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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Satisfaction Prevails in London Regarding the General Trade Situation—Music Publishers Well
Pleased With New Copyright L a w ^ J o h n Brinsmead's Son Dead—Manager
Billinghurst
Makes a Splendid Report Regarding Brinsmead Business—New Short Grand .Piano Being
Put Out by Ramsden at $300—Huge Concert Undertaking—Harry Hunter Passes Away—
Difficult to Get Karn Pianos in London—Strohmenger & Co.'s Huge Export Business—
Secure Gold Medal at Capetown Exhibition—Metzler & Co. Latest Songs—Big Christmas
Orders—For Estey Organ Co.—Tremendous Demand for Packard Organs—The Strike in
Germany—Welte Player-Piano a Marvelous Creation—New Copyright Bill Proves a Great
Boon to Music Publishers—Outlook in Their Line Never So Satisfactory.
(Special to The Review, i
Review Office, 69 Basinghall Street,
London, E. C, Nov. 26, 1906.
From all reports to hand, a state of general
satisfaction exists both in the music, sheet and
pianoforte trade circles. With Christmas a few
weeks ahead, the present very gratifying con-
ditions should be far exceeded when anticipation
of the good things to come puts the public in the
right mood to buy. Manufacturers are having a
delightful time if we judge harassed looks by the
number of orders they cannot get out on time.
Dealers are now busy, but they one and all
scent still better sales to come. With the pirates
practically swept from the streets, the publishers
are having things more their own way, but right
here I would like to say that although extinction
of pirated music is a boon to the trade, the
strongest argument for music sheets at a cheaper
and more reasonable price, is lost. It would be
fitting for the publishers generally to remember
that there is a strong public feeling of resent-
ment at the price now charged, and it behooves
them to issue the music at least at half the pres-
ent standard rate, and thus ensures treble the
number of copies sold.
business to be splendid, especially in the provinces
where they have a large number of showrooms.
Among their many specialties they are pushing
a 5-foot 5-inch short grand, which is meeting
with the success it deserves, for as it is used by
Madam Clara Butt throughout her long provin-
cial tour it must certainly merit all the praise a
pen can bestow.
Something out of the ordinary run of things
and something that ought to surprise Ameri-
cans, is a new short grand piano, that is being
sold by Messrs. Ramsdens at the exceptionally
low price of $300. The reception of this instrument
has been simply marvelous. "There's no need to
push this line," said Mr. Ramsden, "they go quick
enough as it is—cannot make them fast enough."'
We have a large number of orders always in
hand. The popularity of this style is princi-
pally due to the English public's partiality for
a small piano. Messrs. Ramsden do a big trade
with J. & P. Shiedmayer, of Stuttgart, which,
by the way, is the only firm who continues to
turn out pianos during the strike which reigns
in that town just now. Mr. A. Ramsden (senior),
who is well-known in the States, still takes an
active part in the management, and hopes to do
so for a good number of years yet.
Carnegie Donates Part Price of Organ.
The new Roman Catholic Church a t Godalm-
ing is in want of an organ. The millionaire has
promised Father Ryland, the priest in charge,
a donation of £90 10s., which is half the cost of
the instrument, on condition that the congrega-
tion raise the remainder. "Mr. Carnegie's bene-
factions in the direction of free libraries are
well-known," says the Catholic Herald, "and it
is to be hoped that he will not limit his gener-
osity in the matter of organs to the church in
question."
Strohmenger Sells 100 Pianos a Week.
The manager of Messrs. Strohmenger & Co.,
High Holborn, W. C, was very sanguine about
business for the coming Christmas when The Re-
view called. He said that the sheet music trade
was good, and now that the public could not ob-
tain the cheap pirated songs, he confidently an-
ticipated a smart time.
A new circular end baby grand is receiving
marked attention here, owing to its adaptability
to be placed in any angle of a room. I t is made
by Knabe, and the sales are such as to fully jus-
tify Messrs. Strohmenger in placing it in the
front ranks.
A huge export business is done by Messrs.
Strohmenger, and they have only recently been
awarded the gold medal at the Cape Town Ex-
hibition of all classes of pianos. The above
firm are selling an average of 100 pianos a week,
besides large numbers of other instruments of
all kinds.
The Strohmenger autopiano is made in wal-
nut, rosewood, mahogany and ebonized case. The
sales of the auto are very large.
Messrs. Strohmenger have been established
over a century, their premises occupying one of
the best positions in High Holborn.
Kastner & Co. Find That Advertising Pays.
