Music Trade Review

Issue: 1905 Vol. 40 N. 4

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
HMIW
flUJIC TIRADE
VOL. XL. No. 4.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, Jan. 28, 1905.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
enterprises that gave America a Theodore eling representative, left last week for a long
Thomas. Mr. Tretbar's answer to the toast was tour of the West and South. Mr. Bond, who has
entirely impromptu and thoroughly characteris- recently retired as president of the Old National
Theo. E. Steinway a Clever Toastmaster—
tic of his ideals and his aspirations, all of which
Bank, is making the tour a combination of pleas-
Interesting Speeches Made by Henry Junge,
have always been of the very highest and the ure and business. They left over the Pennsyl-
Hermann Irion, Fred. T. Steinway, F. Reide-
greatest.
vania road last week for Chicago, will go to
meister, J. B. Tiffany, Chas. H. Steinway—
Denver and thence to Seattle, San Francisco,
As
a
testimonial
of
affection
from
the
em-
The Retirement of Mr. Tretbar Keenly Re-
ployes of this great house Mr. Tretbar was pre- Los Angeles, El Paso, New Orleans and then
gretted—Chas. H. Steinway Pays Graceful
sented with a handsome parlor grand piano. make a tour of the southern States.
Tribute to the Man—A Present from the
Upon a former occasion he had been the recipi-
Employes.
ent of a loving cup, and the exquisite watch
AUTOPIANO CO. INCORPORATED.
which he carries was presented to him by Will-
On last Saturday night there was a jolly gath- iam Steinway and the firm at the occasion of
Capital Will be $100,000—New Factory to be
ering of the clans of the house of Steinway & his twenty-fifth anniversary with that house.
Erected Costing $60,000 in the Rear of Pres-
Sons at the fourth annual dinner given by this
Those present were: Chas. H. Steinway, Fred
ent Kohler & Campbell Plant—Devoted Ex-
firm to its employes, of which there were forty-
T. Steinway, Henry Ziegler, Chas. F. Tretbar,
clusively to the Manufacture of Autopianos,
eight present and six absent. As is the custom
Fred Reidemeister, Theo. E. Steinway, J. H.
Interior and Cabinet Players.
of this hou.se the dinner was given at Liichow's,
Hempsted, A. J. Menzl, J. W. Sturtevant, H.
and the excellent menu was given additional
Irion, H. Junge, F. W. Baumer, T. Cassebeer, J.
Papers were filed this week with the Secretary
spice by the witticisms and the bright sparkles
G. W. Kuehl, J. B. Tiffany, H. D. Low, Fred of the State of New Yoik, covering the incorpor-
of repartee which flowed as freely as the many
Rathgeber, C. Burkard, L. Clemens, E. Costillo, ation of the Autopiano Co., with a paid in capi-
sparkling beverages.
C. D. W. Cole, H. Carpenter, G. J. Candidus, C. tal of $100,000. The incorporators are Messrs.
The toastmaster upon this occasion was Theo- Burden, W. A. Kyte, Geo. Rechten, A. Bleckwenn,
Kohler & Campbell, of New York. Plans have
dore E. Steinway, whose intelligence must be
D. Horn, T. Leopold, T. Nitsche, W. H. Burden, already been drawn for the erection of a factory
recognized as far beyond many others of his
M. Murphy, W. Geer, A. E. Blackmore, Frank
costing upward of $60,000, which will be con-
years. Mr. Steinway is of a decidedly literary
Paul, G. Schaible, E. Gnotosky, Dan Callahan, E. structed in the rear and adjoining the present
turn of mind, and in the capacity of toastmaster
Scharlach, Theo. Ehrlich, B. Balensiefer, P. Kohler & Campbell factories at Eleventh avenue
his impromptu remarks were among the most
Brandt, B. G. Griffith, E. Misfeldt, Chas. Troitsch, and 50th street. In this connection a lease has
enjoyable features of the evening. He called
J. Bushman, Geo. Eberhard, A. Werckle. The been secured for twenty-one years of four addi-
upon the following gentlemen to respond to the
absent ones, including Nahum Stetson, who is tional lots abutting the Kohler & Campbell prop-
toasts following their names:
at present on his vacation at Palm Beach, Fla., erty on 50th street and five lots on 51st street,
Henry Junge—"Bid me discourse, I will de- sent fraternal greetings.
making a total of twenty city lots which this
light thine ear."
house will now occupy.
