Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 19

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
flUSIC TIRADE
VOL. XLII. N o . 1 9 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, May 12, 1906.
Many Visitors to Convention at Washington—
C. W. Brainerd Becomes Manager of 0. K.
Houck Co.—H. A. Phipps Co. to Open Piano
Store—Jesse French Co. May Open in Louis-
ville—Boden's New Establishment—Recent
Trade Visitors.
(Special to The Review.)
St. Louis, Mo., May 7, 1906.
Trade is reported to have been very quiet dur-
ing the past week and about the only feature
has been the making of preparations by quite a
number in the trade to attend the convention
at Washington, D. C, next week.
Among those who will go to Washington, D. C,
are O. A. Field, president of the Jesse French
Piano & Organ Co., and his son, O. A. Field,
Jr., manager of the credit department of the
same concern; C. P. Street, manager of the
Jesse French Piano & Organ Co., Nashville,
Tenn.; J. H. Holcombe, manager of the same
concern's branch, Birmingham, Ala.; A. G.
Forbes, manager of the same concern's branch,
Montgomery, Ala., and J. C. Phelps, manager
of the same concern's branch, Dallas, Tex. This
entire party will attend the dinner to be given
on Wednesday, May 16, in New York, by the
firm of Steinway & Sons, to all their agents.
Mr. Field and his son will also visit Baltimore,
returning on Monday, May 21.
Jesse French, president of the Krell-French
Piano Co., will leave on Saturday for the Wash-
ington, D. C, convention, as will also Otto Boll-
man, vice-president, and E. J. Piper, general
manager of the Bollman Bros. Piano Co., the
latter being accompanied by his wife. They
will visit other points and will be gone about
ten days.
E. A. Kieselhorst, president of the Kieselhorst
Piano Co., expects to go and will probably be
joined here by Col. F. B. T. Hollenberg, presi-
dent of the Hollenberg Music Co., of Little Rock,
Ark.
P. E. Conroy, president of the Conroy Piano
Co., may also attend.
Chas. W. Brainerd, who has been ambassador
for the Krell-French Piano Co., covering all
points west of the Mississippi River for the last
two years, has been appointed manager of the
0. K. Houck Piano Co., succeeding H. A. Phipps,
resigned. Mr. Brainerd has been in the piano
business fifteen years, and is well and favorably
known here in both piano and musical circles.
The appointment is a popular one and very pleas-
ing to "Charley's" many friends.
H. A. Phipps will enter the piano trade under
the firm name of the H. A. Phipps Piano Co.,
with a store at 4300-4302 Olive street, about June
1. He will carry the Ivers & Pond line, formerly
handled by the O. K. Houck Piano Co.; the Mer-
rill instrument, made by the Merrill Piano Co.,
Boston; the Bailey line, and other lines yet
to be announced. Mr. Phipps will return on
Tuesday from a several days' business trip to
Chicago.
O. K. Houck, president of the O. K. Houck
Piano Co., who has been spending the week here,
left on Saturday for Nashville, Tenn.
O. A. Field, president of the Jesse French
Piano & Organ Co., and Claude P. Street, man-
ager of the same concern at Nashville, Tenn.,
spent one day in Louisville, Ky., last week,
looking for a location to open a piano store
in that city. No announcement has been made
as yet, but it is stated that as soon as matters
can be arranged this concern will open up
there on a very elaborate scale.
Jas. T. Boden, formerly connected with the
Bollman Bros. Piano Co., for eighteen years, the
last three years of which he was manager of the
tuning and repairing department, will open a
handsome piano store at 3548 Olive street about
May 15 under the firm name of Boden Bros.
His brother, Geo. F. Boden, also well known
locally in musical circles, will be his partner.
Both are well and favorably known, and their
many friends are predicting much success for
them. They have made arrangements to handle
the Francis Connor instruments, and will add
other lines at an early date.
Roy T. Davis, a popular young piano sales-
man from Beatrice, Neb., has accepted a similar
position with the D. H. Baldwin Piano Co., of
this city.
L. H. Wassmund, assistant secretary of the
F. G. Smith Piano Co., leaves to-day on a several
days' business trip to Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Among the prominent trade visitors here dur-
ing the past week were: F. E. Edgar, of the
Wilcox & White Co., and Mr. Beebe, Chicago
representative of the Chase & Baker player.
At last Monday's luncheon of the St. Louis
Advertising Men's League, Alex. McDonald, ad-
vertising manager of the M. Bollman Bros. Piano
Co., made an address on "How to Advertise
Pianos," which was very well received by those
present.
J. G. Hepburn, one of our popular local sales-
man, who has been connected with the Thiebes-
Stierlin Music Co., has accepted a similar posi-
tion with the Estey Co.
