Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION'S GOOD WORK.
How the Association Has Protected Members from Legislation Inimical to Their Interests—
Pertinent Remarks by Retiring President Cumming—An Association That Does Things—
Alfred Fox, the New Fresident, Intends That the Association Shall Make a Fine Showing.
The annual convention of the Connecticut their urgent co-operation. Dealers throughout
Piano Dealers' As ociation, held in Bridgeport the State kept the telephone and telegraph wire*
last week and referred to at some length in The hot and burdened the mails with their importu-
Review, was an occasion that should prove inter- nate appeals that the impending measure might
esting to piano dealers all over the country, for be stopped, voluntarily offering financial assist-
besides enjoying the distinction of being the only ance for almost any amount if only they might
State as ociation of dealers in the country, a not be obliged to suffer all the inflictions neces-
number of its methods of operation might profit- sarily incident to the compulsory recording of
ably be adopted by other organizations of piano leases.
men, even to the national bodies.
"The appointed day arrived and forty-two deal-
One of the most important functions of the
association has been to protect the members from
legislation inimical to their interest-, and it was
in this connection that the first meeting of the
dealers of Connecticut was held in Hartford on
March, 1907. On that occasion A. B. Clinton, the
well known dealer of New Haven, learned that a
bill was about to be introduced before the legis-
lature providing for the recording of all instal-
ment leases in the towns in which the .ales were
made and practically nullifying a previous act
wherein pianos, musical instruments and other
n;:med articles were exempt from the recording
provisions.
To quote from the address of the retiring presi-
dent, Pierson R. Cumming, made at the banquet
of the association:
"To change the existing law, as intended,
would nave meant expense, annoyance and often
serious embarrassment to the dealers, and infor-
mation of the pending legislation was quickly
made known by Mr. Clinton to the New Haven
dealers. The New Haven dealers immediately
PKESIDENT ALFRED FOX.
met and plans were formulated to get all the
piano dealers in Connecticut together at the ers, more than two-thirds of all the piano dealers
State Capitol in Hartford, to appear as a body in the State at that time, gathered together in
before the Judiciary Committee on the day set anxious conclave in response to the call. A meet-
by this committee for the hearing on the bill, ing was immediately held in the private office of
known as Hou?e Bill No. 515, the New Haven Commissioner Eaton, who courteously turned his
dealers also immediately employing eminent apartment over to our use. Consultation was
counsel to defend the dealers against the bill be- held with J. Birney Tuttle and Edward A. Harri-
man, the attorneys secured by the New Haven
fore the Judiciary Committee.
"A notice was prepared and sent by the M. dealers, and a plan of action adopted on their
Scnnenberg Piano Co. from their New Haven advice."
Regarding the success of the dealers in the ven-
office to every dealer in the State, apprising
11
the dealers were killed without expense in com-
mittee through the efforts of Mr. Tuttle as the
representative of the as ociation. Without a per-
manent organization the killing of the bills would
have meant the presence of a number of dealers
at the State Capitol, at considerable individual
expense, on each occasion. And the association
membership costs the dealer $3.
In their addresses at the banquet prominent
members of both the National Manufacturers' and
Dealers' as?ociations were warm in their praise
of the accomplishments of the Connecticut asso-
ciation and its working methods, especially in
regard to legal matters.
The accompanying illustration shows the coun-
terfeit presentment of the newly-elected presi-
dent of the association, Alfred Fox, and the mem-
bers of. the Connecticut Piano Dealers' Associa-
tion, snapped at one of the stopping places on
their automobile trip along the shore of the
Sound and through the beautiful country sur-
rounding Bridgeport, as guests of the dealers of
that city. One of the features of the speech of
Edward S. Payson at the banquet was the man-
ner in which he described the ride and painted a
vivid word picture of the beautiful scenes en-
joyed from the cars.
THE WANAMAKER SALE.
Nearly 400 Used Pianos Offered to Public and
154 Sold the First Day—An Imposing Array
Made on the Wanamaker Floors.
On Monday of this week began one of the
great Wanamaker sales of used pianos and oh
that day nearly four hundred second-hand instru-
ments, ranging from slightly used uprights and
grands to squares of ancient vintage, were of-
fered to the public at reduced prices, ranging
from $5 up. On Friday of last week the pianos
intended for the sale were ranged in the rear
of the twelfth gallery for inspection purposes
and made a most imposing sight stretching in
long rows and offering to the gaze of the visitor
some decidedly interesting instruments of dozens
of foreign and domestic makes and practically
every conceivable style. Each piano, no matter
how old or worn, had been put in excellent con-
dition in the commodious and well equipped re-
pair shops of the store. The groups were placed
for sale on the third gallery and as the occasion
was made much of in an advertising way a num-
ber of prospective buyers came to inspect the
instruments. According to Manager Chapman,
154 pianos were sold the first day, with the
prospect of cleaning up the entire lot before
the sale ends to-day, Saturday.
