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MUSIC TRADE REVIEW/
The absurdity of such a contract regulation be carried out by the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs
never dawned upon the councillors responsible. of the city of London on Saturday, April 20.
The Council has had what they are pleased to The hall is to be called St. James' Hall, so that
term 'a standard piano' constructed, and this is the title of the popular, but now demolished, es-
on view to piano makers at the Council's furni- tablishment in Piccadilly will be perpetuated by
ture stores in Clerkenwell Close. It is provided its successor. The builders have contracted to
that 'The clerk of the Council shall have power have the new hall ready by September next.
to reject any pianoforte which, in his judgment,
The Autopiano Selling Well.
is not in accordance with the standard sample
Messrs. Kastner & Co. speak of a distinct re-
of the specification, and his determination shall vival in trade since the slump following Christ-
be final.' Mr. Gomme is a great authority on mas. Their autopiano is in good demand, and,
folk-lore and upon London government, but up to said the manager, "our last week's sales were
now no one suspected him of an expert knowl- the best since the old year, and well up to the
edge of pianos.
average for this time."
These business gentlemen who run the Coun-
cil's trading concerns may, if returned, establish
J. H. SOLE ORGAN CO. AFFAIRS.
a municipal piano factory. Their knowledge of
pianoforte construction may be gathered from Application for Receiver Refused—But Leave
the fact that every piano ordered under the con-
Piano Prices to be Higher.
Given to File Amended Petition—Trouble
Owing to the great all-round increase in the tract must be delivered within fourteen days of
Due to Dissatisfaction of Stockholders.
prices of pianoforte materials of construction a the order—a period in which no good piano can
meeting of manufacturers and others was re- be turned out. If the contractor is not ready
(Special to The Review.)
cently convened in London to consider what with his piano in fourteen days—the order may
Fremont, O., March 4, 1907.
steps should be taken. to make good the higher be for one or for a hundred—the Council can
Trouble among some of the stockholders of the
cost of manufacture, which is estimated roughly go out and buy against him, paying any price J. H. Sole Organ Co., of this city, came to a head
at 5 per cent. The following was resolved: they like for a piano.
last week, when application was made to Judge
John Brinsmead & Sons hitherto supplied the Alexander for the appointment of a receiver for
"That this meeting of British piano and organ
makers is of opinion that the very serious and. instruments for the Council's schools. The issue the company. The application was made by a
permanent rise which has taken place in the inviting other firms to tender suggests dissatis- local firm and a creditor who have claims against
price of the materials used by them renders a faction with the price rather than the quality, as the organ company. Judge Alexander refused
rise in the trade price of instruments impera- I was informed by Mr. Billinghurst that the to grant the request for a receiver, but gave the
tive." The meeting was represented by all the Council had made a poor copy of one of their in- applicants leave to file an amended petition. The
leading manufacturers, and although the number struments and exhibited it as the model to fol- appointment was resisted by other creditors of
present did not form a majority of the legiti- low. "While," says Mr. Billinghurst, "imitation is the concern and several suits were filed against
mate piano men in London it will not be doubt- the sincerest form of flattery, it is rather a the company. The organ company has been
ed but that the rise to dealers will be fairly scurvy trick to suck our brains for their own doing a good business, but some of the stock-
general, as even the outside or independent benefit."
holders allege mismanagement.
firm's must feel the increased productive cost,
Maestro Grows in Favor.
and unless they raise their prices, quality must
W. P. Dando, of Mustel Pere et Fils, reports
PROSPECTS OVER THE 'PHONE.
suffer. However, the matter is further to be dis- a splendid state of business. He said the de-
cussed, and possibly a fixed percentage increase mand is more than they are able to cope with.
will be decided upon. Mr'. Billinghurst, of John The afternoon recitals do much to introduce and A Review Subscriber Tells an Interesting Story
of How He Recently Effected the Sale of an
Brinsmead & Sons, interviewed upon the subject, popularize the "Maestro," which excites much
A. B. Chase Piano by Telephone.
said he was in active sympathy with the move- wonderment every day.
ment, and had himself made several proposi-
Chase & Baker for Feurich Piano.
The manager of a large piano store in a nearby
tions at the meeting which were unanimously
At the Chase & Baker Co. I learned of the in- city sent the following story to The Review,
carried. The Trade Protection Society would
shortly officially inform dealers of the revision tention to fit their interior player in the famous which illustrates the fact that there are several
of prices as from July 1 next. The possible in- "Feurich" piano shortly. General business is ways of selling a piano—business will not
come to him who waits for it. He says: "It
crease would be 2% per cent, on grands and 5 quiet, but the outlook fairly good.
was a rainy day and my six salesmen were sit-
per cent, on uprights; at any rate, averaging
No Slump With Ramsden & Son.
out at not more than 5 per cent. The cost of
I found the well-known house of Archibald ting around the store joking and telling each
raw materials is ever on the rise, and the Lon- Ramsden & Son, in an exceptionally busy state. other what they had done and could do if
don manufacturers' move comes none too soon.
