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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
J. C. Henderson Returns.
VISITED IMPORTANT EUROPEAN TRADE CEN-
TRES PLACES THE AGENCY FOR HOLLAND
WITH M. BREKBAART HIS VIEWS ON THK EX-
POSITION- THE AMERICAN PIANO ABROAD.
tion whether we can win a large European
trade in this special field. First and fore-
most, in order to succeed, it would be nec-
essary to change our present styles. The
British public wants a smaller piano than
we usually make. It wants a certain style
of case dressed up with marquetry and
old-time 'sconces' or candelabra.
It
wants this piano at a retail price ranging
from $70 to $125. While in London I ex-
amined a piano which retailed at $80, and
from what the dealers told me it gave sat-
isfaction to purchasers. Of course I need
not say the instrument was a mighty poor
one, and would not find a customer in this
country, but I mention this fact as illus-
trating my point that there is big oppo-
sition in the way of price to buck up
against abroad.
White Co. Locate in Brockton.
(Special to The Review.)
Brockton, Mass., June 5, 1900.
The D. M. White Piano Co., whose in-
corporation was recorded last week, are to
locate in this city and will occupy the
J. C. Henderson, general manager of
Economy factory on Crescent street taking
the Ann Arbor Organ Co., returned from
possession at once. This firm have been
Europe on Saturday last. During a visit
doing business on a small scale during the
to The Review sanctum he reported a
past six months in Boston. Their pianos
very enjoyable and successful trip abroad.
are principally noted for a patent tuning
" I visited London, Amsterdam, Berlin,
device, of which Mr. White is the patentee.
Stuttgart and Paris," said Mr. Henderson,
The company as at present organized have
"and although having but a short time at
for their officers: President, R. B. Grover;
my disposal, found much to interest me
vice-president, D. M. White; secretary,
in each city visited. In London I was
Walter F. Jones; treasurer, B. E. Waters.
entertained by F. Kaim & Son, the Ann
It is said the company have interested
Arbor Co. s representatives for Great Brit-
ample financial backing and are confident
ain. They are doing a fine business with
of the success of their enterprise. The
our organs, the merits of which they
"Do I think that the British public could dimensions of the new factory are 125x30
greatly appreciate, and are steadily ex-
tending their line of influence throughout be educated into liking the American piano feet, two stories high. In addition they
the provinces. After the Boer-British war as we know it in this country? Yes, I think have leased two and one-half acres of land
is over they are certain to gain their re- it very probable that the American piano which adjoin it so that the,y have ample
will continue to augment its roster of custo- room for expansion should it become neces-
ward in the form of increased trade.
"In Amsterdam I placed the agency for mers and supporters in Great Britain, but sary. Walter Jones will have charge of
the Ann Arbor organs with M. Breebaart if we are to co 1 pete in the open market the business interests of the corporation.
for the entire of Holland—one of the lead- as competitors of German and English
Peerless Co. Extensions.
ing institutions of the famous Dutch capi- makers of pianos of the popular-priced
[Special to The Review.!
tal.
They are splendidly equipped for class, we will have to work on the same
St. Johnsville, N. Y., June 4, 1900.
lines
as
the
Germans,
that
is,
to
supply
an
promoting our interests in that country,
The old Witney piano factory, standing
and I anticipate excellent results. In Ber- instrument which in design and make-up
on the north side of the railroad and which
will
be
just
what
the
people
demand.
lin and Stuttgart I visited other friends of
has been vacant several years, is to be re-
our firm, while in Paris, of course, the main Whether we can make such instruments in
this country without a loss is a matter for paired and refitted immediately. It has
center of interest was the Exposition.
been leased by the Peerless Piano-Player
discussion."'