C. KURTZMANN & CO. ACTIVE.
Excellent Volume of Orders Being Received—
Retail Department Reports Progress.
OONNECTK 1 I IMAM) DEALERS' ASSOCIATION ON AUTOMOH1LE RIDE.
them and relating the substance of the impending
legislation, calling upon each dealer to act in self-
preservation and be at the State Capitol on March
12, 1907, at 11 o'clock a. m. In writing out the
call the idea occurred to the present secretary of
the association, Mr. Guion, that the time was at
hand for forming a permanent organization of
the piano dealers of Connecticut, and this Idea
was embodied in the notices sent.
"Every piano dealer in the State was justly
aroused. In every city practically every dealer
was calling on every other dealer and invoking
ture there is little more to be said. The entire
body waited upon the Judiciary Committee of the
legislature and tbe bill never passed the commit-
tee. Following the visit to the legislature steps
were immediately laken to form a permanent
organization, which has now entered upon its
fourth cuci/essful year of life.
The lesson learned by the Connecticut piano
men upon the fir.-t occasion of their getting to-
gether was not forgotten, and for the past year
they retained J. Birney Tuttle as attorney for
the association. Result: two bills unfavorable to
Reports from the factory of C. Kurtzmann &
Co., the well-known Buffalo, N. Y., piano manu-
facturers, are to the effect that the orders for
their pianos are coming in in very satisfactory
volume both by mail and from travelers. As a
result of these demands from the dealers the
plant is running at capacity, and from present
prospects will continue to do so for an indefinite
period to come.
Milo Melchers, who recently took charge of
the retail department of the company's business,
has also a very satisfactory report to make re-
garding the condition of the trade, stating that
there has been a substantial increase in the
volume of sales.
OPENS PIANO STORE IN LOUISVILLE.
Alfred Hess, a well-known music teacher of
Louisville, Ky., has opened piano warerooms on
Second street, between Walnut and Green, that
city. He has not announced all the lines he will
handle.
The Knight-Campbell Music Co. has opened a
general music store one door west of the Morgan
County National Bank, at Fort Morgan, Colo.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NEW YORK'S GREAT PIANO EXCHANGE.
Melody-Marked
Music Rolls
"To know the melody of a
composition is of greater im-
portance than to know the
correct tempo"—says H. H.
Krehbiel, the leading critic.
That statement is axio-
matic.
For in the Melody lies the
soul of a composition—and to
understand and enjoy it, that
soul must be laid bare.
Melody-Marked
Music Rolls
(Patented
by Hardman,
Company)
Peck &
enable you to tell at a glance
the perforations that carry the
melody. This is done by a sin-
gle line running through them
when the melody is in the.
treble clef, a double line in the
base.
So the melody is always as
an open book.
These rolls may be used in
any player-piano or piano-
player made, but, of course,
they are most efficient in the
Autotone, because of the Ac-
centor, which enables one per-
forming on the Autotone to
bring the melody into clearest
prominence.
As still further proof of the
superiority of Melody-Marked
Music Rolls, we submit names
of a few of the great musicians
who have most enthusias-
tically endorsed them:
Mr. Caruso, Mr. Campanini,
Mr. Gilibert, Mr. Sammarco,
Mme. Tetrazzini.
Melody-Marked Music Rolls
are so far superior to all others
that dealers carrying them
find their music roll depart
ment extraordinarily profit
able.
If you do not already sell
Melody-Marked Music R o l l s -
Write us at once for further
information.
Hardman, Peck & Co.
(.Established 1848)
138 Fifth Avenue, New York
Description of Palatial Buildings in Which This Great National Piano Exchange Will Be Lo-
cated with Chas. A. Reade, the Well-Known Piano Man as Manager—Musical Instruments
of All Kinds Will be Displayed in This Permanent Exhibition of Manufactures.
A short time ago The Review called the at-
tention of its readers to the fact that a great
national piano exchange was well under way in
New York.
Chas. A. Reade, whose managerial abilities
are well known to the members of the music
trade, will have charge of this particular sec-
tion of one. of the great buildings which are
now being erected near the Grand Cential
Station.
It should be understood that Mr. Reade has
only a certain amount of space at his disposal,
and when this space shall have been contracted
for it will be impossible for any piano manu-
facturer, whether in New York or elsewhere, to
secure a representation in this great building.
It will be seen at a glance what a tremendous
effect this big piano exchange is likely to have
upon the future wholesaling of instruments in
this city.
Men who arrange for representation will be
able to maintain headquarters in this city at
a minimum expense and, without question, as
the plans develop, this piano exchange will be
a central rendezvous for visiting dealers.
A detailed description of just what these great
plans mean will be interesting to members of
the music trade, some of whom have no idea
of the work which is going on near the terminal
of the great railroad system which enters New
York from the north.
