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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
BLACKMORE ON PIANO PRICES.
President of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association Says That Everything That Goes
Into an Instrument Has Been So Advanced
That an Increase in Piano Prices Is In-
evitable—Freight Delays Discussed.
(Special to The Review.)
Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1906.
Dawson J. Blackmore, president of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association of
America, who has been making a business visit
to this city, in the course of a chat at the Yates
Hotel said that on account of the high price of
materials the price of pianos would have to be
raised at least ten per cent. On this subject Mr.
Blackmore further said:
"The executive committee of the National as-
sociation will meet soon, and it is probable that
the manufacturers will be advised to increase the
price of pianos. This is necessary, because
• everything is so much higher. Lumber, iron,
hardware, ivory, and everything that goes into
a piano has been advanced 50 to 100 per cent."
Mr. Blackmore said that trade was in splendid
condition, and that all manufacturers were hav-
ing trouble in filling their orders.
One of the movements in which Mr. Black-
more has been niominent is that to secure a
lower classification for pianos with railroad com-
panies so as to have the freight reduced. An-
other thing for which manufacturers are fight-
ing is prompter shipments.
"There was recently brought to my attention,"
said Mr. Blackmore, "a concerted effort on the
part of shoe manufacturers to secure a ruling
from the Interstate Commerce Commission re-
garding reasonable promptness in delivering
freight. A large Virginia company has issued
a pamphlet giving instances of delayed ship-
ments where the average mileage for twenty-four
hours was 61.61. The ordinary canal boat makes
120 miles in twenty-four hours.
"I believe if every association of business men
would make an effort toward improvement in
this direction a ruling would be secured which
• would give some relief."
GIFT TO BAYLOR UNIVERSITY.
Old
Piano
Formerly Belonging
Houston.
to General
(Special to The Review.)
Waco, Texas, Nov. 24, 1906.
A valued gift has just been presented to Bay-
lor University by Mrs. Nannie Morrow, of Beau-
mont, eldest daughter of General Sam Houston.
The gift is an old Steinway piano, which was pur-
chased by General Houston for Mrs. Morrow
when she was fifteen years old, and the purchase
was made in 1861. The instrument was bought
from the Sachlehen firm in Galveston, and prob-
ably this was the only piano house in Texas at
that time. It was shipped to the Houston home
at Cedar Bayou by boat, as that was the chief
method of transportation in 'those times. Gen-
eral Houston was one of the first trustees of Bay-
lor University, and this makes the gift peculiarly
acceptable and appropriate. It will have an hon-
ored place at the institution.
HAS 100-YEAR-OLD PIANO.
(Special to The Review.)
Mt. Holly, N. J., Nov. 24, 1906.
Mrs. William Bryan, of Vincenttown, has come
into possession of an heirloom whose antiquity
and rarity makes it almost priceless. I t is a
piano over a hundred years old, that belonged to
her greataunt, Anna Reading Wood, who was a
daughter of Thomas Newbold and Anna Read-
ing Wood, and great-granddaughter of John
Reading, the Governor of the Province of New
Jersey in 1746, and again in 1757. The old in-
strument is of solid mahogany, handsomely in-
laid, and rests upon thin spindle-like legs of the
style peculiar to that period.
NEW CONCERN IN NEW HAVEN.
Warerooms Opened by Geo. T. Birks, Formerly
W i t h the Treat & Shepard Co.
(Special to The Review.)
New Haven, Conn., Nov. 26, 1906.
George T. Birks, who for several years past
was manager of the Treat & Shepard Co., has
taken the local agency for the Baldwin, Elling-
ton, Hamilton and Howard, and the Baldwin
Player-Piano, Ellington Player-Piano and Bald-
win Piano-Player.
Mr. Birks' warerooms, 150 Orange street (op-
posite Pitkin lane), have been fitted up very
nicely; everything is new.
An illustration of the enterprise of the Bald-
win firm is shown in the dainty little song books
which Mr. Birks, as their representative, is giv-
ing away free. There are three different works:
"Songs of Long Ago," "Songs of the Sunny
South" and "A Bunch of Baby Songs," giving the
words and music of the, choicest selections of
songs in the classification indicated by the titles.
KRANICH & BACH TO BERLIN.
One of Their Small Grands Shipped to Alvin
Kranich.
Kranich & Bach have just shipped one of their
new style M small grands to Leipsic, Germany.
