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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
. . . Stein way on Business Topics. . .
A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES—AN
INTERESTING TALK.
During this week's round of visits in
quest of news, The Review was fortunate
enough, on Wednesday, to find Charles H.
Steinway, president of Steinway & Sons,
sufficiently at liberty to chat for a few
moments concerning his recent tour in
Europe and the result of his observations
concerning the present condition of the
Steinway interests, in Europe and else-
where.
During his absence, Mr. Steinway visit-
ed London, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg and
Cologne. In each of these cities the Stein-
way business is flourishing. The manager
of each branch, following the good ex-
ample set by the firm at headquarters in
this city, are pursuing most successfully an
aggressive as well as a progressive policy.
In answer to a question regarding the
development of the Steinway interests in
London and other parts of Great Britain,
Mr. Steinway said: "Under the manage-
ment of Mr. Eshelby, our trade has reached
a period of advancement wherein its limits
are bounded only by the number of instru-
ments placed at the manager's disposal.
"Professional musicians of acknowl-
edged reputation in England declare free-
ly their preference for our products, and
so far as private purchasers are concerned,
those who are in a position to meet our
standard in the matter of price practically
declare in favor of the Steinway in nearly
every instance. Of course you know that
the English trade is supplied from our fac-
tories at Hamburg. This is also true of
our trade with Australia, South America ;
and other countries outside of the United
States and Canada. There is a decided
advance this year in the foreign business
of our house—in fact, viewed from any
standpoint, the present condition of our
affairs is highly gratifying. This refers to
artistic as well as to financial matters.
"It was pleasant during my tour this
time, as on previous occasions, to note the
widespread appreciation of our grands and
uprights among those whose opinion is of
real value. It was gratifying also to obr
serve the attitude of other manufacturers.
They are not jealous or envious or other-
wise antagonistic, but, on the contrary,
are evidently sincere in their expressions
of good will in our behalf."
When asked concerning the Steinway
interests in Hamburg, and the general
outlook for the Steinway products through-
out Germany, Mr. Steinway spoke in most
enthusiastic terms of what he had seen
and heard in the course of his travels on
the European continent. "Our business
in all European countries on the continent
is rapidly increasing. You are aware of
our facilities at Hamburg. So great has
been the demand of late that we have
been compelled to add two new stories to
our already large quarters in that city.
Wherever I went I found the Steinway
grand well in evidence and always in ap-
propriate surroundings."
Speaking of musical appreciation among
professionals in the several countries,
when invited to name some great artists
now using the Steinway exclusively in
their work, Mr. Steinway said: "Not in
the spirit of boasting, but as a natural
fact, I can say, from observation and
actual knowledge, that oiir products have
obtained supremacy among experts in
European countries. The enthusiasm of
Paderewski concerning the Steinway Grand
is almost too well known to be repeated by
me. Then there are on our list of ardent
supporters to-day men like D'Albert, Bus-
soni, Borwick, Sapellinhoff and Schelling.
Sophie Menter is also a warm friend of
ours."
With reference to the Steinway outlook
in the United States and from a general
point of view, Mr. Steinway observed that
it is, in every sense of the word, satisfac-
tory. "Never," said he, "in the history of
our house, have we had so many loyal
friends and supporters. I am glad to say,
too, that our enemies are few and far be-
tween. It is our aim now, as it always has
been, to maintain the dignity of the piano-
manufacturing industry. Apart from all
other considerations, we feel that it is our
duty to sustain the dignity which belongs
to it, particularly from the standpoint of
high art. In this connection I may say
that the branch of our business which deals
almost exclusively with the production of
special designs and special cases is meeting
with ample encouragement in the United
States as well as in Europe. Our art sa-
lons, wherever established, have proved
successful. We are continually in receipt
of orders for special cases to blend agree-
ably with furniture and other decorations."
To Protect Music Copyrights.
A despatch from Montreal, dated Oct. n ,
says: A number of the leading music pub-
lishing houses of the United States and Can-
ada have formed a syndicate to protect Uni-
ted States and Canadian music copyrights.
Samuel Nordheimer, of Toronto, is presi-
dent, and the directors are: John Haynes,
Boston; Isidor Witmark, New York, and
W. Bacon, Boston. The Canadian trade of
the houses included in the syndicate will
be centered in Toronto, and new copy-
rights will be protected by the printing
and publication of the sheets in Canada.
The piracy of United States copyright
music in Canada was the chief reason for
the formation of the syndicate.
A Toronto Incorporation.
[Special to The Review.]
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 9, 1899.
London and Toronto parties have ob-
tained an Ontario charter for the Com-
pensating Pipe Organ Company, of Toron-
to, Ltd. ; share capital, $200,000; parties,
John A. Mclntosh, of London; J. J. Ken-
ny and E. R. C. Clarkson, of Toronto, and
others. The company intend to commence
operations at an early date and will locate
their factory in this city.
Not Columbine Music Co.
[Special to The Review.]
Denver, Col., Oct. 10, 1899.
Fannie Clark has filed suit against Lydia
A. Wigg, R. T. Cassell, the Columbine
Piano company, the Central Savings bank
and the Bush & Gerts Piano company,
asking that a receiver be appointed for the
business of the Columbine Piano company.
She charges irregularities on the part of
the agent of the Bush & Gerts company in
liquidating the affairs.
The application for a receiver for the
Columbine Piano company has nothing to
do with the Columbine Music company.
The latter is entirely a separate concern.
The Columbine Music company is not in
the hands of a receiver. This company
was organized after the dissolution of the
piano company, and there is no connection
between the two.
Piano Men Confer.
RESIDENT AND OUT-OF-TOWN MANAGERS OF"0R,
THE D. H. BALDWIN COMPANY IN
L
[Special to The Review.]
Cincinnati, O., Oct. 9, 1899.
Representatives of the D. H. Baldwin
Piano Company from other cities are here
in quarterly meeting with Messrs. Lucien
Wulsin and George W. Armstrong, Jr., of
the home plant, and were in session at the
factory on Gilbert avenue all afternoon.
The out-of-town managers of the company
who are here ere W. S. McKinney, of St.
Louis; H. C. Dickinson, of Chicago; John
Marshal, of Terre Haute, Ind. ; E. G.
Hereth, of Indianapolis, and A. A. Van
Buren, of Louisville. The various inter-
ests of the company are thoroughly dis-
cussed at these meetings and plans for
coming campaigns are laid out. One fea-
ture of present conditions is the growing
demand for instruments and light stocks on
hand—a condition which all were agreed in
hoping and believing would result in higher
prices in the near future.
Smith Bought a Gold Brick.
[Special to The Review].
Toledo, O., Oct. 10, 1899.
The case of Geo. W. Smith, vs. The
United States Guitar and Zither company,
Piano Company Lost.
has gone to the jury and a verdict has been
A prominent concern sold a piano to R. returned that has cost Smith over $700.
C. Chaplin, book-keeper for the Walker The case was aired before Judge Barber.
Brewing Company, on instalments. In Smith bought the Zither Co. 's outfit from
time the piano company sued obtained agents, minus authority.
paid $740 to the men, and agents
judgment and levied on the piano. Chap- and Smith
money came up missing.
lin setup a claim for household exemption.
Smith brought suit against the Zither
Judge Davis Tuesday allowed Chaplin's Co., but the jury decided the company
claim.—Cincinnati, O., Post.
was an innocent party to the deal.