Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1901 Vol. 33 N. 6

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TttE LATE MYRON A. DECKER.
11'
IN PRIZES
IS OFFERED BY JHE
9f E VIE W
. 1—-$25.00 to the person sending the
best original article upon the subject :
"Will the Department Stores become per-
manent and greater distributing
piano factors? "
Won by H. WARNER KIM BALL.
N o . 2—$25.00
to
the person sending the
best original article upon the subject :
"What Benefit will be derived from tbe
One-price system in Retailing ?"
Won by ALFRED H. FORD.
N o . 3—$25.00 to the person sending the
best original article upon :
"What are the necessary requirements of
modern piano salesman ?"
N o . 4 $25.00 t o the person sending the
best original article upon :
"What would be the effect of a Piano
trust upon the Industry ?"
RULES GOVERNING THE PRIZE CONTEST
All manuscripts must be submitted in type-
written form.
No composition must contain more than 1200
words.
Any individual may enter for the entire list of
prizes.
The contest is open to all readers of The
Review.
The editor of The Review reserves the right
to publish any of the compositions sent in.
All those who enter for Prize No. 3, must send
in their manuscript by August 24th.
The names of the contestants must be attached
to manuscript submitted, but will not be
published in connection with the contribu-
tion if so specified by the writer.
The date upon which competition No. 4 will
close will be announced later.
It is our intention to continue the series of
prizes and embrace every department of trade
which will be of interest to Manufacturer,
Dealer, Salesman and Factory Employee.
All communications must be addressed
" Prize Contest."
EDITOR OF T H E REVIEW,
3 East 14th Street, New York.
The passing of Myron A. Decker, an-
nounced in last week's Review, removed from
active life one of the prominent and respect-
ed piano makers of the old school, which has
contributed so much towards the establish-
ment of the world-wide supremacy of the
American piano.
Myron A. Decker, who, at the time of his
death had entered upon his seventy-ninth
year, took up piano making as a vocation
when attaining his majority. When he came
to New York in 1844, piano manufacturing
was in its infancy, compared with the pres-
ent standard, and he served for a term of
years in the piano shop of Van Winkle, a
well-known piano maker of those early days.
A fellow-workman of his at that time
was Albert Weber, who subsequently found-
ed a famous business. Mr. Decker remained
in New York until 1849 when he associated
himself with the house of Boardman & Gray
in Albany. After having fairly mastered his
craft during twelve years steady work in all
departments of piano making, he became am-
bitious to create a Decker piano, and in 1856
he began business on his own account in Al-
bany. The advantages of New York as a
business point became impressed upon him,
and after a decade in Albany he removed his
business to New York and commenced the
manufacture of pianos on Twenty-second
street, near Lexington avenue.
The writer first recalls meeting with Myron
A. Decker in his factory, No. 1550 Third ave-
nue. He was located there for ten years,
from 1880 to 1890, when the business was
removed to the new Decker factory near the
Southern Boulevard.
*
*
*
*
Mr. Decker was a splendid type of the
conscientious, painstaking American mechan-
ic, whose ambition graduated him into a
manufacturer. He always took great pride
in his work and believed in creating instru-
ments of artistic worth. For many years,
during various factory calls, we have seen
this distinguished-looking, white-bearded
gentleman bending over some new scale in
the completion of which he hoped to advance
a trifle nearer his ideal. He was a man of
dignified carriage who always upheld the
right principle in his dealings with all men.
Although well advanced in years, he still
maintained an active interest in his business
up to within a few days preceding his death.
His careful attention to the laws of health
left him with a splendid constitution in his
old age, and it was only last year that he
made a trip to the Pacific-Northwest, from
thence to California, crossing the southern
part of the Continent on his return to New
York. He also attended the annual conven-
tion of the Piano Manufacturers National
Association held in Chicago last year.
*
*
*
*
He was always in sympathy with high-
grade work, and believed in the future of the
artistic piano. He was honored two years
ago by an election to the presidency of the
New York Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, and has for years taken a warm interest
in association matters. He was a prominent
mason., was master of St. Cecile Lodge two
terms, and member of Mecca Temple and
other Masonic bodies.
*
*
*
*
The funeral services occurred last Monday
afternoon in the Pilgrim Congregational
Church, 129th street and Madison avenue.
A number of prominent State Masons and
members of his own lodge gathered to per-
form the impressive rites of the Masonic
burial service.
The floral tributes were
many and elaborate which came from friends
and organizations with which he was asso-
ciated. The interment occurred at Wood-
lawn.
