Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1908 Vol. 47 N. 2

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Excessive Heat Knocks Bottom Out of Business—Advertising of Gimbel Bros, and Cunningham Co.
Enlivens Monotony—Both Conducting Special Sales—Advertising Worth Noting—Estey Co.
Receive Good Results from Window Puzzle-—Heppe Will Have a Grand Ready for Fall Trade
—Chance for Salesman at Henry F. Miller Co.—Herzberg House Reports Good Sales of
Kranich & Bach and Mehlin Pianos—Business Situation Reviewed.
Fischer stock, unfortunately for the Cunningham
house, they were ill-prepared and in a very short
time they cleaned up not only the few pianos
they took over from that stock, but also every
other second-hand piano they had in the place
and turned to various other sources for supplies.
During this same sale the Gimbel house did a
phenomenal business, something in the neighbor-
hood not very far distant from $50,000. It was
probably this success that induced them to take
up this new offer.
'
F. J. Heppe was in New York on Wednesday
and Thursday of last week.
C. J. Heppe & Son's business has been fairly
good on out-of-town sales particularly. The
abundant crops of all kinds have pleased the
farmers so much that they have already began
to be felt in the market.
The Estey Co. have removed the clock which
they had in their window for about ten days and
found it the most profitable advertising scheme
they have ever tackled. Thousands of answers
by way of solution were received, and prizes will
shortly be awarded.
Chauncey De Long, of the Estey selling force,
will shortly go to Blanchard, Pa., where he will
remain until September. Mr. De Long has a
farm there where he delights to spend a part of
his summer.
Newton Cornelius, of the selling force of F. A.
North & Co., has gone to his old home in New
Berlin, Pa., for a short vacation.
D. E. Woolley has sent his family to Pleasant
Beach, Maine, where he will join them for three
weeks shortly.
The Heppe house are having a number of
The Cunningham Piano Co., not to be outdone Heppe grands built for their fall trade. This
by their competitors, with whom they recently is the first time that the Heppes have placed a
shared in the disposition of the stock of the grand on the market, and they are very much
Charles H. Fischer Co., secured the stock of the pleased with the idea and feel sure that they
defunct E. T. Lumpkin & Co., and advertised it will have a ready sale for this new product. For
as follows:
the present they will build but one style, a baby
" 'Tis an 111 Wind That Blows Nobody Good.'
grand, but later may build several sizes.
"Prominent Baltimore Piano House fails with
Henry F. Miller & Sons Co. are looking for a
Philadelphia manufacturer as the largest credi- good live salesman. The firm have had about all
tor. Stock of high-grade pianos of B. T. Lumpkin they could do during the summer, and have
& Co. to be sold in Philadelphia. E. T. Lumpkin probably felt the business depression, less than
& Co., 209-211 N. Liberty street, Baltimore, one any of the other firms, being peculiarly situated
of that city's well-known piano houses, have in having on their staff so many music teachers
failed. The Lumpkin house occupied an hon- who throw all the business possible their way.
orable position in the Baltimore trade, E. T.
That business in Philadelphia is not quite as
Lumpkin, before his entry into business several bad as some of the firms would have you believe,
years ago, having been connected with some of
is shown in the fact that very few men have
Baltimore's most prominent houses, Mr. Lump- been laid off during the summer, and in only a
kin belongs to one of Maryland's oldest and most fev instances have salaries been reduced, but
substantial families, his grandfather having several of the houses have gotten around the
served two terms as Governor of that State. The dull period by asking their men to take vacations
late condition of the money market put the of a little longer duration than usual, which they
Lumpkin house in a bad way—thus the failure. seem willing to do, since the very hot weather
The Lumpkin house bought more heavily of Cun- seems to be continuing on.
ningham, Girard and Opera pianos than any
Gustav Herzberg & Son report several good
other makes handled, consequently we are to-day sties within the month of both Kranich & Bach,
the Lumpkin Co.'s largest creditors. When the Mphlin and Straube and are making a desperate
concern failed they were heavily stocked with fffort to clean up as much as possible so that
our goods. These pianos were partly paid for—
they can begin the fall trade with an entirely
some nearly all paid for—and Philadelphia buy-
new stock.
