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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Packing for Export.
Fire Destroys Music Store.
[Special to The Review.]
From all accounts American manufac-
Jackson, Tenn., Sept. 26, 1899.
turers continue to pay but meag-er atten-
In
the
disastrous fire which occurred on
tion to the packing of their goods for ex-
Main
street,
this city, on Wednesday, the
port. A prominent forwarding agent told
music
store
of
D. A. Lyerla was destroyed,
a representative of the N. Y. Commercial
in
addition
to
three other establishments.
this week, that a shipment of delicate mu-
The
fire
department
did their best to con-
sical instruments was received by him in
trol
the
flames,
but
were not successful.
such a fragile condition as would not war-
The
total
loss
is
about
$10,000, with an
rant the goods being sent so far as Hobo-
insurance
of
$6,000.
The
cause of the fire
ken, much less to Australia, where they
were intended to be consigned. The in- is unknown.
struments were packed without waterproof,
Kraemer "G. T."
in cases only half an inch thick and even
Felix Kraemer, " G. T."—that is, globe
without straps. We are continually re-
trotter—is
on one of his long trips towards
ceiving letters from the shipping trade
the
South.
When we met Mr. Kraemer
complaining about the way goods are
the
other
day
at one of his recent stopping
shipped, and it would astonish one to visit
points
he
remarked:
the docks and there see the quantities of
" Everything points to the greatest year
goods refused by the steamship people. It
this
country has ever seen. Business is
will surprise many to know that several
good,
too, in Europe; but I am glad
manufacturers in this country are unable
to
get
back to America and get around
to quote a price, including packing.
to call upon my friends.
I shall go
as
far
South
as
the
City
of
Mexico
The Publication of Manufacturing
and
shall
spend
a
while
with
my
old
Processes.
friend Mr. Heuer, who is doing such a
The manufacturers of this country, as a splendid trade with the Kranich & Bach
rule, are inclined to impart information pianos. Of course I shall make my stops
freely relative to the methods and processes en route, and then shall swing up to the
which they use. The tremendous progress Pacific coast before my return East."
which the United States has made in eco-
Mr. Kraemer, perhaps, covers more
nomic production has undoubtedly been miles in a year than any other man in the
accelerated in no small degree by the music trade. His annual trips run from
willingness with which experiences have Vera Cruz to the Pacific Northwest, and
been exchanged and the freedom with usually include a run to Europe as well,
which faulty methods have been criti- for it should be understood he has had his
cised when found in use. Valuable points eye on- European trade for some time.
have been gained by visits interchanged
between managers of rival establish-
Buys 50 Pianos Weekly.
ments and by the publication in the
By Tuesday morning's mail the Ricca
technical press and the proceedings of
Piano
Co. of this city received a big
technical societies of descriptions of
order
from
a wealthy and responsible West-
new plant, new machines and new processes.
ern
firm.
It
calls for an average shipment
Shop secrets may still be jealously guarded
of
from
forty-five
to fifty pianos per week
in small establishments making specialties
during
the
next
five
or six months.
for which the market is limited, but they
are seldom heard of among manufacturers
Piano Movers Acquitted.
of staple articles. Advantages for securing
James Calloway, Charles Hackett and
raw materials, the employment of the most
improved machinery and capable manage- William Hopper, colored, and William
ment are relied upon for profitable results Meyer, piano movers, were tried and ac-
to a much greater extent than any special quitted in the Special Sessions at Jersey
process or method belonging to the particu- City on a charge of assaulting Samuel
lar plant. The branches in which open Franklyn, of First street and the Boule-
doors have been conspicuously kept are vard, Bayonne, on April 14.
those in which achievements have been
From the evidence it appears that
won that have startled the world. Mind has Franklyn bought a $250 piano upon which
sharpened upon mind, and every advanced he had paid $86, when he defaulted in
step taken at one place has been a spur to a payment and the Wissner concern, without
further advance somewhere else. The net regular legal process, it is said, sought to
result has been a vigorous growth and a remove the piano. The four defendants
continuous departure from the traditions went to remove the instrument with the
of the shop, which always impede progress result that there was a row. The evidence
like the barnacles on the ship, No concern showed that only a technical assault was
manufacturing staple products can safely committed.
claim to have found a process so far ahead
Judge Blair in passing judgment on the
of that used by competitors that it can af- case gave the defendants a severe lecture.
ford to refuse to impart or* receive infor- Lawyer Goldenhorn defended the piano
mation. Some active competitor will be movers. The case was the first to be tried
at work devising a different and perhaps under the new law that permits a defend-
more economical way of doing the same ant, after indictment, to go into Special
thing. But those who are unwilling to im- Sessions and be tried by the court.
part are almost invariably; unwilling to
I. N. Rice, who is representing the Need-
learn, and in time must be beaten in the
ham
goods in the West, is now located at
race for business.
241 Wabash avenue, Room 7, Chicago.
• 4--
Strike and Settlement
AT THE KROEGER FACTORY ALL OCCUR WITHIN
A FEW MINUTES—INCREASE OF TWENTY-
FIVE PER CENT. DEMANDED BY
THE MEN GRANTED.
The employees of the Kroeger factory
stopped work and left their workshops at
8 A. M. on Monday, demanded an increase
of twenty-five per cent., had their demand
granted almost without parley, and re-
sumed operations with the loss of only a
few minutes time.
Chris. Garritson, president of the Kroe-
ger Co., when asked by The Review on
Tuesday for a statement of the affair, said:
"The first thing I knew about it was when
I saw the men all assembled outside the
building about 8 o'clock yesterday morn-
ing. It appears that Mr. Couch had been
informed by one or more of the men, earli-
er in the morning, that they were going to
quit if they did not get twenty-five per
cent increase. He told them that just as
soon as I got through my mail the case
would be brought to my attention.
" The mail was heavy and I was still in
the middle of it when I saw the crowd and
asked what it was all about. One of the
spokesmen said that they had waited 'fully
half an hour ' and as they got no answer
they made up their minds to quit. Well,
to come right down to facts, I gave them
what they asked for and they went back
to work.
"There's nothing else to be said. Of
course we can all think what we like. I
have been doing some pretty tall thinking
myself during the past few hours. It
might interest the trade and then again it
might not. At any rate, my thoughts will
keep."
Schmidt Reports Progress.
A BUSINESS CHAT WITH THE POPULAR "HAM-
MER-MAN."
David H. Schmidt, "the Hammer-man "
of Harlem, informed The Review yester-
day during a visit to the Schmidt factory
163rd street and Melrose avenue, that he is
enjoying his share of the general prosperity.
"We are keeping well up-to-date in our
processes of hammer-making," said he,
"adding improved appliances from time to
time. These appliances are our own in-
ventions, patented and fully secured. We
do not believe in standing still or merely
waiting. To secure and hold custom we
must merit it.
'' I venture to say that the Schmidt
hammer of 1899-1900 has no superior, and
the best proof of it is the fact that our old
customers stand firm against all induce-
ments to change. They are with us, and
through them we get new business.
"We are, however, open for more new
business, and shall be glad to hear from
those who wish to further their own inter-
ests in the matter of hammers. Our
prices, material and finished products are
right, as they always have been."
New subscribers to The Review are
pouring in at a rate that convinces us that
our Dewey offer was a decided hit. Orders
must be speedily sent in, else we shall be
unable to fill them.