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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Vale Chickering Hall.
Guernsey vs. Guernsey.
A few days more and historic Chickering
Hall will be no longer a spot where trade
interest centers. Next week the stock will
all be moved into the piano department of
John Wanamaker and Chickering Hall as
the home of the Chickering piano, will
cease to exist. Monday, April 23, is the
day set for the formal opening of the piano
department of the great merchant. Art-
ists and artisans have been actively engaged
for weeks in making elaborate changes
and decorations for the new home of the
Chickering. Mr. James B. Woodford, the
manager of both the Philadelphia and
New York piano departments of the
Wanamaker business, has been in New
York frequently in consultation with archi-
tects, and this week he announced that
everything will be in readiness for the
opening, details concerning which wilt be
announced later.
There is a deeply seated belief that the
formal opening of the Chickering-Wana-
maker piano department, in New York,
will be emphasized by such announce-
ments in the columns of the daily papers
as will impress in no uncertain manner
upon the minds of the reading public, that
Wanamaker is a full fledged piano mer-
chant.
Mr. Young, who for many years has
been at the head of the business depart-
ment of Chickering & Sons' New York
business, will take a responsible position
in the piano department of John Wana-
maker. There will be many matters to
close up before the final withdrawal from
Chickering Hall so that his time will be
occupied there until May 1.
C. G. McDonald, who has been associated
with Mr. Young in the business depart-
ment, will also join the Wanamaker forces.
Mr. Frank Taft, as already announced
in The Review, will attend to the Hymno-
lia department in the Wanamaker institu-
tion.
The Chickering tuners and Cleveland &
Son, the movers, will also become connected
with the Wanamaker establishment. Thus
the old-time guard of Chickering & Sons,
will become associated with the new piano
department of John Wanamaker.
There has been considerable speculation
as to the future of Chickering Hall. It is
probable that it will be immediately razed
and a business structure erected on its
site, as the building as it now stands is in-
adequate for business purposes, and tre-
mendous expense would have to be in-
curred in order to adapt it to business useg.
The suit of M. W. Guernsey against J.
W. Guernsey has this week been before the
courts in Scranton, Pa.
The plaintiff claims that on April 1st,
1896, he entered into a contract to give up
his own business of selling musical instru-
ments and work for the defendant for five
years at a salary ranging from $250 to $300
a month. He was discharged January 22,
1898, and sued to get salary for the three
remaining years.
The defendant alleges that M. W. Guern-
sey re-engaged in business for himself,
and this terminated the contract. At a
previous trial before arbitrators the defense
was sustained.
Martin's Choice Stock;
Edward N. Martin has a very choice new
stock of scarfs now ready for the market.
His selection of patterns is excellent and
his prices are always right.
Robt. L. Loud, of Buffalo, has been
sojourning within our gates this week.
A. C. Powers, for many years connected
with the Mark Ament Co., Peoria, 111.,
will soon embark in the piano business for
himself.
A New York Incorporation.
Among the incorporations filed with the
Secretary of State at Albany this week
was that of the Zimmerman Autoharp Co.
of Dolgeville, N. Y., for the purpose of
dealing in and manufacturing musical in-
struments of all kinds. Capital stock is
$10,000. Directors: William A. Ingham,
Little Falls; Lewis L. Clarke, Dumont, N. J.
Gibson Schedules.
Detailed schedules of the Gibson Piano
Manufacturing Co., 204 to 209 East Forty-
ninth street, show liabilities direct, $67.-
291; contingent, $11,774; on indorsements;
nominal assets, $29,699, and actual assets,
$10,804, consisting of machinery, $3,495;
merchandise, $7,204; sundries, $105. The
largest creditors are the Nineteenth Ward
Bank, $12,802; William P. Howe, $10,180.
Steinway Exodus.
Next Tuesday Frederick T. Steinway,
accompanied by his wife, leaves for a
European trip.
Nahum Stetson and family will leave
some time the latter part of the week for
an extended trip to California, where they
will tarry for some weeks.
Chas. F. Tretbar will take a European
outing beginning some time in May.
Later on in the season Chas. H. Stein-
way will take his annual European trip.
The Jury of Awards.
As a result of consultation between the
Minister of Commerce of France and the
Music Trade Association of Paris, anent
the composition of the jury for the Exposi-
tion, the latter body has made the follow-
ing request: that the number of the French
jury consist of nine members, and that
these members should be practical men to
the exclusion absolutely of those without a
knowledge of manufacturing. President
Lyon is charged to transmit to the Minister
of Commerce a list of names which the
association deems most suitable from which
a selection will be made.
Flee from Fire.
A very serious fire damaged the upper
floors and library of the Catholic Club, 120
West Fifty-ninth street, last Wednesday
morning. Among the members occupying
quarters at the club, who were compelled
to flee, were Richard M. Walters and Dr.
C E. Byrne of the Byrne Piano Co.
From the City by the Lake.
[Special to The Review].
Chicago, 111., April 11, 1900.
I understand that the new factory of the
Cable Co., regarding which so many pre-
dictions have been rife, will be located at
St. Charles, 111., which is about forty miles
west of this city. According to the local
papers the new structure will be 80 x 150
feet, with engine room, boiler house and
mill room separate. It will cost something
over $100,000 and, it is expected, will be
ready for occupancy about the end of July.
The location is an admirable one, as there
are ample railroad facilities and attractive
surroundings. There is plenty of room for
enlargement, for the Cable Co. own ten
acres of land adjoining, which will afford
them all the accommodations necessary for
a good many years to come.
The Melville Clark Piano Co. can now
be addressed at 403-405 West Madison
street. They are now moving to these
quarters and will have their plant in full
swing the coming week. There is a stead-
ily growing demand for the specialties
made by this institution, the Apollo piano
player being especially favored. Melville
Clark's prospects for success are excellent.
In his will which was made public this
week, the late Albert G. Cone, has fur-
nished further proof of his thoughtfnlness
and consideration. He has not only pro-
vided for his widow and friends, but has
given munificently to the hospitals of Chi-
cago, and thousands will benefit through
Mr. Cone's bequests to these institutions.
No more enduring monument could be
raised, or one that speaks more eloquently
of the character of the man, than the
tablets to be placed in these hospitals to
commemorate the gifts of Albert G. Cone.
The value of his estate amounted to
$350,000.
New factory buildings seem to be the
order of the day in this section. I am in-
formed that the Hamilton Organ Co. have
closed a contract for the erection of a new
factory at Chicago Heights, the well-known
suburb on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
Railroad. The entire buildings when com-
pleted will cost probably $150,000, and will
be erected in three distinct wings each
costing $50,000. The foundation for the
first section—60 by 350 feet—has been laid
and when completed the Hamilton piano
will be made there. Later another wing,
60 by 450 feet will be constructed for the
Hamilton organs and a connecting build-
ing will be erected, the dimensions of which
will be 60 by 150 feet. The engine and
boiler house will be built at once so as to
supply power for the entire plant. There
will be ample connection from the railroad
to the factories. These buildings will
give the Hamilton institution one of the
finest and best equipped plants in the
country.
Geo. M. Woodford, the energetic Weber
road representative, was in town last week.
He is on his way home from a very suc-
cessful trip in the far West.
About April 15 the Story & Clark Co.
and the Hamilton Organ Co. will be " a t
home" in their new quarters, 255-7 Wabash
avenue.