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THE MUSIC
REVIEW
Gray both hold positions at the Strawbridge &
Clothier piano department. Naturally they are
very anxious for the H. C. Schomacker Co. to
begin work, but it is thought by many in the
Trade for May Averages Better Than Expected—Leading Firms Well Situated to Meet Demands
trade that it is not unlikely that should the Gray
—Schomacker Affairs Still Unsettled—Three Bids for the Schomacker Name, Stock, Etc.—
interests get the old Schomacker business, that
Curiosity as to Who Will Get the Property—Said That Wanamaker Is Behind Highest
there never will be put on the market an H. C.
Bidder—Mr. Dutton a Visitor—Mr. Shewell's Vacation—Ludwig Player a Great Favorite—
Schomacker piano, particularly if the Wanamaker
Lester Piano Co. Send Out a Third More Pianos This Month Than During Any Previous
house take the Schomacker and push it in
Month in Their History—Display at Jamestown Helps.
Philadelphia. It would require a tremendous
amount of money for the H. C. Schomacker firm
(Special to The Review.)
. The status of the Schomacker affairs is still
to buck up against the old firm, and even al-
Philadelphia, May 29, 1907.
unsettled. On Friday last was the day on which
though the new firm would have the vice-presi-
The piano business has been increasing right the different bids for the Schomacker name, stock,
dent and secretary of the old firm in its employ
along throughout May, and with the end of the etc., were opened. The Colonial Trust Co., the
it would be hard to convince the piano purchaser
month it has been found that May was slightly referees in the matter, received three bids, one
that the old firm was not the real Schomacker
above the average, with the prospects for the from the Cunningham Co. for $32,000; another
firm.
coming month exceptionally bright. There is from Mr. Keller, of Scranton, for a sum not
Wm. Dalliba Dutton was in Philadelphia this
nothing to indicate otherwise, and it is evident stated, but presumably more than $32,000, and the
that the unseasonable weather has had much to third for $34,000, by a party whose name cannot week, and is very much pleased with the way the
do with the dull conditions through which the be ascertained, but who represents the Gray In- Bellak firm have been handling the Hardman
trade passed.
terests. Just who is back of this latter bid can- and Harrington instruments. Mr. Dutton brought
All of the firms are in a splendid condition. They not be ascertained. It is now up to the courts with him pictures of all the new styles the fac-
are well stocked with instruments of all kinds, to decide whether they are willing to sell the tory is getting out, and it will no doubt be the
the stores containing more pianos of the best plant to the $34,000 bidder. They will have a finest line of pianos they have ever put on the
market. Styles 70 and 60 Harrington are going
grade than for a long time. The dealers tell few weeks' time to give a decision.
to be particularly attractive instruments.
me that there has been considerable of an ad-
It is thought likely that Attorney Sloane, rep-
The Henry F. Miller local branch has been
vance noticeable in the class of pianos that are resenting the dissenting stockholders, will ask
being bought, and also in the manner of payment. the courts to refuse to sell to this bidder, and doing considerable business in May, particularly
It is not nearly as unusual to receive a large if the courts grant the request, then it will be on their Lyric grands, and mare of these instru-
payment down, with an early date set for full necessary to put the business up at public sale. ments have been sent out for local concerts given
payment. Few stencil pianos are to be seen, and If the latter is done, the highest bidders are here this spring than of all the other pianos put
these few seem to stick pretty closely to the likely to be the purchasers, because they claim to together.
G. Dunbar Shewell started on his vacation last
dealer.
have sufficient money back of them to pay any
reasonable price—a price that few other dealers Saturday. He went to New York where he re-
mained until Wednesday of this week and then
would find it profitable to pay.
Should the $34,000 bidder get the plant, they returned home and with a party of friends went
will manufacture pianos as wholesalers, but will on an automobile fishing trip to Pike County,
not have a retail store here, but instead have an and he will end his vacation by a visit to the
offer from a local firm to take all the pianos they Jamestown Exposition.
