Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
that they were "just out" of certain viands
which appeared on the menu cards. In
other words, in the East you are compelled
to take what the railroad corporations feel
inclined to offer. In the West you can ob-
tain a choice and your money's worth as
well
THE NEW CHICKERING HALL.
A ND so the name of Chickering, inti-
mately identified with the musical
growth of America for more than three-
quarters of a century, is to be perpetuated
along music hall lines in the city which
first saw the advent of Chickering as a
great factor in the musico-industrial life of
America.
We are not enabled at this time to pre-
sent a detailed description of the building,
but it is safe to say that the new Chicker-
ing Hall, Boston, will be as thoroughly up
to date as modern architectural skill can
make it. It seems singularly appropriate
to have a Chickering Hall in Boston, now
that the old landmark in New York, corner
of Eighteenth street and Fifth avenue, will
become but a memory.
VACATION" VALUE.
T^HIS is the Waltonian season, and the
disciples of the famous Izaak are
numerous in the industry. Chris Gar-
ritson has a daily tussle with the pug-
nacious bass, while Tom Couch is seek-
ing the elusive lobster, and Charley Jacob
is adding to his already superb list of
catches at his summer home by the sea.
The season of relaxation of business cares
is with us, and the idea is growing, not
only in the piano business but in all others,
that a little respite from the daily grind of
labor, whether a-field ora-sea, is of infinite
advantage to the business man. He is apt
to live longer and at least is a powerful
sight happier, to get away from the busi-
ness cares and get out of the one rut. The
one rut is dangerous; it has killed many a
fellow whose sole ambition in life was the
pursuit of the dollar about twenty hours
out of the twenty-four. For the good of
the country and the individual that senti-
ment is undergoing a radical change.
It is well to stop talking terms and ter-
ritory, quality and installments, and sub-
stitute temporarily fish stories, golf rec-
ords and yachting tales; they all add to the
pleasure of life and go to make up a vari-
ety which is conducive to the health and
happiness of our people. A man with a
clear head and buoyant spirit can grapple
with a problem and dispose of it in quarter
the time that a poor, jaded, old business
hack can even reach the outskirts.
political campaign. Mr. Parsons has fair-
ly won his spurs as a postprandial talker
and when he cavorts through the argu-
mentative domain of politics depend upon
it he will display some large, voluminous,
scintillating nuggets of convincing force. '
the prominent people of the city, includ
ing many eminent musicians. The bride
and bridegroom will be at home after Aug.
i at 1900 Ogden street.
Thiery Buys Out Grobman.
[Special to The Review].
Milwaukee, Wis., June 19, 1900.
T N this week's report from our special
J. B. Thiery & Co., have purchased for
correspondent at the Paris Exposition spot cash the entire piano stock of C. F.
appears a splendid illustration of a corner Grobman, 330 Grand avenue. Mr. Grobman
of the Baldwin exhibit showing one of retires completely from the retail trade.
their unique and artistic productions. He has been in the piano business almost
a quarter of a century and has always
This is the first illustration representing a
carried a high class of goods and doubt-
portion of the American exhibit which has less will be missed by his many friends
appeared in any publication either in this and customers. Mr. Grobman was quite
country or in Europe. The Baldwin and fortunate in finding in J. B. Thiery &
other American exhibits are described in Cc. a customer for his entire business, as
it is not always the easiest thing to get
detail elsewhere.
out of business. J. B. Thiery & Co. have
been
in the piano business in Milwaukee
A New Orleans Visitor.
only two years, but it is a hustling
John Schwab, the go-ahead New Or- house, and they do the business, and this
leans, La., representative of Francis Con- latest purchase by them of the entire
nor since 1885, was in town last week en stock of the old Grobman house is only
route to Germany and the Paris Exposi- another indication of their live and ener-
tion. He was the guest of Mr. Connor getic manner of doing business. The
during his stay. While here, Mr. Schwab, Grobman stock is quite large after all the
who is one of New Orleans' leading mer- stock was brought in from the various
chants, received several special orders by agencies. Another important Thiery move
wire from his New Orleans house for Con- was consummated this week through their
nor pianos of the best styles. This was leasing of one of the stores in the Matthews
the result of active, enthusiastic personal building on Grand avenue for a term of
work carried on during the season.
