Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 31 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Canadian Piano flakers Meet.
[Special to The Review].
*
Toronto, Ont., Aug. 20, 1900.
The pianomakers' section of the Canadian
Manufacturers' Association met Friday
afternoon and arranged for their exhibits
at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. A
letter was received from the Exhibition
Association stating that the entire space
for the exhibition of pianos and organs
would be turned over to them, and the
manufacturers were asked to divide the
space equally among themselves. They
decided to hold their annual meeting on
Aug. 30, in the Temple Building in con-
nection with the annual meeting of the
association. It was also decided upon to
attend the banquet to be tendered the
manufacturers who will be present at the
meeting. Mr. D. W. Karn, of Woodstock,
presided at the meeting.
Chickering in Denver.
A transfer of the agency of the Chicker-
ing in Denver, Colo., will occur on Sep-
tember 1. McKannon Bros, will lose the
local representation which, after the first
will be held by The Columbine Music Co.,
a concern which has made material
headway in the musical affairs of the
metropolis of the Rockies.
Sol Bloom Sues for $50,000.
BRINGS ACTION AGAINST A HOTEL KEEPER FOR
REFUSING TO SERVE HIM.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., Aug. 22, 1900.
Sol Bloom,the music publisher,yesterday
brought suit for $50,000 damages against
the Union Hotel in Randolph street, for
refusing to serve him while he was clad in
a shirt waist and minus a coat. This is
said to be the first time the shirt waist
question has been brought before a court.
Attorneys for the plaintiff contend that
the defendant had no right to refuse to
serve Bloom merely because he wore the
latest style in men's garments. The man-
ager of the restaurant, when questioned
regarding his refusal, said that patrons
wearing shirt waists would only be served
at tables adjoining the main dining room.
No person would be permitted to enter the
dining room unless wearing a coat.
McMillan Made a Settlement.
Frank O. McMillan, charged with misap-
propriating banjos and a matter of $180
worth of unaccounted-for goods owned by
E. Gately & Co., of Rochester, N. Y., made
a settlement in Batavia this week with all
parties interested, and was released on a
$500 bond by Justice Shed. He was allowed
to go, as the Rochester firm agreed to take
him into their employ and allow him to
work out their claim against him.
Ricca Expansion.
Additional facilities are now being com-
pleted at the Ricca factory. A new build-
ing, nearly equal in frontage to the one
now occupied, is being erected at the South
end facing the Southern boulevard, on the
west side. It will have a depth of forty-
five feet and be two stones in height.
Poole Pianos by the Car Load.
Flechter Vindicated!
Here is an advertisement taken from the
Victor Flechter has been vindicated.
Journal, of Freeport, 111., Aug. n , show- After five years the $5,000 Stradivarius
ing what kind of success a firm of West- violin, the disappearance of which sent its
ern hustlers are making with the Poole owner, old Professor Bott, to his grave,
piano :
worried his widow until the same fate al-
This is the third car load of Poole pianos most came to her, and nearly landed in a
ordered by telegraph for Freeport trade felon's cell Victor S. Flechter, known all
the past few days.
over the world as a connoisseur of musical
Freeport, 111., Aug. 9, 1900.
instruments,
has been found.
Poole Piano Co., Boston, Mass.
Ever since his conviction on a charge of
"Book order car load style 'M' dark wal-
nut Poole pianos. If possible, ship two stealing the violin, Mr. Flechter has de-
instruments to-day.
voted his time, his energies and his fortune
"De Vore Piano Co."
to searching for the instrument, the find-
The large number of first-class pianos ing of which would clear his name of a
sold by the De Vore Piano Co., is evi- fearful charge. His conviction he fought
dence that it pays to sell the best pianos
manufactured, and to represent an instru- from court to court until it is now before
the Court of Appeals. And now his inno-
ment according to its grade quality.
cence has virtually been established, since
Colonne and Baldwin.
the old violin which caused so much misery
In connection with the recent recital is at last in the hands of the police.