Mr. Ramsden said: "Unlike many other firms, far they had to. Finally I said: 'Why don't you
from feeling tne slump, we are right full-up fellows get out after some business?' Upon being
Musical Piracy Still Rampant.
with orders, and with us the season promises to informed that there was nothing doing, in jest
Musical piracy is still fairly rampant in some continue good for a long time ahead." An oc- I pulled the receiver from the 'phone on my desk
parts of the United Kingdom, but London itself currence that they much regretted lays in the and said to Central, when she answered my call:
sees little of pirates, except now and again in necessity to take proceedings against one of their 'I have got a half-dozen salesmen hanging round
the more suburban areas. A little more activ- managers who had robbed the company of cer- the store here anxious to sell a piano, but say
ity on the part of the trade in the provinces tain moneys. "Being an old and trusted serv- there is nothing doing. Can you tell me where
would soon make piracy impossible.
ant," said Mr. Ramsden, "we naturally felt this I might land a sale?' She said she did not know
Pianos for the Council School at London.
very keenly, and were loath to take the final steps of any one at that moment, but would keep me
The London County Council's terms, restric- that brought about three months' hard labor for posted. In about a half an hour the 'phone bell
rang, and Central said: 'Are you the gentleman
tions and red tape conditions in their instruc- the prisoner."
who wanted to sell a piano?' Upon receiving an
tions to those tendering for pianos in the schools
Not Brisk at Bluthners.
affirmative answer she said: 'Call on Mrs.
has aroused a storm of derision and indignation
At Bluthner's business was not so brisk as it Blank to-morrow at 10 o'clock.' I did so and sold
in trade circles. The following particulars gath-
should be. The manager reported orders were a style T $500 A. B. Chase, and have another
ered will be of interest: The supply of pianos
maintaining a fair average, but he thought sales prospect as a consequence, which goes to show
to the Council schools of London commenced in
were slightly on the decrease.
that pianos can be sold if a salesman will make
1890, and down to the present about 1,400 pianos
an effort."
Automobile Influence on Yokel.
have been supplied. The non-provided schools
In a country lane could be seen a perspiring
are already supplied with 500 pianos, not out of
the rates, leaving 358 departments needing motorist working frantically in a vain endeavor
MASON & HAMLIN'S FOR CHURCHES.
pianos. At to-day's meeting of the County Coun- to restart the run-out motor engine. After turn-
cil the Education Committee propose that fifty ing the winding crank and exhausting his tem-
The Norfolk (Va.) branch of the Cable Com-
pianos, costing £17 each, shall be supplied to per in many other directions, the engine was pany has been very successful in placing Mason &
the non-provided schools. A fortnight ago the eventually induced to respond, but with such an
Hamlin organs in that city and vicinity through
Council accepted tenders for 100 pianos to be infernal noise as to arouse the field laborers
the efforts of Manager B. B. Burton and L. W.
from their slumbers. The motorist was just
supplied to their schools.
Stagg, organ salesmen. Ten organs have been
about
to
make
another
inspection
of
the
ma-
This was the first time the trade had ever
placed in various churches within a very short
seen the peculiar conditions laid down in the chinery when one of the country yokels, who time, and there are a number of good prospects
Council's contracts. Then they discovered they had by now arrived on the scene of action, pre- to be worked up.
were bound to specify the wages paid and hours ferred • somewhat extraordinary request: "Say,
observed in making the many parts of the pianos. mister, do you mind slowing up on that tune
B. W. Corey, whose piano store at Middleville,
They were to be responsible for the wages paid a bit, me and my mates would much prefer 'The N. Y., was reported in the daily papers has hav-
Old
Bull
and
Bush/
if
yer
can
do
that!"
by the makers of the French action, the key mak-
ing suffered a great loss by fire, writes The Re-
ers, the ivory cutters, the iron founders, the
To Lay Cornerstone of New St. James Hall.
view to say that the damage was very slight,
brass founders, screw makers, felt makers, and
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone and caused by water. He is now in his new
so on. The various parts are, of course, pro- of the new concert hall now being built in Great store, doing business on the first floor, and re-
duced by different contractors.
Portland street, W., at a cost of $500,000, will ports trade as booming.
cially catering for the demand in this direction.
The young prodigy, Lionel Ovender, well to the
fore here as a pianist, violinist and composer, an
authority on pianos, will use no other than a
"Lipp." In a letter to Mr. Willeringhaus he
begs the loan of a Lipp grand for use at the
orchestral concert to be held on the 4th of May
at the Queen's Hall, as he feels as much at home
with a "Lipp" as with his favorite violin. Lionel
Ovender was the recipient of royal patronage a
few days ago. Mr. Willeringhaus was invited to
take the young genius to Kensington Palace to
play before Princess Louise and other members
of the royal family, who it is needless to say,
thoroughly enjoyed the little drawing room con-
cert. They further had the honor of partaking
tea with the Princess, which obviously was a
most signal mark of favor.