Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 12

Page 6 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
the manufacture of cases and actions, and
in one or two instances, even to add found-
ries to their equipment. This move may
be due, firstly, to the matter of economy
in production, and secondly, to the in-
ability to secure prompt deliveries in the
very busy season.
The closing of 1900 will see the factory
capacity of this industry greatly enlarged
"and prepared for an immense output, and
the great consideration of the future will
be to keep these plants busy. The present
degree of prosperity cannot always be
with us, and it would be well to plan for
the future.
The matter of export trade comes up for
consideration under this head. There is
no reason why the music trade industry
should not be successful in exploiting
its wares abroad, as other innumerable in-
dustries are doing. Of course there is an
increasing exportation of pianos and or-
gans each year, but there is still room for
active, earnest work in this particular
field. The present activity at home should
not blind manufacturers to the importance
of cultivating the foreign markets in a
thoroughly up to date and progressive
manner.
TRADE PAPERS AND PROGRESS.
IN a recent issue of the Saturday Even-
ing Post, Wm. H. Maher dwells on the
•importance of employees reading the trade
papers. He says: "A clerk who studies
his trade paper and avails himself of every
hint to gain business will not be a clerk
forever." In illustration of this claim Mr.
Maher quotes the following incident:
A dealer who does a business of a mil-
lion dollars a year and watches every de-
tail himself said to me as he pointed to a
bright young man of twenty: "There is
my future manager; he is the only one of
all that crowd who cares to read our trade
paper or who wants to know where things
come from and how they're made."
Mr. Maher emphasizes a fact in the
opening remark which is borne out by ex-
perience. "Knowledge is power," and
every one, be he wareroom or traveling
salesman, dealer or manufacturer, can be
benefitted in some way by a close study of
trade publications. In this age of special-
ization, the would-be successful man pays
particular attention to the trade paper be-
cause he realizes that it is the exclusive
medium whereby his interests are guarded
and advanced. We are living in a fast-
moving era and it is absolutely necessary
in order to be well informed that one
should keep in touch with the developments
in the music trade field at home and
abroad. This only can be done through
supporting a trade paper which deserves
support. The man of common-place ideas,
who adheres to antiquated methods, who
wonders why his competitors make head-
way, who is complaining about, instead of
meeting, new ideas, is the one who never
reads the trade paper, and who considers
a yearly subscription a wasteful luxury.
A Tribute from A. n . McPhail
TO THE PRESENT HEAD OF THE M'PHAlL COM-
PANY A WELL-MERITED
APPRECIATION.
We have frequently commented on the
enterprise and progressive methods of Geo.
F. Blake, the president, and F. H. Owen,
the treasurer, of the McPhail Piano Co. in
connection with the development of the
business of that institution. Since they
assumed control they have worked on a
high plane of endeavor, having in view at all
times, an appreciation of the qualities of
the instrument which they are manufactur-
ing as well as a certain pride in being
members of a great art industry such as
that of piano making. Success has come
their way. And it is perfectly logical in
view of their tireless labors. That a larger
measure is in store for them is inevitable.
No higher tribute could be paid their efforts
than the following unsolicited communica-
tion which reached them last Saturday
morning from Mr. A. M. McPhail, the
founder of the business. While a personal
letter, yet an expression of this kind, ten-
dered in all sincerity from one of our oldest
piano manufacturers, is of interest to the
trade at large, hence its publication:
TESTING CONSTITUTIONALITY.
PROCEEDINGS to test the constitution-
ality of the National Bankruptcy Law
have been instituted by the Hanover Na-
tional Bank of this city who have filed a
suit, through their attorneys, in the U. S.
Circuit Court, Chattanooga, Tenn., against
Max Moyses. The latter owns large plan-
tation interests in Mississippi, and the
Hanover Bank held his paper for $9,000.
Recently the bank sued on the paper, and
obtained a judgment for the face of the
note, with accrued interest, amounting to
$13,000. In the meantime Moyses was
adjudged a bankrupt, and was discharged
by the Federal Court.
The bank attacks the discharge on the
ground that the bankrupt law is uncon-
stitutional and void. Its attorneys assert
Omaha, Neb., March 13, 1900.
that the act violates the Federal constitu-
Mr. G. F. Blake, Pres.,
tion, in that it is not uniform and equally
and Mr. F. H. Owen, Treas.,
of the A. M. McPhail Piano Co.
applicable to all citizens; that it denies
Gentlemen:—It is with great gratifica-
voluntary bankruptcy to corporations, tion that I hear of your company's very
while permitting all other citizens to go successful business record the past year.