Among the members of the music trade
who gathered to pay their last respects to the
memory of the deceased were, Chas. H. Par-
sons, Robt. Proddow, A. J. Newby, John
Evans, F. Ramaciotti, Paul Mehlin, Thomas
Floyd-Jones, Charles Jacob, T. Linton Floyd-
Jones, Ludwig Cavalli, Chas. A. Ericcson,
Jacob Doll, Henry Rehning, Albert Helming.
Win. Strauch, Robt. C. Kammerer and Fran-
cis Bacon.
*
*
*
*
The business of Decker & Son, which was
founded in 1856, will now be carried on by
Frank C. Decker, the surviving member of
the old partnership arrangement which was
formed in 1875. Frank C. Decker has
passed his entire life in piano work, and is
splendidly equipped to perpetuate the name
and fame of the Decker piano, so well es-
tablished by his honored parent.
DOMESTIC AND EXPORT PRICES.
Circulars are being sent out by the Indus-
trial Commission of Washington, seeking in-
formation from manufacturers regarding
the differences, if they exist, between the
domestic #nd export prices of articles pur-
chased in this country.
A large amount of exaggeration and un-
truth has been published on this subject,
and the American Protective Tariff League
have sent out a letter on this subject,in which
they state that it is highly desirable the exact
facts should be made known as gleaned from
primary sources; that is, from the export-
ing manufacturers themselves.
The Tariff League is calling the attention
of manufacturers to this inquiry of Indus-
trial Commission, with the object of making
investigation in the highest degree thorough,
complete and reliable.
WESER FACTORY NEAR COMPLETION.
The new Weser factory, adjoining their
present factory on West Forty-third street,
is rapidly approaching completion.
The
firm expects to occupy it within the next six
or eight weeks. It is a handsome structure
externally, and very substantially constructed,
with all modern appliances.
Employees of the Adek Mfg. Co., makers
of the Pianotist Piano Player, held their first
annual outing and games on Saturday at
Newark Bay House, Newark Bay, N. J. A
most enjoyable time was spent. The sports
included baseball, foot races, sack race, and
a tug-of-war.
Clark, Wise & Co., of San Francisco, Cal.,
have secured the agency for the Crown piano
for that citv and territory.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
WEAVER QRGAN CO. EXPANSION.
[Special to The Review.]
York, Pa., Aug. 7, 1901.
The Weaver Organ & Piano Co. are en-
larging and improving their plant. A new
boiler and engine house is now under the
course of erection, in which will be installed
two 125 horse-power boilers and two 150
horse-power engines. A modern dry kiln is
also being erected and a new stable built.
It is also the intention of the company to
make additional improvements to the main
factory. This company's trade is rapidly in-
creasing and the Weaver organ is getting
to be a household word. During the past year
Weaver organs were shipped to almost every
part of the civilized world.
KNABE EMPLOYEES VISIT CEMETERY.
[Special to The Review.]
Baltimore, Md., Aug. 7, 1901.
The picnic of the employees of Wm. Knabe
& Co., held to mark the sixty-fourth anniver-
sary of the founding of the firm, has had to
be postponed owing to inclement weather.
According to present arrangements, the pic-
nic will be held probably on Tuesday, weath-
er permitting. One feature of the program
was not omitted, however, and that was the
visit of a committee, as has been the custom
for many years, to the cemetery, for the pur-
pose of decorating the graves of the deceased
members of the firm. The speech delivered
by Fred Ott, vice-president of the picnic
committee, at the grave, was as follows:
"Again a year has passed, to-day marking
the 64th anniversary of the founding of the
firm of Wm. Knabe & Co. This is a holiday
with us all. At this time of celebration our
thoughts go backward over the years that
have passed, and we naturally think of those
who are now no more. We, as officers of
the picnic committee, have come to this burial
place to again pay tribute to the departed
and decorate their graves, in appreciation of
their kindness to us and the pleasant relations
which have always existed between employers
and employees. Therefore, let us now take
these flowers and strew them over their
graves. Undoubtedly these flowers will soon
wither, like those who now rest under the
sod have withered; however, the remem-
brance of them will always be dear to us, and
remain green in our memories."
Wm. Knabe, in behalf of the firm, replied
to Mr. Ott's address in very graceful and
appropriate terms, expressing regret at the
absence of his brother, Mr. Ernest Knabe,
who is at present in Europe.
The officers of the picnic committee are:
Wm. Held, Pres.; Fred. Ott, Vice Pres.;
Wm. Dooring, Secty.; Jno. Rattmann, Treas.
