Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
June Makes an Excellent Business Showing—Estey Salesman with Record—Selling Methods of
Past and Present—Vacations Now in Order—Other Items.
Mr. Robinson and Charles Wright would start
Philadelphia, Pa., July 5, 1910.
out with an organ on a wagon and go from house
The month of June closed in Philadelphia in a to house. The neighbors were usually invited in
most satisfactory way for the piano men. The and they would give a concert on the instrument,
and while one was doing the playing the other
month was up to the average of the best year of
the past, and the dealers have entered the second was circulating among the people talking up the
half of 1910 with a feeling of confidence that it instrument, and getting names for prospects. This
was going to be a very good year for them. method was so popular in those days that for an
Everything points to that direction. Business gen- entire six weeks the Robinson-Wright musical
erally in Philadelphia is in very good shape, and combination did not have a night off. The first
such conditions naturally have a wholesome effect year of the combination was not a very good one
and they only suceeded in selling about forty in-
on the piano business.
The manufacturers of Philadelphia have made struments. Then next year business doubled, and
more pianos during the first half of this year finally it was a very poor year in which they were
than have ever before been made in this city, and not able to sell about 150 organs, which were sold
in spite of this fact there is very little stock on at $144 on time and $125 cash. They had the
hand, but the pianos have found a market as soon power to create agents, and established them gen-
erally through Chester. Delaware, Montgomery
as they were ready for shipment.
The Cunningham Co. note that they have just and other nearby counties. Fred Baker, says Mr.
Robinson, of the Wilcox & White Co., was their
ended the biggest June business ever known in
their history. "From our business infancy," notes noisiest competitor.
Mr. Cunningham, "now close to a quarter of a
Frank Conley, of the Estey house, will go to
century ago, our organization has had for its sole Atlantic City this week to take charge of the
music in the M. E. Church for the next two
object the manufacturing and selling of pianos of
merit. The success which we have achieved is months. The quartet will consist of Mr. Conley,
conceded everywhere by people in a position to Mrs. Conley, George Dundas and May Walters—
an excellent organization.
know and frank enough to admit it."
While calling at the Estey house at the end of
The Heppe house will lose one of their best
last week I had the pleasure of meeting one of bookkeepers this week when Miss Caroline Grow,
their salesmen, J. H. Robinson, who had been of Bryn Mawr, will resign to be married to Mr.
connected with the house for forty-three years. Whitehead, of Sumter, N. C, and will remove to
When he associated himself with the firm it was that city. Mr. Hillebrand had a phenomenal June
known as the E. M. Bruce & Co., with warerooms in the player-piano business; the best June month
at 18 North Seventh street. Mr. Bruce had he has ever had. They sold quite a number of
started in the organ business in this city in 1846, their Steinway Pianolas and they are very well
and forty-three years ago he had as a partner satisfied with the business they are doing on that
Morris Stafford. Shortly afterward the firm be- instrument.
came Estey & Bruce, and were the most extensive
The rebuilding of the Heppe store at Sixth and
handlers of organs in this section. It is very Thompson streets is progressing finely. Besides
interesting to hear Mr. Robinson tell of the early the interior arrangement, they are putting in bulk
days of the organ business, and the keen com- windows in the front which changes its appear-
petition they had even in those days. At the time ance considerably.
(Special to The Review.)
justment, the many parts of these justly celebrated
instruments. Only materials of the first quality
New Catalog, Handsomely Produced, Issued to
are associated with 'Haines' construction—the most
the Trade This Week—Many
Handsome
beautiful of rare veneers, imported felts, ivory
Styles Illustrated and Described Including
and ebony, carefully drawn wires and specially
the Haines Bros. Player-Piano.
tempered metals. Each part is subjected to rigid
inspection and test, and the most seemingly insig-
Literature bearing upon the famous Haines Bros, nificant details must pass under the keen and ex-
pianos is always interesting, because it treats of
perienced eye of Alfred Haines, nephew of Na-
a piano which has long been esteemed in American poleon J. Haines, the illustrious founder of the
trade history for its musical and constructional house still bearing his name."
worth. Hence the new catalog issued th's week
Dealers who have not received a copy of this
by Haines Bros., New York, will receive due con- catalog should make it a point to look it up. They
sideration from recipients.
will find that at no time has the Haines Bros,
Aside from its typographical excellence, fine pa- piano been better represented in the matter of
per, careful printing and unique cover embossed attractive designs, musical worth and careful finish.
in gold, there is much to interest the dealer in the Indeed, the best traditions of the house are
fine array of styles illustrated and described, worthily maintained.
notably models 12, 16, 17, 9, 14, and the Haines
Bros, player-piano, which contains "improved ex-
F. Q. SMITH IMPROVEMENTS
press : on devices which make possible the most
In
Milwaukee—New
Front and Special Parlors
artistic tone shading and perfect tempo regulation,
to Be Installed—To Give More Attention to
playing the full range of the keyboard—88 notes."
