Music Trade Review

Issue: 1901 Vol. 32 N. 17

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
14
Arnold Somlyo, who had charge of the
Baldwin exhibit at the Paris Exposition, and
who is now doing some effective work in
exploiting the Baldwin instruments in this
city, is making his headquarters at 95 Car-
negie Hall, where he is occupying a suite
of rooms which are most artistic in appoint-
ment.
Chas. C. Smith, who for a number of years
made a comfortable income by selling pianos
on commission, died Tuesday last at his
home, 43 West Thirty-fourth street, from a
complication of diseases. He was a clever
pianist and a composer of some excellent
music, and had a big following in society
and club circles. One brother, E. C. Smith,
of Buffalo, survives him.
The National Piano Co., recently organized
in Minneapolis, Minn., are now located at
the corner of Hennepin avenue and Sixth
street. They will handle the Chase Bros.,
Hackley and Carlisle pianos. The Seger-
strom brothers, formerly in business in that
city, are connected with the National Co.,
and will travel for that concern.
The Janesville Music Co., of Janesville,
Wis., have made a number of alterations and
improvements in their establishment, which
add considerably to its appearance. They
are making a fine display of such pianos as
the Sohmer, Kroeger, Haines, Steger, Boothe
Bros., and Schumann.
Henry Spies reports the "Majestic" as
making a very satisfactory record during the
present year. "The 'Majestic,' sells read-
ily," said he to The Review on Wednesday
last, "and we hear nothing but praise of its
all-round merit as an artistic, well-made in-
strument."
S. M. Lutz, of Springfield, 111., whose in-
creasing business demands more floor space,
has leased No. 515 North Side Square for a
period of years, and will occupy same May
1st with a complete line of pianos and or-
gans.
The piano hammers of David H. Schmidt
are, as Mr. Schmidt's order book shows, in
greater request than ever. His work and
his progressive, up-to-date methods are tell-
ing the story. Mr. Schmidt does not believe
in calmly sitting down and waiting for his
reputation to bring customers. He goes
after them—yes, and gets them. That's
the only way.
The thirty-sixth anniversary of the found-
ing of the Heppe house in Philadelphia,
which occurred last week, was formally cel-
ebrated with a reception to the public, con-
certs by the Imperial Orchestra being a
daily feature.
There is ample evidence, as all who travel
the United Kingdom will admit, that the reed
organ trade was never in a healthier state
than it is just now, says our London contem-
porary, Music.
Heller & Co., who are now located at
425-429 East 144th street, will occupy after
May 1st the three top floors at 460 East
144th street.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The McKannon Bros. Music Co., Denver,
Col., dedicated their newly decorated piano
warerooms by a formal concert held on the
evening of April 18th, at which a number
of prominent artists appeared. There was
a large attendance.
Charles A. Wessell, by dint of personal
work and personal representation among
progressive dealers, has made a prominent
place in the market for the Wessell piano.
There is now a steady call for it, and this
week's report shows satisfactory trade con-
ditions.
We have received a very charming booklet
from Byron Mauzy, San Francisco, Cal.,
which contains interesting descriptive matter
relating to the Mauzy piano factory.
The report of Behr Bros, for the week
shows healthy trade conditions. Mr. Brown
is making a good record on the road this
season, and the three Behr representatives
now traveling in the firm's interests are send-
ing in good reports.
Callers at the Weber warerooms this week
included Huson Moak, of Buckingham &
Moak, Utica, N. Y.; William Werner, of
Easton, Pa., and Linn Babcock, Norwich,
N. Y.
The new Shoninger styles in uprights are
winning warm commendation everywhere.
The elegance and good taste displayed in
the case designs offer indisputable evidence
of a master's work in artistic piano construc-
tion.
Paul Zeidler, of Strich & Zeidler, is now
traveling in the Eastern States. He left New
York on Friday last, and will visit a number
of Strich & Zeidler agents during his tour.
Clark, Wise & Co., of San Francisco, Cal.,
advise us that the report is # erroneous that
they handle the Everett piano.
Gen. Hickenlooper, who has large interests
in the Krell Piano Co., is the president of
the new Gas and Electric Combine formed
in Cincinnati with a capital of $28,000,000.
His salary will be '$25,000 a year.
The Davenport & Treacy Co. expect to
operate their new piano factory at 104-10
East 129th street around May 1st.
As a result of the visit last week of the
Brooklyn Art Society to the Kranich &
Bach factory, an important paper will be
read upon piano manufacturing at the next
meeting of the Society.
There is no "let-up" J n the regular rou-
tine of activity at the Dusinberre factory.
Just as fast as instruments are finished, they
are shipped to fill orders from one or an-
other of the Dusinberre agents.
Judge Brown, in the United States Dis-
trict Court Thursday granted discharges to
fourteen bankrupts, among whom was Chas.
L. Young, musical agent, of No. 1123 Broad-
way ; liabilities, $31,921.
Jos. M. Mann, the "modern piano dealer"
who recently secured a long lease of his store
at 347 Westminster street, Providence, R. I.,
is advertising an alteration sale, previous to
extensive changes and improvements.
At the Doll piano warerooms, 675 Croad
street, Newark, N. J., a special sale previ-
ous to the removal on May 1st is now under
way.
Arrangements were consummated during 1
the recent visit of Chas. H. Wagener in the
East, for the representation of the Apollo
piano-player in Germany.
G. Fred Kranz, of the Kranz-Smith Music
Co., Baltimore, has been invited to become
a candidate for counselor on the Democratic
ticket in that city.
The Wallace Music Co. of Marion, Ind .
report an excellent demand for the Everett
pianos, which they are handling.
During the past week Boardman & Gray,
Albany, N. Y., have been conducting a spe-
cial sale, before moving to temporary quar-
ters during the re-building of their factory.
