Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
LA PORTE SECDRES PLANT
FOR LOWER PIANO FREIGHTS.
Of the Hobaft M. Cable Co.—The Move Marks An-
other Progressive Step in This Business—Re-
moval Not Immediate.
Col. Conway Presents Strong Arguments Showing
Why There Should Be a Reduction in Rates—
Interesting Chat With Thomas C. Moore.
[Special to The Review.]
Chicago, 111., Oct. 13, 1903.
For some time past those who have fol-
lowed the growth in popularity of the busi-
ness of the Hobart M. Cable Co. have noted
that at frequent times they have found the
capacity of their plant in this city wholly in-
adequate to meet the unprecedented demand
for Hobart M, Cable pianos. Hence the en-
largement of their plant or the securing of
larger quarters became a matter of absolute
and immediate necessity.
When these facts became known, promin-
ent men in various towns in the suburbs, as
well as cities in other States, made offers to
the Hobart M. Cable Co. to secure their
plant, where almost 270 hands are employed.
They rightly concluded that the circulation
of almost sixteen thousand dollars a month,
not including officers' salaries, which is paid
out in wages by the Hobart M. Cable Co.,
would be a valuable acquisition to the trade
of any place, while the sum total of valuable
residents would be materially augmented.
After due consideration') the Hobart M.
Cable Co. decided yesterday to accept the of-
fer made them- by the citizens of LaPorte,
Ind., and as soon as a new factory to meet the
requirements of their business is ready, which
will be probably within the next nine months,
they will move to this beautiful little town,
which is really a suburb of Chicago.
This move marks another progressive step
in the development of the Hobart M. Cable
busihess. It means that they will be able to
enlarge the output of pianos, of which they
now can turn out not more than fifteen or six-
teen a day. It moreover will give them an
environment which will be very pleasing.
They will have a plant absolutely modern in
every respect and equipped with every device
of value for the handling and manufacturing
of high grade pianos, while from a hygienic
standpoint the employes will be benefited, as
the factory stands on a site of six acres. Con-
sequently there will be ample light and good
air.
This move demonstrates afresh the perspi-
cacity of Hobart M. Cable, who is looking
ahead and preparing for the extension of that
"success" which has attended this concern
"from the start."
The necessity for a larger plant was dem-
onstrated afresh on Saturday last, when sev-
enteen Hobart M. Cable pianos were shipped,
and now that the fall season has opened up
this order of things will be the rule and not
the exception.
The growth in popularity of these pianos
may be surprising to those who have not test-
ed them or who may not be acquainted with
their sterling merits. But it is only necessary
to talk with any Hobart M. Cable representa-
tive to realize why these pianos sell, why they
are liked, and why orders are doubling and
quadrupling.
At a later date the Hobart M. Cable Co.
will have some definite details to give out re-
garding this move.
F. H. Hahn is no longer connected with
Christman & Son in any capacity.
11
the piano output. It is easy to calculate how
greatly the railroad lines will be benefited in
the volume of their piano carrying traffic."
It was remarked by one of those present at
the meeting on Tuesday that he sincerely
hoped the piano dealers of the United States,
as individuals vitally concerned, would do
their utmost in a personal way to supplement
the efforts of the freight committees of the
Manufacturers' and the Dealers' National As-
sociation by lending moral and practical sup-
port to the movement.
The Eastern Classification Committee held
its annual meeting at 143 Liberty street on
Tuesday at 10 o'clock. Messrs. Charles H.
Parsons, president of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association; Col. E. S. Con-
way, Chicago, and Charles Jacob, members
of the Freight Classification Committee of
the association, and Thomas C. Moore, traffic
manager of the association, attended and pre- NEW CONCERN~IN SALTM-AKE CITY.
sented oral arguments in favor of reduction
[Special to The Review.]
of freight rates on carload lots shipped along
Salt
Lake
City, Utah, Oct. 12, 1903.