Hermann Irion—"Of keeping many books there
The new factory, which will be in the course
SOME HANDSOME JEWETTS.
is no end."
of erection shortly, will be devoted exclusively
Frederick T. Steinway—"Here comes a man of
comfort whose advice has often stilled my brawl- The Styles for 1905 Exceed All Previous Crea- to the manufacture of autopianos, interior and
cabinet players and will be equipped In every
tions in Sterling Worth.
ing discontent."
particular
with the most modern machinery and
F. Reidemeister—"Was du ererbt von deinen
The Jewett Piano Co. have entered the present appliances, and when this new additional build-
Vatern hast Erwirb es urn es zu besitzen."
year with a line of styles which must command
ing is completed it will be one of the finest fac-
J. Burr Tiffany—"I am Sir Oracle, and when I especial consideration from dealers desirous of
tories in existence. The additional properties
ope my mouth let no dog bark."
keeping in touch with the trade movements of
which have been secured will greatly facilitate
Chas. H. Steinway—"At last our Chief; give importance. While the Jewett pianos have been
the prompt delivery and the despatch of orders
ear unto his words."
before the trade for more than half a century it and will virtually enable the Kohler & Camp-
Theo. E. Steinway—"Last scene of all that does not always follow that age and quality are
bell teams to drive through from 50th street, to
ends this strange eventful history."
associated, but in the case of the Jewett it is 51st street. They will also have ample room for
The event" was one of great import in the so. The present styles of Jewett pianos repre- the storage of over two million feet of lumber,
house of Steinway & Sons, for in addition to sent quality in the very truest sense of the word. as well as kiln drying facilities that will be ab-
commemorating the fortieth anniversary of
It is only necessary to test exactingly the scales solutely unexcelled.
Treasurer Charles F. Tretbar with that house, embodied in these pianos to distinguish their
The growth of the Kohler & Campbell enter-
those assembled were informed through the pres- evenness, beauty and possibilities in the way of
ident of the Steinway house that this valued and affording all desired colors in the musical palette. prise from its very inception has been a splen-
notable member of the firm had tendered his If we test the action mechanism we find it de- did illustration of energy and painstaking effort
along correct lines. It, shows the possibilities in
resignation from active business life and had de- lightfully responsive and so carefully regulated
this industry when a business is carefully con-
cided to spend the balance of his days in Europe. as to bring forth the tone in a very delightful
ducted and the desires of customers carefully
Thus the jollification meeting took on a side of
way. Examine the construction and one is lost observed.
mixed emotions and there was much affection in admiration of the attractiveness of designs
and appreciation, as well as sincere regrets ex- and all-round worth to be found in these instru-
ANN ARBOR CO.'S ANNUAL MEETING.
pressed by those who had been inspired by the ments.
example and influence which had always been
The annual meeting of the Ann Arbor Organ
Frank J. Woodbury, general manager of the
reflected from Mr. Tretbar's business life.
company, has good reason to feel proud of the Co., for the election of officers was held on Tues-
Chas. H. Steinway paid a beautiful tribute to Jewett pianos which are turned out from the "day last. The business report submitted was
the brain and the spirit of Mr. Tretbar. whom factory in Leominster these days. They are cer- in every respect satisfactory, and reflected credit
he said he regarded in the light of a teacher and tainly deserving of the highest commendation, on General Manager Henderson, who during the
adviser. He also recounted some of the business and no dealer who desires to be fair to himself
past few years has indefatigably and success-
triumphs which had marked the career of Mr. can overlook them.
fully labored toward the expansion of this enter-
Tretbar, who, according to Mr. Steinway had
prise.
been identified with most all of the greatest
Trade in Ann Arbor organs, both domes-
PACKARD MEN GO TO COAST.
enterprises in the musical life of New York, in-
tic and foreign, has been very large, while the
cluding the pianists from Rubenstein to Pader-
S. B. Bond, president of the Packard Co., Fort general prestige of the instruments has been
ewski, and standing side by side and behind the Wayne. Ind.. and O. W. Williams, a trav- materially augmented.
STEINWAY FORCES DINE.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE
RMLW
W M , B. W H I T E ,
GEO. B. KELLER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
G I O . W. QUERIPEL.
CHICAGO OFFICE :
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
EMILIK FRANCIS BAUER,
A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON OFFICE:
PHILADELPHIA OFFICBs
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 36 La Salic St.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TORREY.
5 T . LOUIS OFFICE :
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGEB, 425-427 Front St.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; 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, $50.00; opposite
reading: matter, $76.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
THE ARTISTS'
DEPARTMENT
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
"Artists' _ Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aup
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
DIRECTORY of PIANO ^"' lc directory °* P>ano manufacturing firms and corporations
uoi.»>««•... . _ -
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference for
MANUFACTURERS
dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORR, JAN. 28. 1905.
EDITORIAL
H E special brands which are sold outside their class are gradu-
ally becoming a menace to the medium grade of legitimate
products.
Then, too, some dealers push their own brands as the just as
good.
Fixed prices and those prices fixed by the manufacturer will do
more to strengthen and broaden the industry than any single move
that could be made.
The manufacturers of all other products which are trade-marked
dictate the prices at which they shall be offered to the public.
It would do away wholly with piano misrepresentation, wipe out
the special brand business to an innocuous point and give stimulus
to the entire industry.
