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THE
7VU/SIC
way pianos, is always worth a visit, by rea-
son of the fine case work representing every
character of art pianos, as well as the plainer
but equally effective designs.
FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S MUSICAL CENTRE.
[Special to The Review.]
Philadelphia, Pa., May 12, 1903.
The piano business in Philadelphia contin-
ues to be somewhat sluggish. Last week it
was attributed to the circus, and this week
to the strikes. There is always an excuse
satisfactory to the dealer's mind if he does
not find conditions just right. No doubt
the business agitation has a great deal to do
with the dullness, and the piano men are
usually the ones first to feel labor troubles.
The Piano Trade Association has discon-
tinued the use of the combination ad. as they
claim that it was just to be an experiment
for a month. It seems not to'have been effec-
tive. I have tried to find you the reason for
this, and the consensus of opinion seems to
be, first, that it should have been carried by
all the papers, instead of one, to discover its
effectiveness; second, that it was so badly
placed in the paper that carried it that the
desired effect was almost lost. If the asso-
ciation was more progressive they would try
again, and try to secure a better position, and
a more general representation. Rut the great
weakness of the body, as demonstrated in the
past, is that it has not been inactive in the
suggesting of improvements in the trade, but
force has been lacking in carrying them to a
satisfactory finish.
The Henry F. Miller piano had a close com-
petition this week with ajiother noted piano,
and the Miller won out. It was one art
grand against the other. Mr. Miller also
sold, the same week, the handsome Lyric
Grand which he has been displaying in his
window for some weeks, and which is one
of the handsomest pianos on show in town.
There continues to be a big business in
grands.
Charles Fischer has the finest disphy of
pianos in his store at 1710 that he has
had since he has entered the field as
successor to his father. Since handling
the Kimball Mr. Fischer has more than
doubled his former business. T. P. Culley,
representing the Kimball house in the East,
is visiting the leading cities in the eastern
part of the State in the interest of the Kim-
ball self-player.
The leading change to be noted at the Lud-
wig & Co. store, is the popularity of the new
Colonial over the old Colonial. Both of
these are handsome, but the tasty little deco-
rative effects on the panel of the new is much
more popular with customers than the former
plain effect.
Geo. Miller, treasurer of the Lester Piano
Co., and Mr. H. C. Pressey, secretary of the
company, are in Buffalo, N. Y., attending the
annual convention of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association of America.
They left Philadelphia on Wednesday.
John Kramer, of the Kramer Music House,
Allentown, Pa., A. S. Taylor, of Allentown,
N. J., and Edw. Irons, of Tom's River, N.
I., called at the offices of the Lester Piano
Co.
James C. Miller and C. J. Heppe, accom-
panied by his son, Florence J. Heppe, have
left for Buffalo.
The Heppes say that while their business
in May, in the city, has been a little more
quiet than usual, that they are sending con-
siderably more stock to the nearby towns than
usual at this period. They have been cover-
ing the Eastern end of the State very thor-
oughly this spring, in one or two weeks'
stand, and find that it has been very profit-
able. A gentleman from the Heppe house is
advising the using of the Western method,
that of chartering a car, loading it with
pianos, and sending it en tour through the
State. The firm think well of this scheme
and I understand are seriously considering it.
Their plan is to charter such a car, fit it up
suitably, send with it three representatives,
and side track it at the different towns, re-
maining long enough until they do all the
business possible in the section visited.
B. F. Owen, manager of the piano depart-
ment of Gimbel Brothers, has just made a
flying trip to the West, as far as Chicago.
He stopped en route at Richmond, Ind., and
visited the Star Piano Co., and returning
from Chicago spent some little time at De-
troit, where he left a large order for the
Cecilian, which is a big seller at the Gimbel
store.
The bed of the Philadelphia Piano Sales-
men's Association is by no means one of
roses. As one of the officers said to me. this
week, it is marvelous that we are able to do
as well as we do, considering that almost
everybody has their little hammer out to give
us a knock whenever they find it convenient.
