It was learned here to-day that the va-
rious manufacturers of felting have agreed
to combine, it is claimed, for the purpose
of correcting abuses which have grown up
in the trade, and to call a halt to an un-
healthy competition which has reduced
the profits of manufacturers very ma-
terially.
" The parties to the transaction are said
to include Tingue, House & Co. ; the
American Felt Mfg. Co., who are operating
the Dolge plant at Dolgeville, N. Y., in
the interest of the creditors, and either
of which concerns will conduct the New
York business; Taylor & Bloodgood, Pic-
to", N. J. ; the City Mills, Franklin, Mass. ;
and the Boston Felting Company of this
city. The latter concern will have charge
of the Boston business, while a well-known
Chicago wholesale house will take care of
the Western trade. This comprises prac-
tically all the felt plants in active operation
in the country."
Offered for sale a brick
factory in New York City,
suitable for piano making
or any other manufactur=
ing purposes, with vacant
lots adjoining; about 30,000
feet of floor space, light
on all sides, and heated
by s t e a m . For terms
An Estey Special.
a n d particulars address
The Estey Organ Company is manufac-
OWNER, care The Review,
turing at the present time an organ which
3 E. 14th St., New York.
will exceed in size any organ ever made at
FACTORY SUPERINTENDENT.
—A position as Superintendent
of a piano factory by a man of ex-
perience. Address X., care of Music Trade
Review, 3 East 14th Street, New York.
their factories. It is of a special design
and will be supplied with the most modern
improvements, such as pneumatic couplers,
etc.
It is being built for a firm in
(Germany, and it will be shipped in sections,
the parts filling several large cases.
Chickering & Sons Invitation musical at
Chickering Hall on Thursday night was in
every respect a grand success. The pro-
gram interpreted by the Dannreuther
Quartet was most interesting and pleased
an exceedingly large and cultured audience.
Otto Wissner, who has been suffering
from the effects of a severe cold, is again
on duty at the Wissner headquarters. Mr.
King, the Wissner traveling representa-
tive, who has also been very unwell, is
now recovering, but it is still confined to
his home.
Callers this week at the Weber-Wheel-
ock warerooms included Emil Wulschner
of Indianapolis and Florence J. Heppe of
Philadelphia.
Among the callers this week at the
Kranich & Bach warerooms were J. P.
Julius, of York, Pa., and J. Llewellyn
Smith, of Smith & Nixon, Louisville, Ky.
They are the Kranich & Bach representa-
tives in their respective cities, and they
selected stock.
At the warerooms of D. H. Baldwin &
Co., Indianapolis, Ind., a song recital to be
given by Mrs. Ida Grey Scott was sched-
uled for last evening under the most dis-
tinguished patronage. Among those who
assisted were Mrs. Anna Wilcox Barry,
who played numbers by Kruger, Grunfeld
and Godard on the Baldwin Artist grand
piano, and Frank V. Steele, baritone.
John Christman, of Christman & Son,
19 East Fourteenth street, has joined the
rank of Benedicts. He was married last
week to Miss Louise Wicks of this city.
The happy couple are enjoying a honey-
moon trip to Washington, Old Point Com-
fort and other Southern resorts.
I. Fischer's music store in Toledo, will
soon remove from its old established
quarters to a new place on Adams street.
F. D. Bloomfield is the name of a firm
who recently opened a music store at 521
Main street, Buffalo.
The Schubert & Epeneter Piano Co. is
the title of a new concern which has
opened up in Milwaukee, Wis. The first
named member of the firm was for many
years head salesman for Edward Gram.
At the recent meeting of the Waterloo
Organ Co., Alexander Reed was elected
president; Malcolm Love, secretary, and
Chas. G. Reed, treasurer.
The Chickering piano is being used in
the song recitals now being given by
Plunket Greene and Victor Maurel in this
city. It will also be used en tour.
Frank Scribner informed The Review on
Monday that his import business during
the present month exceeded that of the
first four months of any year since he has
been in business.
Among the judgments recorded this
\veek was one by Geo. F. Johnson for
|5,549.g8 against Haines Bros., Incor-
porated.