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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
. . . Music Industries of New York . . .
highest elective gift in their possession. He
is now president of the village, and is the
dominant figure politically. Mr. Breck-
OUTSIDE OF THE GREAT METROPOLIS AL15ANY, AUBURN, WATERLOO, DOLGEVILLE, ROCHES-
woldt's business never was as prosperous
TER, BROCKPORT, BUFFALO, JAMESTOWN, ST. JOHNSVILLE, OWEGO,
CASTLETON, NASSAU AND MT. VERNON.
as at the present time. His sounding
boards and other essentials to piano making
Henry Wegman, son of the founder, is are in greater demand than ever.
Outside of Greater New York there are
located in the Empire State, important one of the younger members of the trade
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piano and allied industries. Starting from whose personality will become felt more
The Brambach factory, too, is assuming
New York the first important manufactur- strongly as time rolls on. Trained under a busy aspect. With Aloys Brambach at
ing city is Albany—a town which has fig- his esteemed father, he feels an intense the manufacturing helm and Ben H.
ured in the early history of the trade, and interest in the enterprise which bears his Janssen at the head of the wholesale
has been the home of important manufac- family patronymic, and he proposes to department, there is no reason why this
turing institutions. Some of the old mem- push it on to greater achievements. The business should not thrive and expand
bers of the trade, such as Myron A. Deck- Wegman product is sold by well-known with the improvement of the times. There
er, Amos James and many others, learned dealers, and, what is more, it is a prime are certainly excellent reasons for feeling
favorite with them.
the art of piano making in Albany.
that this business will be materially
There is one institution in Albany which
In Auburn the company maintain down- promoted during the next few months.
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has successfully withstood the vicissitudes town warerooms which indeed it would be
The plant of Roth & Engelhardt is plain-
of the times and has always maintained an difficult to surpass, in point of man-
exalted standing in piano making.
agement, extent and beauty, in the State. ly seen from the train as one passes
I refer to Boardman & Gray, one of the The Wegman piano stands high in Auburn through St. Johnsville. Alfred P. Roth and
oldest concerns in the trade and makers of and local circles, and the retail establish- Fred. Engelhardt have worked hard fcr
high-grade wares. The present proprie- ment, like the factory itself, is a credit to years and have built up a voluminous busi-
tors, W. J. and James S. Gray are practi- the industry. There is an individuality ness. They have continually enlarged
cal men who have always believed in ad- about the Wegman product which is stead- their plant and control a very handsome
trade.
hering to the high standard of piano mak- ily promoting its popularity.
ing, which was so thoroughly instilled in
Since they have controlled the destinies
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them by their father, who was one of the
of
the Peerless self-playing attachment,
It is only a little run from Auburn to
historic figures of the industry.
the
interest in this invention has become
Waterloo where another prosperous and
Recently, when I called at Albany, in firmly established music trade industry has intensified. Mr. Roth has given it his per-
conversation Mr. Gray remarked: "We its abiding place. The Waterloo Organ sonal attention and has visited a number
could build cheap pianos probably as well Co., a corporation manufacturing Malcolm of cities where he has succeeded in inter-
as any firm, but we do not believe in them. Love and Alexander pianos, together with esting prominent members of the trade.
We preferto manufacture reliable goods,and Waterloo organs, has a well-appointed There is no doubt but St. Johnsville will
we believe in the end that dealers as well plant from which a business is controlled become a larger factor in the musical out-
as the purchasing masses all appreciate which reaches all parts of the globe, for put than ever before.
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the high-grade standard which we have al- organs are shipped from Waterloo to the
At
Rochester
there
are
three manufac-
ways maintained."
uttermost ends of the earth. They have
turing
corporations—Foster
& Co., Haines
The Boardman & Gray pianos have won an especially fine trade in London, and
&
Co.,
and
Martin
Bros.
Piano
Co. Com-
by their merit, a splendid position in Albany have recently received a large order from
paratively
few
people
in
the
trade
have an
and vicinity, and I may add in all parts of their factors at that point.
adequate
idea
of
the
magnitude
of the
the country where they have been sold.
The Malcolm Love piano is steadily
manufacturing
business
in
Rochester.
They are instruments made on merit.
growing in favor with the dealers who
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have found in it reliability which assists in They would elevate their eyebrows a trifle
Harry J. Raymoreof the Raymore Piano creating a warm clientele of admirers. if they could check up some of the daily
Co., clad in hot weather raiment, was Malcolm Love is energetic, ambitious and shipments from that point. Foster & Co.
seated at his desk when I entered. He was hustling. There is no loitering by the and Haines & Co. are making enormous
weekly shipments. What is more they are
just issuing a lot of printed matter to deal- wayside with him.
supplying some of the best dealers in the
ers. "You know," began Mr. Raymore,
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country. Their enterprise has been stead-
"when I came here there was a powerful
Dolgeville has recovered from its des- ily expanding, and their new factory,
lot of work to do. First to get this factory
into shape, reorganize the whole business pondent mood, and is well on the way to- which has been referred to in The Re-
and put it on a good footing. This I think wards a new era of prosperity. The huge view, is supplied with all the latest me-
I have succeeded in doing, and the direc- factories of the American Fel" Co. are chanical appliances and accessories which
tors are quite satisfied with last year's animated with the hum of industry. I contribute to manufacturing success.
The new scale Haines & Co. piano has
work. We feel from all indications and understand that the mills are producing
more
felts
to-day
than
ever
before
in
their
made
a decided hit. Then when we con-
from reports in the trade papers that the
history,
even
during
the
palmy
days
of
'92
sider
new cases throughout, we will un-
fall is going to be excellent. I shall leave
when
Alfred
Dolge
was
at
the
helm.
The
derstand
better the progressiveness of
very soon for the West on an extended
same
old
faces
are
on
every
hand,
and
when
this
institution.
trip. I hope that business may be all that
The Martin Bros. Co. are getting out
we anticipate, and things look decidedly the mills are active everyone interested
seems happy. The business for '99 will some decidedly attractive instruments, and
v
bright just at present.
probably be the largest ever recorded in it was in this factory that I saw a system
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the history of the Dolge felt mills. It of wood-staining 'which was marvelous in
The next point is Auburn, which is the
demonstrates one thing beyond the power its results. This firm have a secret in pre-
home of the Wegman Piano Co. To say
of argument, and that, the American Felt paring woods so that even expert veneer
that business with this concern is excellent
Co. is an institution officered by business men will be unable to distinguish the dif-
is to express a truth, and the prospects for
men who thoroughly understand how to ference between the real and these imita-
the Wegman piano never were more brill-
manage great industrial plants.
tion veneers. Some of the results which
iant than to-day. W. C. Burgess has man-
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I saw were surprising.
aged the Wegman affairs with signal ability
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Julius Breckwoldt, one of the hardest
since the decease of Mr. Wegman. Mr.
Down
at
Brockport
there
is an institu-
Burgess has been associated with the Weg- workers in the trade has steadily advanced
tion
which
is
steadily
winning
its way.
man business so long that his interest in it in the esteem of the trade and of his towns-
The
Brockport
Piano
Co.,
manufacturers
men, and they have honored him with the
is almost parental.