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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW/
VICTOR TALKING CO'S. PLANT DESTROYED.
Fire Consumes Great Talking Machine Factories of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Situated in Camden
—Several Thousand Talking Machines and Two Hundred Thousand Records Burned—Loss Will Ex-
ceed $500,000—Works Will be Rebuilt Immediately—Employes at Work in New Building.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., April 26, 1904.
The entire plant of the Victor Talking Machine
Co., at 110-118 North Front Street, Camden, N.
J., was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon.
The fire not only destroyed the extensive plant,
but also consumed several thousand talking ma-
chines in which cylinders had been placed, and
200,000 phonographic records were consumed. It
took four hours to get the fire under control,
and a peculiar thing about it was that the heat
set many of the machines working, upon which
cylinders were in position, and for a few minutes
before the floor fell, there was a volume of noise
that would have made a steam caliope sound like
a penny whistle. The flames started in a mys-
terious way in a stable adjoining the Victor
Talking Machine Co.'s building. The Victor Co.
recently erected the building and had occupied it
only a short time. The firm estimates the value
of the stock and machinery a t from $500,000 to
$750,000, which is covered by insurance in seven-
ty-eight insurance companies. Six hundred and
seventy-five men and women were employed in
the building and the firm had orders on hand
from China, Japan, Russia, Germany and other
foreign countries, as well as many cities in the
United States to keep them busy until July.
CONDITIONS IN MARKNEUKIRCHEN.
Labor Organizations Influence Prices—Some Infor-
mation About Violins.
Advices from Europe state the labor organiza-
tion among the violin workers of Markneu-
kirchen and vicinity, has been effected, and their
schedule of wages is to be enforced. Factors
and shippers are adjusting their prices to comply
with the new condition of the industry, but as
yet have not arrived at any definite basis. This
has unsettled the market, and American houses
are quoting no figures on certain lines at pres-
ent, awaiting the dictum from their German con-
nections. It is expected, as exclusively reported
in The Review, that July 1 will be the date on
which the new list of prices—revised on a higher
scale—is to be in effect.
While violins are being discussed, it is said by
a leading handler of both domestic and foreign
goods, that the number of instruments made in
this country dp not exceed 1,000 yearly. The
majority of these are manufactured from Ger-
man blanks, with a small lot made from the
block direct, the special lumber being also im-
Officers of the Victor Co. announce that their
works will be rebuilt as soon as possible. They
placed 100 of their employes at work in an annex
at 25 Market street, Camden, on Monday, and
many others were ordered to oil the water-soaked
machinery. The whole force will be put at work
shortly. General Manager Haddon says that
many of the original records were not destroyed,
but that those destroyed were mostly those pre-
pared for shipment. Most of the original rec-
ords were stored at 23 Market street, and in con-
sequence the company hope to be able, in the
course of a few weeks, to replace the destroyed
records. Fifteen thousand records were made in
the annex on Monday, and double that number
on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Victor Talking Machine Company have se-
cured the old Ruby Match Company factory at
Delaware Avenue and Penn Street, Camden,
which they will occupy at once until the Front
Street plant can be rebuilt. As soon as the in-
surance adjusters permit its removal, the ma-
chinery not ruined by fire will be installed in
the Front Street factory. It is intended to oc-
cupy the old quarters as soon as the necessary
repairs can be made and an addition is put up.
Employees of the Victor Company have received
notice to report for work at once.
prising, up-to-date house in Philadelphia and
San Francisco. A deal has also been closed for
the output of an eastern concern's automatic
harp. The Wurlitzer annual catalogue, which
is now in the course of active preparation for
publication early in the fall, will exceed in size,
completeness and interest their current issue
which is the largest of the kind ever published.
SOME BARGAINS IN GUITARS.
Buegeleisen & Jacobson Purchase Balance of J. C.
Haynes' Stock of Banjos—Business with This
House Very Good.
