Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1911 Vol. 53 N. 24

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
TOWER.
A RATHER clever point in connection with advertising and its
i i
potentiality was emphasized by Waldo P. Warren in a recent
article in Printers' Ink, when he pointed out how an adroit sentence
in an advertisement can stimulate people not only to recommend a
product, but exercise a subsequent influence that is helpful. In this
connection he said: "Steinway & Sons appeal indirectly to the
powerful motive of wanting to be considered well informed as to
relative merits when they begin an advertisement by asking: 'Why
is it that authors of all nationalities, when having occasion to refer
to a piano, almost invariably call it a Steinway ?' Can't you imagine
the hundreds of writers of short stories and novels, reading that
advertisement, and saying to themselves: 'Ah, ha; so that's the
proper thing is it, when you mention a piano in the drawing-room
scene, to heighten the effect by using the specific name and con-
noting quality folks by having the piano a Steinway.' Who among
short story writers or novelists, having once seen and appreciated
that point, could resist the temptation to add one more deft touch
to the vivid effect of his word picture? Behold, a master stroke in
applied psychology!"
T
HE continual progress of public taste in this country towards
greater simplicity, genuineness and sincerity may well be
measured by comparison of piano case architecture of the present
time with that which was prevalent even so lately as fifteen years
ago. One has but to glance over files of The Review published
during the last decade of the nineteenth century to see" at once what
changes for the better have arisen in public appreciation of art crafts-
manship. For public demand measures the progress of any art, to
a very large extent, and in the piano business at least it cannot be
said that manufacturers have very generally set out to be mis-
sionaries. Rather have they been content to follow the general
stream of popular desire. So that, when we consider the monstrosi-
ties of piano case architecture and decoration that were the pride
of their owners comparatively a few years ago we cannot but be
thankful that so many agencies have conspired to improve public
taste. As things stand to-day, we have everywhere an apparent
yearning after plain, simple forms, enriched rather by the beauty
of their material than by any elaborate striving after rococo effect.
The beauty of the straight line has been discovered afresh, as in days
agone when the Greeks and mediaeval Christians saw it. The crude
conceptions of the middle Victorian era have disappeared, let us
hope forever. In the world of piano making we see what is else-
where apparent in the making of houses and furnishings. We now
want the unadorned loveliness of a rare wood and the sturdy work-
manship of an artist-artisan rather than a profusion of highly var-
nished machine-made curvilinear design, eloquent of trivial taste
and barren ideas. We are living, say what you will, in a serious age.
nor is this more strongly indicted anywhere than in our refined
notions of what constitutes decorative beauty.
T
HE piano case, at its best, is not a lovely thing in essentials.
The grand is always more or less of a coffin on legs and the
upright a packing-box. It was doubtless a realization of these facts
that prompted earlier designers to overload the cases of pianos with
meretricious ornamentation. Yet even a packing-box may be built
with well proportioned dimensions and fine lines, while the most
elaborate rococo decoration will only serve to accentuate the bare
form underneath and exhibit with accuracy the barrenness of the
naked form. And these truths are now so well recognized that to
state them is to make clear their entire appropriateness. And so we
may thank our destiny that piano case architecture is well settled
along lines of simplicity and dignity. Fine mahogany wood is per-
haps the best that has ever been found for showing off in the sim-
plest setting the real beauty of timber grain. Ebonizing, glaring
golden oak finish, and other unbeautiful attempts at decoration are
going the way of the bear's-claw legs and ridiculous mouldings that
once were rife. And better still, there appears to be a distinct re-
action against high varnish finish and towards simple showing off
of the natural beauty inherent in -fine veneers. These are interesting
and hopeful facts.
*t H n
HE so-called "art" or "period" cases, of which so much was
heard a few years ago, do not seem to be as prominent just
now. This is doubtless owing to the fact that they are very ex-
pensive and of slight value unless designed very carefully with refer-
ence to particular styles of furnishing and decoration. In fact,
either the "period" piano must be built for the specific room into
which it is to stand or the room must be built around the piano.
Another reason is that our wealthy classes are getting somewhat
tired of the various French styles—Rococo, Louis Quatorze, Quinze
and Seize, Directoire and^ Empire—and are inclining more to the
subdued glories of American Colonial and the excellent designs of
modern masters who have followed the classic rules of Sheraton,
Heppelwhite and Chippendale. Eighteenth century French style of
the "ancient regime'' are always rather stupid looking in a modern
twentieth century home, for the environment they provide is so
utterly out of place with modern ideas of dress and conduct. A
modern girl in short skirt and shirtwaist does not fit well on a spindly
Marie Antoinette chair. One misses the paniers, the patches and
the wig. And because we ourselves are more sensible, more simple
and more sincere in our ways of living, so our furniture, our deco-
rations and our well-loved pianos must be made in accordance with
our own true ideas of living. So the simple lines, the dull finish
and the somber beauty of splendid woods will, let us hope, forever
continue to guide us to the ideals of true beauty and genuine art.
