Music Trade Review

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THE
[1U JIC TIRADE
V O L X X X I V . N o . 19. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteentli Street, New York, May 10,19Q2.
THE PIANO DISPLACING THE ORGAN.
What Frank S. Shaw of the Cable Co. had to say
on the Subject During a Recent Visit to the
City—Piano Players Also Growing in Populari-
ty-
Naturalists have observed frequently how
one species overruns a territory and displaces
others. Rabbits, squirrels and sparrows have
been known to spread over vast tracts of
land, propagating to the point of becoming
pests, and the zoologists say that one influx
dispels another though as a remedy this is
rather like getting a tune out of one's head
by getting another in. Rut it is not so gen-
erally known that the same natural law. ap-
plies to the inanimate world. Frank S.
Shaw, credit manager of the Cable Co., of
Chicago, has observed such a struggle and
succession in the case of pianos and organs.
"It used to be the fact," said Mr.. Shaw, at
the Waldorf in a talk with a Tribune re-
porter, "that people in the country thought
no home complete without an organ in the
parlor. Rut nowadays the organ, though it
has almost embodied itself as a tradition
among writers, is in fact disappearing before
the piano. Farmers and others in the North-
east and Middle Western States rather look
down upon the organ now, and buy their
families pianos instead. In the Northwest,
the West, Southwest and South the organ
still prevails, it is true, but it is giving way
steadily before the other, and each year
makes its falling off in popularity more mani-
fest. We make an increasing proportion of
pianos and a decreasing proportion of organs
annually. People take kindly to the piano
for many reasons, just as the composers do.
Instruction is more general, and its qualities
as an instrument more informal. The most
successful mechanical instruments, too, ap-
pear to be those which are designed to play
the piano. Most people fail to keep a piano
in proper tune. It is a mistake not infre-
quently made to suppose that an instrument
that gets out of tune easily is poorly made.
Indeed, the more fine and delicate the instru-
ment the more readily it gets out of tune.
THE KROEGER ADVANCE.
The Kroeger Piano Co. are installing im-
mense quantities of lumber, veneers and
hardwoods in their case-making plant in
Stamford, Conn. A splendid equipment of
the latest machinery is now in place, and the
prospects are that this establishment will be
one of the greatest case-making plants in the
country.
ta.oo PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES io CENTS
CENSUS FIGURES FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
PLATE MOLDERS WAGES INCREASED.
[Special to The Review.]
Davenport & Treacy Granted An 8 Per Cent. In-
crease On Monday.
Washington, D. C , May 5, 1902.
The figures filed this week regarding the
manufacturing and mechanical industries of
the State of Pennsylvania by the census au-
thorities show that in 1900 there were 14 es-
tablishments devoted to the manufacture of
pianos and materials, employing a total capi-
tal of $863,099, of which $67,100 was in
land, $121,200 in buildings, $72,436 in ma-
chinery, tools and supplies, and $602,363 in
cash and sundries. 433 wage earners and
clerks were employed, and the total wages
paid amounted to $265,267. Miscellaneous
expenses in 1900 amounted to $63,197, while
the cost of materials used reached a total of
$402,349. The value of the products in the
census year was $978,331.
THE MANUFACTURE OF ORGANS. ' ' ' '•
In the manufacture of organs and ma-
terials seventeen concerns are listed, employ-
ing capital to the amount of $526,281, of
which $290,616 is in cash and sundries and
the balance in machinery, tools, buildings and
lands. The wage earners and clerks in 1900
numbered 274, and they received wages to
the amount of $149,738. Miscellaneous ex-
penses during the census year amounted to
$38,343, while the cost of materials used
reached a total" of $210,879. The value of
the output was $509,802.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND MATERIALS.
Twenty establishments were devoted in
1900 to the manufacture of musical instru-
ments and materials not specified. They em-
ployed a total capital of $438,746. 152 wage
earners and clerks were employed, and total
wages paid amounted to $77,000. Miscel-
laneous expenses in that year amounted to
$16,335, while the cost of materials used
reached a total of $61,409. The total value
of the products in the census year coming
under this heading was $221,064.
HOEHL & GIESSLER CO. ORGANIZE.
[Special to The Review.]
Wheeling, W. Va., May 5, 1902.
The stockholders of the recently incorpor-
ated Hoehl & Giesseler Piano Co. have just
met and organized, the following board of
directors being chosen: Bruno Hoehl, Hy. C.
Giesseler, H. R. Grimm, F. Reister and C.
W. Bente. Upon the adjournment of the
stockholders the new board met and elected
the following officers: Bruno Hoehl, Presi-
dent; Hy. C. Giesseler, Vice-President; H. R.
Grimm, Secretary-treasurer; C. W. Bente,
Attorney.
Davenport & Treacy have granted the
molders employed in their iron foundry at
Stamford, Conn., an increase of 8 per cent,
in wages. The increase went into effect
Monday. The shop is a union institution.
Last week the molders asked for an increase
of fifteen per cent, because of the prosperity
of the iron business and the high price of the
commodities of life. A conference between
the firm and the molders resulted as above.
The molders have been earning $3.75 a day.
They will receive hereafter $4.05.
THEY ELECT OFFICERS AND DINE.
[Special to The Review.]
Springfield, Mass, May 5, 1902.
The first annual banquet and business
meeting of the Hampden County Music Trade
Association was held in the Massasoit House
Wednesday evening, with an attendance of
sixteen dealers, representing this city, Hol-
yoke and Westfield. Preceding the banquet,
the reports of the officers for the year were
read and these officers were elected: Presi-
dent, William C. Taylor; Vice-President, A.
H. Taylor; Secretary, William F. Engel;
Treasurer, L. M. Pierce. After the banquet
there were informal remarks from the several
members present on topics dealing with the
general elevation of the trade and the doing
away with the cheaper pianos.
ARRANGING FOR STIEFF PICNIC.
The committee of the Picnic Association
of the employees of the Charles M. Stieff
piano factory, including the ladies' auxiliary
committee, will hold a meeting at Darley Park
to-morrow night, to make arrangements for
the sixtieth anniversary celebration of the
firm. This-celebration will be held on June
2 at Darley Park, and about sixty societies
will participate. The employees have volun-
tarily decided to donate the net proceeds of
the celebration to the Saengerfest Associa-
tion, for the benefit of the next saengerfest
to be held in Baltimore. Officers of the Pic-
nic Association are: George A. Boehm, presi-
dent; John H. Pfeiffer, vice-president;
Thomas W. Hellen, secretary.—Baltimore
News.
Held & Co., of Brooklyn, have secured the
.•'gency for the "Playano," the well-known
player for which Chickering & Sons are the
factors.