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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
13
Organ Trade Active.
Canada's New Copyright Act.
Recommend Manufacturing!
THE DEMAND FOR NEEDHAM ORGANS TESTIFIES
TO PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THESE
PRODUCTS.
ITS PROVISIONS MUCH MORE FAVORABLE TO
AUTHORS THAN THOSE OF PREVIOUS ACTS.
THE PIANO AND ORGAN WORKERS* UNION IN
CONVENTION PRESIDENT HELLE RECOM-
MENDS THAT THE UNION ENTER ON
THE MANUFACTURE OF PIANOS—
OTHER MATTERS FOR CON-
SIDERATION.
The people who predicted that the piano
business of this country would be virtually-
wiped out through the growth of the trade
in commercial pianos, must have dis-
covered long ere this that they are mighty
poor prophets. The demand for reed or-
gans at home and abroad during the past
two years is such that the output figures
close to the palmy days of 1890-2. The
purchasing public, meanwhile, has de-
manded a better class of organ than ever
before and manufacturers, such as the
Needham Piano & Organ Co., who feel
the popular pulse, so to speak, and who
have aimed to fill expectations in this con-
nection, have been prospering.
The Needham organs were never more
appreciated for their sterling merits, both
musically and architecturally, than to-day.
They are winning recognition in widely
separated sections of our country as well
as in the strongholds of Europe, and, ac-
cording to the opinions of those handling
and using them, they have "not been
found wanting."
Chas. H. Parsons, President of the Need-
ham Piano and Organ Co., is one of the
men who never lost faith in the organ
business. In the dreary days of business
depression he proceeded, irrespective of
conditions then existing, to develop plans
whereby the Needham organs would win a
new prestige in the trade and musical
field. This policy has never been relaxed,
and the consequence is the Needham or-
gans to-day are winnnig a position of which
the manufacturers can feel justly proud.
Their chaste and well proportioned archi-
tectural lines, their careful construction,
the variety of tonal effects possible and
their fine quality of tone, all tend to make
a completed product that is deservedly ex-
tending its sphere of influence and popu-
larity.
The Steger With the Steinerts.
J. V. Steger possesses the charming gift
of being able to consummate a great deal
of work without much effort or display.
He slips quietly into a town, makes a good
business "deal" and we only learn of it
from others. Duringhis recent visit down
East he made arrangements with the M.
Steinert & Sons Co. whereby they will
handle the Steger piano in all their stores
throughout the New England territory.
In this connection they placed an order for
immediate shipment of four carloads of
Stegers. The Steinerts have been hand-
ling the Singer piano for some years and
the present deal with Steger & Sons is
along the lines of expansion. They have
found business connections with the Steger
concern pleasant and profitable.
W. E. Robinson, of the Robinson Piano
Co., Hong Kong-, China, visited the Ma-
son & Hamlin warerooms this week.
After many years of agitation on the
part of British authors, the Canadian Par-
liament, at the session just closed, passed
a new copyright act, in which all the fea-
tures hitherto objected to have been elim-
inated. It only remains now that Lord
Monkswell's Copyright bill be passed at the
next session of the British Parliament and
the authors will rest content, their inter-
ests being then adequately protected
throughout the Empire. The passage of
the Canadian act was brought about large-
ly through the Incorporated Society of Au-
thors, whkh sent its secretary to Ottawa
in the interest of the desired legislation.
In the new Canadian act the printing clause
and licensing methods of former measures
have been practically laid aside, and while
giving the Canadian publisher complete
security where he has contracted with an
author for exclusive right of publication in
Canada, it does not hamper the author with
any trade restrictions.
Chas. H. Steinway's Decoration.
Some weeks ago we mentioned the fact
that Chas. H. Steinway, president of Stein-
way & Sons, had been honored by the Sul-
tan of Turkey with the decoration of the
order of the Medjidi. The following for-
mal announcement which gives him the
right to wear the same was received at
Steinway Hall last week. It is as follows:
United States Legation,
Constantinople, Aug. 20, 1900.
Charles Hermann Steinway, Esq.
Dear Sir:—A few days ago I had the
pleasure to address to you the medal of the
"Liakat" in gold, bestowed on you by his
imperial majesty the sultan.
Herewith I hasten to send you the diplo-
ma which gives you the right to it, and in
which it is explained that that medal has
been instituted in order to reward persons
whose services to the sovereign or the state
have been highly appreciated, and who are
well wishing. So, as an acknowledgment
of your eminent services, the gold medal
of merit has been kindly granted to you
(Charles Hermann Steinway) this 19 Rebb-
ul-Ewel 1318—corresponding to the 16th
of July, 1900.
With my congratulations, I have the
pleasure to remain, dear sir,
Yours truly, A. A. Gargiulo.
What is a home without a piano ?— Wise,
50 Steinway
Square Pianos
AT AUCTION.
The Standard Art Galleries,
19-21 W. 125th ST., N. Y.
Benj, S. Wise, Auctioneer, will sell Wednesday, Sept. 26,
at 2 o'clock sharp
50 Stcinway Square Pianos
By order of Steinway & Sons, which they have taken
in exchange for other styles.
BIG CHANCE FOR DEALERS.
BEHRBR0S>C0.
PIANOS
29™ST.&II™AVE
NEW YORK.'
[Special to The Review.l
Erie, Pa., Sept. 19, 1900.
The Piano and Organ Workers National
Union has been in convention since Mon-
day, at Central Labor Hall, Fifth and State
streets, with President Frank Helle in the
chair.
This is practically the first convention
the union has held. There are thirty dele-
gates here, representing nearly every city
where the piano and organ manufacturing
industry is carried on. They represent
13,000 men of their craft, who are mem-
bers of the union. Delegates from the
New York Union are present and it is ex-
pected that they will affiliate with the P. &
O. W. U. of A.
At the different sessions, which met
twice a day, quite some business was trans-
acted. Reports in detail were not given
out, but an idea of the business covered
by the delegates can be gleaned from the
remarks of President Helle, who is quoted
as saying:
"There are several very important ques-
tions to be considered and voted upon.
Among these will be the feasibility of the
organizations themselves going into the
manufacturing of pianos and organs, the
plant or plants, to be owned and controlled
by the union. It will not be a joint stock
concern, but will be owned and conducted
by the organization, controlled by the vote
of the majority of the members. It will,
no matter what happens, remain the prop-
erty of the organization. The latter may
own and control one or a dozen factories.
"Some of the locals already belong to
the American Federation of Labor and this
matter will come before the convention,
and it is probable that they will vote for
affiliation. The piano industry is one
where the men work ten, twelve and four-
teen hours. In Boston they work eight
hours; in Chicago, nine. This question of
a day's labor will be discussed. It is prob-
able that the members will vote for a nine-
hour day.
"The contract system is what has
brought the piano business down to its
present low status. The contractors fol-
lowed the same methods as practiced in
New York in the garment sweat-shops.
They would take contracts for doing so much
work, then hire their labor as cheap as they
could possibly get it, even ringing in chil-
dren at lowest wages they could get them
to work for. Some contractors made from
$75 to $100 per week, while their workmen
only drew out from 75 cents to $1.50 per
day."
Among visitors this week at the Estey
piano factory, were Edwin M. Reed, of
the Estey interests at St. Louis, and D. E.
Woolley, Philadelphia.
Highest Standard of Excellence.