Having recently purchased the remainder of
the late John C. Haynes & Co.'s line of fine gui-
tars, Buegeleisen & Jacobson, 113-115 University
Place, New York, are now offering them to the
trade for about half the regular retail price. The
lot includes 300 instruments, all genuine rose-
wood, with solid ebony finger-boards, in standard
and concert sizes; many with fine inlay work,
and all beautifully finished. They are made after
the famous Martin model, being the regulation
Haynes goods, and those familiar with "Bay
State" guitars know their price and value. On
account of the quantity dealers are advised by
the firm to make up their orders on the quick-
action plan.
This progressive house is installing a new
system of stock-keeping, whereby a line is had
on any article, no matter how small, that may go
astray for an entire year. It will also prevent
domestic goods nearing the "danger line" too
closely before a fresh supply is ordered in.
David Jacobson, who has been on a Western
ported. They cut but little figure commercially.
On the other hand, fully 70,000 completely fin- trip for six weeks, was at his desk Monday
ished violins, of French, Italian and German ori- morning and in working harness, as usual. The
gin, principally the latter, are imported yearly. senior partner declared that, considering condi-
tions, Mr. Jacobson had a most surprising trade,
a statement the junior member blushingly ac-
LAWRENCE WILL HANDLE SMALL GOODS.
knowledged as correct.
Allan Lawrence, director of his own band and
orchestra, and who controls the music in all the
AUBREY C. KRETGHMAR A BENEDICT.
theatres of Scranton, Pa., was in New York this
(Special to The Review.)
week, calling upon the leading small goods
Philadelphia, Pa., April 26, 1904.
houses. He is about to open a store for the sale
Aubrey C. Kretschmar, a son of Robert C.
of musical merchandise, and for some time has
handled the Sweetland piano on the side. The Kretschmar, the local importer of small goods,
gentleman was accompanied by C. Cable, the was married on the 15th of April to Miss Kather-
ine Salmon, of Oak Lane, this city. He has just
leader of Mr. Lawrence's band at Carbondale, and
returned from a ten days' wedding trip, and they
who recently completed a service with the United
will reside at 144 Sharpneck street, Germantown.
States Army in the Philippines, being invalided
F. K. Kretschmar, of Chicago, a brother of the
home, after participating in many of the engage-
groom, was best man. Aubrey Kretschmar is as-
ments and famous "hikes" leading up to the paci-
sociated with his father in the business at 830
fication of the islands.
Arch street.
IMPORTANT WURLITZER BRANCHES.
Robert C. Kretschmar reports business as be-
celling omce has been opened in St. Louis, ing somewhat duller than usual at this time. J.
Mo., by Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Cincinnati, O., B. Hafner, salesman for the house, started away
end which is in charge of Mr. Rosenthal. Sim- on Thursday on his western trip. Mr. Kretsch-
i'ar quarters will be established by this enter- mar has been importing a large stock of new
style accordeons, including some very fine Italian
JUST OUT.
accordeons, and are about to issue a new accor-
deon catalogue to the trade.
Voi*jL,tfs E\IREDITIOW
Dealers in the South
and W e s t w i l l be
interested in this cata-
logue. It is to be had
for the asking. . . .
39
MUSICAL MERCHANDIJE
CATALOGUE
BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR WEST POINT.
Dealers in band and string instruments, as
well as supplies, should now get in line for bids
on brass and reed instruments which are to be
supplied to the Military Academy at-West Point.
Congress has just appropriated $500 for band
instruments to be purchased in open market on
the order of the superintendent; $800 for the
purchase of wood wind instruments and music;
$200 for the purchase of reeds, strings and other
supplies for stringed instruments; $500 for band
music, and $300 for repairs to instruments.
SCHOENING'S TRIP TO EUROPE.
Thlebes'Stlerlin
Musical
Instrument Co.,
St. Louis, Mo.
M. E. Schoening, 369 Broadway, New York,
sails for Europe on Thursday, May 5, on the
Moltke, of the Hamburg-American line, going
direct to Germany, calling first at Altenburg, and
then to Markneukirchen. Later he will visit
Italy and Switzerland, and coming back through
France and Belgium. Mr. Schoening expects to
be abroad about two months.
THIEBEJ-JTIERLIN MUSICAL iNSTRUMEft t
COMPANY
I9O3
JTLOUIS
19O4
The Krell Piano Co., Cincinnati, are now
handling the Pianola in their artistic warerooms
in that city.