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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
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BITS FROM BOSTON
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H. B. Fischer Talks of His Trip.
Resume of His Transcontinental
An Original Advertisement by Chickering—Of Jlore Than Ordinary Interest—The Baldwin Piano An interesting
Tour—Demand For Better Grades of Pianos
in Boston Will be With Priest & Brooks—Success With ««D. & T."—Dramatic Death of Henry
Continues Brisk—Piano Selling methods Im-
Bassford, Original ilember of the Apollo Club—Honored by His Associates—Trade Conditions.
proving—Trade in Texas Remarkably Active
—Found Interest in the Coming Convention
[Special to The Review.]
members of the Apollo Club, and this fam-
Quite General.
Boston, Mass., April n , 1901.
One of the most strikingly original adver-
tisements which traces its parentage to a
music trade source has appeared in the Bos-
ton dailies. I append it herewith, as to
speak of it without an entire reproduction
fails to give an adequate idea of the scope
of the varied interests which are at once in-
terwoven in this modest announcement:
some future date we propose holding n
A T one
of the large halls in Boston, an ex-
hibition of extraordinary interest illustrative
of a century's progress in pianoforte making
and kindred musical matters. In the mean-
time we are anxious to obtain good specimens
of every style and type of piano representing
different periods of the last century, and can
therefore, offer for such instruments unusual
prices in taking them in exchange for new pi-
anos. We shall also be grateful for any of-
fers to lend us instruments of whatever nature
or musical matter having an unusual or his-
toric interest and for any suggestions that
will enable us to carry out the scheme in the
most complete and interesting manner.
CHICKERING & SONS,
791 Tremont Street.
More than clever—it appeals to a love of
the historic, and if developed as planned, the
project will become amplified until many mu-
sico-commercial affairs become closely inter-
woven with the proposed exhibition.
Peculiarly appropriate that this novel prop-
osition should have been exploited by Chick-
ering & Sons.
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The new firm of Priest & Brooks, No.
207 Tremont street, will handle the Baldwin
piano as their leader. This move was deter-
mined to-night after a meeting with the gen-
eral traveler of the Baldwin interests, Mr.
R. S. Howard, who is here to arrange and
conclude the deal.
Julian E. Priest is well known not only to
Bostonians, but.to the traveling public, hav-
ing been for many years with Young's Hotel
and The Reynolds.
W. C. Brooks is a thoroughly practical
piano man and has an established clientele in
this city. The conditions under which they
start are most favorable.
In pianos, they have the Baldwin and Dav-
enport & Treacy, and I may state that Wed-
nesday they sold three D. & T. pianos and
wired for another half dozen. An eloquent
argument in favor of Col. Dan's pianos,
surely.
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How dramatic the ending of the span of
life for Henry Bassford! Last Sunday while
sitting at the organ in the Congregational
Church in Roxbury, and about to accompany
a tenor solo, he stopped suddenly, his head
fell forward upon the keys. The listeners
looked in askance. His devoted wife, who
was near, rushed forward, but too late to
lend aid. The spirit of Henry Bassford had
fled, and for him the curtain had been rung
down upon the great drama of life, without
warning, and amid the scenes he loved the
chapter closed.
Mr. Bassford was widely known and re-
spected by all. He was one of the original
ous organization took part in his funeral
obsequies, assisted by the Joseph Warren
Commandery. He was secretary of the Bos-
ton Music Trade Association at the time of
his death. This organization sent a beauti-
ful wreath which was laid upon his bier.
h or many years Mr. Bassford was associated
with Mason & Hamlin, and filled the office of
secretary of that corporation.
The Boston M. T. A. met and passed the
following resolutions after his death:
Whereas, It is with deepest regret and with
a keen sense of loss that we, the Boston Music
Trade Association, learn of the death of our
associate and secretary, Henry Bassford,
Resolved: That we desire to express at
this time our appreciation of his strict integ-
rity, his genial traits of character, which en-
deared him to all with whom he was con-
nected.
His long and active career in the music
trade, and his knowledge of men and affairs
were of invaluable assistance to our Associa-
tion in his official capacity.
