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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Mason & H ami in Interests.
EDWARD P. MASON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASON & HAMLIN CO., REPORTS PROGRESS THE
EXPOSITION AT PHILADELPHIA A MEDIUM OF TRADE ENLARGEMENT THE EXPORTS OF
MASON & HAMLIN ORGANS NOW BEING FOLLOWED SUCCESSFULLY BY LARGE SHIP-
MENTS OF PIANOS—BUSINESS IN ALL BRANCHES STEADILY AUGMENTING
THE DEMAND FOR BABY GRANDS SIX TIMES AS LARGE AS DURING A*
SIMILAR PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AGO.
During the visit of Edward P. Mason,
of the Mason & Hamlin Co., to this city on
Saturday, The Review had an opportunity
to ascertain his views on current topics
connected with the piano and organ indus-
tries, and to learn something as to trade
conditions so far as the Mason & Hamlin
interests are concerned.
Asked to give his opinion regarding the
plan, progress and success up to date of
the Export Exposition now open at Phila-
delphia, he said: "We regard it as an ex-
cellent idea, well calculated to fulfil the
important mission of developing the na-
tion's industries through the channels of
export business. Its progress from the
r
start has been very encouraging. At this
time the majority of the exhibits are in
place and the buildings are complete.
"Taking our own case as an example, the
success of the Exposition has largely ex-
ceeded expectations. It has only been open
a short time, yet we have already made a
number of valuable connections through
its agency and many sales of instruments
have been negotiated. Other exhibitors
are meeting with similar experiences.
The average of daily attendance has reached
30,000. I understand that the directors of
that admirable institution, the Philadel-
phia Museum, who originated the scheme
as an outgrowth of the Museum plan, in-
tend that the Exposition shall become per-
manent."
Replying to a query as to the export
business of the Mason & Hamlin firm, Mr.
Mason stated that it is large, and continu-
ally growing. "We have had, for more
than thirty years, business connections in
Europe, Africa, Australasia, Canada and
South and Central America, Mexico, India,
Japan and China, but were content, until a
Mrs. D. H. Baldwin Very 111.
[Special to The Review.!
few years ago, to cultivate the organ branch
principally in those countries.
"Now, in addition to the organ trade, we
are doing a very considerable export busi-
ness in the Mason & Hamlin pianos. In this
connection I am at liberty to say that many
expressions of enthusiastic approval have
reached us from distant places regarding the
qualities of our new piano scales. In fact,
these scales have met with general approv-
al, thus compensating us for the trouble and
expense incurred in their adoption."
Speaking of trade conditions, Mr. Ma-
son, responding to a question from The
Review, declared that there is absolutely no
ground for complaints in any direction.
"At home and abroad," said he, "our ef-
forts are highly appreciated and the vol-
ume of our business develops steadily
month by month. Naturally, we are
watchful of our own best interests and are
pursuing an aggressive and progressive
policy, and we are pleased to see that our
work has not failed to produce the results
aimed at.
"A case in point is our Baby Grand with
the new Mason & Hamlin scale. Its re-
ception has gone beyond our most san-
guine expectations. During the past five
months we have sold six times as many
as in a corresponding period during 1898.
The total volume of our business since
April has largely exceeded that of corres-
ponding months of last year. Altogether,
we have every reason to be satisfied."
Cincinnati, O., Oct. 9, 1899.
Mrs. D. H. Baldwin, wife of the former
head of the D. H. Baldwin Co., recently
deceased, lies at death's door as a result of
an accident which occurred last week.
Mrs. Baldwin recently went on a visit to
her sister, Mrs. Farrell, in Kemper Lane,
Walnut Hills. This was on Saturday, and
on Sunday, after dinner, Mrs. Baldwin
went upstairs to her room. Mrs. Farrell,
missing her sister, sent her husband to
help her up the stairs. He met her on the
stairs, coming down, and she insisted that
she was able to go the rest of the way
alone. Unfortunately, she slipped on the
last step, and fell unconscious on the floor.
Drs. Bonifield and Gillespie were imme-
diately called, and found that Mrs. Bald-
win had broken her hip. They offer no hope
for her recovery, and say that death is but
a question of two or three days.
Mrs. Baldwin is 77 years old, and her
recent grief and old age would, in any case,
tell against her recovery, but the accident
was such a severe one that it is believed by
the physicians that it will be fatal. She
has been unconscious most of the time,
except occasionally, when she suffers in-
tensely.
*
*
*
Since the foregoing was put in type, in-
formation has reached us of the death of
Mrs. Baldwin.
The Adam Buttell Piano Co.
At the meeting of the recently organized
Canadian Piano and Organ Association at
Toronto last week, the question of ad-
mitting dealers to membership was con-
sidered. A few of the manufacturers con-
tended that dealers could co-operate ad-
vantageously with manufacturers in keep-
ing out cheap goods. This view was not
approved of by the majority who claimed
that the dealers and manufacturers have
little in common, and that the dealers if
admitted would very probably undo all the
good the Association might accomplish.
The result of the discussion was that the
dealers will be invited to form a separate
association of their own with the expecta-
tion that whenever possible they will co-
operate with the manufacturers in secur-
ing certain desirable reforms. The secre-
tary of the association was directed to com-
municate with the dealers on the subject.
Another matter which came up for con-
sideration was the lack of common action
in protection against dishonest dealers. A
manufacturer, when he possesses know-
ledge of certain dealers' efforts to defraud
him, should communicate with all members
of the association, in this way effectively
blockading the dishonest dealer in carrying
out his purpose. This matter will be
taken up in extenso at the next meeting.
[Special to The Review.]
EDWARD P. MASON.
pianos are a luxury not usually purchased
during hard times, the present boom is
considered a sign of prosperity.—N. Y.
Commercial.
Detroit, Mich., Oct. 9, 1899.
The Adam Buttell Piano Co. was organ-
ized at Schoolcraft, on Saturday, with a
capital stock of $20,000. They will re-
move from Oregon, 111., to that place, hav-
ing purchased a large plant, where as soon
as alterations are completed, they will
manufacture pianos on a large scale, fur-
nishing employment to a large force of
skilled workmen. The officers of the com-
pany are Adam Buttell, president; C. C.
Duncan, vice-president, and Thomas
Hewitt, secretary.
Piano Key Industry.
HEAVY INCREASE IN BUSINESS REPORTED BY
THE MANUFACTURERS.
Within a few weeks there has been a boom
at the piano key manufactories. During
the present season at the factories of Pratt,
Read & Co., Deep River, and Comstock,
Cheney & Co., Ivory ton, nearly 10,000
pounds of ivory has been sawed, cut and
polished, requiring the services of over 600
workmen.
During the past week one of the manu-
factories received a consignment of 211
elephant tusks, valued at $36,000. As
Canadian Manufacturers Discuss.