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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL. XXXIII. N o . l.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street, New York, July 6,1901.
$2 co PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
THE PIANO PLAYER A STIMULATOR
PLACED ON THE "FREE LIST."
SHAW PIANO CO.'S ANSWER.
Of Musical Taste—Promotes an Appreciation of
Pianos Among Those Who Can't Play—What
Some Experts Say.
Manufacturers of supplies in the United
States can find a new field for activity in
Canada owing to the fact that the Customs
Department at Ottawa have announced a
number of changes whereby the following
articles in piano manufacturing are trans-
ferred to the free list:
"Key pins, damper springs, jack springs,
rail springs, regulating screws, bridle wires,
damper wires, back check wires, dowel wires,
German center pins, brass pins, rail hooks,
brass brackets, plates, damper rod nuts, dam-
per sockets and screws, shell, brass plates,
brass capstan screws, brass flange plates and
screws, hammer wires, fly, felt, butt felt,
damper felt, hammer rail cloth, back check
felt, catch felt, thin damper felt, whip cloth,
bushing cloth, hammer felt, back hammer
felt, bridle leather and buck-skin, when im-
ported by manufacturers of piano keys,
actions, hammers, base dampers and organ
keys, to be used exclusively for the manufac-
ture of such articles in their own factories."
This free list will continue until cancelled
by the authorities.
[Special to The Review.]
During the rounds of The Review this
week, the following question was asked at
the headquarters of several piano-players.
"Is the piano-player, in your opinion, prov-
ing to be of real value in aiding the growth
of musical taste and education?"
W. J. Keeley, of the Wilcox & White Co.,
said: "There is no doubt of it whatever.
The effect so far produced is admirable. I
could tell you of a hundred instances where-
in adults and children previously indifferent
to. all musical attractions now look forward
eagerly for the issue of new lists of tunes
available for the piano-player. Again, peo-
ple who, prior to the advent of the piano-
player, cared for and would listen only to
'popular' airs, now yearn for and warmly
welcome selections from the masters. It is,
indeed, proving to be a great musical edu-
cator."
Theodore Pfafflin, of the "Apollo" piano-
player, said: "Yes, decidedly, the piano-
player is proving to be of real value in aiding
the growth of musical taste and education.
I have had a number of pleasant experiences
of late illustrative of its influence in creating
and maintaining a healthy interest in music
and musical compositions of the highest
standard.
"I have in mind one instance where a per-
son cared absolutely nothing for music in
any shape or form. The piano in their pos-
session was never used except by visitors,
and then only occasionally. The purchase
of a piano-player, however, has wrought a
complete change. Every spare moment is
eagerly snatched for this musical recreation.
With each performance comes greater skill
in interpretation and, consequently, greater
delight."
NOW THE CHAS. MUELLER MUSIC CO.
[Special to The Review.]
Pittsburg, Pa., July 2, 1901.
A change of some importance in the retail
field of that city is the succession of the Chas.
Mueller Music Co. to the H. B. Ecker Music
Co., which opened up a new warerooms re-
cently on Smithfield street. The head of the
new organization is Rev. Chas. Mueller of
Allegheny, while his son, H. B. Mueller is
secretary and treasurer. Mr. Ecker retires
from active connection with the business, but
he will, I understand, retain his stock in the
corporation.
It is not improbable that a
number of changes in the pianos handled will
occur through the Ecker retirement.
DENIES PETITION AGAINST WIDDUP.
20th CENTURY BAUER PIANOS.
[Special to The Review.]
Some beautiful specimens of twentieth
century pianos are on exhibition in the new
warerooms of Julius Bauer & Co., 250-2
Wabash Avenue, Chicago. Architecturally
the instruments are gems of originality and
they are just as pleasing from the viewpoint
of tone. They are instruments that fully de-
serve all the good words said of them by
critical musicians and dealers. The Bauer
piano is destined to play no small part in the
wholesale trade field the coming fall. It is
an instrument that should and will be better
known.
Pawtucket, R. I., July 1, 1901.
The petition for involuntary bankruptcy
filed by H. Baumeister and others vs. S. N.
Widdup, of Providence, R. I., was heard in
the United States District Court Wednesday.
This case coming under the new bankruptcy
act involved many interesting legal questions,
but Mr. Widdup's financial standing was
shown to the entire satisfaction of the Court
and Judge Brown, who presided, denied the
petition on the grounds that there was no
substantial reason for forcing him into bank-
ruptcy.
Pittsburg, Pa., June 26, 1901.
In the United States district court an
answer has been filed in the cases of the
Shaw Piano Company, and M. Griswold.
The former alleged they had been disap-
pointed by the bank and the latter said that
had the Produce Exchange and the American
Exchange banks held to their agreement,
there would have been no trouble.
In the answer the Shaw Piano Company
allege that the banks were equal partners
in the business with them, the banks agreeing
to furnish money for the carrying on of the
business and also agreeing to renew notes of
the piano company whenever necessary. In
December, 1900, the banks refused to furnish
funds or renew the notes of the Shaw piano
company, which was a breach of the agree-
ment entered into by all and greatly injured
the piano company, causing them to close
their factory and by reason of the banks'
refusal to honor their paper they suffered a
loss of $80,000.
Mr. Griswold recites the same partnership.
Being aware of the banks' part in the com-
pany, he went on the individual notes of the
Shaw Piano Company, and is only responsi-
ble on the notes on the failure of the partner-
ship to pay them, he also says he is damaged
to the extent of $80,000, and alleges if the
banks had kept their agreement the company
would have been solvent. He declares he is
solvent and wants petition discharged.
THE CIRCULATION OF RUMORS.
Immediately following any prominent
bank failure in this city occurs a number
of rumors affecting the credit of this or that
institution. It seems to be the practice fol-
lowed by the rumor mongers to create as
much feverish unrest as possible upon such
times.
GILES-RUPERT.
An event of some importance in the society
circles of Quincy, 111., was the marriage of
Henry Emerson Giles, of the well-known
firm of Giles Bros., music dealers, to Miss
Daisy Imogene Rupert, an accomplished mu-
sician as well as a charming lady. There
were no guests present outside of immediate
relatives and a few intimate friends. Nu-
merous presents were received.
C. E. Oliver, who formerly was in business
at Houston, Tex., will represent the Geo. P.
Bent wholesale interests in Texas commenc-
ing the coming fall.