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THE
REWfW
J1UJIC TIRADE
V O L . x x x v i i i . No. 16. Published Etery Sat, by Eflwarfl Lyman Bill at 1 Maiison Aye, New York, April 16,1904.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
HEADQUARTERS FOR PIANO MEN.
WORLD'S FAIR PIPE ORGAN
PROSPERITY IN THE SOUTH."
A Suggestion That Manufacturers Establish a Cen-
tral Rendezvous for Visiting Dealers, Where
They May Register and be Entertained.
"Why shouldn't the piano manufacturers have
some sort of general headquarters or rendezvous
in New York for out-of-town dealers?" casually
remarked "one of the elect" to The Review this
week, and in evident earnest. "To be sure, all
the leading firms have their warerooms for their
particular trade, but the absence of the sociable
features is quite marked. I read wnat The Re-
view had to say editorially about a club, and I
admit the obstacles in the way of such a project
appear unsurmountable. Still, even then, were
the right men to take hold I am willing to bet
my head against a football they would carry the
scheme through, and the trade rise up and call
them blessed.
"My idea is not so ambitious. All I and many
other manufacturers are desirous of having is a
sort of a center where dealers can make a place
of call. Fitted up, of course, in suitable style,
with trade literature, daily papers, current maga-
zines, possibly, a book to register the names of
visitors and where stopping, as well as with writ-
ing material and conveniences, and other feat-
ures that may suggest themsetyes to add to the
comfort of those directly interested.
Then
manufacturers—even the small ones—would have
a chance to get in touch with people whom it is
likely they would otherwise never meet.
Will be Installed and Ready for Operation Before
May 15th—Work on Its Erection Will be Car-
ried on Day and Night.
Business for March in New Orleans Much Better
Than a Year Ago—Throughout the Entire
South the Situation is Much Improved.
The leading piano dealers of New Orleans* in-
cluding Philip Werlein, the Junius Hart Music
House, the L. Grunewald Co., Ltd., the Hacken-
jos Piano Co. and the Cable Company report busi-
ness for March from twenty to forty per cent, bet-
ter than for same month a year ago. In fact,
throughout the entire South business is looking
up well, which is largely due to the increased
price for cotton, as well as many other factors
which are contributing to the industrial develop-
ment of that section of our country.
During the past few years the South has made
wonderful strides. The agricultural community
is well out of debt and has to its credit a sur-
plus, a fair share of which is being devoted
these days for pianos, organs and other musical
instruments.
CECILIAN CONQUERS PREJUDICE.
How the Members of Victor Herbert's Orchestra
Were Charmed—From Scoffers at Mechanical
Music They Became Enthusiasts.
A short time ago Victor Herbert's orchestra
was billed for a concert at Uniontown, Pa. The
members of the orchestra put up at the Smith
House. Now, in the Smith House, J. C. Donahue
has his piano warerooms, where he also displays
the Cecilian piano player, for which he is local
agent.
During the afternoon a large number of Vic-
tor Herbert's men came into the wareroom to
listen to the Cecilian. At first dislike and re-
pugnance of anything mechanical In the music
line were plainly expressed on the features of
every one of them, but very quickly their looks
of disgust changed to eager interest, and with-
in another hour's time from scoffers they had
become Cecilian enthusiasts. Each of them in-
sisted on trying the Cecilian himself, and they
all were greatly amazed at the wonderfully artis-
tic results achieved. They hung over the Cecil-
ian for hours; in fact, until evening came, then
left it with regret. They heartily endorsed the
Cecilian as the most wonderful piece of musical
mechanism produced.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STEINWAY & SONS.
At the annual meeting of Steinway & Sons, held
last week the following officers were elected:
Chas. H. Steinway, president: P. T. Steinway,
vice-president; Nahum Stetson, c
F. Tretbar, treasurer. These gentlemen, with
Henry Ziegler, constitute the board of directors.
The business report of the year disclosed a fur-
ther advance in the business of this institution.
(Special to The Review.)
St. Louis, Mo., April 12, 1904.