It is remarkable, the gentleman says, at the
number of encouraging words that the mem-
ber will give to the credit of the organization,
and the man that speaks loudest is the one
generally the most lax in the payment of his
dues, and not being an active contributor, is
the first one to find fault because there are
not more pleasures or benefits connected with
the association. The only way such an as-
sociation can prosper is by every one paying
their obligations promptly, and these obliga-
tions are not alone commercial in character,
but patience and the good word helps things
along admirably. It should be considered a
sacred duty that all the members should take
a pleasure in performing, to see to it that the
first piano salesmen's association started in
the United States should be continued and
prosper.
Edward Mason, of the Mason & Hamlin
Piano Co., Boston, was a visitor in Philadel-
phia this week, and J. B. Woodford paid a
visit to New York.
N. Stetson & Co. have a floor well filled
with Steinway, Sterling and Huntington
pianos, having as fine a line of these instru-
ments as they have ever carried at this period.
The art Steinway in the window is being
much admired, and the second floor of the
building, which is devoted entirely to Stein-
A SPLENDID RECORD.
During the musical season just closed, the
Mason & Hamlin pianoforte has come in for
its share of publicity and commendation, both
by artists and public. It has been heard in
over two hundred concerts, by over one hun-
dred thousand persons, and has been played
by over twenty-five artists in foreign countries
as well as America. It has been played in
conjunction with the Boston Symphony Or
chestra, the Theodore Thomas Chicago Or-
chestra, the Victor Herbert Pittsburg Or-
chestra, the Philadelhia prchestra, the Kan-
sas City Symphony Orchestra, the Bos-
ton Festival Orchestra, the Baltimore Or-
chestra, the Kneisel Quartet, the Adam-
owski Trio, the Hoffman Quartet, the
Kaltenborn Quartet, in recital at many
professional and private clubs, in pri-
vate residences, etc. Among the artists
who have played it may be mentioned Harold
Bauer, Madame Antoinette Szumowska-
^.damowska, Arthur
Whiting,
Frederic
Lamond, Ernest Hutcheson, Madame Elsa
von Grave-Jonas, Ernest Kroeger, Miss Jessie
Davis, Paolo Gallico, Felix Fox, Miss Anna
Jansen, Alfred De Voto, Mrs. Ella Backus-
Behr, J. C. Manning, Walter C. Simon, Carl
Stasny.
The Mason & Hamlin pianoforte has been
a prominent factor in the great festivals at
Bangor and Portland, Me., Manchester, N.
H., Burlington, Vt., Scranton, Pa., and
Syracuse, N. Y.
The Mason & Hamlin Co. have received
many a gratifying expression from artists
and laymen extolling the virtues of their
pianofortes, and among these may be quoted
from a letter from Mine. Szumowska-
Adamowska the following words:
"The tone of the Mason & Hamlin piano-
forte is beautiful and noble, and it carries a
most important quality. As to their action I
can only say that I never used a piano which
responded as readily to every most delicate as
well as fortissimo effect which I wished to
produce. It gives me pleasure to tell you
that I have often been complimented, after
my concerts, on the beauty of the piano on
which I had been performing, and I want to
congratulate you heartily on the great suc-
cess achieved by the constant and untiring
work devoted to the perfection of your in-
struments."
The dealer throughout the country has felt
the effect of all this and never before has the
Mason & Hamlin pianoforte been so much in
demand, which means business and dollars
and cents to the dealer.
SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL PIANO MEN IN THE COUNTRY HAVE ENDORSED THE
BOGART PIANO
Why not follow the recognized Authorities?
IT WILL COST YOU BUT TWO CENTS TO FIND THE BEST PIANO FOR THE MONEY.
E. B. BOGART & CO.
FACTORY AND
OFFICE:
513-515 E. 137th St., New York.