On Friday, May 4, Judge Winfield, of the
Pulaski County Circuit Court, at Little Rock,
Ark., rendered a decision which, if it is sus-
tained by the Supreme Court, will render inoper-
ative the section of the anti-trust law which
provides that all corporations in the State
shall file certificates with the Secretary of State
swearing that they are not members of any trust,
pool or combination.
The decision was rendered against the Inter-
national Harvester Co. of America and the Cin-
cinnati Cooperage Co. Judge Winfield sustained
the demurrer by these companies on the ground
that the anti-trust act does not prescribe any
penalty for the act charged in the complaints.
WILL NOT USE TRANSPARENT ENVELOPES
The postal authorities of Great Britain and
her possessions have declined to receive or
transmit articles enclosed in transparent or
semi-transparent envelopes, as it is claimed the
addresses are made indistinct and take too
much time to decipher. In view of above facts
the Post Office Department has issued an order
that matter in such wrappings and intended for
those countries be declared unmailable, which de-
cision should be noted by music publishers and
others who make use of said wrappings.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$8.00 PER YEAR.
LOS ANGELES IS ALL RIGHT.
Sensational Stories and Sensational Journals
Have Spread Broadcast Many Lies Regard-
ing Pacific Coast Conditions—Letter from
Geo. J. Birkel Co. in This Connection.
The Geo. J. Birkel Co., the well-known piano
dealers of Los Angeles, Cal., have just for-
warded The Review a very handsome booklet
giving views of their home city. In this con-
nection they say: "The accompanying views
faithfully represent Los Angeles, California, 'The
City of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels,' as she
stands to-day, April 28, 1906, and as she stood
the morning after the publication in Wm. R.
Hearst's New York Journal of monstrous head-
lines to the effect that the people of Los Angeles
were fleeing from the ruins of their city. All
of this, absolutely all, was the product of imag-
ination and was either prompted by an incred-
ible malice or else it constitutes the greatest
blunder ever committed in American journalism.
We hope that you will help us in giving the
truth of this matter the widest possible pub-
licity."
INCREASED TRADE WITH THE VOUGH CO.
The Vough Piano Co. report that this spring
is bringing them a greatly increased trade in the
New England States. "In selecting instruments
to place before their customers," says a member
of the firm, "the conservative dealers of this
section realize the advantages of the two pitch
piano and they are making use of these advan-
tages in their trade. The representative of
the company who has just been through the East
says that the outlook for a big trade for the
Vough piano is much better than ever before
and predicts a greater increase for the piano in
the next few months."
KURTZMANN PIANO FOR REGIMENT.
An art piano in weathered oak purchased by
Company F, Seventy-fourth Regiment, from C.
Kurtzmann & Co., and placed in their company
room, was greatly admired by Governor Higgins
upon his recent visit to Buffalo.
D. G. PFEIFFER ENLARGES QUARTERS.
D. G. Pfeiffer has obtained possession of a
room, 38 x 60 feet, adjoining his warerooms on
F street, and will have an entrance cut from
his main store and the new addition fitted up
in time for the convention of the dealers. The
room will be given over to Chickering pianos and
Krell Auto-Grands.
CHICKERING PUBLICITY PRAISED.
In advertising circles much favorable com-
ment has been caused by the system of advertis-
ing adopted by Chickering & Sons in the gen-
eral magazines. An interesting feature are the
cuts showing Chickering pianos as they appear
when placed in home environment. It is a prof-
itable form of advertising, as is shown by the in-
creased appropriation each year.
PUBLIC
JL Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Music
A0TOft,UMOKAMD
THE
6
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
1
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
GKO. B. KELLER.
\Y. N. TYLER.
F. TT. THOMPSON.
BMILIB FRANCES BAUER.
LI. B. BOWERS. Ji. HKITTAIX WILSON, War. B. WHITK. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKI.IN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO 195-197
OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HAULINGEN,
Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
ERNEST L. WAITT, 278A Treniont" St.
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
'
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-4*27 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
NINA PUGH-SMITH.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION, (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, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
l.ymnn Hill.
Directory of Piano
—
; ~
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a refereuct
for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
a rand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Meda/.Charleston Expolstion, l!)0i»
Diploma. Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. . St. Louis Exposition, 1004
Gold Aledal.Lev.is Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
NEW
YORK,
MAY 12,
190 6
EDITORIAL
I
T was in 1897 when the Piano Manufacturers" Association was
horn at Manhattan l>each, down by the sounding sea. It was a
lusty youngster at the start, and, in fact, it promises such healthy ma-
turity that it was deemed worthy of attacks which were made upon it
for no other purpose than to kill off its healthy expansion. I lowever,
it improved under hard usage, and each succeeding year it has shown
a fair growth. Each president, and the list is a good one. including
Henry F. Miller, A. H. Fischer. Handel Pond. F. S. Comvav, Wm.