Players and Grands.
The various designs -of uprights shown are
notable for the individuality of their architectural
(Special to The Review.)
scheme, and at once attract.
Milwaukee, Wis., July 6, 1910.
The introductory to the volume, which follows
The removal of the Milwaukee Consolidated
a portrait of the founder of the house, treats of
Music Co. from 90 Wisconsin street leaves the
the history of the Haines Bros, instruments, first entire building to the local branch of the F. G.
made in 1851, and in this connection we read:
Smith Piano Co., and announcement has been made
"Both in America and abroad Haines Bros.' that extensive improvements will be made on the
pianos are distinguished for architectural and tonal structure, which will give the piano concern one
beauty of a high order, for the wonderful even- of the finest establishments of its kind in the city.
ness of their improved scales (upon the perfection
According to Emil O. Schmidt, local manager of
of which no time or expense has been spared), the F. G. Smith Co.'s interests, quite a sum of
the delightfully responsive and sympathetic action money will be expended in installing a new front,
and their rare and satisfying tone quality. * * * remodeling the basement and first floor and provid-
At our factory, where the most modern facilities ing new player and piano parlors. Contracts have
are employed and the latest improved machinery been awarded and it is expected that the work will
is installed, skilled artisans fashion, with punctilious be completed before the end of the month.
care and assemble with precision and nicety of ad-
As soon as the larger quarters are available the
HAINES BROS/ PUBLICITY.
11
F. G. Smith people will make a feature of the
miniature grand and will give more attention to
the player end of the business. The Bradbury,
Webster and Henning players are carried.
SCHARWENKA AND^THE BALDWIN.
The Famous Pianist, Teacher and Composer
Will Be Heard in a Recital Tour Next Sea-
son—Will Use the Baldwin Piano.
The important announcement made this week
that Xaver Scharwenka, the famous pianist and
composer, would be heard in concert in the United
States next season, through the medium of the
Baldwin piano, has caused much pleasure to a
host of admirers of this talented composer and
pianist and of the magnificent instrument which
he has chosen as his medium of introduction.
Mr. Scharwenka is well and favorably known
in the United States, having conducted a school
of music in New York for many years. He also
has made long concert tours through the Western
States, and was everywhere acclaimed a pianist of
distinction and unusual ability.
Some years ago, however, he returned to Ber-
lin, where he founded a conservatory of his own,
which has been most successful. To the younger
generation Scharwenka will be a new light. Mean-
while it is said that his art has so matured and
rounded out that he is destined to make a new
sensation on his coming tour.
PIANO FIRM REORGANIZES.
Schuyler
H. Becker Takes Over the Business
of McMurry & Becker.
(Special to The Review.)
Schenectady, N. Y., July 5, 1910.
By mutual consent the piano firm of McMurry &
Becker, at No. 160 Lafayette street, will be re-
organized, beginning Saturday. Charles J. Mc-
Murry retires from the firm and the business will
hereafter be conducted by Schuyler H. Becker un-
der his own name.
A PENNSYLVANIA INCORPORATION.
The Queen City Piano Co., Warren, Pa., filed a
certificate of incorporation at Harrisburg this week,
with a capital of $20,000.
KROEGER'S IMPRESSIVE POSTER.
We have received from the Kroeger Piano Co.
one of their striking posters which they arc using
on all of their boxed shipments of pianos. The
wording on this poster, "Kroeger is the best piano.
Kroeger Piano Co., New York," appears in white
lettering on a red background with a black border,
and is very well produced. In this connection
Edwin Jarrett, vice-president of the Kroeger Piano
Co., aptly says: "If anyone takes exception to the
claims set forth in this poster I shall be glad to
refer him to any dealer who has handled Kroeger
pianos."
AMBUHL BROS.' ANNUAL MEETING.
(Special to The Review.)
Pittsburg, P a , July 2, 1910.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of
Ambuhl Bros., Inc., the following officers were
elected: President and treasurer, G. R. Ambuhl;
vice-president, H. S. Berkhardt; secretary, J. M.
Wilson. The business report for the year was
most satisfactory and greatly pleased the stock-
holders. Among those present at the meeting was
J. R. Mason, president of the Sterling Co. and a
stockholder of Ambuhl Bros., who, before he left
the city, secured a goodly order for pianos.
H. & S. G. LINDEMAN PIANOS USED.
At the commencement exercises of the Con-
vent of the Sisters of St. Mary, held at the La-
fayette High School, Buffalo, N. Y., recently,
Henry & S. G. Lindeman pianos were used, and
were much admired for their beautiful tone qual-
ities.