I wish to congratulate you on it, and at
into bankruptcy, and that it also denies the
same time to express my approval of
the right to proceed in involuntary bank- the energetic and efficient way in which
ruptcy against wage-earners, or persons you are upholding the old standard of the
McPhail piano. For over half a century
engaged chiefly in farming or the tillage it was the pride of the house to produce an
of the soil, while allowing involuntary pro- instrument that should be known as the
synonym for all that is thorough and en-
ceedings against all other citizens, wheth- during in construction and artistic in re-
er persons or corporations. It is also al- sult.
Although my present home is somewhat
leged that the act is not uniform because
distant from your field of action, I natural-
it allows exemptions to debtors in varying ly retain a deep interest in the piano which
amounts, according to the law of the State bears my name, and take note, so far as
possible, of everything relating to it and
of the domicile of such debtors; that a its
development.
man by moving his residence from one
From all that I am able to observe, you
State to another can choose his domicile would seem to have availed yourselves of
every facility offered by the progress of
and hence his exemption, and thus preju- the times, a . h should therefore go with-
dice his creditors, even though such cred- out saying il . L the McPhail piano of to-
is quit 1 !;c equal of any of days gone
itors had contracted with such debtor day
by. Your financial success is also a proof
under the laws of the original domicile of that your fidelity to the old ideas of excel-
lence is noticed and appreciated by the
the debtor.
musical public. I am glad to believe that
It is claimed also that the clause which in relinquishing to you, as I did nine years
allows a compromise with a bankrupt by a since, the whole responsibility for the pro-
duction of the piano in question, I made
majority in number of creditors and against no mistake, but that the long established
the will of the creditor of a particular con- standards of the house are, and will be,
tract, takes away a constitutional right of safe in your keeping.
You have my sincere approbation and
such objecting creditor by forcing him to hearty good wishes for the future, which
settle a debt in a manner to which he ob- indeed looks so promising.
Believe me to be, gentlemen,
jects.
Always faithfully yours,
A. M. McPhail.
Every one in any way interested in the
WHAT ADVERTISING DOES.
A N advertisement will not enable you to progress of the McPhail institution will
dispense with a traveler, but it will help cordially agree with the sentiments so well
expressed by Mr. McPhail in this letter—it
your traveler. It will introduce him. It is an appreciation of Messrs. Blake and
will interest a buyer in your goods, and Owen's efforts that is indeed well
consequently in your representative.
merited.

Page 7 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
damper which comprises two loose jointed
Hardman Agencies.
sections—namely, a lever-section and a
Hardman, Peck & Co. are steadily ex-
contact-section—and means for producing
tending
their agencies. Those arranged
a frictional contact between said two sec-
for
this
week
in Eastern territory included
tions.
Reading,
Pottsville,
Harrisburg and Lan-
Musical Instrument. John C. Deagan,
caster,
Pa.,
Hagerstown,
Md., and other
Chicago, 111. Patent No. 644,187.
important
points.
Business
with this firm
This invention relates to improvements
is
excellent.
in musical instruments, and more particu-
(Specially compiled for The Review).
larly to that class of instruments known as
The Chickering Anniversary.
Washington, D. C, March 20, 1900.
" chimes," wherein the musical tones are
Electrical Music Box. Joseph Natterer,
An event of considerable importance in
produced by vibrating tubes, and has for
Jersey City, N. J., assignor to the Sym-
Chickering
annals will be the dual celebra-
its object the provision of an instrument of
phonion Mfg. Co., New York. Patent No.
tion
April
23d
of the seventy-seventh an-
better musical quality and greater strength
6
niversary
of
the
founding of Chickering &
45>4°5-
and durability than those previously known
Sons and the opening of the Chickering
This invention relates to music-boxes, and used.
headquarters in this city at the Wanamaker
and more especially to music-boxes which
The musical tubes are constructed, pre-
are operated electrically, one object of the ferably, of steel tubing, although other piano store.
invention being to provide means con- materials may be used, and have double
His Share Two Hillion.
trolled by the tune-sheet for instantly and sympathetic air-columns, and the lower
automatically actuating the impact means ends thereof are provided with reinforc-
William N. Tyson, a salesman in Bald-
for vibrating the resonant reeds, tongues, ing-forks, which serve to set in vibration win's music store, Crawfordsville, Ind.,
or teeth of the comb, so that the sounding or sound the tubes. There are preferably will leave in June for Sydney, Australia,
of the tongue or reed depends upon the mounted in a novel manner in each frame where the large Tyson estate, estimated at
operation of a mechanism located inter- four of such tubes tuned, respectively, to a $16,000,000, and of which he is a direct
mediately of the tune-sheet and the impact fundamental note, an octave higher, and a heir, will be partitioned in August. Mr.
means for the comb. A further object is duplicate double octave of the fundamen- Tyson thinks his share will be about
to control the movements of the actuators tal. To secure both lightness and strength, $2,000,000.
for the impact devices electrically, so the frame is made tubular throughout.
that one electric circuit after the other is
Minnesota's First Piano.
