Music Trade Review

Issue: 1901 Vol. 32 N. 12

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Patents and Inventions.
An Up-To-Date Delivery Van.
[Specially Compiled for The Review.]
The Jesse French Piano & Organ Co., of
St. Louis, Mo., are the owners of the hand-
some gasoline delivery van pictured here-
with. It is the largest of its kind in theUnited
States and weighs thirty-six hundred pounds.
It travels fifteen miles per hour for one hun-
dred miles, with re-filling, and climbs fifteen
per cent, grade. It carries two pianos and
crew, and does the work of two teams. It is
equipped with a double cylinder twelve-
horse power motor and runs ten miles on one
gallon of gasoline. It cost three thousand
dollars and was built bv the St. Louis Motor
Washington, D. C, March 18, 1901.
Mounting for Piano Keys. Frederick W.
Hedgeland, Chicago, 111. Patent .No. 669,-
729.
This invention relates to a mounting for
pianoforte-keys and like musical instruments,
and has for its object to provide an arrange-
ment of this character that will prevent the
free action or movement of the keys from
being affected by atmospheric changes. It
is well known that when the atmosphere is
charged with excessive moisture, as in damp
weather, the keys have a tendency to stick,
and a free action is thus prevented, often
causing great annoyance and temporarily
disabling the instrument. Under the ordin-
ary arrangement when the wooden key-lever
absorbs moisture the walls inclosing the pins
swell and exert a side pressure on the pins,
which are usually oval in cross-section, and
cause the keys to stick or cramp.
Bridge for Stringed Musical Instruments.
James Runkles, Canton, 111. Patent No.
669,902.
This invention -relates to stringed musical
instruments, and has for its object to pro-
vide an improved bridge therefor which is
especially designed for varying the tone of
the instrument to which the bridge may be
applied. It is furthermore designed to pro-
vide improved means for adjusting the
strings toward and away from the instrument
and also to vary the distance between the legs
of the bridge for the purpose of changing
the tone of the instrument.
Carriage Co. The members of the Western
trade are evidently setting the pace in the
utilization of the latest developments in the
motor carriage field, for New York or Bos-
ton cannot yet boast of piano delivery vans
other than those manipulated in the old-time
wav.
Mr. Ide Homeward Bound.
A flinnesota Incorporation.
Laverne M. Ide, the road ambassador for
the Farrand & Votey Organ Co., who has
been on a somewhat extended Fastern trip,
spent some days in New York this week on
his way home. He reports progress right
along the line and a steady development of
Cecilian piano-player trade. Mr. Ide stated
that business at the factory in both organ
and Cecilian departments was exceedingly
brisk, and that the trade so far this year ex-
ceeded anything on record.
The Musical Herald.
An interesting publication is the March
issue of the Musical Herald, Chicago. A
portrait of that charming singer, Mme. Lil-
lian Nordica, occupies the place of honor on
the front page. It is followed by a well-
written story of her achievements in the op-
eratic field. In the several other contribu-
tions, the labors of the W. W. Kimball Co.
in the domain of pianos and organs are re-
ferred to, and in this connection the ascend-
ency of America in industrial pursuits is em-
phasized most convincingly. There is also
in this number a march entitled the "Kim-
ball," by Clara M. Schleiffarth—a swinging
and catchy piece of writing which should
become popular. The book cover contains
a large half-tone cut of many of the promi-
nent musicians who use and endorse the
Kimball pianos.
The Thorstenberg-Brandt Music Co., of
Lindsburg, Kan., are arranging for a hand-
some new store.
.
[Special to The Review.]
St. Paul, Minn., March 18, 1901.
Among the certificates of incorporation
hied with the Secretary of State yesterday,
was the following:
National Piano Co., Minneapolis; capital
stock, $100,000. Incorporators: Chas. E.
Lindberg, H. H. Coleman, H. G. Lindberg,
Jas. A. Kellogg, of Minneapolis, and George
Boltwood, Chicago.
The new company has not as yet selected
a site for its factory, and is not ready to say
when work will be commenced. Several lo-
cations are under consideration, however,
and it is said the factory will be operated
this year. It is considered probable that the
company will take over the Mehlin property.
Harmonist Agencies.
Blasius & Sons, Philadelphia, have taken
the agency for the "Harmonist" for half of
Pennsylvania. Julius Bauer & Co. will han-
dle it throughout Illinois. Heintzman &
Co., Toronto, will represent the instrument
in Canada.
The Review visited the retail headquar-
ters of the American Piano Co. on Wednes-
day and noted a number of handsome case
designs, now ready for the market. Trade
conditions are reported as healthy. The
"Harmonist" is steadily gaining ground in
all sections of the country.
Roy Starkweather, formerly with the Ann
Arbor Organ Co., has arranged to represent
a Cleveland music house in Portland, Ore.
Verney Co. Lease Factory.
[Special to The Review.]