ers can take their pick by paying simply the
balance owed by the Lumpkin Co. on that par-
REINHARD KOCHMANN REMOVES
ticular instrument. Why did we not sell these
pianos in Baltimore? Why bring them to Phila- To New Quarters at 281-283 E. 137th Street—
delphia? Our representative went to Baltimore
Secures Additional Floor Space—To Add New
for the purpose of selling the pianos then and
Styles the Coming Fall.
there, but decided, after due investigation, that
Baltimore industrial conditions did not compare
Reinhard Kochmann, manufacturer of modern
with Philadelphia conditions, so we decided to pianos, has moved from 553-555 East 140th street
bring the pianos back home and give our own to 281-283 East 137th street, which building Is
people the benefit."
more modern in equipment and offers additional
Both of these offers have been the subject of floor area, which Mr. Kochmann has needed for
much discussion. It is to be noted, too, that both some time past to facilitate the handling of his
firms have been doing fairly well, in spite of the increasing business. There was no cessation of
business during the interval of moving and Mr.
hot weather.
Recently when these two firms advertised the Kochmann expects to have his new plant in
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., July 7, 1908.
The excessive heat of the past few weeks has
simply killed what little piano business might
reasonably have been expected with the slight
revival of business that is to be noted along
general lines. The only stir that has been noted
during the week has been the advertising of the
Gimbel and Cunningham houses or stocks that
they have been able to get, and upon which they
are able to make a special sale.
Gimbel Brothers, several days this week, ad-
vertised full pages in all the dally papers as
follows:
"Brand new Haines Brothers, Foster & Co.,
and other pianos are here at half price or near it
because Knabe, Chickering and the Foster Arm-
strong companies united and formed a $12,000,000
company and asked us to take at once all new
pianos not to be put in the future catalog. The
upright piano that Patti endorsed and put in
her castle; the Marshall & Wendell Piano, the
Foster Piano, the Armstrong Piano, the Brewster
Piano and the J. B. Cook Piano. The first step
of the new company was to completely rid its
New York factories of pianos, in art and plain
cases, not to be re-catalogued, and Gimbel
Brothers were chosen to do the selling. The
instruments not only come from that great unit
of the combination—the Foster-Armstrong Co.—
but they are now under the guarantee and war-
ranty of the mammoth new twelve-million dollar
company, and are as surely and as safely guar-
anted as the Knabe and Chickering. Two hun-
dred new upright pianos at $150 to $250 are of-
fered in this combination."
11
"apple pie" order in less than a week. Extensive
alterations, including the laying of a new maple
floor, were made during the past week, and the
factory will be one of the most up-to-date in the
Bronx district. The new location is a most de-
sirable one, for Mr. Kochmann is surrounded by
old friends. In the building are: E. B. Bogart
& Co., Dusinberre & Co. and Valols & Williams.
Mr. Kochmann will add several new designs to
his line this fall and looks forward to a good
business.
BRINGING BUYERSJO CHICAGO.
Central Passenger Association Makes Special
Rates Over Their Territory Which Will Help
Piano Manufacturers in Chicago—Territory
Covered an Extensive One.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., July 8, 1908.
An increase of buyers on this market next
month is in prospect through the operation of
excursion fares in Central Passenger Association
territory. These fares will be a fare and a half
from all points where the fare to Chicago is $2
or more.
The days of buying tickets and returning are
as follows:
First merchants' meeting, buying dates, August
1 to 5, inclusive. Return, August 3 to 13, inclu-
sive.
Second, August 15 to 19, inclusive. Return
August 17 to 27, inclusive.
Third, August 27 to September 2, inclusive.
Return, August 31 to September 10, inclusive.
Fourth, September 12 to 16, inclusive. Re-
turn, September 14 to 24, inclusive.
The territory of the Central Passenger Asso-
ciation is bounded as follows: Cairo, 111., thence
the Ohio River to Evansville, thence the L., H.
