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
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.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
the special accomplishments of each mem-
ber of this great music trade institution,
yet the records of the Patent Office for the
past ten years will show more than chap-
ters of arguments that the Strauchs con-
stitute a family of inventors and that the
development of the piano action with them
is a never-ceasing study of interest.
Fire Razes Bond's Factory.
[Special to The Review.!
Gharlestown, N. H., Aug. 20, 1900.
The G. S. Bond factory, devoted to the
manufacture of musical instrument cases,
was destroyed by fire Friday morning with
contents, at an estimated loss exceeding
$20,000, on which there is insurance of
$10,000 only.
The fire is supposed to have originated
by flying sparks from a sanding machine.
So quick was the spread of flames that fire
was bursting from the windows before the
alarm could be sounded on the factory
whistle, which blew at 11 o'clock. Thirty-
five minutes later the great building was a
seething mass of ruins, the end being quick-
ened by the blowing up of the gasoline
tanks.
The first intimation the employes had
that the building was on fire was the
bursting of flames into their departments,
and they had only time for a safe exit.
The business was never better and Mr.
Bond was already in receipt of orders
guaranteeing the full force of the plant
during the coming winter. Among for-
eign orders just completed was an import-
ant shipment of the finest grade goods for
Berlin, Germany. The plant was most
complete and splendidly equipped.
This is the second time within ten years
that Mr. Bond has suffered the loss of his
entire business plant by fire, and it is
probable he will not rebuild, which will
be regarded as a public calamity, the
business prosperity of this part of the
town having for many years been largely
dependent upon it.
Active Adek.
Freight Classification.
The question of what freight classification
will eventually govern traffic moving into
and through the territory south of the
Ohio, and east of the Mississippi River, is'
one that is arousing unusual interest in
commercial circles throughout the South
and the states contiguous thereto'that have
enjoyed close trade relations with that ter-
ritory. On February 1st and again on
June 1st, the Southern Classification Com-
mittee, which is officially in charge of
freight classification matters for the rail
and steamship lines in control of the busi-
ness of transportation to southern points,
so extensively revised the merchandise
classification list which had been in effect
for many years, that the classification now
in effect represents burdensome advances
made in over two-thirds of the entire list
of items classified. The Classification
Committee has repeatedly had its attention
called through protests filed by the Mer-
chants 1 Association and numerous commer-
cial bodies of other cities to specific in-
stances of advances made that were pro-
hibitory to trade with their section. But,
notwithstanding that meetings have been
held by that Committee at Chicago, on
July 3, and at the Oriental Hotel, Manhat-
tan Beach, this city, on Aug. 7, for the ap-
parent purpose of reconsidering their ac-
tion in recommending the advances made,
no action in the direction of promised re-
ductions has yet been announced. Mean-
while, a feeling of mistrust as to the sin-
cerity of the Committee in its professions
of a desire to rescind all irksome advances
has developed. This feeling, which is
general through the South, North and
West, has been brought^to the attention
of the Railroad Commissioners of all
the Southern States, who have arranged
to meet at Lookout Mountain, Tenn., on
August 29, and jointly take up the question
of promulgating a general classification to
govern freight in southern territory that
will be reasonable, official and legal in that
region.
Death of Win. C. Jorden.
[Special to The Review.!
• Hamilton, Mo., Aug. 20, 1900.
Wrn.C. Jorden, aged 44, a prominent
business man, died in this city on Friday.
Mr. Jorden came here from New Lisbon,
O., in 1879, and had been engaged in the
piano and organ business ever since. Some
three weeks ago he was brought home from
Cincinnati violently insane and was sent to
the asylum. He was a thirty-third degree
Mason. He leaves a wife, daughter and
son.
Trademarks in Turkey.
Trade advertisements must be carefully
worded and illustrated so as not to hurt
the sensitiveness of the censor's religious
or patriotic susceptibilities, says the British
consul at Smyrna. For similar reasons,
great care must be taken in the choice of
trademarks and designs. Portraits of per-
sons are considered most objectionable.
The most recent case in point was when a
large native importer of Manchester goods
had the idea of adopting his own likeness
for a trademark, and a large consignment
arriving here with his likeness pasted on
each roll, he was compelled to submit to
the delay caused by the necessity of remov-
ing the portraits before the goods were
cleared. The objection in this case could
only be accounted for by the supposition
that a fear was entertained that this enter-
prising tradesman might be aiming at pop-
ularity among a certain portion of the Sul-
tan's subjects, of which he was a member,
with views subversive to established order.
Lelands Improvements.
[Speciaf to The Review.]
Worcester, Mass., Aug. 21, 1900.
Among the many improvements that
Main street buildings have undergone to
the beautifying of the city and betterment
of the property all along the line none will
be more marked than that which S. R.
Leland & Son will undertake with the
building which they occupy as a music
store.
They have planned to put an entirely
new front on the first two floors of the
building. It will be of glass and will give
the interior a magnificent light that will
be highly appreciated by the many patrons
of the store. •
On the first floor the door will be on the
side, the rest of the front being taken
up with the mammoth glass window. The
same line of goods will be displayed there
as formerly.
The second floor will also have a glass
front and it will be, as it is now, the piano
salesroom. The various shades of the
cases will be much more easily determined
when these changes are made.
The work is to be commenced at once
and will be pushed as rapidly as possible.
The outcome of the meeting at Lookout
During the past week the factory of the Mountain will be awaited with deep inter-
Adek Manufacturing Co., manufacturers est by shippers and commercial bodies.
of the well-known " Pianotist " Self-Play- But, meanwhile, plans which are being
ing piano device has been a scene of discussed among them for combining small
shipments into carloads, and patronizing
great activity.
independent
water lines to effect economies
Regardless of the dull season they made
shipments to their out-of-town agents of in transportation expenses will not be in-
terrupted. Mr. J. M. Langley will repre-
over 40 "Pianotists."
They are still placing new agencies at a sent the Merchants' Association of this city
rapid rate. During the past week Henry at the meeting of the Railroad Commis-
Detmer secured the sole and exclusive rep- sioners.
resentation of the " Pianotist " for Chicago.
Ann Arbor Co. Progress.
They have also made a desirable connec-
tion in Milwaukee, Wis.
Ann Arbor Organ Co. this week shipped
The orders received for the " Pianotist "
organs
to Melbourne, Australia, Calcutta,
from local dealers during the past week
India,
London,
England, Glasgow, Scot-
have also been far ahead of those received
land
and
Amsterdam,
Holland. This was
during any previous week since the "Piano-
Piano Makers' Headquarters.
the
first
shipment
of
the
company to Cal-
tist " was placed on the market.
cutta. This institution has just received
The Piano Makers' Executive Committee
a
carload
of
red
oak
lumber
from
Ten-
will
remove to new quarters in Pepper
The Northern Ohio Piano Co., of Cleve-
nessee.
The
company
are
putting
in
a
Hall,
at Sixty-seventh street and Third
land, O., recently incorporated with a
large
supply
of
green
lumber
for
next
avenue,
on Sept. 5. The Union has also
capital stock of $100,000, have just opened
season's
work.
There
is
now
150,000
feet
ordered
all
local bodies to make that place
up their quarters at 264 Euclid avenue, that
:
of
lumber
in
the
company's
yards.
their
headquarters,
beginning same date.
city.

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