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MUSIC TRADE REVIEW/
11
George H. Beverly, of the Story & Clark Piano
ORGAN FACTORY FOR ELMIRA.
Co., Chicago, and Mr. Mansfield, of the Mans-
field Piano Co., New York.
Encouraging Reports from Both Wholesale and
Hope-Jones Organs to be Manufactured in That
"The business done by our firm during the
City—Plans Already Prepared—Site for Fac-
Retail Ends—The Call for High Grade In-
two weeks just passed," said G. Wright Nicols,
tory Under Consideration,
struments a Healthy Condition of Affairs—
manager of the Sanders & Stayman Piano Co.,
Rayner With Knabe—Chickering Popularity
"has equaled that done during the entire month
(Special to The Review.)
—Knabe Piano in Recital—Death of Prof.
of December. Orders are still coming in and
Elmira, N. Y., Jan. 21, 1907.
Schwing—-Rosenthal's Visit—G. Fred Kranz
there is no sign of a let up."
Arrangements having been nearly completed
Gift to Concord Democratic Club.
Professor Henry Schwing, one of the oldest for the establishment of the Hope-Jones organ
and most widely known musicians in Baltimore, factory upon a site to be selected in this city,
{Special to The Review.)
died last Saturday afternoon, at his home, at incorporation papers are being prepared for the
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 21, 1907.
Business was rather brisk among the local Mount Washington. He was 82 years old. Pro- formation of the company, in which several prom-
piano dealers during the week despite the pro- fessor Schwing was popularly known as "the inent Elmirans, as well as a number of out-of-
longed spell of rain and snow which continued grand old music man of the State." He was a town people, are interested.
without a halt for eight consecutive days. All native of Southern Germany and received his
At present several sites are being considered
of the dealers report that the sales have been education in the old country. He came to Bal- for the factory, and one will be decided upon In
steady and that many orders remain to be filled. timore in 1846, and, while he always retained the near future. While those interested do not
In fact, the factory hands are up to their necks an abiding affection for the Fatherland, he be- wish to give out all of the plans at the present
with advanced orders and, from present indica- came thoroughly Americanized. Years ago he time, it is stated that the company will be backed
tions, it will require several weeks before all of was organist at St. Vincent's Catholic Church, by a large amount of capital and that the con-
the orders now on hand can be gotten out and and for a time served in the same capacity at cern will be of considerable size, with an influ-
the Cathedral. His last charge was at Mount ence that will give Elmira added prestige in the
delivered to the purchasers.
An encouraging feature, too, is the fact that Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal Church, where industrial world. Rented quarters will be used
in most all cases the orders which remain to be he was organist for 22 years, resigning about by the company at first, but it will not be long
filled are for strictly high grade instruments. ten years ago. He had lived a retired life for before extensive quarters will be necessary,
Ever since the holidays it has been a matter of many years, but wrote considerably. One of his which means the construction of a large and
considerable comment among the dealers that creations was "Keyboard Harmony," which pos- thoroughly equipped factory. Work will be begun
the demand for low grade instruments has sessed a practical value to persons learning as soon as the organization can be perfected,
several contracts having already been offered.
steadily diminished, while the request for the music.
Upon a recent visit to the warerooms of the The factory will be started with a competent
best makes of pianos has gradually become
larger and larger. This has caused a spirit of Sanders & Stayman Co., Weber agents in this staff, including a number of Hope-Jones' best
jubilation among those engaged in the busi- city, Moriz Rosenthal, the great pianist, played workmen. The business management will be
ness, as it has been their desire for years to" several selections on the Weber grand he had in charge of Jervis Langdon", who is the chief
promoter of the enterprise and who will give
discourage the sale, of inferior makes of musical used the previous evening for the entertainment
v
instruments to local buyers with apparently lit- of Manager G. W. Nicols and sales staff. He a large share of his personal attention to its
later inscribed his name upon the music holder management.
tle success until the present time.
For a number of years Hope-Jones has been
From all indications the dealers feel sure that of the piano.
G. Fred Kranz, the prominent dealer, of this connected with the E. M. Skinner Co., of Boston,
the year 1907 will be a notable one so far as the
local trade is concerned and, as the desire of city, last week presented a handsome upright Mass., which is a large concern given up to the
the local purchasers of the present time seems piano to the Concord Democratic Club, the occa- manufacture of organs. Mr. Hope-Jones is vice-
president of the company. The time has come,
to be in the line of possessing durable instru- sion being the Jackson Day celebration.
however, when Mr. Hope-Jones is assured that
ments the dealers will do all in their power to
there is a field for his own individual work, and
THE MATTER OF CREDITS.
push the opportunity that now confronts them
to dispose of the best goods that can be pro- James R. Mason Dwells on an Important the organization of the Elmira company is the
direct result.
duced at the factories for use among local music
Phase of the Trade Situation—Sterling Busi-
Mr. Hope-Jones is an Englishman. His orig-
lovers.
ness Active—The
Importance of Correct
inal
profession was that of an electrical engineer.