five years. The store rented is not at the
Mr. Schwab is a good judge of merit in Third street corner of the building, but to
musical instruments, and has, with good the west, with a frontage on Grand avenue.
reason, implicit confidence in the Connor
products, which, through his vigorous and
Weber and the Artists.
thorough business methods, are well-
The Weber warerooms, always cheerful
known and highly received in the Cres-
and
attractive, have recently added a new
cent City.
feature. It is novel and at the same time
Mr. Schwab is a passenger on the
highly effective as a means of bringing
"Columbia." He will visit Bad Nauheim
prominently to notice the unqualified ap-
in Germany before calling at the French
preciation of the Weber grand by the.great-
capital.
est operatic singers of the age.
On a wooden frame, cloth-covered and
Anent the Peerless Player.
so constructed as to fit neatly into the
The Review called at the office of the angles of the windows facing on Fifth
Peerless Piano Player Co. on Tuesday, and avenue and Sixteenth street, at the north-
inquired as to the advance of the firm's west corner of the Weber building, have
products in public estimation. Mr. Roth been placed large photographic portraits of
reported progress. "Enterprising piano the leading Metropolican Opera Company
dealers," said he, "are taking the hint I artistes. The pictures are superb examples
gave them a few weeks ago, and a number of the photographic art. On the corner of
of them are now in communication with us. each portrait is written a personal dedica-
" Many orders have been filled, and the tion addressed to the Weber-Wheelock Co.
factory force is kept busy all the time on The idea of thus presenting a view of the
current work. I do not think—I know— portraits and autographs of these celebri-
that we have the best instrument of its ties, who, one and all, indorse the Weber
class on the market. The Peerless Piano piano, is a happy one, reflecting great
Player and the Harmonist form a combina- credit on the originator.
tion that cannot be beaten, and the sooner
At the recent convention of the Southern
dealers all over the country realize this the Music Teachers' Association at Atlanta,
better it will be for their business. It will the Kimball grand piano was largely in
pay them to write us for particulars."
evidence, being used by Emil Liebling at
Thorn pson-Askling.
Walter S. Thompson, who is connected
with the Montelius Music Co,, of Denver,
Col., was married last week at the First
Universalist Church, that city, to Miss
T T is extremely probable that the oratori- Alma Askling, a prominent musician.
cal resources of Chas. H. Parsons will The wedding was one of the fashionable
be drawn heavily upon during the coming events of the season and was attended by
several recitals. His programs were cath-
olic and as usual exceeding interesting.
A re-organization of the Hume-Minor
Co., of Norfolk, Va., is under way. In
this connection E. A. Wilcox, secretary
and treasurer, has been appointed to close
out the business. It will probably be opened
up in due time under new management.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Paris Exposition through Review Eyes.
SOME DETAILS OF THE EXHIBITS OF THE AMERICAN PIANO TRADE—THE LOCATION SUPERB—
BALDWIN'S INTERESTING DISPLAY—THE MINIATURE FACTORY—MR. LUDWIG INCREASES
HIS EXHIBITION SPACE—CLAVIOLA INTEREST OTHER EXHIBITORS.
[Special to The Review.]
iting to see the pianos shown. Now that
Paris, France, June 8, 1900.
Although the space allotted to the United
States in the music section is small, being
some 1,000 square feet only, still it is so
exceptionally well placed, and is so com-
pact that it stands a better chance than
many a larger space of having justice done
to it by the thronging thousands who now
visit the Exposition daily: added to this,
must be mentioned the fact that it has been
they are close together comparison is a
matter of much greater convenience.
There have been many complaints re-
garding the incomplete state of the Ex-
position, but every day is materially adding
to the perfected condition of affairs and
one by one the exhibitors are gradually be-
coming satisfied regarding their space en-
vironment.
Glancing at the musical instruments as
A PORTION OF THE BALDWIN EXHIBIT AT PARIS.
most carefully and tastefully arranged, the exhibited by manufacturers of the States,
length of gallery each side allows the Stars the visitor finds the names of the allied
and Stripes, as they hang across the pas- interests of the Baldwin Piano Co., the
sage way, to be seen from quite a distance. Ludwig Piano Co., and pianos exhibited by
The music section of the States is near the Hard man, Peck & Co.