It was forwarded to Alvin Kranich, the well-
known pianist, and brother of Fred and Helmuth
Kranich, of Kranich & Bach. The instrument
is designed as a present to a friend of Mr. Kran-
ich. It is a valuable gift, and one that will not
only reflect credit on the house of Kranich &
Bach, but on the art of American piano making.
The Kranich & Bach small grand is an instru-
ment of rare attributes, the tone being marvel-
ously even and rich in quality, while it is not
necessary to speak of its construction, for the
Kranich & Bach instruments have long been dis-
tinguished for their ability to withstand wear
arid time.
THE LOT OF A PIANO MAN
Not Always a Happy One—This Is Illustrated
in a Recent Happening in Lynn, Mass.
To prevent a constable from removing from his
house a piano which had been bought on the in-
stalment plan, Christopher C. Roberts, of Lynn,
Mass., lashed his wife to the instrument and de-
fied the officer to remove it with the appended fe-
male.
Roberts claimed that he paid for the piano.
The piano company declared there was a consid-
erable amount due on it, and sent the constable
t'j bring it away. Roberts and Crockett had a
sharp argument over the matter when the con-
stable came to the house. Then as Crockett start-
ed to close the instrument Roberts yelled: "Stand
in front, Mary!"
Mary stood, and her husband pulled from be-
hind the door a 20-foot clothesline, with which
THE
ERNEST A.
TONK
PIANO
he securely tied his wife to the music box.
In the midst of the trouble Patrolman Flynn
arrived. He acted as umpire, and arranged a
compromise. The constable left and Mrs. Roberts
was released from her uncomfortable position.
Verily the life of a piano man is far from be-
ing the proverbial bed of roses. Just when he is
getting used to dodging shotguns, vicious dogs
and injunctions, and has learned to avoid them
an entirely new game is sprung on him.
He works like a Trojan to place the piano in
the house, and then plays the hero in "A Des-
perate Chance" to get it back again.
DES MOINES FREIGHT EXPERT.
Business Men of That City in Order to Advance
Their Interests Intend to Employ Traffic
Manager So That They Will Not Suffer
Delays in Future.
(Special to The Review.)
Des Moines, la., Nov. 24, 1906.
One of the most important matters before the
Greater Des Moines Committee just now is the
selection of a man to manage the freight bureau
which the committee will establish. The com-
mittee is looking for a freight expert who is
thoroughly familiar with the details of railway
traffic and rate making. The salary which the
committee proposes to pay for the services of a
traffic manager will be commensurate with abili-
ties of a high order. At the latest meeting of the
Greater Des Moines Committee a number of deal-
ers in musical instruments were entertained and
made further acquainted with the committee's
plans.
HAKENJOS CO. OBJECT.
To the Annoyance of Tearing Down Adjoining
Buildings and Which
Would Seriously
Damage Their Stock.
(Special to The Review.)
New Orleans, La., Nov. 23, 1906.
The Hakenjos Piano Co., the well-known music
house which for over three years have been lo-
cated at 930 Canal, are having trouble over their
lease.
It seems that the company have renewed their
lease for a long term of years, and anticipating
quiet possession, have spent several thousand
dollars remodeling the interior of this store.
Having just about completed the work they now
get advices that in making improvements to ad-
joining properties, the walls of their building
must come down.
After going to such an expense at fitting up the
store, the Hakenjos Co. object to this, and are un-
willing to accept the alternatives of putting up
with the inconvenience and loss in having an en-
tirely new stock of pianos fuined with the dust
and mortar, or vacating the premises.
The matter has been placed in their attorneys'
hands and prompt action will be taken to see if
they can remain undisturbed where they are.
Should the Hakenjos Co. be unable to secure re-
dress there is no other course but to remove or
retire from business.
BUSY TIMES WITH CABLE-NELSON CO.
Reports from South Haven, Mich., state that
the Cable-Nelson Piano Co., of that place, are over
400 pianos behind in their orders, and are having
difficulty in handling their holiday business. The
company have been making weekly carload ship-
ments to Pacific Coast points, and have built up
a strong trade in that locality.
EXTRAORDINARY
DURABILITY
RTISTIC
DESIGN
Correspondence with active
dealers solicited.
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A
William Tonk & Bro.
452-456 Ttnth Avi., Ntw York