When all of the shipments containing the parts
of the great Festival Hall organ shall have been
received at St. Louis there will have been in all
thirteen carloads, containing the complete make-
up of the monster instrument. Work on the in-
stallation of the parts contained in the first ship-
ment of three carloads received recently was
commenced last week in Festival Hall.
The complete setting up of the organ is prom-
ised for Press Parliament week, which begins
May 16, and the experts who have come from
California to do the work promise to work day
and night at the task and sleep in the building if
necessary to have it done on time.
The sections of the organ now on the grounds
are those known as the "great" and "choir" or-
gans, the main blowing plant and the first sec-
tion of the building frame. The next shipment
of three cars, now on the way, contains two di-
visions of the "swell" organ, the solo organ and
a portion of the pedal organ.
The last shipment of seven cars will include the
pedal organ and pipes, which will be sent from
Los Angeles as soon as the work here has pro-
gressed sufficiently to make them necessary. The
weight of the organ, 125 tons, made it necessary
to strengthen the supports under the stage of
Festival Hall.
WILL HELP WASHINGTON DEALERS.
The Amendment to the Code of Laws Which Has
Been Formally Reported.
[Special to The Review.]
Washington, D. C, April 11, 1904.
An amendment to the code of la.vs in the Dis-
trict of Columbia has been reported favorably
by the House Committee, who has charge of the
legislation for the District. It is of decided in-
terest to the piano dealers of this city and with-
out doubt will become a law in view of the favor-
able report. The amendment is as follows:
"Sec. 833a. Whoever being in possession of
personal property received upon a written and
conditional contract of sale, with intent to de-
fraud, sells, conveys, conceals or aids in con-
cealing the same, or removes the same from the
District of Columbia without the consent of the
vendor, before performance of the conditions
precedent to acquiring the title thereto, shall be
punished by a fine of not more than $100 or by
imprisonment for more than ninety days."
SUING S. N. WIDDUP.
Former Piano Man is Being Looked After by Dav-
enport & Treacy, Who Demand Damages.
The Davenport & Treacy Co., of New York,
have entered a suit in Providence, R. I., against
S. N. Widdup, a former piano dealer of that city,
asking damages amounting to $6,000, based upon
a number of unpaid promissory notes ranging in
various sums from $260 to $740. An attachment
has been secured against Mr. Widdup's personal
property. Mr. Widdup now resides in Baltimore.
TO RENOVATE PLYMOUTH ORGAN.
Famous Old Instrument Will be Fitted With Mod-
ern Appliances.
The old organ that has been in use in Plymouth
Church for forty years, and on which Prof. John
Zundel composed and played the hymn "Love Di-
vine," which he dedicated to Henry Ward
Beecher, is to be renovated and fitted with mod-
ern appliances. The organ is one of the histori-
cal musical instruments of Brooklyn. On it were
given organ recitals for a number of years which
created world-wide discussions, many contending
that a church was not the place for worldly con-
certs or secular music.
It is estimated that the repairs to the old or-
gan, the pipes of which have become mellow and
therefore of great value, will not exceed $8,000.
The necessary funds will be subscribed by some
of the leading members of the church.
THE PIANORA CO. INCORPORATED.
The Pianora Co., of New York City, was in-
corporated in Albany, N. Y., on Saturday, with a
capital of $100,000, for the purpose of manufac-
turing and dealing in musical instruments. The
incorporators are: Leonard Adair, Frank M.
Wells and Andrew C. Mushet, all of New York
City.
DENVER MUSIC CO. EXPANDING.
The Denver Music Co., of which M. H. Coloney
is manager, are making arrangements to open
agencies at Florence, the center of Colorado's oil
industry, and at Canon City, a prominent fruit
point. Both establishments will be under the
management of H. R. Luets. Business with this
institution is excellent. There is a special call
for Vose, Kroeger and Kingsbury pianos.
PIANO FACTORY IN SAUGERTIES, N. Y.?
According to the Poughkeepsie Press a piano
factory may locate in Saugerties, N. Y. A gen-
tleman having this object in mind visited the vil-
lage the past week and looked over the ground to
see whether he could secure tenant houses enough
for men he would bring with him, should he de-
cide to locate in Saugerties.