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THE
BALTIMORE PIANOS IN MALTA.
Instruments
Made Here Find Their Way to
the Far Off Island.
D. B. Thurber, of London, recently a guest at
the Hotel Rennert, in talking of travels in which
he has engaged in the last year or two, said:
"I see Baltimore products almost everywhere I
go. Four months ago I was at Malta, and was
surprised to observe the great number of pianos
in use, many of which were manufactured in your
city. In the main, these instruments are of the
better variety, but there seems to be a pretty
steady demand there for musical instruments of
American make.
"While I was conversing with Mr. Grout, the
American consul at Valetta, our talk happened to
drift upon this subject, and he told me that in
his opinion Malta offered an excellent market for
the enterprising piano manufacturer, and said
that the cheaper grades of good make would be
greatly in demand."—Baltimore (Md.) Herald.
A FUEHR & STEMMER FAVORITE.
The accompanying illustration shows style V,
one of four beautiful uprights manufactured by
the Puehr & Stemmer Piano Co., which has its
offices in the Auditorium Building, Chicago, and
MUSIC TRADE! REVIEW
COMPENSATING ORGAN CO. AFFAIRS.
Committee of Strongest Shareholders Form
New Organization and Will Obtain Posses-
sion of Assets of Company Now in Bank-
ruptcy—To Make Tubular Pneumatic Pipe
Organs.
Is There an Opening in Cincinnati for New
Piano House?—Business
Reports
from
Leading Houses Very Encouraging—News of
the Week in Detail.
(Special to The Review.)
(Special to The Review.)
Battle Creek, Mich., Feb. 19, 1906.
Concerning the bankruptcy proceedings which
have* been filed against the Compensating Pipe
Organ Co., a member of the concern said to The
Review representative to-day:
"As you know, attempts have been made for the
last year to float a bond issue, which was in-
tended to pay the indebtedness of the company,
and to furnish a sufficient working capital with
which to put the company on its feet, and in a
position to take its proper place among the other
organ manufacturers. However, all attempts have
failed to accomplish this purpose, and some of the
heaviest creditors felt that it was useless to
longer wait, and that it would be better for the
future of the business to immediately bring the
affairs to a crisis. Accordingly on February 10
a petition in bankruptcy was filed. On February
12 the annual meeting of the company was held,
and the shareholders were notified of the bank-
ruptcy proceedings. There was a committee of
five of the strongest shareholders present ap-
pointed to form a new organization of the old
stockholders, with the idea of obtaining posses-
sion of the assets at the proper time, and with
strong financial backing to make it possible for
the company to continue the business energetical-
ly and in a manner the product would warrant.
"All who have had the opportunity of seeing
and testing the product of this factory are unani-
mous in their belief that there is a wide opening
for this business, and, in fact, the business out-
look was never brighter since the formation of
the original company.
"The shareholders are much pleased with the
new branch of industry which had just been
started, viz., the new tubular pneumatic pipe or-
gan, and all conceded that it was a good move to
add this branch to the compensating instruments.
Both branches will be energetically pushed by
the new organization."
HASBROUCK GROWS IN FAVOR.
which has recently moved into its new factory at
641-647 North Boulevard, in the same city. The
style illustrated is offered in mahogany or oak
case of attractive design, is four feet ten inches in
height, has Schwander action, Pohlmann wire for
the treble and copper-wound bass strings, solid
brass trimmings, and is made of the best ma-
terials throughout. The Fuehr & Stemmer pianos
aie winning deserved recognition over a broad ex-
panse of territory because of their fine tonal
qualities and beautiful case designs.
BALDWIN ROOMS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
(Special to The Review.)
San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 17, 1906.
D. H. Baldwin & Co. have secured quarters
at the corner of Post and Howard streets, on
that prominent center known as Union Square,
where they will have handsome retail quarters
In keeping with the world-wide prestige of the
Baldwin instruments. Their offices in that city
as heretofore will continue in the James Flood
Building.
V. W. O'BRIEN'S WESTWARD TRIP.
V. W. O'Brien, road ambassador for Krakauer
Bros., is arranging for a trip westward in the
interest of this house, whose old established
agents have accorded him a very cordial wel-
come, and he anticipates a very careful hearing
in presenting the Krakauer proposition to new
trade.