given at the United States Pavilion, Paris,
The facts connected with this remarka-
on which occasion the Baldwin concert ble violin are too well known to need de-
grand was used, the critics of the leading tailed reiteration. The Bott violin disap-
papers have been most complimentary in peared in March, '95, and its owner, Prof.
their estimate of this instrument. The Bott, at one time a well-known figure in the
same may be said of their remarks anent musical world, died of grief at the loss.
the concert given at the Exposition on The District Attorney of this city, in due
July 4 and 5, when the Baldwin was used course, accused Victor Flechter, a well-
at the celebrated Colonne concerts. This known and respected business man and
famous organization of one hundred musi- authority on violins, as having appro-
cians headed by Ed. Colonne, is known the priated the instrument. He was later
world over and his selection of the Bald- tried and convicted, and sentenced to one
win on this occasion is an exceptional hon- year's imprisonment.
or in view of the fact that only two of the
Mr. Flechter appealed, protesting his
best French pianos have been used hereto- innocence to the last. Many loyal friends
fore at these Colonne concerts—the Erard stood by him, never believing the charge
and Pleyel. M. Colonne expresses his made. Their loyalty and his protestations
high appreciation of the musical attri- have been well verified, for the famous
butes of the Baldwin concert grand in the violin was discovered in Brooklyn last
following words: 4 'I am delighted at the week, as the property of Mrs. Springer,
marked success achieved at the Colonne who said the violin was sold to her five
concerts at Vieux Paris by one of the years ago for thirty dollars by a man
very fine specimens of your remarkable whose name she does not recall.
exhibit of American pianos, and I con-
Victor Flechter identified the instrument
gratulate you on the beautiful tone of this at police headquarters as the one that was
magnificent instrument."
stolen from Prof. Bott, and the professor's
This tribute from the distinguished sister, John Friedrich, a well-known dealer
French musician to an American instru- in Cooper Union, and Bernard Sinsheimer,
ment is something worthy of especial a violin instructor who was with Nicolini
emphasis.
when he was contemplating purchasing the
violin
in '95, have agreed unanimously
At the Helm Again.
that the instrument in question, which has
C. E. Byrne, head of the C. E. Byrne caused so much sorrow and strife, is the
Piano Co., who returned last week from a long missing "Strad."
three months' trip to Europe, has settled
The many friends of Victor Flechter re-
down to work again at the Twenty-sixth joice in his triumph. Steps, it is said, will
street headquarters and is preparing for a be taken by the District Attorney's Office
big fall trade.
at once to set aside the verdict rendered
Mr. Byrne covered a good deal of ground against Mr. Flechter. Meanwhile, isn't
during his absence. His route included this but a poor compensation to a man
Great Britain and Ireland, France, Ger- whose honor and honesty have been im-
many, Italy, Switzerland and other coun- pugned, and whose business career was at
tries. Considering the limited time at his one time threatened with disaster?
disposal, Mr. Byrne made a remarkable
Strich & Zeidler, in addition to shipping
sight-seeing record. He visited the Expo-
a
number
of uprights this week, have sent
sition but does not think it at all up to the
off
two
perfect
examples of the famous
standard of World's Fair excellence.
Strich & Zeidler baby grands to fill special
This week's report at the Krakauer head- out-of-town orders.
quarters is as satisfactory as usual. The
COMPETENT TRAVELER
weekly output is large, even at this early
of experience desires to associate himself with
day. Orders are arriving in a steady stream. some institution where services will be appre-
The indications are that every department ciated to the extent of business gained.
" Straight Business,"
will have to work at high pressure through-
3 East 14th Street,
Care of The Review,
New York.
out the fall and winter months.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Peter D. Strauch is to-day as erect and
dignified in his carriage, as springy and
HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOD- § elastic in his step, as when forty years ago
he determined to win his way to the top of
ERN PIANO ACTIONS, KEYS AND HAMMERS f the business ladder irrespective of the diffi-
As Illustrated by the House of Strauch Bros,
§ culties encountered in so doing. Nor has
age dimmed the brilliancy of his eye, for
ARTICLE I.
| he is a bright, keen-witted business man,
Members of the Strauch Firm.
• '% brimful of energy and vitality, whose wise
counsel is sought by outside institutions.