F. A. North & Co. of «Altoona, Pa., have
leased the entire lower floor of the building
which they" occupy at 1108 Twelfth avenue,
and are making a number of alterations and
improvements.
The McCurdy & Norwell Co., proprie-
tors of the large department store in Roch-
ester, N. Y., have added a music department
to their business.
Previous to removal to their new quarters
in the Keith Theatre Building, the Estey Co.,
of Philadelphia, are advertising a special
sale.
Active preparations are in progress for
manufacture of grands at the Milton piano
factory.
H. M. Cockrell, of Spokane, Wash., has
moved his stock of musical merchandise to
Eiler's piano rooms in that city.
The Weaver Organ & Piano Co., York,
Pa., made a number of shipments this week
to European as well as domestic points.
The two-manual organ for the first Hol-
land Reformed Church of Muskegon, Mich.,
is to be built by M. P. Moller, the well-known
manufacturer of Hagerstown, Md.
The Ramaker Music Co., of Seattle,
Wash., now hold the agency for the Fischer
piano, which was formerly handled by
Chesbro Bros.
The regular quarterly dividend of two
per cent, on the preferred stock of the
American Graphophone Co. will be paid on
May 15th to stockholders of record May 1st.
The Rhodes-Canby Music Co.,of New Cas-
tle, Pa., held a formal opening of their new
piano store on April 20th.
The Stevens Organ Co. are arranging to
occupy retail warerooms formerly occupied
by Wilson & Young, Marietta, O.
C. Bunce, who purchased the business of
Benedict Bros., is contemplating moving and
will probably locate at 460 East 144th street.
A. Boynton's piano store in Meadville,
Pa., is now located in its new home near the
post office.
Scott & Jones, of Youngstown, O., will
shortly move to larger quarters in the Calla-
han Building in that town.
Edward Milton Boothe, of the Milton
Piano Co., left town on Monday for a brief
Eastern business trip.
Ludlow, Barker & Co. of Hartford, Conn.,
report an active demand for Hazelton pianos
in their locality.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Hugo Sohmer Talks on a " Live" Trade Topic.
thing else, honesty, even if the question of
principle is comp'etely ignored, is always
An Able and Critical Analysis of Certain Trade Conditions Which Have Helped to Undermine
the Standing of Many Dealers- Believes the - One Price" System and Selling Instruments the 'best policy.' "
in Their Class Pays in the End—Pleased That the Hatter of "One Price" Will Be Dis-
Mr. Sohmer reported trade conditions,
cussed by the N. P. n . A.—Some Vigorous Words From I his Distinguished Piano Man.
both wholesale and retail, as excellent.
Evidence is accumulating to the effect that
"It is not at all likely that firms and indi-
A Starr Move.
piano dealers in all sections who have hith- viduals will ever work together with angelic
erto maintained what might fittingly be harmony along strictly correct lines, yet it New York Offices for Export Trade—In Charge
of nr. Corwine—Mr. Thayer "strikes oil."
termed a "flexible" policy in the matter of is gratifying to learn that a voluntary reform
prices, are gradually becoming convinced movement is in progress. I am optimistic
Members of the trade in South America
that the one-price policy is the best and only enough to believe that the day it not far dis- will be interested to learn that the Starr
really successful plan in handling customers. tant when every dealer handling several Piano Co., Richmond, Ind., have established
The Review chatted on Monday with Hugd grades of instruments will point out to his export headquarters in New York at the
Sohmer, of Sohmer & Co., on the topic of prospective customers the reasons why two office of Chas. B. Corwine, 15-25 Whitehall
"one-price." Fortunately for the trade, many pianos, equally attractive in case-design, may street, where several of their export styles
out-of-town dealers who hold extensive ter- differ in intrinsic value, one being worth, are on exhibition. Mr. Corwine will give con-
ritory and transact a large volume of busi- say, $450, and the other, $250 or $300.
siderable attention to the development of
"He will make these explanations frankly Starr piano trade with important trade points
and of his own free will, setting the price in South America. He has built up quite a
on each piano according to its real merit, reputation as a manufacturers' representative
instead of being guided by the margin of for export business, and no doubt will be as
profits made. That 'margin of profit' is a effective in results in the matter of pianos.
L. E. Thayer, the Starr ambassador, chat-
very illusive thing, particularly if an addi-
ting
with The Review this week, reported
tional, fifty or hundred dollars is added be-
business
as very brisk at the factory in Rich-
cause the buyer will 'never know the differ-
mond,
Ind.
The dealers at all points, more
ence.'
especially
the
far West, are doing well. This
"There may have been a time, and prob-
is
evidenced
by the orders received. Mr.
ably was, when the buyer did not know
Thayer's
splendid
success on the Pacific
and never discovered that he or she had
Coast
has
already
been
recorded in The Re-
been swindled; that a large amount of money
view
as
well
as
the
large
order which he re-
had been obtained by fraud and false pre-
ceived
from
Sherman,
Clay
& Co. While in
tence. But that is no longer true, and un-
our
city
he
received
news
of
a very pleasmg
principled dealers are learning that sooner or
character
from
Colorado,
where
he owns a
later there comes a day of reckoning. Then
ranch,
containing
several
hundred
acres.
the foundation of 'reputation,' if he ever
A large-sized oil boom has struck Colorado
had any, is cut from under him and he starts
'and
all of the country in the vicinity of-Pu-
on the road to failure and oblivion.
eblo
is being explored by oil speculators.
"The excuse no longer stands good that
Mr.
Thayer
has received advices that his
the dealer does not know the real value of
property
probably
lies in the oil belt, so that
the pianos he offers for sale. The dealer
it
may
not
surprise
his many friends to learn
of to-day does know full well, as a rule. He
that he has "struck oil" in a most satisfactory
knows that if he sells a high-grade piano
form.