11
P. H. Vaughan, one of the traveling representa-
tives of the Hasbrouck Piano Co., has just re-
turned from a seven-day trip through some of the
New England States, and in that time sold not
only thirty-five pianos, but placed to his credit
a number of new agents. He left yesterday for a
trip to Maine and New Hampshire, and from
there will probably journey South. He reports
an increasing demand and appreciation of the
small style Hasbrouck, which is giving the great-
est of satisfaction, both from the standpoints of
tone and construction. Mr. Vaughan is quite en-
thusiastic about the Hasbrouck, and with good
reason, for no matter to whom he has sold re-
orders have resulted—abundant proof of the sat-
isfaction-giving qualities of the Hasbrouck pianos.
GRINNELL MANAGERS MEET.
The annual meeting of the store
the Grinnell Piano Co. was held in
week. Following the meeting there
ber of entertainments which helped
visit a most enjoyable one.
managers of
Detroit, this
were a num-
to make the
Mr. G. A. Thornquist, piano dealer, Salem,
Mass., has moved to more commodious quarters
s.t 175 Essex street, that city.
Edwin Jarrett, the Kroeger ambassador, has
been calling on that firm's New England and
nearby trade during the past week.
The building now being erected at 1009-1011
Grand avenue, Kansas City, Mo., will be occu-
pied May 1 by the Kimball Piano Co.
The Cable Company have opened warerooms
in Greensboro, N. C, which is being managed
from the Richmond house.
Cincinnati, O., Feb. 21, 1906.
The entrance of new piano houses into the sell-
ing field of Cincinnati territory is being viewed
with a good deal of scepticism concerning the ul-
timate financial results, by those who profess to
understand the situation. As a field of endeavor
Cincinnati is already crowded. Several manu-
facturing houses of national importance divide
the wholesale trade, and numerous agencies cover
the retail. These agencies succeed through an
extended personal and local acquaintance. Ex-
tensive advertising is not practised by them, nor
held in high repute as a business bringer. New
pianos and other instruments have but small
success with the public, which is conservative in
buying, and prefers to purchase a known make,
of even less merit, to investing in an instrument
of perhaps superior but unknown qualities.
Nevertheless, the rumors grew thick and fast of
new enterprises. These are dreaded by the trade,
not because of the possible loss of customers, but
through the possibility of ultimate failure, which
in Cincinnati has produced disastrous results for
several seasons after such events occurred.
During the past week the John Church Co. en-
joyed a very good business in high-grade goods.
August Beall slipped quietly out of town to con-
summate a new business deal which is not yet
announced. Frank A. Lee went to Parkersburg,
Va., for several days, in connection with the E.
M. Curtis assignment.
The Baldwin Piano Co. has found an increase
of business during the present over the past
month, with fine prospects for the sale of several
high-class player-pianos. The Baldwin player
has had an exceptionally good month. E. E.
Roberts has gone to Mt. Clemens, seriously ill
from rheumatism, which has affected his eyes.
The Smith & Nixon Piano Co. are all torn up
over the remodeling, which is very extensive. H.
W. Crawford, president of the company, is a ver-
satile gentleman. Aside from his ability as a
piano man, he is something of a musician, a
musical enthusiast, and occasionally enters the
lecture field. On the 19th Mr. Crawford read a
paper before the Avondale Mosaic, which was
both scholarly and interesting. Business is good
in spite of the alteration disorder.
At the Wurlitzer Co., A. B. Scheu is making a
great success, with his popular music sale. He
has received orders for 25,000 copies of the popu-
lar songs he has written.
Raymond Strief is back at his post after an ill-
ness of several weeks. Business in all depart-
ments is good. Mr. Strief says they cannot get
enough goods to fill orders and the store is kept
open on Saturday nights in order to accommodate
customers.
R. Wurlitzer, Jr., is in Chicago, after visiting
the branch house. On Saturday last so many
pianos were sold by the Wurlitzer Co. that the
delivery wagons of the firm could not handle all
the deliveries, and extra wagons had to be hired.
Ernest Urchs, of Steinway & Sons, was a vis-
itor who was warmly received last week.
The new W. W. Kimball piano store is not yet
open for business, but has a big canvas sign
stretched across the building, saying "the prices
will surprise."
C. E. BYRNE CO.'S NEW CATALOGUE.
The C. E. Byrne Piano Co., 229-235 East 41st
street, New York, have just issued a new cata-
logue, which contains illustrations and descrip-
tions of their style F, style M, style K and style
S uprights. There is also much information con-
cerning the construction of the Byrne piano,
Byrne prestige and Byrne testimonials. The vol-
ume is right to the point in a literary way, and
in this connection must be commended. It is
nicely gotten up, and should prove an effective
missionary for the company.