Musical Instrument. C. H. Froelich,
closed through the intermediate mechan-
West Chicago, 111. Patent No. 644,669.
At the Exhibition by the Minnesota Ter-
ism (which includes said actuators) in ac-
This invention relates to that class of ritorial Pioneer Association to be held at
cordance with the sequence of the notes of
musical instruments in which a series of Minneapolis, the first piano and piano stool
the tune-sheet.
vibratory reeds is so arranged as to be set brought into that state will be exhibited.
A further object of the invention is to
in motion by the breath of the performer, It is a Chickering and bears the number
render the mounting of the tune-sheet in
especially in the form commonly known as 344. It is of the square type, slightly
position less troublesome than heretofore
the "harmonica;" and the object thereof smaller than the modern square piano.
by dispensing with the spur driving-wheel,
is to increase the volume and richness of The woodwork is of black walnut, and the
so that by simply placing the tune-sheet
the tone given out as well as to permit the instrument has a range of six octaves.
over the center pin and snapping the tune-
direction thereof to be controlled.
The old cover of stamped flannel is still on
sheet holder in position the tune-sheet is
the piano just as it was when sent out to
ready to be driven immediately without
Strauss's Orchestra Coming.
the far West, and is in a remarkably good
necessitating the usual care in causing the
Edouard vStrauss, the concert director of state of preservation.
teeth of a spur-wheel to enter the perfora- Vienna, is coming to this country with his
It is the property of Ard Godfrey whose
tions of the tune-sheet. Further objects orchestra of fifty musicians. This fact
father
and namesake was one of the orig-
are to provide means for holding and was announced last week in a cablegram
inal
settlers
of St. Anthony, that State.
quickly securing the tune-sheet in position received in this city from Rudolph Aron-
The
old
piano
cost Mr. Godfrey $300. It
on the center-pin of an upright music-box; son, who is now in Paris, and has signed a
is
in
a
splendid
state of preservation—an
to provide a reliable and unique damping contract with him. It is seven years since
excellent
proof
that
the Chickering instru-
device whereby the resonant tongues are Strauss's orchestra was heard here. He
ments
are
impervious
to time and climatic
damped just before being vibrated; to pro- will arrive here after fulfilling a three
conditions.
Its
tone
to-day, although
vide means for turning the tune-sheet by months' engagement at the Paris Expo-
small,
is
exceedingly
sweet
and pleasing.
electricity and to automatically break the sition, and will open about Oct. 15 with
circuit at the end of a piece of music.
performances at the Waldorf-Astoria and Having Fun with Bellevillians.
The invention consists of a music-box the Metropolitan Opera House.
A piano tuner by the name of "August
provided with a tune-sheet, impact devices
Canada will then be visited, after which
for the comb-teeth, and a novel construc- the regular tour will begin. It will in- Bruno Thunig" and apparently possessed
tion and arrangement of the details of the clude the principal Eastern and Western of a large fund of humor, has been "jolly-
electrically-controlled mechanism arranged cities. A visit will also be paid to Ha- ing" the people of Belleville, 111. He
intermediately of the tune-sheet and im- vana. In all over 100 concerts will be posed as a man with more money than he
pact devices, whereby a responsively-quick given. Herr Strauss's repertoire contains could conveniently dispose of and made all
the arrangements for establishing a piano
impact is obtained.
many novelties and popular works.
factory "in the midst" of the people of
The invention consists of means for
Mr. Aronson, in addition to this engage-
driving the tune-sheet around, such means ment, has also secured many foreign at- Belleville. He bought a building, con-
tracted for its alteration, bought piano
consisting of a pair of serrated drivers, one tractions for American managers.
wagons and played on the credulity of the
rotated by the motor and the other being
Buys out Longstreet.
good people of Belleville like a virtuoso.
arranged on the tune-sheet holder and both
being in contact with opposite sides of a The store and stock of the late W. H. He then raised $4 on a bogus certificate of
corrugated portion of the tune-sheet.
Longstreet & Son, at Elmira, N. Y., have deposit for $45,000 and hied himself away.
The invention further consists in pro- been purchased by D. S. Andrus & Co. of
flore Piano Factories.
viding the centre-pin for the tune-sheets Williamsport, Pa. , It will be remembered
with a snap, so that when the invention is that both members of the first named firm
Secretary Thompson, of the Nashville,
applied to an upright music-box in particu- died within a recent date.
Tenn., Board of Trade, at a meeting this
lar the tune-sheet will be retained on said
This deal was consummated through the week, read propositions for the location of
centre-pin.
efforts of their efficient manager in Elmira, a piano factory to employ 200 men and an
organ factory to employ 100.
The invention further consists of a Mr. M. Doyle Marks,

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