Leading men in other lines of effort have
The history of the music trade affords
The development of the piano action
from Cristofori to the present day forms numerous illustrations of such men, who become acquainted with his unerring busi-
an industrial study full of interest to those from humble beginnings, have made their ness judgment, and frequently positions of
who have witnessed the almost marvelous way into prominence not only in this trust and great responsibility have been
growth of our industrial affairs.
The industry, but have impressed their indi- proffered him, many of which he has been
artistic growth of the American piano viduality upon the industrial development forced to decline on account of the grow-
ing demands of his own enterprise. In
action has been in harmony with the phe- of the nation.
Such a man is Peter D. Strauch, who left recent years he has been able in a large
the shores of the German fatherland in degree to relieve himself from the personal
1851 to seek his fortune in the New World. cares and responsibilities of his business by
Immediately upon his arrival in this placing them upon his sons, and was in-
country, being naturally inclined towards duced to accept the vice-presidency of the
mechanics, he became associated with one Ganesvoort bank.
of the pioneer piano and action makers of
His sons, Albert T. Strauch and William
America. After serving his apprenticeship E. Strauch, were reared in the practical
in all the branches of the business, he was atmosphere of modern business life, soft-
taken into partnership, but, desiring a ened and tempered by the refining influence
larger field, he finally sold out his interest of lovable home environment. After se-
and began the manufacture of piano ac- curing a thorough education, they served
tions in New York city at the close of the their apprenticeship in every department
Civil War.
of the Strauch factory.
It is needless to enter into details regard-
The Strauch natural inclination for me-
ing the struggles of this ambitious young chanics appears to be hereditary with a
man and what he contributed toward over- strong current in the youngest generation
of Strauchs.
The business of the house is department-
ized so that Albert T. Strauch visits the
manufacturing trade in every section of
the Union. He also maintains a super-
vision
of the business department.
PETER D. STRAUCH.
William E. Strauch has had active super-
nomenal expansion of the piano business
vision and control of the factory for a term
during the closing days of the century.
of years, and is not only an action maker,
We are living in an age of specialism,
but a piano maker as well. He has more-
where the lines of demarcation have be-
over a number of valuable patented inven-
come clearly emphasized, hence it is fit-
tions to his credit.
tingly appropriate that we should relate
The members of the Strauch firm have
something of the individuality of the men
never been content to rest upon laurels al-'
who have contributed so much intelligent
ready won; they are forever seeking every
effort to the upbuilding of an important
possible means by which the American
industry—piano action making.
piano action may become more delicately
The biographies of prominent manu-
susceptible to the musician's touch.
facturers and leaders of specially developed
While volumes might be written upon
branches of a trade, are of general interest.
They call attention to the fact that the vast
majority of successful men have made their
own way in life, beginning with no capital
ALBERT T. STRAUCH.
beyond their own good health, sound com-
coming
the
then
existing prejudices against
monsense and weekly wages in store, shop,
American-made
grand
and upright actions;
mine or mill.
for
it
should
be
understood
that till the
They illustrate the encouraging facts
early
seventies
nearly
all
of
the
grand and
that this continent of ours is a land in
upright
actions
used
in
this
country
were
which a man of ability can start from a
small beginning and rise by his own exer- imported from France.
Mr. Strauch correctly concluded that if
tions to influence and fortune, provided he
is capable of self-sacrifice, untiring labor the prejudices were removed it must be on
account of the indisputable superiority of
and intelligent effort.
the
American action. To accomplish this
Men born upon the farm, or in the coun-
desired
end, he concentrated his mechani-
try village and forced into the arena with
no other education than that of the country cal skill upon the development and per-
school, have been able to educate them- fection of those actions bearing the Strauch
selves, to initiate great movements, found name which have now won world-wide re-
institutions of learning and charity, exer- cognition, the special points of excellence
cise a beneficent influence in the highest and originality of which are embodied in
social circles and sway the destinies of the the "Strauch system" of action making
people by their talents in the field of prac- and will be illustrated in detail in subse-
quent issues.
tical affairs.
WILLIAM E. STRAUCH.

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