These buildings, which will be erected over
the depressed tracks along Lexington avenue,
mark the beginning of a new era in railroad
terminals and will be part of the largest covered
area in the world ever built under one manage-
ment.
When these buildings are completed Lexing-
ton avenue from Forty-third to Fiftieth streets
will be one of the handsomest and most im-
pressive commercial streets in the world.
All of the new buildings will be constructed
of simple materials of granite and limestone and
with carved cornices so arranged that nearly
one-half mile of the avenue will be united into
one large facade of varying heights.
Approaching from downtown the first of these
imposing buildings will extend with unbroken
front to Forty-fifth street, the intervening Forty-
fourth street being here enclosed.
The more
northward portion of this imposing seven-story
building has been completed. The remainder,
a little more than half of the entire structure,
will be constructed of similar materials, and
the present corner pavilion, with its Doric
order, will be repeated at the Forty-third street
corner, making one harmonious facade of its
460 feet frontage on Lexington avenue.
This
building will contain the general executive
offices of the New York Central Railroad and
its allied corporations. In it also will be the
Grand Central branch of the New York Post
Office, while running along the Forty-third street
side of the building will be a corridor 30 feet
in width, and some 275 feet in length, which
will serve not only as an entrance way to the
elevators and offices, but as an imposing passage
to the Grand Central station from Lexington
avenue and from the neighboring station on the
subway to be constructed eventually on that
thoroughfare. From Forty-fith to Forty-sixth
streets will be erected another building of the
remarkable group, of similar appearance and
height.
Buildings for an Important Enterprise.
Next above the buildings just mentioned
will be twin structures rising seven stories
higher and occupying together the two blocks
from Forty-sixth to Forty-seventh to Forty-eighth
streets, and extending like the others from Lex-
ington avenue to Depew Place. These buildings
will be as important in their purposes and in the
•ommercial life of the city as they are to be im-
posing in appearance and massive construction.
With interior arrangements planned to meet the
special requirements of the enterprise they have
been leased for a first period of fifty years to
the Merchants and Manufacturers' Exchange
of New York. The two buildings are to be iden-
tical in appearance, and in the material employed
they are to be in complete harmony with the
other structures which will adorn the avenue
here, while the general type of architecture may
be said to represent an essentially modern de-
velopment along classic lines.
'
Marking the Lexington avenue entrance, in the
center of each building is to be a monumental
Doric order composed of four massive columns,
each fifty-two feet nine inches in height and
six feet in diameter. On each side street there
are to be subordinate entrances, and on De-
pew Place others, making in all six approaches
to each building. Directly behind the columns of
the entrance in Lexington avenue is to be a
vestibule of one hundred feet in width, and to
be finished in cream-colored marble and stone.
A Striking Architectural Detail.
Each of the buildings, from the eleventh story
to the topmost, is to be surrounded by a two-
story arcade, which will be a striking addition
to the architectural features. They are to be
illuminated at night by electric lights and will
be visible quite a distance, as the buildings, with
their thirteen stories, are to rise two hundred
and six feet above the level of the street.
The Magnificent Coliseum.
An important feature to be included in the
southernmost of the two buildings is the Col-
iseum, which is intended to provide accommo-
dations for conventions, trade shows or exhibi-
tions, etc. It will be approached from Lexing-
ton avenue through the one hundred feet wide
vestibule, and from this will rise between the
elevators a staircase, fifty feet in width, leading
to a large room. Directly beyond will be a
large hall one hundred and forty feet in length
with two surrounding galleries. Beyond this
first hall is another, one hundred feet in length,
also with galleries. These two halls are to be
surrounded on all sides by an exhibition space,
while above will be the two galleries, with open-
ings overlooking the two large halls. Beyond
the two halls Is to be another vestibule with
exits into Depew Place, and thus visitors will
be enabled to leave the halls from a point di-
rectly opposite to that of their entrance.
The Exchange Features.
The nine floors above the Coliseum and its
surrounding galleries will become the headquar-
ters of the New York Furniture Exchange, which
after a successful independent career of about
twenty years will become a part of the larger
and more important Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Exchange of New York.
The northern of the twin structures will pro-
vide similar accommodations or render similar
service for other lines of industry under care-
fully made regulations varying to trade require-
ments. The floors of this building will be also
200 by 275 feet, arid on them there will be sec-
tions devoted to the display of samples to in-
terested buyers and for the sale of pianos and
musical merchandise, shoes and leather, clothing,
men's furnishing goods, women's garments and
millinery, trunks and leather goods, upholsteries,
chinaware, glassware and silverware, hardware
specialties and wood and willow wares, house-
furnishing goods, stationery, drug sundries and
small wares, et cetera. The partitions dividing
the individual salesrooms from the main aisles
of the display floors will have white marble
bases with plate glass above in metal frames to
be in turn surmounted by ornamental cornices.
In appearance these glass-lined aisles will be like
that secured by the show windons in important
shopping streets or centers, and as effective in
inviting attention. There will be consultation

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