& St. L. Railway to Louisville, thence to C. & O.
Railway, Louisville to Kenova, thence the Ohio
River division of the B. & O. Railroad, Kenova
to Wheeling, thence the B. & O. Railroad to
Washington, Pa., thence P., C, C. & St. L. Rail-
way to Pittsburg, thence B. & O. Railroad to
Callery Junction, thence to Butler, thence the
B. & L. E. Railroad, Butler to Mercer, thence the
Penn. Railroad from Mercer through Franklin,
Oil City, Irvineton, Warren and Kinzua to
Salamanca, thence B., R. & P. Railway, Sala-
manca to Buffalo, thence the Niagara River; also
the lower peninsula of Michigan.
Also from the following territory in Illinois:
From all points on the Chicago & Eastern Illi-
nois Railroad, except south of Hillsboro. From
points on Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.
Louis (Big Four) Railway as follows only: All
stations on Cairo division, Peoria & Eastern di-
vision, Mansfield and east thereof, also all sta-
tions on St. Louis division, Hillsboro and east
thereof; from stations on the Illinois Central
Railroad on the east of the line, Chicago to Gil-
man, Gilman to Clinton, Clinton to Cairo, inclu-
sive.
From all stations on Vandalia line east of, but
not including, East St. Louis and Decatur, 111.
AMBASSADOR TARBEAUX'S TRIP.
A. A. Tarbeaux, general traveler for the Chase
& Baker Co., Buffalo, N. Y., was in New York
last week on his way home from a seven months'
trip through the South, for his house. Mr. Tar-
beaux stated that while he did a very good busi-
ness, things as a rule are rather quiet in that
section of the country, though prospects are
bright for a heavy fall trade.
THE BALDWIN IN EVANSVILLE.
The well-known dry goods firm of Maas & Son,
in Main street, Evansville, Ind., have added a
new department to their store and are now the
local representatives of the Baldwin Piano Co.
The New Jewelry and Music Store, Newman,
111., is the latest addition to the music houses of
that town. They handle the Cable-Nelson piano
as their leader and also carry a full line of Edi-
son and Victor machines and records.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
This invention relates to improvements in
musical instruments, and relates more particu-
larly to means for varying the volume of the tone
of a piano or similar instrument; the object be-
ing to provide a simple means whereby a per-
Conducted and Edited by Wm. B. White.
former on the instrument may by foot pressure
I am in receipt of an interesting little booklet wherein even 12 fixed points are secured by such vary the position of a movable part of the casing,
as, for instance, a lid, to open or close the same,
from an old and honored colleague, H. H. Rich, simple means."
of the Cornish Co., Washington, N. J. The title
Mr. Rich, at the close of his most valuable or vary the position of a sound deflecting board
is "The Tempered Scale of Twelve Equal Di- little treatise, propounds three queries, which he whereby the sound may be muffled or permitted
visions in an Octave; What and Why Is it and proceeds to answer forthwith. They are as fol- to freely escape toward or away from the audi-
ence.
How Obtained?" This is a supplement to "Thirds lows:
and the Tempered Scale," by the same author,
A further object of the invention is to provide
"1. When and how did the tempered scale
which I had occasion to review in these columns originate?
mechanism for raising or lowering the lid and
in the year 1905.
"2. When did the five extra semitones (shown tilting it in either direction, so that the sound
No one is more sensible than myself of the by the five black keys of the piano or organ) waves will be deflected in the desired direction
by the lid.
value that such treatises have for everyone in come into use?
the trade, especially when the author is himself
MUSIC-ROLL MARKING DEVICE. Issued May 19,
"3. How did the Greeks tune their early tetra-
a practical man, and therefore not liable to the chords, with three semitone locations, and their 1908, to Philip Wuest, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pa.,
charge of being merely a theorist. In the present later full octave and eight-stringed lyres, having assignor to the Auto-Manual Piano Action Co.,
case I know Mr. Rich's attainments and reputation seven scales at will?"
of Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Feb. 5, 1908. Patent
well enough to be ready to say that anything
The answers to these very interesting and im- No. 888,290.
which comes from his pen is prima facie, good. portant questions must be looked for in Mr. The invention is intended to afford means for
And a reading of the. little booklet serves only Rich's booklet itself. Suffice it to say that they marking a series of isolated dots or other sym-
to strengthen the notion. I wish not only to call are most ingenious and plausible.
bols, upon the perforated sheet, commonly
the reader's attention to this excellent record of
It is indeed, as I remarked before, a most termed a music-roll, employed in self-playing in-
Mr. Rich's further studies, but to quote some of laudable trait in a practical piano or organ man struments, the marks being automatically im-
his more pregnant statements.
that drives him to the close investigation of such pressed at predetermined intervals in the
His definition of the tempered scale is worth intricate matters. Among those who from time longitudinal direction of the sheet, but the loca-
repeating: "The tempered scale is an adjust- to time communicate with this department there tion of the marks transversely upon the sheet
ment, or a fitting of continuous non-octave chords are several whose lives have been largely spent being under the manual control of the operator.
to their octaves, that they may keep pace with in the study and investigation of the many ob-
PIANO CASE. Issued May 19, 1908, to E. E.
or march, with each other—not unlike pedes- scurities connected with the musical scale and Walter, of Chicago, 111. Filed April 8, 1907. Pat-
trians increasing or limiting their natural speed the subject of temperament. The value of their ent No. 888,209.
to hold with a leader." (Page 2.)
work can best be recognized when one considers
MEANS FOR REPAIRING THE FELTED HEADS OF
Again he says, also most aptly: "The very the immense amount of trashy talk that is pub- PIANO HAMMERS. Issued May 19, 1908, to Robert
best-tempered scale is but the outcome of what lished on the subject—talk that continually be- R. Bode, of Honolulu, H. I. Filed Aug. 3, 1907.
may be called close ear-mechanics, by means of trays the utter, or almost utter, misconception Patent No. 888,141.
the wrench, file, scraper or hammer of the tuner, which the average tuner appears to have con- This invention relates to certain improvements
the ear in this case acting as the eye or touch cerning the whole subject. But as long as men in means for repairing the felted heads of piano
like Mr. Rich, Frederick Hart, of New Bruns- hammers and has for its purpose the obviation
does in other fittings." (Page 1.)
This latter sentence shows very aptly indeed wick, N. J., and J. C. Miller, of Lincoln, Neb., are of the disadvantages of the present methods of
the work of the ear in the art of tempering the on deck the cause of scientific accuracy will not repicking or refelting worn or hardened ham-
mers, which methods are now universally re-
scale of piano or organ, and although the lan- altogether languish.
guage might have been a little clearer we must
As a last word on this subject, I would like to sorted to, although both tedious and expensive,
not quarrel with our author for that.
point out that Mr. Rich writes me that he will when it is desired to reduce the metallic sound
Mr. Rich mentions also the fact of his having mail postpaid to anyone both this new booklet which is produced by hardened or worn ham-
tuned two sets of two reeds each, from a fixed and the 1905 edition "Thirds and the Tempered mer heads.
and equal low pitch, one of the first set twelve- Scale," which treated the subject more particu-
The invention is founded upon the discovery
fifths up and the other seven octaves up, and larly with reference to thirds, for 10 cents.
that a strip of suitable soft material, such as
one of the second set twelve-fourths up and the
As this is such a ridiculously small price, I felt or rubber, when applied to such worn heads,
other five octaves up. These reeds Mr. Rich has strongly recommend every one to take advantage will act to restore the original tonal qualities,
been good enough to leave in my charge, and I of it and secure copies of these most interesting and the invention, therefore, consists in such
can state from actual trial that they are most and valuable contributions to the literature of means for the purpose specified, and also con-
remarkable justifications of the theoretical tuning and the musical scale.
sists in certain peculiarities in the construction
axioms laid down for the student of musical
thereof whereby the same may be most readily
The Valve-System in Players.
