Music Trade Review

Issue: 1905 Vol. 40 N. 21

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
REVIEW
ffUJIC TIRADE
VOL. XL. No. 21.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, May 27, 1905.
NEW SOHMER CATALOGUE.
A Handsome Publication, Worthy of the House
and the Piano.
The Sohmer literature is always dignified and
artistic, and this may be truly said of their new
catalogue issued by Sohmer & Co., Fifth avenue
and 22d street, this week. From cover to cover
it abounds in interesting matter, which affords
the reader a very impressive idea of the impor-
tant position which the Sohmer piano occupies in
the world of music and art. Some nine styles
of uprights are illustrated and described as well
as the Bijou grand, a Sohmer creation, which is
growing in popularity. The cover page is in gold
and green, and contains a view of the Sohmer
retail building as well as the factory at Astoria,
L. I. In the introduction Sohmer & Co. say:
"In presenting this new catalogue we desire to
direct public attention to several recent and im-
portant improvements, as well as to show by the
photographic half-tone engravings which follow
some of our newest styles, which not only repre-
sent the perfection of art and skilled workman-
ship, but also the climax of over thirty years'
ceaseless effort to produce the very best, during
which time no expense, no science and no energy
have been spared. The result is a Sohmer, than
which there is no better, and every one of which
is the best piano we know how to make."
Following these introductory remarks the tech-
nical and individual features of Sohmer construc-
tion are treated of at length. There is also a list
of eminent musicians who use and admire the
Sohmer piano as well as a number of testimonials
from musicians and dealers, and opinions of the
press. This catalogue is faultlessly printed on
heavy coated paper, the inside color scheme be-
ing black and green. It is a volume that should
be productive of splendid results in conveying a
wider knowledge of the Sohmer piano and its
makers.
CLAUDE P. STREET TO MARRY.
Claude P. Street, who for the past five years has
been the general manager for the Jesse French
Piano & Organ Co., in Nashville, Tenn., will as-
sume the Benedictian role on June 6, when he
will be married to Miss Lillian Bang in that city.
After the wedding the happy couple will leave
for New York, and from there will sail on June
10 by the steamer "Finland" for a two months'
tour of Europe. The Review joins with Mr.
Street's many friends in cordial congratulations.
FLANNER-HAFS00S CO. OFFICERS.
The Flanner-Hafsoos Piano Co., recently incor-
porated to do business in Milwaukee, have or-
ganized with the following officers: President and
treasurer, Joseph Flanner; vice-president and
manager, Eric F. Hafsoos; secretary, Isadore
Pollatsek. This concern represent the A. B.
Chase, Wegman, Howard and other instruments.
The piano dealers of Cleveland are arranging
to give a reception and banquet on the evening of
June 19, to such members of the National Asso-
ciation who happened to be in the city on that
date.
W. W. WARNER'S GREAT RECORD.
A Great Oak from a Little Acorn—Paid Kim-
ball Co. over $1,000,000—How the Oldest
Dealer in Wisconsin Does Business.
SINGLE COPIES. 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
REDUCED RATES FOR FALL BUYERS.
The T r u n k Line Association Makes Special
Concessions to Dealers Visiting New York in
August and September.
Reduced rates for the fall buying season will
be made to New York City by the Trunk Line
Madison, Wis., May 22, 1905. Association, the announcement to that effect hav-
W. W. Warner, the progressive piano dealer of ing been received by The Merchants' Association
this city, is again in active harness, after a two of New York. The special fares will be in effect
months' trip to the Pacific Coast. He reports on August 19-23, inclusive, and September 3-7, in-
business in Weber, Emerson, Kimball, Sterling, clusive, under the regular certificate plan. The
Crown, Hamilton and Foster & Armstrong lines return limit on each ticket will be fifteen days.
as very satisfactory.
The territory of the Trunk Line Association is
It is worthy of note that during Mr. Warner's best described as follows: From the New York-
thirty-one years in business he has paid the Kim- New England border west to Buffalo and Sala-
ball Co. more than a million dollars for pianos. manca, N. Y.; Erie and Pittsburg, Pa.; Wheeling
Chatting on this subject, Mr. Warner mentioned and Huntington, W. Va.; south to Charleston, W.
the interesting fact that he is (as far as he is Va., the Potomac River, and the line of the Ches-
aware) the oldest dealer in the State of Wiscon- apeake & Ohio Railway. Montreal, Toronto and
sin, whose business has been without change in Hamilton, Canada, are also in this territory. The
firm or firm name. It has always been "W. W. rate is not effective from points less than 100
Warner," and nothing else, except the trade mark miles from this city.
"27."