No dealer like our subscriber could long sell pianos out of their
class.
i
Whether this move conies this year or next it must come ulti-
mately to preserve the integrity and stability of the trade.
T
HERE is no good reason that can be advanced why trade for
the new year should not exceed that of the past year by a
generous per cent. No clouds are visible upon the business horizon,
which threaten a detracting influence upon the volume of business
which men should bank upon with reasonable certainty.
Wall street influence counts for much less than formerly, and
men in the great West do not scan the Wall street reports with the
same nervousness that was noticeable years ago. The divorcement
between the gambling and legitimate business interests of the country
is more ckarly established than ever before in the country's history.
A
DEALER writes, "I have been interested in reading The
Review's expressions upon the subject of one price for pianos
and that price established by manufacturers. Now I have been
working up a reputation for the S
in this locality, and I have
won for it a good reputation and I get as much for it as some of
my local competitors do for their high grade pianos. I claim I am
entitled to my profit which is a result of my own talking and adver-
tising. Suppose the manufacturers should decide to place a hundred
dollars less as a regular price to be asked for this piano, it would
hurt my business, and I claim it would not be fair to me after what
I have done for the piano."
T
T
UR small investors are no longer blinded to the same extent as
formerly by the marvelous reports of miraculous accumula-
tion of wealth by some of the great gamblers of the Street. Jamas
R. Keene is one of the greatest speculators which the world has ever
seen, and yet with all his genius and ability to know the inside he has
made mistakes and suffered losses, so that now there are hundreds
of legitimate tradesmen whose wealth largely exceeds his own. The
Astor wealth was at first a creation of trade, piano trade at that—
for the old sign of John Jacob Astor bore the words, "Skins and
Pianos."—subsequently of growth in the value of real estate holdings
on Manhattan Island.
H E piano sold by our subscriber is one of moderate value, as it
conies in what is colloquially termed the commercial line. There
are more than thirty factories producing instruments of similar grade,
and sold at reasonable margins of profit, therefore our friend is only
securing ordinary market values in his factory purchases.
His letter would seem to indicate that he is securing from his
customers unusual prices, prices which he feels are somewhat in
excess of fairness.
H
IS communication somehow gives rise to the opinion that he is
not delivering the piano value that he asks the customer to
pay for. If the pricings were in accordance with the actual values
which he delivers why should he fear that the manufacturer would
cut under his price a hundred dollars. He says that he secures as
much for his cheap piano as his competitors ask for a high grade
piano., which is equivalent to admitting that his pianos are sold at
prices not in accordance with their worth and standing.
I
N other words that he is selling his pianos out of their class and not
at honest prices.
He fears the honesty of the manufacturer would compel him to
reduce the price in. harmony with the value of the piano. Another
admission that he is getting more for his piano than the regular rules
of trade would permit.
He does not consider that his purchasers will find out that they
have bought commercial pianos at high grade prices, and will form
no small influence against him and that ultimately his piano must
find its true level.
.
F the manufacturers should fix the prices at which all legitimate
products should be sold at retail, they would be performing an
incalculable service to the industry and to the piano dealers them-
selves. It would, by a single stroke, put the selling of pianos on a
business foundation which is needed to strengthen it.
It would place the stencil products which more properly may be
termed special brands outside the line of legitimate pianos whose
parentage is easily traced. They then would be sold in their special
place with the bar sinister across them.
T
J. D. S r i L L A N E , Man.rflntf Editor.
EXECVTIVC STAFF :
CAMPBELL-COPELAND,
I
Cditor a n d Proprietor.
EDWARD LYMAN DILL.
THOS.
REVIEW
HE popular impression that the most of our wealthy men have
made their fortunes by stock speculation is becoming rapidly
dissipated. As a matter of fact very few men have amassed riches
merely by guessing correctly on the course of stock prices, and
backing their opinions by purchases and sales.
Of course there arc exceptions but these are few and far be-
tween, and for one man who has played the game successfully, there
are thousands who have drawn out or have been forced out much the
poorer for their ventures.
The people are beginning to realize this, and as a consequence
are putting their savings into legitimate enterprises.
O
H E N the wealth of D. O. Mills came from small investments in
industrials and real estate. John Mackay made his money in
mining. The wealth of Armour, Swift and Pullman was made in
legitimate business enterprises. The fortune of John Wanamaker,
who, by the way, is one of the greatest retail distributors of pianos,
was made in merchandising. Carnegie's millions came from the
iron and steel industry, and so we could enumerate scores whose
vast fortunes were made outside of Wall street. The millions of W.
W. Kimball were made in the making and selling of pianos.
T
O if we scan the list, the coterie of men known as successful Wall
street gamblers is indeed small when compared with the number
of men who have won permanent and distinguished success in the
regular channels of trade and commerce.
S
While Wall street may be looked upon as a necessary institution

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