Des Moines, la., March 18, 1901.
A meeting of the prospective stockholders
of the Verney Pipe Organ Co. has just been
held. Negotiations have now proceeded to
such a pass that the early formation and in-
corporation of the company is announced,
and a building has been leased on South
Ninth street, and there the company will
make its factory home for the first few
months. It is then proposed to erect a new
building and enlarge the factory so as al-
most to double its capacity.
The Verney Organ Co.,
will start in Des Moine.s, on
a capital stock of $25,000, of
which over half is now raised.
Stock to the amount of
$5,000 was disposed of to-day.
Mr. Verney, formerly of Ma-
son City, has been in Des
Moines several days, working
on the organization of the
company. To-night's meet-
ing of the stockholders will
dispose of several unsettled
matters and will make the
way clear for an early incor-
poration and the commence-
ment of active work at the factory.
Wm. H, Bush.
Wm. H. Bush, president of the Bush &
Gerts Piano Co., died at his residence in Chi-
cago late last Tuesday afternoon, March 19.
He had been confined to his house for nearly
a week by an attack of illness, which resem-
bled grip in form. His trouble developed
into pneumonia with a fatal termination.
Wm. H. Bush was a splendid type of
the self-made American who had done so
much to develop the great West. Since early
years he had been engaged in active business
operations, controlling vast lumber interests
before his entrance into the piano manufac-
turing domain. Into this enterprise he
brought the same business tact and fore-
sight which had made him a fortune in his
previous occupation, and the result has been
the up-building of a large piano enterprise.
He was a man of modest demeanor, never
given to boastful utterances concerning his
own business accomplishments. For years
he had been prominently identified with
religious and charitable affairs, having been
a generous donor on many occasions. One
of his recent gifts amounted to several thou-
sand dollars to one institution.
W. L. Bush, his eldest son, has been ac-
tively associated with him for years and upon
his capable shoulders the business mantle of
his father will fall.
On Friday, Joseph Stigner, employed as
a porter in Steinway & Sons piano factory
in Astoria, L. I., made a misstep while on
the fourth floor of the building and fell down
the hatchway to the ground floor. The em-
ployees rushed to his assistance and were
astonished to find him alive, After a thor-
ough examination by the physician it was
found Mr. Stigner had received a slight scalp
wound and was none the worse for his fall.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Notice to Piano Dealers of the United States.
Resolution adopted at the meeting of
the National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
ation of America, held in Chicago, May,
1900:
"Recognizing the fact, as we all must, that
there are many evils in our trade which can
best be remedied by the united action of both
manufacturers and dealers, the Executive
Committee would suggest that the principal
dealers of the United States be invited to
attend our next meeting; that one session
be set apart for those dealers who accept
the invitation of the manufacturers to dis-
cuss such matters as shall be to their mutual
benefit and for that of the trade at large.
In order that all participating may feel per-
fectly free to express their vews, this invi-
tation would not mean that the dealers are
to be guests of the Association, but to a lim-
ited extent would participate in its proceed-
ings."
In pursuance of the foregoing resolution,
the Executive Committee of the National
Piano Manufacturers' Association of Amer-
ica take pleasure in extending a cordial in-
vitation to be present and participate in a
joint session with the members of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association,
which session will be held on the afternoon
of May 15, Wednesday, for the purpose of
discussing any matters that may tend to ele-
vate our trade and be of mutual interest. It
is hoped that those dealers attending will
feel free to discuss anything that may further
the interests of our trade.
Completely Transformed.
The warerooms of the B. Shoninger Co.
on Fifth avenue have been completely trans-
formed by tasteful and judicious re-decora-
tion under the supervision of Joseph Sho-
ninger. The general effect, in a subdued
pink tint with gold figuring, is decidedly
pleasing.
Many of the latest styles in Shoninger
uprights are on exhibition and are seen to
the best advantage in their new setting.
These styles are shown in several woods,
with plain and carved paneling. A new
Shoninger catalogue is nearly ready.
Lucien Wulsin on the South.
Lucien Wulsin, of the Baldwin Piano Co.,
was one of the party of commercial tourists
who lately returned from a visit to the chief
manufacturing points of the South over the
great Southern System. In response to an
inquiry, he writes:
"I am glad to say that to me it has been a
great and valuable object lesson of an indus-
trial development, which is but little under-
stood by us in Cincinnati. The demonstra-
tion to the twenty-five manufacturers of Cin-
cinnati of the great progress already made
in manufacturing in the States of North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Ala-
bama, and of the disposition of the people
of the South to manufacture along the best
lines of modern business, is bound to benefit
Cincinnati, if we will only follow up the in-
dications which have been given us by this
trip. A hearty welcome awaits every Cin-
The annual banquet of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association will follow the
two days' session and will be held on the
evening of Thursday, May 16. Those deal-
ers who also decide to participate in the ban-
quet will be able to secure tickets, the price
of which will not exceed $10.