Eastern lines. Col. Conway was the princi-
The
Carstensen
& Anson Co.. of this
pal speaker. His remarks, which occupied
city,
has
been
incorporated
with the
thirty-five minutes, practically covered the
Secretary
of
State
of
Utah
for
the
purpose
whole question under consideration and were
of
conducting
a
wholesale
and
retail
busi-
listened to with rapt attention by the Classi-
ness
in
pianos
and
organs.
Capital
$50,000.
fication Committee members.
Incorporators and officers are: President,
In speaking with The Review at the con- John Dern; vice-president and general
clusion of the hearing, which lasted nearly manager, A. B. Carstensen; treasurer, R. J.
two hours, Mr. Moore, replying to a question Anson, and secretary, James H. Anson.
as to the progress made in securing for piano They, have secured large and handsome,
manufacturers the rights they claim, said: quarters at 51-53 Main street. They have
"The Western Classification Committee, as now arranged for their line. It will consist
you know, have granted the concession asked of the Everett, Hardman, Ludwig, Price &
for and the known advantage to the railroads Teeple and Harvard pianos and the Chase &
interested has, up to the present time, been Haker piano player. In chatting with The Re-
an important one in actual results. It has view this week A. B. Carstensen said: "Pros-
also been of marked advantage to the piano pects for future business in our section of the
industry in the matter of increased output.
county were never brighter than at the pres-
"The Southern Classification Committee- ent time, and we at this time have several
have heard our arguments and recently stated carloads of our different makes of pianos on
that they desired to hold over their decision the road to use for holiday trade."
for three months longer as they desired more
time in which to deliberate. That shows an
MEETING OF THE N. Y. P. M. A.
interest on their part and a desire to do what
The New York Piano Manufacturers' As-
is fair and just to all concerned. We are
sociation
held its postponed regular meeting
hopeful that they will see their way to agree
on
Tuesday
at the Union Square Hotel, H.
with the Western Committee's ruling. The
Paul
Mehlin,
president, in the chair. Those
arguments presented to the Eastern Commit-
present
were
Messrs.
Frank C. Decker, sec-
tee this morning were exhaustive, covering
retary
;
A.
H.
Fischer,
Chas. H. Parsons,
every phase of the general topic. We pointed
John
D.
Pease,
Chas.
Jacob,
Francis Connor
out that additional privileges would bring ad-
and
S.
T.
White.
In
addition
to the usual
ditional business to the railroads from West
routine
business
the
Ellsburg
bill,
now a law,
as well as East.
was discussed. It was decided, in view of the
"There is nothing to do now except to wait
facts that opinions as to its merits and de-
for a decision to be rendered by the Southern
merits differed greatly, to suspend further
and Eastern Committees. It is impossible to
agitation for the present. The by-laws were
tell what impression has been made by the ar-
changed to read "June" and "October" for
guments advanced. The first duty of these
"May" and "September" with reference to
classification committees is to protect the in-
the date of future meetings. It was resolved,
terests of the railroad they represent. In or-
regarding hours for future meetings, that, in-
der to secure from them any concessions in
stead of allowing the fixed hour of 3 p. m. to
freight rates it must be proved to their entire
remain in the by-laws, they be changed so as
satisfaction that the proposed reduction will
to leave the matter within the discretion of
bring an additional amount of business to the
the president.
railroad as an equivalent. There is much at
stake in this for piano manufacturers and
Frank C. Decker, head of the firm of
dealers, and the only plan is to maintain the Decker & Son, is much pleased with trade
freight question as a live issue until all rail- conditions. There has been a steady call for
roads shall see the justice of our claim. The the new Decker baby grand ever since its
granting of the concession throughout the introduction, and every current style in
country will mean a gain of 50 per cent, in Decker uprights is selling well.
BEHR BROS. & CO
PIANOS,
29th Street and I Ith Ave.,
NEW YORK.
HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.