The applications of The Merchants' Association
"The business was established at 27," said Mr. to the Central Passenger Association and the
Warner. "It is to-day at '27.' This is our tele- Southwestern Excursion Bureau are now pending,
phone number, our cable address and our trade with the probability that favorable action by the
mark. The business was established 31 years former will be bulletined within a few days. The
ago on the 27th day of November. While it is dates requested from the last-named territories
true the capital was a little more than $27, yet it are earlier than those on which rates will be
was not very much. To be exact, it was $300. A operative from the nearby section.
glimpse into Dunn's or Bradstreet's will show that
it is still (at least) $27. The uniform progress
LETTER FROM THE KRELL PIANO CO.
and prosperity of our establishment is not only
Cincinnati, May 18, 1905.
gratifying, but it is almost phenomenal. We
have always been able, as I am extremely for- Music Trade Review, New York:
Gentlemen—We have observed in one of the
tunate and deeply grateful to be able to say, to
music trade papers an advertisement of the
pay 100 prompt cents on the dollar.
"I shall receive the first of the coming week Krell-French Piano Company, based upon the rul-
one single shipment from one factory of seventy ing on motion for temporary injunctions respect-
pianos and organs. These will be paid for in ing the use of the name "Krell" in our suits at
cash the day they arrive at '27.' This is the way Indianapolis. The Court in denying temporary
we do business on the one hand, and, on the relief, pending the suits, did not, as we under-
other, we sell all the pianos we can at $3, $4 and stood his remarks, intend to indicate what the de-
$5 per month. Excepting the Weber, there is not cree will be after the evidence shall be taken and
a piano in my store I would not gladly sell at $5 a trial had, but followed the more common cus-
a month, with $5 down, if reasonably satisfied tom in such cases of withholding the remedy by
with my purchaser, or, as insurance agents would injunction, if it ought to be given, until a final
hearing upon the full proofs. There was no writ-
say, 'risk.' "
ten information. Yours truly,
(Special to The Review.)
E. A. COLE RESIGNS.
E. A. Cole, who for a long period of years has
been connected with the Needham Piano & Organ
Co., acting as secretary and also superintendent
of the company's plant at Washington, N. J., has
resigned both positions. It is stated that he in-
tends to devote his entire time in future to the
development of his real estate interests.
Cressey & Allen, of Portland, Me., have just is-
sued a small volume containing the partial list of
their patrons in Portland and vicinity, who have
purchased Sterling pianos of them. The list is
an imposing one, and speaks eloquently of the
musical merits of these creations.
Buckingham & Moak, the well-known piano
dealers of Utica, N. Y., whose warerooms were
destroyed by fire two weeks ago, are now located
in temporary quarters at Blandina street.
THE KKKLI, PIANO CO.,
D. J. BLACKMOKE, President.
BEHR BROS. NOTE INCREASED DEMAND.
During the past week, Behr Bros., of 29th
street and 11th avenue, have had an increased de-
mand for their several styles of pianos. They
find the greatest activity in the West and South-
west, with the northern section a close second.
The East has been a little slow, although they re-
port a number of excellent orders. Taken as a
whole, they regard their trade as in very pros-
perous shape.
DEATH OF MRS. C. V. YORK.
C. V. York, piano dealer, at Carroll, Iowa,
has recently suffered a great sorrow in the loss
of his wife. Mrs. York was esteemed by a large
circle of friends for her many estimable qualities
and her death is widely lamented,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
6
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN DILL.
Editor and Proprietor.
J. B. JP1LLANE, Managing Editor.
EXCCVTIVE AND REPOKTORIAL STAFF:
GEO. B. KELLER,
W K . B. W H I T E ,
W. N. TYLER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 266 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICB:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
EMILIE FRANCIS BAUER,
GEO. W. QUMIPKI..
CHICAGO OFFICB
E. P. VAN IIARLINGEN, 1362 Monadnock Block.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TORMY.
5T. LOUIS OFFICE :
CHAS. N. VAN BUEKN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 485-427 Front S t
Published Every Saturday at I Nadiion Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (including pottage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
rear; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $76.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aug-
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
w . . . . . _ . «._.._ _ _ „
NANVFACTUR.ER.S
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference for
dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORK, MAY 27, 19O5.
EDITORIAL
T
HE convention at Atlantic City, from every standpoint, must
be considered the quietest event of its kind which has occur-
red since the Association saw light down by the sounding sea at
Manhattan Beach. It was purely an association affair from the
beginning until the last of the oratorical pyrotechnics had been
exploded. There were no outside influences of any kind that could
work opposition in any way to the success of the association ideas
or rules.
If the piano manufacturers' organization did not receive a
fresh inspiration from the meetings then it must be considered that
the divorcement of the two organizations was a mistake.