Dalliba Dutton. Chas. H. Parsons, Ceo. P. Bent, 11. Paul Mehlin,
has endeavored to build up the organization in every possible way,
and certainly if we scan the roster of the present year it will show-
that this organization to-day has a membership which gives it a
strength which is indisputable. In fact, it is so strong now that the
discredited trade journal which sought to destroy it at its birth, and
during subsequent years, is now begging for favors at its hands.
I
T is difficult to analyze the feelings which would prompt a trade
journalist to violently attack, and by every means attempt to
disrupt an organization which was founded primarily, for the wel-
fare of an industry, unless the motive behind the attack might be
interpreted as meaning that association strength would be the extin-
guishing force to effectually wipe out that form of journalism which
preys upon the weaknesses of the individual. With the industry
presenting an united front, it was impossible to wield the bludgeon
upon the isolated individual, and while attacks upon individuals have
never wholly ceased they have been infrequent and lessening as the
organization has developed in power and strength, and it is gener-
ally conceded to-day that the Manufacturers" Association has been a
tremendous force which has placed blackguard journalism in a state
of senile decadence. The molten lava of abuse which with surpris-
ing frequency Mowed down the mounta'n side of dishonest journal-
ism has cooled, and only now and then occasional outbrusts remind
us that life is not whollv extinct.
T
HE officers, however, can well afford to look with indifference
upon any attack made upon it. It has proven its permanency
REVIEW
by long years of existence and steady growth, and to-day it is con-
cededly a great power in this industry.
The meetings at Washington which have occurred this week
have been more largely attended than any other since the associaton
was started—a fact which shows that interest in it, far from bee >m-
iug decreased, is constantly augmented. It is truly national in scope,
for every part of the Cnion where there are piano manufacturers is
fairly lepresented in the association roster.
T
ill*, organization has bet 11 criticised for not accomplishing more,
but it is an easy thing for a bv-stander to say of this runner
that he limps, of another his stride is ungainly, and of another that
he should have better training, but to be in the race with the rest,
strair.ing with the rest to reach the goal, is qu'te another thing.
Whatever result has been accomplished by the association has
been through the earnest work of a few of the members, and in this
particular, it is not different materially from all other organizations,
whether industrial, financial, or political. It seems that the work
of conducting an organization rests upon a few men, and these are
too frequently unjustly criticised for not having accomplished more.
T
HE administration of the retiring president, II. Paul Mehlin,
has been marked by increased interest in the association, and
Mr. Mehlin has invited the members to assist him in making the
organization a more potent power for trade good.
In criticising organization work we sometimes forget that it is
impossible for anv bodv of men to make rules, which would be fol-
lowed by outsiders, when they infringe for a single moment upon the
liberty of the indivdual or firms in the conduct of their business
enterprise. For that reason associations which attempt radical
changes will not accomplish much. The Piano Manufacturers" As-
sociation has been helpful in creating certainlv a better feeling
in the industry than has ever existed before. Full credit must be
given for helping to plane down some of the rough edges which have
been constant sources of irritation in tin's trade for many years.
T
HEX, too, the Piano Manufacturers' Association was instru-
mental in forming the Piano Dealers' National Association,
because under its auspices, this latter association was formed which
will plav the host to the older organization in Washington next week.
W
A S H E \ ( i T ( ) \ will be the pulsing center of music trade
interest all of next week, because the dealers" reign begins
early in the week, and the week will be well on to its close before
all of the music trade men will have taken their departure from the
Capitol City.
From indications it would seem as if the attendance next week
at the dealers' meetings would he extremely large, for, judging from
the reports at hand, there will be more music trade men in Wash-
ington than have ever gathered previously in one city upon a given
date.
The banquet which takes place at the New Willard Hotel on
next Tuesday evening will be given by the Dealers' Association, and
it will be the great function of the Washington trade gathering.
Philip Werlein, the president of the Dealers" Association, has worked
indefatigably to make the dealers' meeting a great success, and it
would seem from present indications that splendid results will be
achieved under his leadership.
S
() quickly do we forget a great calamity that the San Francisco
news has ceased to be of all absorbing interest and now occupies
a secondary position in the columns of the papers. Most of the music
trade houses, as will be shown in our special reports, have commenced
active operations in San Francisco, where they have created tem-
porary quarters. Others have gone across the bay. where they have
opened up temporarily at least in ()akland.
How to finance the great loss is interesting, and the great fire
has directed attention to the manner in which an insurance company
goes about to adjust a settlement of a large bill:
Although the compatres are abundantly able to pay, and main
of them possess very heavy bank balances, the adjustment of claims
calling for the payment of $150,000,000 or more represents a finan-
cial operation of sufficient magnitude to involve rather careful
financing. How are these huge claims to be met, where will the
companies get the money, from, and how long will it take to effect a
settlement? These questions have direct bearing upon the money
market, and to a limited extent the future cost of security prices for

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