Music Trade Review

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THE
REWfW
JIUJIC TRADE
V O L X X X I V . N o . 2 1 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street, New York, May 24,1902.
REPORTS OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Some More Opinions from Leading Houses Re-
garding the Present and Prospective Business.
We give herewith a few more of the re-
ports received from prominent houses in re-
sponse to a special trade bulletin issued by
The Review. They will aid manufacturers
and readers generally in forming an estimate
of the trade outlook :
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
Sales compared with last year: They are
2'4 times as great.
Collections compared with last vear? They
are twice as large.
Condition of crops? Throughout Califor-
nia is excellent.
How does the piano business compare with
the general trade? Favorably.
What are the prospects for the next tthree
months ? We are not very sanguine of the
prospects for the next three months, as this
is usually a quiet season.
Is the local competition run on fair lines?
As for the competition, we have a great deal
to contend with considering the many unfair
competitors who have sprung up and who
offer unheard-of prices and conditions. Not-
withstanding these obstacles which we must
combat daily, we manage to hold our own
and control a good share of the local patron-
age.
r>enj. Curtaz & Son.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Sales compared with last year? Exceed
any previous year.
Collections compared with last year?
Much better.
Condition of crops? Most magnificent.
How does the piano business compare with
general trade? At par.
What are the prospects for the next three
months? Splendid, indeed.
Is the local competition run on fair lines?
I should say yes.
(Signed) The Wiley B. Allen Co.,
By Wiley B. Allen.
PORTLAND, OREGON.
Our sales compared with the first four
months of last year show an increase of 26
per cent. The condition of collections last
year was very good, and it continues about the
same, although probably money here is not so
easy as last year.
The condition of the crop is very promis-
ing, although Eastern Washington and Ore-
gon will not have anywhere near an average
wheat crop. The western part of these
States know of no such thing as crop failure.
The prospects for the next three months
for this business, we should say, are very
fair, although we anticipate the usual dull
summer season. As compared with the gen-
eral conditions of trade, the piano business is
more than holding its own.
As to local competition being run on fair
lines, we should say it probably is, although
Eilers Piano House, as you know, knows
nothing of competition or competitors.
We like the Trade Review and cannot
speak too highly of the most excellent char-
acter of your editorial work. A great many
of your articles are carefully marked and
handed to the salesmen and employees
of the firm, to all of whom vou mav be sure
they are of no little benefit.
Eilers Piano House,
Per H. C. Eilers.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.
Sales compared with last vear? About the
same.
Collections compared with last year? They
are about 18 per cent, better than last year.
Condition of crops ? Good.
How does the piano business compare with
general trade? Favorably.
What are the prospects for the next three
months ? They are good.
Is the local competition run on fair lines?
No.
(Signed) Julius A. J. Fricdrich.
«,2.oo PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, io CENTS
FRANK BURNS' NEW MOVE.
Secures a Large Factory at Rahway, N. J.—Will
Have Facilities to Meet All Demands.
Frank 11. Puirns, the indefatigable piano
stool and scarf manufacturer, has recently
completed new arrangements whereby his
manufacturing facilities will be materially,
augmented. Mr. liurns has just secured a
large factory in Railway, N. J., within a
block of the Regina music box factory, where
ho has already moved a portion of his ma-
chinery, lie will be enabled with his new
facilities, which are vastly larger than his
former, to meet the demands of an ever-
increasing trade with promptness.
Mr. l'urns carefully looked over the field
and has been debating some time whether
he should nioye to a town adjoining New
York, or remain in the citv. He concluded,
after investigation, that Rahway possessed
advantages over many other points. He
will continue large sample rooms at his pres-
ent quarters, Xo. 2 West Fifteenth street.
RARE WOODS IN PIANO CASES.
Splendid Specimens of Latest Designs Exhibited by
Kranich & Bach.
It is only within the last decade, approxi-
mately speaking, that so much attention has
been given to the selection and use of rare
FLORENCE J. HEPPE'S INVENTION.
woods in the making of piano cases, meaning
by
that the wide departure from the almost
Florence J. Heppc, the junior member of
universally
employed rosewood.
the firm of C. J. Heppe & Son, Philadelphia,
Nowadays
woods are used that a few years
Pa., has entered application for patents cov-
ago
never
were
thought of for this purpose,
ering two front sounding-boards, an im-
and
the
piano
manufacturers
now are vieing
provement which he claims will be a dis-
with
each
other
in
their
efforts
to produce
tinct departure in the construction of upright
the
most
unique
cases
possible
— always
pianos, making three sounding-boards in all.
keeping
in
mind,
or
at
least
the
better
class
It has long been recognized that many
of
piano
manufacturers,
the
desiderata
of
styles of upright pianos lacked much in tone,
artistic
design
and
exquisite
finish.
particularly in singing quality, as compared
Messrs. Kranich & Bach, the well-known
with the square or grand types, which have
a greater sounding-board area, and conse- piano manufacturers of New York, are ex-
hibiting in their warerooms, at No. 235 East
quently greater vibrating surface.
Twenty-third
street, some of the most at-
There have been several inventions of
tractive
pianos
ever produced in America,
double sounding-boards, all of which have
in
cases
made
of
the most beautiful prima
been in the back of the piano. The claims
vera.
FVench
burl,
( )regon laurel, birch burl
for the Heppe invention rest in the fact that
and
butternut,
some
of these effects being
two of the three sounding-boards are placed
on the front of the piano, the top and bottom surprisingly beautiful and several of them
panels being converted into sounding-boards, so unique as not to be obtainable in any
thus attracting the tone to the front of the other factor)'.
piano.
Much attention has been given of late
This will undoubtedly give the Heppes a years to the so-called "art piano," particu-
great talking point. As a member of the larly by the six or seven makers of the high-
est grade piano. Those of Kranich & P>ach
firm said this week: "The three 'sounding-
are certainly the most satisfactory specimens
boards' idea as applied to pianos is not only that have been exhibited in New York and
a tone developer, but an improvement at are well worth a pilgrimage to examine.—
once apparent to the ear and the eye."
New York Press.