In order to make the necessary arrange-
ments for both the meeting and the banquet,
it is necessary to know how many will be
present, and it is therefore requested that
those dealers who intend to be present will
kindly advise the Assistant Secretary, Her-
bert W. Hill, No. 254 West Twenty-third
street, New York, at their earliest conve-
nience. As soon as it is known what dealers
will attend the meeting and the banquet, full
information will be sent to them. In sending
notice to Mr. Hill, please state whether you
desire to attend both the meeting and the
banquet.
On Friday, May 17, those dealers attend-
ing, together with the members of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association, will
be the guests of the New York Piano Manu-
facturers' Association and Music Trade of
New York.
The entertainment will probably take the
form of an excursion up the Hudson River to
West Point.
Charles H. Parsons,
Chairman, Executive Committee,
National Piano Manufacturers' Asso'n.
Herbert W. Hill,
Assistant Secretary,
254 West 23d Street, New York.
cinnati business man and manufacturer who
goes into this territory seeking business.
"This trip indicates that our Southern Rail-
road should be directly connected, and in the
hands of the Southern Railway Co. on some
fair terms, in order that we may be able to
enter these great markets on the most favor-
able conditions, and that the people of these
states should be able to reach Cincinnati and
go into the West and Northwest through
Cincinnati. This reciprocal business cannot
fail to be of the greatest advantage to both
sections.
"The Cincinnatian who wants to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity offered should
study the field thoroughly and expect to work
it systematically in presenting his goods. In
time, that is bound to bring a profitable re-
sult."
Why He is Happy.
Jack Spies, treasurer of the Spies Piano
Co., is wearing a happy and contented smile
these days of March, 1901. Business is ex-
cellent with the concern. Within the past
ten days they shipped two carloads of Spies
pianos to Mexico, and orders from dealers
in different parts of the United States come
in pleasing frequency.
There is, however, another and deeper rea-
son for the genial Jack's smiling demeanor
just at present. The news is carried by a
little bird that he is to lead one of Harlem's
popular young belles to the altar some time
next month. Jack is just now receiving con-
gratulations from many friends.
Forging to the Front.
The "Pianotist" still continues to forge to
the front. E. D. Ackerman, general manager
of the Adek Manufacturing Co., speaking
with The'Review this week, said: "Musi-
cians and the trade generally who have at-
tended the daily recitals given at our ware-
rooms, No. 503 Fifth avenue, corner of Forty-
second street, unite in stating that the 'Pian-
otist' is one of the best piano-players now
on the market. Its list price of $175, with a
liberal discount to the trade, makes it a very
attractive device to handle. There is no
clumsy cabinet to move up or take away
from the piano, no laborious pumping nor
pneumatics, and a piano fitted with the 'Pia-
notist' is always ready for use in the ordin-
ary manner. These are a few of the many
strong points of the 'Pianotist.' Another
strong ponit is that it is so easy to operate
that even a child can manipulate it without
effort.
"Many of the old-time dealers in the trade
would be astonished if they would call and
inspect the 'Pianotist,' for it seems hard to
believe that the present 'Pianotist,' with its
marvelous operation and its artistic accom-
plishments, is the outcome of one of the old
attachments which was too crude in opera-
tion. This only goes to prove that it takes
time and money to perfect a piano-player.
"The 'Pianotist' is the outcome of fifteen
years of experiment and the expenditure of
many thousands of dollars. It behooves all
live dealers who are in the market for a good
piano-player to communicate with the Adek
Manufacturing Co. without delay."
Sold Piano and Decamped.
A. J. Burnham, dealer in pianos and or-
gans, Rogers, Ark., has sent us the following
communication:
"On about the 14th day of February last,
one J. W. Adams, a piano salesman, received
from my hands one new piano to sell for me,
I to give him a commission only to sell the
instrument and deliver the proceeds of sale
to me. The said J. W. Adams sold said in-
strument on February 15th, appropriated the
money to his own use and failed to report
sale. Adams is about 30 years old, about
5 ft., 8 or 9 inches in height, dark complexion,
high cheek bones, black hair, black eyes,
weight about 135 lbs. Was smooth-shaven
when last seen by me. Has nasal catarrh
very severely. Any person who may learn
of the presence or whereabouts of the said
party would do me—an innocent, yet injured
party, a great service by informing me of
same."
Death of Herman Schmidt.
Herman Schmidt, who for twenty-three
years has been employed in the clerical de-
partment of Richard Ranft's felt establish-
ment in New York, died in this city Friday,
March 15, his funeral occurring at the Ger-
man Club, Sunday afternoon. The deceased
was highly esteemed by his associates in bus-
iness.
Detmer Gets Contract.
Henry Detmer,
awarded the yearly
tune and repairing
and organs used
schools,
of Chicago, has been
contract for keeping in
the five hundred pianos
in the Chicago public

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