"Taken in its entirety, the Paris Expo-
During his short stay in London, Mr. Co., and will be occupied by them in the
sition of 1900 is a magnificent panorama,
manufacture of their attachments and Har-
but the more it is analyzed, the more one Henderson had the unusual honor of see-
monist player. The Roth & Engelhart
appreciates the completeness and grandeur ing (Jueen Victoria. He was not present-
piano
action quarters have been encroached
of the World's Fair at Chicago. The most ed at Court, nor did he call on her to ex-
upon
through the growth of the piano -
impressive showing made by any country, patiate on the merits of the Ann Arbor
playing
industry, in which this concern is
in my opinion, is that of Russia—at least organs or Henderson pianos, but his view
interested,
hence the necessity for the oc-
in the line of musical instruments. Its of this august and respected personage
cupancy
of
a separate manufactory de-
close competitor is Germany. The Rus- was due rather to the enterprise of a Lon-
voted
to
this
business. Roth & Engelhart
sians display virility, originality and art don cabby and an extra tip.
report
their
action trade as excellent.
Mr. Henderson consumed only seven
instincts in their manufactures.
They
They
are
enthusiastic
over the growth in
have a line of musical instruments that weeks in his trip abroad and said that al-
popularity
of
the
Peerless
Piano Player.
would do credit to any country, while some though he visited many beautiful spots,
Topeka's Great Summer Fair.
individual piano creations are very credit- the greatest pleasure he experienced was
able examples of piano making, viewed in sighting Sandy Hook Saturday morn-
[Special to The Review.]
ing. "It is interesting and educating,"
even from the American point of view.
Topeka, Kan., June 2, 1900.
said Mr. Henderson, " t o visit Europe; it
At the great summer fair which closed
"Among the German exhibits I noticed
makes a man a better American—better here to-day, the Kimball Piano Co. and
a number of parlor organs, appropriately
equipped to appreciate his own country." the Roehr Music Co. had a magnificent
. termed 'American models," for they are
display of musical instruments and small
close copies of the American designs. I
Aluminum Sounding Board.
goods. The walls of the booth were deco-
found, in conversation with German dealers,
An aluminum piano sounding board has rated with sheet music, and concerts were
that although cheaper than the American
been patented in -England by Herman S. given twice daily by eminent artists. The
organs, they fail to equal the American
Reading, of Tunbridge Wells. The desi- lavishnesss and enthusiasm with which the
products musically or architecturally, and
deratum of longer tone-sustaining power, Fair was enjoyed and the amount of money
they are making but litlle headway in pop-
as well as non-susceptibility to atmospher- spent was the best indication of the pros-
ularity. The American organ has an un-
ic influences are claimed for this invention. perity which is at present favoring this
questioned position and an increasing cli-
The sounding board consists of a sheet or state. As one of the speakers stated at the
entele of admirers on the continent, who
plate of rolled aluminum or aluminum al- opening of the Fair, (which, by the way,
will have nothing but the American brand.
loy, which possesses resonating and other was attended by the Governor): ' 'Prosper-
"The display of musical instruments
qualities heretofore unrecognized and ity surrounds us on every hand, and it has
made by the United States at the Expo-
which, contrary to the general expecta- been well said that this is to be one of the
sition is not representative of the indus-
tion, render it suitable when applied under greatest years Kansas has experienced."
try, or of the country, and makes a sorry
proper conditions for the purpose of im-
showing at the side of Russia and Ger-
Incorporated in New Jersey.
parting volume and quality of tone, as
many. The American contingent of visi-
well as long sustaining power to the instru-
The American Mfg. & Musical Co., of
tors to Paris, in fact, Europe, generally, is
ment.
Irvington,
is a new concern just incorpo-
a large one, this year, and wherever one
rated
in
New
Jersey with a capital stock of
The Piano Movers' Union of this city
visits, Americans are well in evidence."
$125,000
of
which
$i,«oo is paid in. The
Speaking of the possible demand for the have applied to the Central Federated incorporators are: Wm Vaughan, Wm.
Union for admission. The purpose no
American piano abroad Mr. Henderson doubt is to get the support of the Central H. Hyatt and Wm. C. Dillman, all of
said : "It is in my opinion a doubtful ques- body in th»ir trouble with the boss cartmen. Newark.