acoustics in all works on the subject. The
Just at present there seems to be quite a good and easily applied to and removed from the head.
amount of careful and patient labor required to deal of heart-searching on the part of player
PIANO KEY-BOARD. Issued May 19, 1908, to
carry out even so simple appearing a work as manufacturers over the relative value of single F. Kuba, of New York. Filed Sept. 5, 1907.
this is immense, and the pure and disinterested and double valve systems in players. For some Patent No. 888,100.
love of science which will cause a man to un- time after the introduction of these devices it
PIANO PLAYING MECHANISM. Issued May 19,
dertake such a task is worthy of all praise.
seemed to be conceded that the double valve sys- 1908, to Rufus B. Fowler, of Worcester, Mass.
It will be understood that the object of tuning tem, wherein were employed both primary and Filed July 14, 1906. Patent No. 888,152.
the four reeds in this way was audibly to demon- secondary valves, was far superior to the other.
The present invention relates to that class of
strate the actual pitch differences known to exist Of late, however, more than one manufacturer automatic pianos which comprise a pneumatic
between the tone produced from five or seven has taken it into his head to experiment with mechanism for actuating the individual note
octaves built one on another and the other nomi- the single valve, and the results have been so en- producing mechanism, constituting what is
nally but not actually equal pitch produced from couraging that we are likely to see much more known as the piano action, and the object of the
twelve-fourths or twelve-fifths, all being started of this simplified mechanism in the near future. invention is to provide means controlled by the
from the same basis.
I would like to say to readers that this interesting keys or manuals in the ordinary keyboard of
Mr. Rich also has some very interesting and subject is worthy of their attention, and in some the piano whereby the expression of each of the
important remarks to make concerning the par- articles which I purpose writing I shall bring up note producing mechanism can be varied at will
tial tones of nature's scale in comparison with this matter and discuss it with some thorough- by the operator through the medium of the keys
ness. Meanwhile, if any readers care to say any- or manuals of the keyboard.
the scales used in practical music.
Again, he gives us a very interesting little thing as to their experiences along these lines I
CAPO D'ASTRO BAR. Issued May 19, 1908, to C.
talk on the history of the diatonic scale, tracing shall be glad to hear from them.
C. Chickering, of Chicago, 111. Filed April 12,
its origin from Egypt to Greece, and thence,
1907. Patent No. 888,065.
after its evolution at the hands of Pythagoras, to
The iron frames for pianos are cast to the de-
Communications for this department should be
ourselves.
addressed to the Editor, Technical Department, sired form to afford a support for the strings.
When he has spoken of the method recom- The Music Trade Review.
This frame is a metallic web to which the wrest
mended by himself for temperament laying, he
plank is secured, which, with intermediate bars
continues: "This interesting compromise ap-
and brace bars, tends to afford rigidity. Se-
DEPARTMENT OF PATENTS.
pears to the writer to be simply a web of 12 keys,
cured upon the iron frame along the inner edge
created by twining their tonics, fifths and
ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR MUSIC ROLLS. Issued of said web above the wrest plank, is an iron bar,
fourths, whereby the second and fourth partials, May 19, 1908, to C. Freborg, of De Kalb, Illinois, sometimes called the capo tasto bar, which exerts
which are tonics, are used as the fifths of other assignor to Melville C. Clark, of Chicago, Illi- pressure on the strings downward and must,
keys, yielding a new tonic. Then this in turn nois. Filed March 17. 1906. Patent No. 888,395. therefore, sustain an upward pressure of several
is used as the fifth of another tonic, and so on
BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. tons when the strings are drawn to pitch. Cast
to close the circle, or more usually the half- Issued May 19, 1908, to Sarah Wood Clark, of frames have often proved weak in resisting this
circle, meeting half-way for test of accuracy. New York, N. Y. Tiled Jan. 19, 1907. Patent upward tension of the strings against the capo
Truly, a remarkable and puzzling result, No. 888,307.
tasto bar, and the opposite pressure exerted oa

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