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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TRADE GOSSIP FROM THE NORTHWEST.
[Special to The Review. 1
Portland, Ore., June 8, 1900.
Conditions in the Northwest never have
been more favorable or conducive to the
joy of the piano fraternity than at the
present time, if bright prospects and the
old-famed "flush times " bring unalloyed
happiness. But alas! they do not. Hap-
piness has long since been recognized as
relative after all, and competition is the
worm that gnaws at the root of northwest-
ern joy.
It is not an exaggeration to say that for
the population, the Northwest has more
difficult competition than the East, for
there are innumerable concerns carrying
WILEY B. ALLEN.
pianos, whether exclusively or in connec-
tion with sewing machines, boots and
shoes, or dry goods and notions.
Wiley B. Allen has just made the deci-
sion to move into San Francisco, Cal.,
with a stock of pianos and organs and
thereby enlarge the chain of Allen repre-
sentatives. This move will in no way
change his establishment here, as this will
remain the parent concern as usual and
will not become the branch to San Fran-
cisco. The San Francisco location has not
yet been decided upon, neither has the line
further than the fact that the Hardman
and Standard will hereafter be found with
Allen in San Francisco.
Another move that has just been made
by Mr. Allen is the acquisition of the line
and the services of George A. Heidinger
who recently opened piano rooms with the
Steck, Krakauer, and Sterling products.
Mr. Heidinger had been for many years
the right hand of Mr. Allen, and after Mr.
Allen's decision to move into San Fran-
cisco it seemed more profitable and com-
fortable for those two gentlemen to unite
forces again.
Then, too, the hardship of low terms,
where it takes about seven years to get a
piano paid for, is adding terrors to him
who would like to conduct his business in
a healthy, straightforward manner.
About a year ago the piano dealers of
the Northwest attempted to form an asso-
ciation whereby they might control terms
and other conditions that arise, but it was
short-lived and the disagreeable features of
heated competition prevail in most aggra-
vated form.
Portland has some fine large establish-
ments that are in flourishing condition,
and the manufacturers may rest easy in
the knowledge that distance is not placing
them at a disadvantage, but their goods
are receiving as much consideration as
though they were within a stone's throw
of their representatives.
The Wiley B. Allen business seems to be
booming along at a great rate. Not only in
Portland is this apparent, but in all agen-
cies, markedly so in Sacramento, Cal.,
where he has been represented something
less than two years. In many of the
Northwest towns he has large agencies,
and in most of the small ones someone or
another, whoever it may be, is looking out
that Wiley B. gets his share of what is
coming to the piano man.
*
*
*
The Eilers Piano House has just moved
into magnificent quarters on Washington
and Eighth streets, and all hands are at
work to get settled as soon as possible.
Henry J. Eilers is surely to be congratu-
lated upon the remarkable success that
this house, has achieved, as its position in
the piano trade of the Northwest is an
enviable one. The house which is to be
called the New Music Building, is entirely
in the hands of Eilers, who has sub-let the
store on the left to H. H. Wright, who car-
ries a stock of sheet music and small
goods, and the store on the right to M. B.
Wells whose rooms will be described here-
after. Upstairs the rooms have been ar-
ranged for studios, and a portion of them
have been let to the business college.
The store occupied by Eilers is large and
beautifully arranged for progressive meth-
ods which are manifest in every move.
The front is forty-four feet, all glass,
two immense show windows giving room
for the exhibition of several of the hand-
some pianos in his line which includes
Chickering, Weber, Kimball pianos and
organs, Crown pianos and organs, Singer,
Milton, and the self-player Angelus.
The repair shop, shipping-room, second-
hand room and everything else in the ar-
rangement of the offices show careful and
thoughtful design.
*
*
*
M. B. Wells is a new aspirant for public
recognition in the piano world, and he has
gone to work admirably as he has secured
from Sherman Clay & Co. the privilege of
selling Steinways and A. B. Chase for
which Sherman Clay & Co. hold the terri-
tory on the entire Pacific Coast.
Mr. Wells has realized what setting such
instruments should have and he has one of
the most aesthetic and daintiest parlors on
the entire coast. He has been in these
quarters about ten days, and while he is
not settled, it is very obvious that he ex-
pects to cater to the refined element.
About two years ago Mr. Wells opened
an agency for the yEolian and Pianola in
this city, and having built it to imposing
proportions he has added these two well-
known pianos. The warerooms consist of
a cosy office, a main floor, an elegantly
furnished piano parlor, and an exquisite
little recital hall with two Steinway grands,
a large ^Eolian and a pianola.
Success should attend such enterprise.
*
*
*
C. A. Whale, with a line of Kranich &
Bach, and H. Sinsheimer, with Jacob Doll's
goods, are also making themselves heard
from, more of which later.
*
*
*
Tacoma is in fine shape; in fact, it has
never been in better condition, although
in this point especially competition is very
severe, as it is within easy reach of both
Seattle and Portland.
D. S. Johnson have a fine establishment
here, as also in Seattle and Spokane.
Sherman, Clay & Co. have a large repre-
sentation here, and Mr. Pickerell carries
the line of Kohler & Chase, of San Fran-
cisco.
*
*
*
In Seattle, Sherman Clay & Co. have a
large establishment and are far-reaching
in all lines. Heine & Co. are on deck, so
is Ramaker with Wiley B. Allen's line;
the Western Music Co., which represents
the Kohler & Chase line. C. E. Cline, re-
cently from Minnesota, carries pianos, as
also boots and shoes. The Kranich &
Bach piano is in the hands of Martius, an
old-timer in this part of the country.
Winter & Harper's business has been con-
tinued by the Harper estate since the
death of Mr. Harper, which occurred re-
cently. D. S. Johnson is in the same
building as Winter & Harper.
•
*
•
In Spokane, Sherman Clay & Co. \s line is
represented by the Chant Music Co. ; M.
F. Jones & Sons attend to Wiley B. Al-
len's interests; E. Simon recently from
Milwaukee, Wis., has the Story & Clark
line; August Meyer formerly of Anaconda,
Mont., is there with the Kroeger piano,
and D. S. Johnson is there with his well-
known line.
*
*
*
At Butte, Mont., Orton Bros., the pio-
neers, carry the Weber, Hallet & Davis,
and Kimball, and the Montana Music Co.,
represent the Steck, Vose and Kingsbury.
Besides these, Helena controls much of the
business in that section.
*
*
*
Salem, Ore., boasts of two houses of im-
portance, namely, C. A. Whale and Geo.
C. Will. Other cities, such as Walla
Walla, Wash. ; Pendleton, Ore.; Baker
City, Ore., and innumerable others, are
furnished from Portland, and no city is
suffering from the lack of good pianos, as
there are pianos galore.
Let us hope there will be buyers in equal
proportion.
Emilie Frances Bauer.
Chickering in St. Louis.
Bollman Bros. Co. have been appointed
representatives for Chickering & Sons in
St. Louis.
Decker & Son are preparing a new cata-
logue.