at a medium-grade price 'just to do busi-
ness' he is wronging the manufacturer by
Stuart Gets Decision.
HU<30 SOHMER.
lowering the standard, incidentally wronging
[Special to The Review.]
ness believe in the "one-price" system and
every other agent for the same house.
Boston,
Mass., April 22, 1901.
conduct their sales on that principle.
"The dealer of 1901 also knows from expe-
Judge
Lowell,
of
the United States Dis-
This point was made by Mr. Sohmer dur-
rience that if he sells a commercial, or me- trict Court, has found in favor of the de-
ing his conversation. "Generally speaking,"
dium-grade piano at a high-grade price he fendant in the case of Horace G. Atwood
said he, "the bigger and most responsible
is wronging himself grievously and injur- against the Stuart Piano Co., an action
dealers have fixed prices from which they
brought by plaintiff, a former president of
do not deviate except for professional peo- ing his future prospects in that locality be-
the
defendant, under sect. 4901 of the United
ple. It can easily be understood why pro- yond repair. People to-day read more, dis-
States
Revised Statutes, to recover $15,000
fessional customers are entitled to special cern more readily, visit each other more
damages,
upon the basis of a $100 penalty
frequently, and compare notes more freely
consideration.
for
each
unpatented
piano, the plate of which
"Dealers of the class occasionally heard than did those of a generation ago. The was stamped "A. H. Stuart's patents, Nov.
of as underselling a competition in a near-by dealer who,, in these days of acute alert- 19, 1889 and May 5, 1891," with alleged in-
town have no use for a 'one-price' system. ness is once or twice found out to be mak- tent to deceive the public. The plaintiff's
With them it is merely a question of what ing unlawful gains as a result of the cus- declaration contained many counts, and he
they call 'business.' In this class is found tomers' credulity, can count himself a alleged that he sued for the United States
the dealer who will ask-—and frequently get, marked man.
"I am glad to learn that dealers will have as well as for himself.
until he reaches the end of his rope—a first
The Court found that the plaintiff had not
or second rate price for a third or fourth an opportunity to discuss this subject at
sustained
the burden of proof to show that
rate instrument, taking advantage of his pa- the N. P. M. A. convention. As a matter
the
stamping
was done with the purpose of
tron's ignorance of real piano values to of fact, however, there can be no discussion deceiving the public.
swindle him—for it is swindling, and noth- as to which policy is the best to pursue.
In the matter of piano sales, as in every-
Hattersley Co. Incorporate.
ing less.
The C. M. Hattersley Piano Co. was incor-
porated with the secretary of State of New
Jersey on Wednesday last for the purpose of
manufacturing pianos with a capital stock of
ITKADK MARK]
$20,000. The incorporators are Chas. ; M.
THEODORE P. BROWN, WORCESTER MASS.
Hattersley, Josephine M. Hattersley and
Louis Goldman. The principal office is at
The easiest to play.
The Simplest.
The best in every way. 201 Ferry street, Trenton.
Simplex flMano

Download Page 12: PDF File | Image

Download Page 13 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.