ROTH & ENGELHARDT ADJUSTMENT.
With the American Piano Mfg. Co.—Attachment
Vacated.
Some minor details of settlement still re-
main to be adjusted between the attorneys
of Roth & Engelhardt and the American
Piano Mfg. Co. in regard to their legal
troubles which have been duly chronicled in
The Review. Since last Monday the attach-
ment has been vacated and the sheriff has
been removed from the defendants property,
and large shipments of pianos have been
made.
ALBERT KRELL IN TOWN.
Albert Krell has been passing a few days
this week in this city arranging for supplies
for the new Krell-French institution at
Springfield, O. It is said that his contracts
call for delivery by Oct. 1st, which means
there will be a good deal of hustle to get
things in readiness for the late fall trade with
the Krell-French people. s
STEINWAY BRANCH OPENS.
Stock will be moved into the uptown
branch of Steinway & Sons in the Arcade
Building some time next week. It is possi-
ble that a formal opening may occur later on
in the season.
TITLES TO COPYRIGHTS
13
PIANO MAN SKIPS OUT OF TOWN.
[Special to The Review.]
Gainesville, Ga., Aug. 5, 1901.
J. E. Rogers, who came here three weeks
ago and opened a branch house for the Cable
Piano Company, of Atlanta, has skipped out,
leaving the company $600 short. His board
bill, store rent and employees are unpaid.
It is alleged that he collected the money be-
longing to the company, and lost it by gam-
bling. Rogers left the city on a late night
train, but no trace of him has been discov-
ered. The company was notified, and
promptly paid all his bills and sent a new
man here to take charge of the business.
Rogers is about 30 years old, and has here-
tofore borne a good reputation.
FACTORY WILL COST $100,000.
[Special to The Review.]
Cincinnati, O., Aug. 7, 1901.
The spirit of improvement is strong in
Cincinnati and vicinity, and numerous man-
ufacturing plants are building or making
additions to their already large plants.
One of the many under consideration now
is that of the Baldwin Piano Company, whose
plant is at Gilbert and Elsinore avenues, near
the main entrance to Eden Park. This com-
pany, when it bought the present lot and
place, had a four-story brick on the south-
west corner. To enable it to meet the de-
mands a six-story brick building was erected
on the Gilbert avenue side, just below. Part
of the improvements now under contempla-
tion is the tearing down of the old building
and erecting one similar to that already in
position.
Facing on Elsinore avenue, with a rail-
road track dividing that building from the
Gilbert avenue plant, is another six-story
building used by the firm. In the rear of
that building will be erected one similar in
size, 60 by 150 feet, and further south of that
a one-story brick building for a power house
will be put up.
Upon the top of the Gilbert avenue side
of the establishment will be a tower 200 feet
high. It is estimated that the improvements
will cost in the neighborhood of $100,000.
PECULIAR FIRE AT JANKE'S.
to copyrighted articles, whether books or music, a.tc not
protected under the copyright law. The exclusive right to the use
of a name or title, is a common law right acquired by priority of use*
In selecting a title, therefore, it is important to select one not already in
use, and it is equally important to have that title watched to see that no one
else subsequently adopts it.
No effort is made in the office of the Librarian of Congress to prevent the
same title being adopted by two or more different people. A piece of music is
naturally known by the title only; any one else using that same or a simula-
ting title on another piece of music, is robbing you of a part of your trade and
is imposing on the public, and damaging the reputation of the original
composition*
The International Trade Mark Protective Company, of 320 Broadway,
New York, has a registration bureau which includes all of the trade-marks,
names and labels registered in Washington, and many thousands of others*
and it is of vital importance that you should consult them in adopting a new
title, and should register with them the titles of your popular compositions.
Detailed information will be cheerfully furnished on application.
[Special to The Review.]
Galveston, Tex., Aug. 5, 1901.
The fire department was called to the mu-
sic store of C. Janke & Co., 2217 Market
street, Thursday, to extinguish a fire that or-
iginated in a safe in the back part of the
store. Mr. Janke is of the opinion that th<*
fire was caused by spontaneous combustion.
It apparently started in some cotton which'
was wrapped around music strings. The fire!
was confined to the safe in which it originated
and very little damage was done.
ANOTHER C O M B I N J F F A I L S .
The recent attempt to form a combine of
upholstering mills has failed.
Promoter
Leake made a very good showing of what a
trust would do for the manufacturers, but
like all trust schemes the figures were worked
out only on paper and not in greenbacks.
W. J. Dyer, the prominent piano man of
St. Paul, has been tarrying within our gates
this week.

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