The firm of William Knabe & Co. have se-
Business Methods.
He was high up in the service of one of the big
cured the services of Harry Rayner, of Cincin-
nati, Ohio, to fill the position vacated by the James R. Mason, president of the Sterling Co., British telephone companies when the question
passing of George Grass, who died in Cincinnati, was a visitor to New York last week, and ex- of perfecting electrical action for the organ came
as the result of an attack of typhoid-pneumonia. pressed himself well satisfied with the general to his attention. Up to the time Mr. Hope-Jones
Mr. Rayner will have full charge of the firm's piano situation, as far as it affected the Sterling took hold of this matter, attempts to use elec-
road work. He was formerly connected with Co. In consequence of the general trend, he tricity as the power for the action of an organ
the firm, of Smith & Nixon, and was for many said that there was no doubt that prices would had not been successful, and it is due to his
years manager of their branch store in Cleve- have to be advanced, owing to the increased cost work more than that of any one else that the
land, 0. He is well acquainted and popular in of the various materials entering into the manu- problem was solved and the way paved for the
trade circles and has a host of friends in the facture of pianos. Another matter which he adoption of electric action by most of the larger
business.
stated required close attention would be the mat- and more celebrated builders on both sides of
William Ebeling, representative of William ter of credits, and added that dealers in future the ocean.
The new company will be prepared to build,
Knabe & Co., is traveling through the South on would have to give more attention to collections.
special business for the company.
Mr. Mason has struck a very vital note here, however, any action desired.
Mr. Hope-Jones' later successful innovation in
An interesting feature in musical circles dur- for there is nothing more necessary to-day in this
ing the week, in which the Knabe Piano figured, industry than the general diffusion of correct tone production and, in general, the voicing of
was the recital, including compositions of her business methods in the retail trade. The rise the organ pipes, have almost overshadowed the
own, given by Miss Velma Tyson Rawls at the of prices in almost every commodity, and the earlier mechanical advances, and it is this mat-
Peabody Conservatory of Music. Miss Rawls is competitive battle which is becoming keener ter of tone which the leading organists and or-
gifted with an intensely musical nature, and her every day, compel the dealer, and the manufac- gan committees particularly value and are will-
education has given it a full development. Her turer as well, to trim one's sails so as to be pre- ing to pay for.
playing is easy and graceful, while full of force pared for a storm whenever it may occur.
and expression.
SUSPENDS EXECUTORS POWERS.
The Chas. M. Stieff house report that they have BATES-MITCHELL BRANCH IN HARTFORD.
kept in line with the other firms in the way of
The Bates-Mitchell Piano Co., who have a line L. F. Mergott's Authority in Brother's Estate
Bales. They have disposed of a number of high
Ends With Court Order.
class pianos and taking everything into con- of successful piano stores with Boston as the cen-
sideration the week has been a good one for the tral house, have opened a Hartford branch in the
Judge Ten Eyck, in the Orphans' Court, New-
Brown-Thomson building as a permanent enter-
trade.
ark,
N. J., Saturday signed an order suspending
prise. Their leading piano is the Sohmer, of
George Kranz, of the Kranz-Smith Piano Co., which they report there are 100 in use in Hart- the powers of Ludwig F. Mergott, who was
local agent for the Chickering piano, in a re- ford and vicinity. In addition to the Sohmer, the named as executor in the will of Julius E. Mer-
cent interview with a representative of The Bates-Mitchell Co. carry the Starr, Richmond and gott, the piano manufacturer, who died Oct. 1,
Review, spoke interestingly in regard to the other pianos, and interior players. C. E. Mitchell 1906, leaving an estate of about $150,000. The
great demand for the Chickering pianos in this is the manager of the Hartford branch, and a will is being contested by a daughter of the tes-
.
city, and added: "This particular make of man of successful experience in the piano trade. tator.
piano was greatly in demand here during the Souvenirs of "Old Home Songs" were given to
An administrator will be appointed pending
past year and the business on the whole was all visitors at the store during the opening.
the outcome of the legal battle.
excellent."
George Kranz had the following visitors dur-
J. B. Brown has sold his interest in the J. B.
The Bailey Piano Co. have leased for a long
ing the past week: Alfred Meinberg, of the term a four story and basement factory building Brown Music Co., Los Angeles, Cal., to his son
Biddle Piano Co., New York; Albert Krell, of 100x100, to be erected at Canal Place and 138th and other partners. The firm name will not be
changed, however.
the Auto-Grand Piano Co., New Castle, Ind.; street.
IMPROVED BUSINESS IN BALTIMORE.