Resolved: That these resolutions be
placed upon our records, and a copy be sent
to the family of Mr. Bassford.
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The two weeks of almost unbroken rain
has, of course, affected the retail trade of
Boston and other points in New England.
Mr. Vanderpoel has been elected secretary of
the B. M. T. A. to fill the unexpired term
made vacant bv the death of Henry Bass-
ford.
The mortgage note held by Mr. and Mrs.
Geo. H. Champlain for $50,000 on All
Saints' Church, Brookline, has been cancelled,
and it is said that Mr. Champlain has vir-
tually made a gift of this vast sum of money
to this religious organization.
Shaw Co. Bring Suit Against Bank
Credit Injured by Letter Written Vaudeville
Extra—Damages Placed at $50,000—State-
ments Made Said to be Untrue.
[Special to The Review.]
Cleveland, O., April 8, 1901.
Richard Parmely, president of the Ameri-
can National Bank, was made a defendant
in a suit yesterday, for $50,000. Judgment
against him is asked by the Shaw Piano Com-
pany of Erie, Pa., and the grounds for the
action are said to arise from a letter written
by Mr. Parmely, to the Musical Courier Ex-
tra, a publication of New York city, reflecting
on the credit of the company. The statement
alleged to have been made is said to be un-
true, and to have caused the company much
damage on account of its publication.
Suit may also be brought against the paper
referred to for publishing this communication
without proper investigation.
San Francisco Follows Suit.
A commercial museum is to be established
in San Francisco on the lines of the Philadel-
phia institution. A company has been organ-
ized with Irving M. Scott as president. The
idea is, of course, to benefit the commercial
interests of California.
Henry B. Fischer, of J. & C. Fischer, re-
turned on Friday last from a five-weeks'
trip through the upper Middle West, North-
west and South. He found trade good
everywhere. In Texas, particularly, the con-
ditions indicated extraordinary prosperity
in all mercantile pursuits.
Mr. Fischer, during a call by The Review
at the Fischer factories on Wednesday, re-
lated briefly his opinions, based on what he
saw and heard during the tour. "I visited
many Fischer representatives in the sections
through which I passed," observed Mr.
Fischer, "and am glad to say that, without
exception, they had good reports to make.
Our present styles are in great favor with
their customers.
"I learned with pleasure that there is not
the same difficulty to-day that existed only
a short time ago in selling what some call
'high-priced' instruments. It is found by
dealers that people such as formerly bought a
piano because it was low-priced, prefer now
to wait until they can afford to pay more in
order that they may have an instrument
worthy of the name.
"In visiting among the piano dealers gen-
erally, I ascertained that the attitude of some
dealers as to methods of piano selling is un-
dergoing a decided change for the better.
Those who, up to a short time ago, were
willing to sell instruments of any kind at
an}- price, caring nothing so long as they did
what they call 'business,' are learning from
experience that such 'business' 6pells disaster
and ruin in the end.
"They have discovered that the best ad-
vertisement is a pleased customer, and that
in order to please their patrons and build
up a reputation worth having they must
keep away from what is 'cheap,' even if there
is a bigger temporary profit in it, and stand
by what is good^even if they do think the
margin of profit might be wider, broader
or deeper. If the customer cannot tell the
difference on sight, the dealer is learning that
it will pay him to point out the difference,
never misrepresenting for the sake of a sale,
and never failing to study the best interests
of his patrons by advising the selection of
standard products every time.
"It is a good thing for the trade that deal-
ers who have been careless about these mat-
ters are waking up to the truth. The sooner
they open their eyes thoroughly concerning
the value of earning and keeping a desira-
ble reputation the better it will be for the
trade at large."
Mr. Fischer found a very friendly feel-
ing among dealers toward the N. P. M. A.
The majority of those spoken with on the
subject of the approaching convention ex-
pressed themselves as much pleased with the
idea. Mr. Fischer believes, from what he
heard, that the attendance of dealers, in re-
sponse to the invitation recently extended,
will be large and representative.