The local Ludwig House, in their new home,
can make. Who this local firm may be is kept
a secret, but it is supposed by some that it is has the lightest and brightest piano store in
the Wanamaker firm. If this firm is really back Philadelphia. The third floor has just been fin-
of the Gray interests, they have as substantial a ished, which will be .utilized for the display of
backing as any firm could desire, and success is the Ludwig player-piano and the Ludwig grand.
assured in the start. If this guess proves cor- The Ludwig player has become quite a vogue in
rect, the Schomacker will take a place in Piano- Philadelphia, and they are selling the instru-
dum that it has never held before. For a number ments almost as fast as they can get them from
THE INSIGNIA OF QUALITY
of years it has been rumored that the Wana- the factory.
The Lester Piano Co. during May have gotten
makers were desirous of going into the piano
out
a third more pianos than during any previous
business as manufacturers, and it is well known
that they made a strenuous effort to buy the month in the history of the firm. In spite of this
Mason & Hamlin Co. when that business was fact they have not been able to keep up with
for sale. The Schomacker piano has a strong their orders, on which they are considerably
following in Philadelphia, a following enjoyed back, particularly on the Lester concealed
by probably no other Philadelphia instrument player, which has met with great success in every
section into which it has gone. During Mr.
made at home, and everyone recognizes the
Pressey's recent trip to the coast he took a num-
strong following enjoyed by the Wanamaker
ber of orders for this instrument, most of which
house, and the combination would be invincible.
have been duplicated on receipt. The firm have
If this is all wrong, then no doubt the Gray in-
found the business on this instrument is getting
terests have a backer almost equally strong in
quite beyond their reach, and they have plans
some other firm, judging from the assurance they fully prepared to cope with this condition, which
have of being successful bidders and successful they expect to carry out before the big fall trade
conductors of the reorganized Schomacker Piano- begins, when they expect to have facilities quite
forte Co.
adequate for all purposes for the manufacturer of
The Gray interests have been able to secure the this instrument. Mr. Pressey is preparing for
controlling interest in the old Schomacker stock, an extended trip through the South. The firm
A Thoroughly good piano in a which
consists of 25,000 shares at $5 a share. To have received many requests for catalogues and
do
this
they were compelled to buy only 5,000 printed matter through their exhibition at the
thoroughly artistic case.
shares, as the wiflow of the late Colonel Gray was Jamestown Exposition.
Let us tell you what some of left the remaining shares. This the Grays were
able to do, paying 25 cents a share. Having a
our dealers are doing and why controlling interest, if they can secure the plant
CABLE COMPArWAT EXPOSITION
they will be in a position to dictate in every way. Place Their Pianos in Many of the Leading
they are able to do it.
The indebtedness of the Schomacker Co. runs
Buildings on the Grounds.
considerably into the thousands, but it is quite
Desirable territory at a premium.
likely that an effort has also been made to pay
The Cable Company, through their branch in •
Better write at once.
off this indebtedness at so much on the dollar, Norfolk, Va., have placed a number of their in- i
so that the reorganized firm could go into the struments in the various buildings at the James- .'
business and be little hampered by creditors. town Exposition. Among those now in use on the ;
Should they secure the plant at their bid, it grounds are two Conover grands, three Conover
might be a good thing for the other stockholders, uprights, two Kingsbury inner players and a
who would be able to share whatever profits the Mason & Hamlin grand. J. G. Corley, the man-
new firm would make. If the business is sold on ager of the Richmond, Va., branch, and C. S.
the open market and purchased by the Gray inter- Clarke, auditor of the company, recently visited j!
ests the stockholders who refused to sell would the Norfolk store.
naturally lose everything in the reorganization.
Mariana and Herndon Sts.
The W. W. Kimball Co. have opened a branch
The H. C. Schomacker Piano Co. have made no
move in the matter whatever, but have waited store at 22 North Ninth street, Richmond, Ind.,
to find out what would develop out of the old in charge of A. S. Street. Two carloads of pianos
Schomacker Co. H. C. Schomacker and Justus have been put in stock.
THE
H. P. NELSON
PIANO
R R Nelson Co.
CHICAGO