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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Emil E. Gabler's Observations
ON HIS RECENT EXTENDED TRIP DEALERS
EVERYWHERE APPRECIATE GABLER VAL-
UES EASTERN PIANOS ESTEEMED
WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
Emil Ernst Gabler, of Ernst Gabler &
Bro., who returned recently from a lengthy-
tour in the firm interests, said, when asked
by The Review to state briefly his obser-
vations and experiences whilst traveling,
that the results were in every way highly
gratifying.
"I called at seventeen cities west of the
Mississippi," said he, "and established
several desirable new agencies. Piano
trade conditions at every point were
healthy.
Dealers visited, who have
been handling the Gabler right along,
made excellent reports.
From talks
with them I gained an adequate idea
of the strong hold the Gabler products had
among the people. The records show that,
from year to year, in cities and towns where
our pianos are known and are handled in a
vigorous, business-like manner, the Gabler
is to be found in the homes of a large
percentage of the piano purchasing public.
"It has been said by some that Eastern
pianos have little or no vogue west of the
Mississippi. This is erroneous. I found
Eastern products very much in evidence
wherever I went. Piano dealers not only
handle the pianos of Eastern makers, but
they sell them readily."
Asked concerning the prosperity and
progress of the Gabler firm, Mr. Gabler
replied: " We are prospering now and the
indications are that we shall continue to
get our full share of business so long as we
deserve it. We are working along pro-
gressive lines and intend to maintain the
position won after many years of arduous
labor on the part of the founders of the
house.
" It is our good fortune to be well repre-
sented throughout the country. Our deal-
ers know the Gabler and believe in it. They
are loyil, earnest and active. Their work
tells. They talk to customers unhesita-
tingly about the merits of our products,
knowing that their indorsement is not mis-
placed. As for the firm, we take a pride
in reciprocating the confidence of our deal-
ers by sending them what we believe to be
faultless and flawless instruments.
"Personally, knowing the Gabler piano
from A to Z, I am, and intend to be al-
ways, an enthusiastic champion of its mer-
its. The head of the firm said rightly, a
short time ago, in reference to this sub-
ject: 'In the Gabler piano we have accom-
plished just what we tried to accomplish.
We intended to make an entirely satisfac-
tory piano at a moderate price. We set
our standard first, and then we made our
price. We made as good a piano as we
knew how, and then we decided how rea-
sonably we could sell it.' "
Pianotist recitals are now being given
daily from 3 to 5 P. M., at 503 Fifth avenue.
Selections, it is announced, will be given
from the masterpieces of Liszt, Chopin,
Wagner, Rubnistein and other great com-
posers.
Tariff on Musical Instruments.
His Honor, Mayor Burgess.
[Special to The Review.l
The piano fraternity has furnished men
who have stood high in the political coun-
cils of the State and Nation, and it is with
pleasure that we from time to time record
the political honors won by members of
the craft. Wm. C. Burgess, general man-
ager of the Wegman Piano Co., has been a
member of the Board of Alderman in the
City of Auburn for a term of years and
has been chairman of the finance com-
mittee. That his work was appreciated
by his fellow townsmen is evident in the
recent honor which has befallen him. On
June 2 he was nominated for Mayor of
that city on the republican ticket by ac-
clamation. As Auburn is a republican
stronghold, a nomination appears to be
equivalent to an election, therefore, ere
long we will be addressing Mr. Burgess
as His Honor, the Mayor.
Mr. Burgess has exhibited magnificent
executive ability in his management of
the Wegman Piano Co. and is known as
an all-round aggressive business man.
There is no doubt but that he will give
the beautiful city of Auburn a thorough
and capable government. Here's success
to future Mayor Burgess!
Washington, D. C , June 13, 1900.
The Cuban tariff, as recently amended,
becomes operative on next Friday. The
schedules relating to musical instruments
and parts thereof are as follows: Pianos,
organs, harmoniums, drums, fifes, violins,
violoncellos, zithers, band instruments,
accordeons, clarinets, clarions, clariolettes,
harps, harpsichords, mandolins, as well as
detached parts for wind instruments in
wood or copper, all forty per cent,
ad valorem. String frames for pianos are
liable to the same duties as pianos, though
they may not be imported with them.