T
HERE were some who did not hesitate to express the opinion
at Atlantic City that they would desire to see the dealers meet
with them. There were many, however, who maintained that if
the manufacturers' organization did not have enough of interest
to hold the manufacturers themselves for two days, then the lines
ought to be abolished and the two organizations blended in one, to
be known as the National Piano and Music Trade Association.
Another well known manufacturer said he believed that amalgama-
tion would be the future of the two associations. He supported his
statement by the argument that over one-half of the members of
the dealers' association to-day were either manufacturers, or manu-
facturers representatives. Therefore, he said, to claim it solely as a
dealers' association was wholly wrong and misleading. It was
simply a retail branch or extension of the manufacturers' organ-
ization.
H
OWEVER,, there are still some others who said that they
believed that the Piano Manufacturers' Association could be
wholly separated from the dealers. They did not believe, as was
proposed by some, to convene on the first days of the week at West
Baden and permit the dealers to have theirs the latter part of the
same week, thus devoting an entire week to association doings.
One man said that that was simply a makeshift, and would not help
affairs at all. He said that if the manufacturers did not have suf-
ficient matters of interest to meet once a year and discuss by them-
selves for a day or two, they had a mighty sight better disband
and call the organization useless, and have the individual mem-
bers join the dealers. As a matter of fact a majority of the mem-
bers opposed by their vote the attempt made to hold the conventions
at the same time and place. The vote stood eighty against ten in
favor.
T
HE social features which have hitherto played an important
part in association gatherings were wholly lacking, save for
the big banquet, and many who had anticipated a number of pleas-
ant diversions were disappointed.
The weather, however, was
beastly, and if excursions had been planned they could not have been
enjoyed under the opposing climatic conditions.
T
HE trade press and its various offshoots received considerable
attention at the hands of several members of the Association.
This annual denunciation of the whole trade press seems to be a regu-
lar part of the association duties, but would it not be a trifle more
consistent if the denunciators of the trade press would be more dis-
criminating in their statements? A blackmailing trade press can
only live through support, and if the men who* are so loud in their
condemnation of the papers of questionable character and value
would withdraw their support why the source of trouble would
speedily be annihilated. The great trouble is that the illicit portion
of the trade press has fattened through the jealousy entertained by
manufacturers toward each other.
EO. P. BENT in the course of his remarks spoke of blackmail-
ing papers. It is easy to suppress the existence of such
journals in this trade, for it is a mighty sight easier to prove black-
mail than it is to prove fraud.
To illustrate: Suppose certain
eulogistic articles were shown in court which appeared in a paper
when a manufacturer was advertising in that publication, and when
his advertisement was withdrawn defamatory articles appeared.
These to be shown in contrast with others. There would be no need
for great argument, or great legal ability, for constructive black-
mail would be clearly demonstrated, and an intelligent jury would
place no other interpretation upon such action. And still some of the
manufacturers who have howled the loudest about trade publications
for years have never dared to take an initiatory step towards sup-
pressing the evil, which they do not hesitate to denounce in most
emphatic and lurid terms about association time. They give out
patronage on almost equal terms unmindful of their own interests,
and without the slightest consideration of the fact that in so doing
they are paying a premium upon journalistic slothfulness and hold-
npism.
G
NE great trouble in this industry is that the estimates are not
fair which are placed upon the various publications. Too
many have fallen into the common way of classing the progres-
sive paper in the same list with the non-progressive pub-
lication, and include as well the paper which is conducted by a
single individual, who writes two or three humorous sketches, fills
his paper with a couple of columns of "hits" on his fellow-editors,
uses the paste-pot and scissors for half an hour and calls it a paper.
Others have "write-ups" of the most glaring kind from cover to
cover. They never had two hundred and fifty paid subscribers in their
lives, and these papers would not be permitted to enjoy the pound
privileges in the United States mail if the attention of the govern-
ment authorities were called to their general character.
These
paper critics include in the same list, papers which have a
splendid organization, reaching every city and hamlet in the
United States and foreign countries as well, which are edited from
a thoroughly practical newspaper standpoint, containing technical
and specialized articles distributed in every country on earth as well
as every city and hamlet in the United States, and gotten out weekly
at the expense of thousands.
O
I
T seems unjust and manifestly unfair to sneeringly class such pub-
lications with the other line—in fact it would be just as rea-
sonable to put a Chickering piano on a par with a cheap special
brand. There is a good deal to think about in the trade journal line,
and personally we had rather see such reports as the subjoined,
which demonstrates beyond power of argument that our adver-
tisers are receiving the largest kind of value for the dollar expended,
than to listen to expressions of insincerity regarding trade journal-
ism. This appeared in The Trade Review, a well-known commer-
cial paper published in Lincoln, Neb., on May 13th:
"The Duplexophone Company has purchased a good factory
building and will be able to turn out about 50,000 machines this year.

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