The Baldwin exhibit is in every way a
educational section in the Palais des Arts
Liberaux, and quite close to the prettily credit to the magnificent industrial enter-
gotten up pavilion of the periodical press, prise of America, and it shows to the vis-
where the chief French and foreign papers iting thousands what superb results have
and journals may be consulted. By ar- been reached in the United States in the
rangement, the Music Trade Review will development of the piano-forte.
be found by subscribers upon the central
I must confess to a feeling of disappoint-
table in this pavilion, and the representa- ment when I saw how few exhibitors there
tive and special correspondent of The Re- were from America; but the elegance of
view, who is in Paris for the Exposition, the Baldwin exhibit in a measure atoned
will have much pleasure in there meeting for the feeling of regret which was occa-
all traveling Americans of the trade, who sioned by my first visit to the music trade
may be in Paris and desire information section.
upon any subject.
Taking first the large exhibit of the Bald-
In all sections the music trade is un- win Co. of Cincinnati, we leave for a mo-
usually well represented, and the manner ment the piano section and there will be
in which the Exposition authorities have found in the neighboring annex, in the
arranged the sections enables a visitor to midst of the engineering machinery of that
view all the musical exhibits under one section, a very fine exhibit showing a model
of the Baldwin piano factory, scale one-half
roo f—a great improvement upon the ar-
rangements at the previous exposition, inch to the foot. This model is a fine piece
when each country had all its exhibits to- of work, showing the Italian renaissance
gether, and thus any one interested in the style of architecture of the building; the
musical instruments exhibited was forced Baldwin piano being manufactured in the
to go into all the different countries exhib- long wing which is connected by means
of a covered bridge with the square
building where the Ellington pianos are
made. As this model building is lighted in
every part by electricity, the visitor can
look through the windows into the rooms,
where in miniature every part of the piano
is shown in progress, from the drying
rooms for the lumber, to the finished piano
as it is put, all packed, into the railway
trucks which come right to the door of the
output room. As every part of the piano
is shown in the process of making, a visitor
can realize the immense amount of care
and trouble taken in the manufacture of
the Baldwin piano. Especially is this no-
ticeable in the glueing-room, for no long
lengths of wood are used in the piano
frame, but carefully selected woods with
the grain so arranged that no part of the
piano can ever become warped: for the
acoustic rim (one of the specialties of this
house) one length of wood is used, built
up of many thin layers, glued and bent
into shape. A series of photographs in a
wall case some forty-two in number fur-
ther illustrate the art of piano manufac-
ture; these are so arranged that no single
part of the industry is left unrepresented.
Returning to the music section and the
Baldwin stand, the pianos make a very fine
exhibit: one upright especially is attracting
marked attention from the public, and no
doubt when the Jury come round to inspect
before the distribution of prizes, this piano
will be one especially remarked by them.
The case is of Ohio walnut, carved very
handsomely, with the Spirit of Music as a
central figure and the foliage of the walnut
tree as a background; on each side are
trees carved in the wood with a background
of white mahogany, which is most effec-
tive in showing up the darker carving.
The attached photograph will give a just
idea of the beauty of this piano. It was
photographed as it stands in the center of
the Baldwin exhibit in the Exposition.
The Hamilton pianos shown by the
same firm have the mandolin attachment.
Amongst the handsome pianos shown by
this firm, one in a white mahogany case
may be especially mentioned, as also an-
other in the style of Louis XVI and a
third very fine one in the Empire style.
The Hamilton organs exhibited are all
of the cabinet class, and the best work-
manship may always be confidently looked
for in all the instruments. The Baldwin
piano, and all pianos turned out by this
firm give a good criterion of American
craft work to all the visitors to this section,
for the display made is well and carefully
carried out in every detail.
In a small space at the side of the Bald-
win exhibit is one made by Messrs. Lud-
wig & Co., New York. This firm show
three upright pianos which contain many
improvements introduced of late years.
Amongst auxiliary exhibitors I may men-
tion that the piano plates are those of
Brown & Patterson, Brooklyn; the piano
action is that of Staib-Abendschein, New
York; the keys used are those of Pratt,
Read & Co., Deep River, Conn.
The specialty of the Ludwig exhibit is

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