Messrs. Kastner & Co., of Margaret street W.,
are
busy in all departments. This splendid state
I have much regret in announcing the death of
Ehrbar Co.'s Big Roster of Concerts.
of trade they attribute to the enormous amount
Thomas J. Brinsmead, son of John Brinsmead,
During the season the Ehrbar Co. are giving
the founder of the famous firm, a t the Limes over 250 concerts in Vienna, which is indeed a of advertising they have recently undertaken. A
whole front page of the Daily Mail, devoted to
Fellowes road, Haverstock Hill, London. He was huge undertaking. Most of their business is
Messrs. Kastner & Co.'s special autopiano has
sixty-two years of age, and took a leading part by connection among artists—the aristocracy, for
brought in splendid results, so much so, that the
in the conduct of his father's firm, until it was whom, of course, they principally cater—all the
firm are having all they can do to turn the
converted into a limited liability company. Be- instruments offered for sale are first-class. No
stuff out and keep pace with the influx of orders.
sides having visited the States himself, the de- cheap goods of any kind are dealt with, and the
It may be of interest to note that Messrs.
ceased gentleman has at the present time a son manager says that it is only by the keeping up
in California who has made himself very popu- of consistent excellence that the Ehrbar Co. have Kastner & Co. have just closed a contract for the
lar in the riverside district, where he carries on earned for themselves such a reputation. Their entire fitting up of the well-known Lipp piano,
which is well and favorably known in Germany.
the occupation of a fruit grower.
instruments have been performed on by all thei
Metzler's Recent Publications.
leading artists, and the tasteful way in which
Many Orders Angelus-Brinsmead.
That
well-known
firm, Messrs. Metzler & Co.,
At John Brinsmead & Sons showrooms I found their showrooms are set out forms a picture in
Great
Maryborough
street, have recently pub-
itself.
Trade
on
the
whole
is
good,
but
the
man-
Mr. Billinghurst very eulogistic about trade—
lished some good songs by Bevan, and the re-
impossible to turn out pianos fast enough—every ager (like Oliver Twist) would like a little more.
ception of same have proved highly satisfactory.
depot working overtime, and speaking of the
Death of Harry Hunter.
Business all round is fine, and the poularity of
new Angelus Brinsmead piano alone, over 40
their new publication, The Amasir, has far out-
Harry
Hunter,
up
to
1902
connected
with
orders are waiting to be executed. The demand
reached all expectations. Referring to the copy-
for this particular style, Mr. Dillinghurst in^ Messrs. Francis, Day & Hunter, passed away
right bill, Mr. Grimston felt himself bound to
last
month.
The
deceased
was
64
years
of
age,
forms me, is astounding, and no other piano and
admit that it had been materially beneficial to
piano player combined has ever met with such and was perhaps best known as the chief of the all the publishers. He thought that the police
world-renowned "Mohawk" minstrels, and a com-
a wonderful reception.
might give a little more of their attention to the
Brinsmead's traveler leaves London this week poser of several popular songs. The news has pirates (for there are still large numbers of
caused
profound
regret
in
trade
and
musical
cir-
for his annual visit to Canada, taking with him
these robbers infesting the streets and markets,
some specially made samples. From there he cles generally.
especially provincial cities), and so make it even
Good Report from Barnes & Mullins.
will proceed to South Africa.
I called upon Messrs. Barnes & Mullins, of more beneficial for those chiefly concerned. Still,
Speaking of the amount of business done this
he was pleased that something had been
year, Mr. Billinghurst told me that although it Rathbone place, Oxford street, and to use a com- achieved, and now only looked forward to the
was only the beginning of November, the sales mon expression, I found them "up to their eyes time when all pirated music will have complete-
had already greatly exceeded the whole of the in it." Business is very satisfactory in the ex- ly disappeared.
<
business done throughout the preceding year. tensive lines which they handle.
Estey Organ Co. Well Satisfied With Trad*.
This he thought particularly satisfactory, consid-
D. W. Karn & Co. Denuded of Stock.
"Business continues to increase by leaps and
ering the increase in the price of such items as
D. W. Karn & Co., of Newman street W., are
belly wood, brass, iron work, covered strings and also on the Christmas road. Their new catalogue bounds. Our Christmas trade orders are com-
ivory keys.
is superb, and fully deserves all the praise lan- ing in splendidly, and we shall have all we can
Since he returned from his trip to the West of guage can command. Mr. Heath (the manager) do to dispatch them in time." So spoke the man-
England Mr. Billinghurst has visited the princi- spoke^ seriously of the empty condition of the ager of the Estey Organ Co., who further stated
pal towns in the North of England and Scotland, warehouse and showrooms, deploring his inabil- that each year their turnover increases in com-
and he reports favorably of every place he went ity to keep them full, wishing the makers would parison with previous seasons, and prospects are
to, more especially Scotland, where the business hurry up and forward on the many orders which good for a record during the season now with us.
he did was far in excess of the usual amount,
are now considerably overdue. Mr. Heath point-
Chas H. Wagener Expected.
i Messrs. Brinsmeads are exhibiting at Christ- ed to a consignment, and said that when they
At the Apollo Co. business is going apace dur-
church, N. Z., some new designs in both plain left the place for Brazil there was little left to ing Mr. Wagener's absence, whose return from
,' and decorated pianos, and the results of the send off anywhere. Messrs. Karn & Co. are push- the States is now expected any day. No doubt
,'exhibition have been more than satisfactory.
ing vigorously the Pianauto, which goes well, and Mr. Wagener will have some interesting infor-
Some Surprises at Ramsden's.
gives wonderful satisfaction to the many pur- mation to convey "upon his return to the shores
of old England, where he is always welcome.
Inquiries at Archibald Ramsden & Sons proved chasers.
Death of Thos. J. Brinsmead.