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THE MU3IC TRADE REVIEW
A NOTABLE ENGLISH VISITOR
Business Continues to Improve Notwithstanding Unusual Weather for This Season of the Year—
Recent Lester Publicity Most Meritorious—Small Representation of Dealers to Visit Conven-
tion from Philadelphia—Gustave Herzberg's Golden Jubilee—An Interesting Letter from a
Customer in Which a Remarkable Tribute Is Paid to the Kranich & Bach Piano, Purchased
Almost a Quarter of a Century Ago—Ludwig Warerooms Out of the Painters' and Deco-
rators' Hands—Other Items of General Trade Interest.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., May 22, 1907.
The piano business in Philadelphia is continu-
ing to improve as the month goes on. At the
start it certainly looked discouraging, for there
was a certain dulness lagging about for some rea-
son that the trade could not find a solution; and
even now they are not able to explain why
things went off in such a sudden way, after the
first three months of the year showing such ex-
ceptional business.
The Lester Piano Co. have just gotten out a
very meaty booklet full of information for the
dealer on the care of the Lester concealed player-
piano. These booklets show that the instrument
is most simple and highly effective in construc-
tion, and the dealer who will read the book
will be in an excellent position to instruct his
customers as to the simplicity of construction
and also the ease of operation.
The Henry P. Miller Co. report that their best
seller at present is the Colonial, and in spite of
the complaint of dulness, this piano has found
many customers during the month.
The Cunningham Co. this week shipped a car-
load of pianos to their Reading agents, Messrs.
H. G. Hollenbach & Co.
The meeting of the National Association of
Piano Dealers in Chicago being close at hand, I
made an effort to ascertain just how many Phila-
delphia men would attend the convention, and
found that with one or two exceptions, Philadel-
phia would not be represented there. There
seems to be little wonder that the Philadelphia
trade is usually referred to in a disparaging
way, when the members show such little interest
in what is going on outside of their own busi-
ness. The Estey and Lester firms will be repre-
sented, and as the time approaches enthusiasm
may take still others to the convention. James
C. Miller always attends these conventions, and
will go this time, if his health will permit, but
he has not been very well the last few weeks.
The sale of the Charles H. Fischer stock by
the Steger firm is not progressing as rapidly as
that firm had anticipated, as Philadelphia seems
slow to take to the Western methods of advertis-
ing done by this firm. Philadelphia has not been
used to such advertising, and it takes them some
time to just grasp the meaning of the striking
headlines that are used.
Gustave Herzberg, who is this year celebrating
the fiftieth year—the golden jubilee of his entry
into the piano business in Philadelphia, during
which time he has been the representative in his
city for the Kranich & Bach piano, has this
month received the following letter from Natrona,
Pa., which speaks for itself, and is one of the
greatest indorsements of a piano that any manu-
facturer would care to possess:
"Mr. Herzberg—Dear Sir: Let your mind travel
back twenty-three years. Can you remember
Miss Adda Kluenspies? (For the past twenty
years Mrs.
.) Previous to our leaving
Philadelphia for our new home at Natrona
twenty-three years ago, we purchased a fine grand
square Kranich & Bach piano from you. I in-
sisted upon having a square piano in place of an
upright, which style was just coming into vogue,
but you offered, to change for an upright within
six months, if I did not like the square. I never
wished to change.
"My piano has proved a marvel—one among a
thousand. It is almost as good to-day as the day
we purchased it. The tone is still deep, rich and
voluminous. The sounding board is perfect, and
the case ditto. Even the keys have not turned
yellow. Two professional gentlemen, employes of
the two leading piano stores of Pittsburg, have
pronounced it wonderful. They are loud in
praise of it and think its durability exceptional
Is Sir Herbert Marshall, Who Is Keenly Inter-
ested in American Musical Instruments, Par-
ticularly the Development of the Piano
Player Mechanism—A Man Who Has Ac-
complished Much for the Trade Abroad.