Graphophones, gramophones, and phono-
graphs, twenty-five per cent, ad valorem.
Piano wires forty per cent, ad valorem.
Ivory unwrought, one dollar per kilogram,
net weight. Ivory wrought $1.80 per kil-
ogram, net weight. Theatres, portable
and imported temporarily for not more
than three months, free.
Under the terms of this new amendment
to the Cuban tariff, all questions arising in
the administration of custom regulations
are to be referred to the collector for the
port of Havana. Should any dissatisfac-
tion arise with the valuation or classifica-
tion as fixed by the collector, the duties
imposed shall be paid, but the importers
can file at time of payment a protest
and appeal in which they will state their
reason for so doing, and this will be trans-
mitted to the military governor of the is-
land, who will in due course review the
protest and either reverse or affirm it ac-
cording to the facts in the case.
Rare Veneers on Exhibition.
Piano manufacturers interested in an es-
pecially fine assortment of fancy figured
veneers should visit the yards of Charles
Loos at Eleventh street and avenue D, this
city, and inspect the magnificent line which
he has on exhibition. His fancy figured
walnut veneers are perhaps the finest ever
seen. Mr. Loos has just secured the ser-
vices of A. Nielsen, of this city, who will
represent his interests on the road. Man-
ufacturers will be interested in the rare as-
sortment of veneers which he has to show.
Mr. Nielsen, by the way, is the son of a
member of the old firm of Garham, Dor-
sett & Co., which, in its day, was one of
the best known veneer concerns in the
United States. We shall have more to say
later of the Loos institution.
Four Steinway grands and eight Stein-
way uprights have been purchased by the
Michigan Conservatory of Music, which is
now being established in Detroit. The
founder is Alberto Jonas, the well-known
piano virtuoso, and among the faculty are
Mrs. Elsa Von Grave Jonas, Frank L.
Ebel and Maurice Devries.
At the annual meeting of the Vose &
Sons Piano Co., held last week, the old
board of officers and directors were re-
elected to serve for the ensuing year.
They are: president, Jas. W. Vose; treas.,
Wm. A. Vose; superintendent, Julian W.
Vose; secretary, Wm. G. Berbeck.
Woodford in Hard Lines.
CONFESSES TO FORGING SIGNATURES TO CHECKS
AT MUNCIE.
[Special to The Review.l
Muncie, Ind., June 13, 1900.
Albert Woodford has been arrested for
attempting to pass a forged check for $15
on W. J. Holt, a music dealer, and after
having attempted to pass another bogus
check on the Muncie Music C %both being
signed with the name of W. B. Carson.
When taken to the Police Station, a forged
check for $12 and one for $25, both bear-
ing the signature of "W. B. Carson," were
found on him. Carson is a local music
dealer, but his middle initial is "J.," and
this led to Holt's arrest.
In jail this morning Woodford, aged
forty-five and unmarried, confessed that
all the checks were forgeries, and said it
was the first time he has been in trouble.
In 1892, when the business panic struck
the country, he was a prosperous business
man in Lake Bentou, Minn. He had a fine
dwelling, carriages, horses and consider-
able real estate. In the Plankinton Bank
at Milwaukee he had on deposit $30,000.
The bank failed and he lost every dollar he
had. To satisfy creditors he sold his
home, carriages and land, and started into
the world with but $50 in his pocket. Since
then he has drifted about without being
successful at anything. He began the use
of morphine and is now nearly crazed. At
one time he worked for the Baldwin Music
Co. in Indianapolis, and lived at 245 Cur-
tis street. Woodford will ask the leniency
of the court, claiming his mind has been
afftcted by business reverses.
Moses D. Fergusson, of Fergusson Bros.,
the well-known piano dealers, Richmond,
Va., will enter the ranks of Benedicts on
the afternoon of June 20th, when he will
be married in that city to Alma Oliene,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. W. Jen-
kins.