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THE MUSIC TRKDE REVIEW
39
THE VICTOR TALKING MACHINE.
Cbe Small Goods trade
THE KOCH HARMONICA.
A Chat With Ernst Koch, the New York Repre-
sentative of the Famous German House.
Quite recently we referred to the opening
by Andreas Koch, of Trossingen, Germany,
of offices and salesrooms at No. 506 Broad-
way, New York City, which will be under
the personal management of his son, Ernst
Koch, who is now in New York.
This business is now the second largest of
its kind in the world devoted to the manu-
facture of harmonicas. Andreas Koch, the
founder, began life as a mechanic, and among
the various factories in which he worked in
Germany was the well-known harmonica fac-
tory of Hohner.
Being a man of enterprise and character,
it was not long before he started out in bus-
iness for himself and established the present
house in Trossingen in 1867. At that time
he had already won the confidence of men of
means and standing, so that he was enabled
to obtain practically any credit he desired.
The distinguished position which he had
won in the community is best shown by the
fact that in his thirty-fifth year he was put
up as candidate for Mayor of Trossingen,
and was defeated by a much older and
wealthier man by only four votes. Later he
was offered the nomination and assured of
election, but declined the honor.
In developing the manufacture of har-
monicas, as well as the tone of the instru-
ment, no manufacturer has contributed more
than Mr. Koch. One of the most valuable
inventions and improvements made by him is
a little machine by which the reeds are fixed
to the plates. This machine is now used in
the largest harmonica factories.
"My father," continued Ernst Koch, in the
course of a chat with The Review, "was the
first to establish a thoroughly equipped me-
chanical plant for the manufacture of mouth
harmonicas. To-day, although now an old
man, he still directs it."
Ernst Koch, who is here as manager of
the New York business, is now in his thirty-
first year. Eight years ago he made exten-
sive business tours through Germany, Switz-
erland, Italy, England, Denmark, Sweden
and Russia, and so secured a thorough com-
mercial training and business experience.
Mr. Andreas Koch is assisted in Trossin-
gen by his other four sons, who heartily co-
operate with him in carrying on the business,
which to-day stands on the firmest founda-
tion, financially as well as commercially.
BAY STATE
Guitars, Mandolins,
Banjos, Zithers, Flutes.
26 Highest Awards. 3 Gold Medals.
John C. Haynes&Co.
BOSTON
As already stated the harmonica manufac-
turing business of Mr. Koch is now the sec-
ond largest in the world, and has eleven
branch factories.
As far as quality is concerned, Mr. Koch
says that the harmonicas made by his house
are not surpassed by any for fineness of
workmanship, beauty of tone and power of
expression.
WULSCHNER
As summer—heretofore known as the dull
season in talking machines—approaches, the
sales of the Victor talking machines are on
the increase rather than otherwise. This is
evidently owing to the fact that the repro-
ductions of the Victor talking machines are
of such naturalness and volume that it serves
quite as well for the entertainment of a lawn
party, a yachting parting, or any out-of-door
INSTRUMENTS PLEASE.
Their Crescent Cornets and Trombones Excite En-
thusiasm Among Professionals—Many Superior
Features Embodied in Their Manufacture.
The Wulschner Music Co., of Indianapo-
lis, Ind.. who recently engaged in the man- occasion as it does for an indoor entertain-,
ufacture of band instruments, are achieving ment. Many of the prominent yachtsmen
a success which bids fair to place them in the of the city have learned this fact and are or-
front rank as manufacturers in this line. dering the machines for their yachts, etc.
Their Crescent professional lib cornets and
Mr. Thomae, treasurer of the Victor Dis-
trombones are particularly well spoken of, tributing & Export Co., expects to start on
and one of the leading players is on record a business tour in the near future. He in-
as saying: "There is nothing in comparison tends to visit many Eastern dealers who are
with them."
handling the Victor, and will talk with them
Several eminent cornetists who have tried concerning the further development of the
the Wulschner Crescent have spoken most Victor business.
flatteringly of its magnificent tone volume,
DEALERS LIKE SCHMIDT'S GOODS.
admirable piston mechanism, and the ease
with which it is possible to bring out the Export and Domestic Trade Satisfactory With Oscar
Schmidt—The Mandolin-harp in Great Demand.
various qualities of tone.
For the past few weeks one of the Cres-
Oscar Schmidt, 36-50 Ferry street, Jer-
cent cornets has been in use at English's sey City Heights, N. J., manufacturer of the
Opera House orchestra in Indianapolis by American mandolin-harp, the Menzenhauer
one of the best players in that part of the guitar-zither, the O. S. mandolin, and other
country, and he has sent the Wulschner musical novelties, reported business condi-
Music Co. a most enthusiastic commenda- tions as favorable when seen by The Review
tion of its merits. With the splendid ave- at the Schmidt factory this week.
nues of distribution controlled by the "We are doing very well, indeed, and have
Wulschner Co., and their well-known pres- a big force of people at work on our prod-
tige as manufacturers, it is obvious that ucts for domestic and export sale," said Mr.
their Crescent cornets and trombones will Schmidt. "Our goods are being handled
win a large measure of popularity based profitably by hundreds of live music dealers.
wholly on their intrinsic merits. The good They always sell well when handled in a
words already spoken of their products in- live, enterprising way. I want to hear from
dicate this.
more wideawake dealers. It will be worth
their while to write for catalogues. There
WERE PROMPTLY ENJOINED.
is money in it for them and that fact ought
The Columbia Phonograph Co. recently to interest them."
brought suit in the United States Circuit
The American mandolin-harp, one of the
Court in Chicago, to prevent Robert Mal- Schmidt novelties, is steadily growing in
comb and Harry T. Schift' from making disc favor. The effects of three string instru-
graphophones and they have been promptly ments—mandolin, guitar and zither—are
enjoined.
perfectly produced with ease on the mando-
lin-harp. It is the only string instrument
STRING LINE SUPPLEMENTED.
of its kind that is played without using pick
The musical merchandise catalogue of
John C. Haynes & Co., makers of the "Ray
State" instruments, has been supplemented
by the addition of several standard brands
of strings, including the Guivier tested vio-
MD YOU STARTSr RIGHT?
lin strings made in London and kept in glass
tubes instead of rolls, the genuine Ruffini
strings, made in Italy, and the genuine
Weichold strings, made in Germany.
The regular quarterly dividend (No. 28)
of 1^4 P e r cent, will be paid on the preferred
capital stock of the American Graphophone
Co. May 15th to stockholders of record May
I st