Sir Herbert Marshall, president of the Music
Trades' Association of Great Britain, and head
of the prominent house of J. Herbert Marshall,
in all respects, and even after twenty-three years of London and Leicester, who handle the Knabe
of constant (but careful) usage, say it is a fine piano, the Knabe-Angelus and Emerson-Angelus,
and most excellent instrument.
arrived in the "United States May 11. During his
"P. Worthington, for many years with Mellors, sojourn East he spent several days visiting the
of Fifth avenue, Pittsburg, is the only tuner who plant of William Knabe & Co. in Baltimore, Md.,
has ever touched it. He is an English gentle- and the Wilcox & White factory in Meriden,
man, and has repeatedly told me if there should Conn.
ever come a time when I desired to part with it,
Since assuming the presidency of the British
I should see the Kranich & Bach people. That association, Sir Herbert has satisfactorily dis-
they could have no better recommendation for posed of many questions that are bothering the
their pianos than it would be, and he thought American associations to-day. He has obtained
they would be glad to get hold of it. But I have consideration from the railroads in the matter
never wanted to part with it until now, and I of rates, gone far in stamping out unfair meth-
am writing you to ask advice. We are leaving ods, persuaded a number of large houses to
here the latter part of this month for a future adopt a system of uniform prices, established a
residence in the beautiful suburban town of As- board of examination for tuners, those passing
pinwall. My son, who is eighteen years old, is a obtaining a certificate that enabled them to ob-
born electrician, and that he may have advan- tain better prices for their work, and has, in fact,
tages along both that and social lines, we make the situation well in hand in every particular.
this change. And now I wish to dispose of my Sir Herbert's visit to America is chiefly for the
piano, to purchase in its place (for cash) a purpose of studying trade conditions, and inci-
Kranich & Bach. No other make. There is dentally arranging for stock for his establish-
something in its tone no other piano possesses. ment.
Of course, I understand there is little call for
Sir Herbert's hobby is the piano player, and
the square pianos now, excepting for singing so-
cieties or schools, but considering the excellent he believes that any future improvements made
condition of my piano, I do not want to lose too in that device will be due to American inventive
genius. In an interview with the reporter of a
much on it.
local daily Sir Herbert said in this connection:
"I have an opportunity of selling it to a public
"The 'piano player' must be so perfected that
house here—a saloon—for $200, but have refused every shade of the music of the great masters
the offer, because, outside of its merits, there are can be interpreted. Artistic excellence is re-
memories connected with it which make it al- quired, and nobody can secure that without pay-
most human to me, and I could not tolerate the ing for it. In the manufacturing of the piano
thought of drunken men (and possibly women) player the finest brains and inventive genius are
using it. Please give me some advice regarding necessary to perfect the human-like touch and
its disposal, what I can get for it, and what I can other expression devices which are the life and
purchase a Kranich & Bach upright for. Send me soul of music.
a catalog of their pianos and mark which you
"There is a mistaken impression in some quar-,
consider a good one. Kindly let me hear from ters that the piano player is not sold to those
you by return mail.
who love music. Experience proves that it is
"I trust Father Time has dealt as gently and sold to cultured musical people, many of them
generously with you as he has with me. Often being good pianists whose limited repertoire does
when in the East I had thought of stopping to not include all the great works of eminent com-
see you, but there was so much demand on my posers.
time by relatives that I could not do so. Send-
"It necessarily follows that if the piano player
ing very kindest greetings and good wishes to industry is to succeed, it can do so only by mak-
you, and requesting an early reply, I am,
ing the very best article. If a manufacturer sells
"Mrs.
."
only a machine at a low price, people will soon
The painters and decorators have finished their tire of it, as they would of a musical box. The
work at the Ludwig warerooms, 1103 Chestnut idea which should be foremost is that, through
street, and the warerooms are now as pretty and the piano player, one is able to study music with
artistic as those ever occupied by a Philadelphia full scope for individuality. -In thg,t way it be-
piano firm. Their business has been very good, comes a never-ending source of delight.
and they have added quite an assortment of
"This instrument must be able not only to
other instruments to the Ludwig, particularly bring out certain parts of the score, but also mod-
Brinkerhoff.
erate accentuation by softening the accompani-
ment so as to get every degree of light and shade.
INCORPORATED.
Finally, in order to make this department a suc-
The B. H. Wade Auction Co., Buffalo, N. Y.,
have incorporated, with a capital stock of
$10,000, for the purpose of handling furniture,
pianos, etc. Incorporators: B. H. Wade, B. H.
THE BEST IN THE WORLD
Wilson and A. S. Manweren, all of Buffalo, N. Y.
The Standard of America
GERARD PIANO CO.'S "OPENING.'
The James Gerard Piano Co., Dayton, O., held
a very successful opening recently. The ware-
rooms were handsomely decorated, the stock new
and nicely arranged, and with the floral tributes
sent by the many well-wishers of the company
the opening was a memorable event among the
music lovers of the city.
The billiard championship of the New York
Athletic Club was won at the recent tournament
by Theodore Cassabeer, of Steinway & Sons.
Paradiso & Gazella, who conduct piano stores
in Passaic and Newark, N. J., have secured the
representation of the Henry & S, G. Lindeman
piano.
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