•6 H H
T
RA ELBERTUS, the philosopher of Aurora, N. Y., is an earn-
est believer in modern things and modern ideas. For in-
stance, in the "Fra" he has been quoting the sayings of modern men
in preference to those of ancient times as word pictures to illuminate
his columns. Charles H. Steinway, president of Steinway & Sons,
figures in this wise in a recent issue: "I cannot commend to a
business house any artificial plan for making men producers—any
scheme for driving them into business-building. You must lead
them through their self-interest. It is this alone that will keep men
keyed up to the full capacity of their productiveness/' In the same
number Elbert Hubbard sets forth the following succinct and ex-
pressive saying of the late W. W. Kimball, the founder of the
business of the W. W. Kimball Company: "System consists in
the practice of selecting for each department of an enterprise the
right ability for that work and holding this man at all times re-
sponsible for results." There is much to commend in this plan of
setting forth the nuggets of wisdom which fall from the lips of the
men of our times. It demonstrates that wisdom and knowledge
are not monopolized by the great thinkers of Greece or Rome or
other countries, although frequently pointed out to us by modern
writers. In industrial life to-day are to be found men who have
mastered mighty problems and their utterances oftentimes abound
in sound philosophy and uplifting sentiment that guides and stimu-
lates.
•t * *
F
N decisions handed down by the Court of Appeals in the State
of New York, the court finds that the general statutes against
the obtaining of property by false pretenses fail to cover the most
flagrant acts of fraud. The New York Credit Men's Association
therefore plans to place on the statute books, if possible, at the next
session of the Legislature, a general statute which will make it more
nearly possible for credit grantors to get justice against debtors
obtaining goods under false pretenses. This will include a statute
framed jointly by the American Bankers' Association and the
National Association of Credit Men penalizing the giving of a false
statement for the purpose of securing credit.
I
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MD^iC TRADE REVIEW
PIANO CLUB'S BEEFSTEAK DINNER.
cup, a replica of the wooden cup won by the Moore, J. M. Simons, A. T. Plabey, A. Hahn, Wm.
Supply Men's Baseball Team at the outing H. Fischer, Dr. George Kosmak, James Davis,
this past summer. The cup, which is beautifully and Hon. James J. Hoey, Assemblyman of Bronx
wrought, was designed by L. D. Perry, of district.
Ludwig & Co. The cup was accepted for
the club by E. Rouvet, captain of the win-
FAILURES IN NOVEMBER.
ning team, and after a few pleasantries as to the
Number of Insolvencies and Liabilities Largest
prowess of the Piano Manufacturers Team ( ? )
Since 1908.
challenged them to play a return game next season.
He also said his team would like to play a game
The month of November continued October's
of football, and added that his team banked on bad record for failures of commercial establish-
. The second annual beeksteak dinner of the Piano winning both battles.
ments in this country. R. G. Dun & Co.'s figures,
Club of New York, which took place Saturday
The following gentlemen proved a most efficient just published, show the highest number of ind#
evening last, proved a delightful affair and both
entertainment committee, and at the close were vidual concerns going to the wall in November
members and t\jeir guests had a jolly time of it.
congratulated on the success of the evening: Al- since 1908. When it comes to the total of liabili-
The vaudeville program was of the highest order
bert Behning, chairman; J. R. A. Lang, W. I. ties, only the panic month of November, 1907,
and' the menu par excellence. Over 140 sat around
Mapes, George Holz, Alexander Lichtenstein and and the corresponding month of 1903 exceeded the
the festive board and enjoyed the following viands,
Joseph Oktavec.
big amount rolled up in the month just closed.
which were served in abundance: Oyster cocktail,
In number the increase in failures compared with
The following were in attendance: F. H. Abend-
broiled steak, table celery, broiled chicken, lamb
schein, G. F. Abendschein, Staib-Abendschein Co.; last year was the greatest among retail stores and
chops, cream ale, draught beer, White Rock,
Theo. P. Anderson, Murphy Varnish Co., Newark, trading establishments. In liabilities the manufac-
soda, etc. A string orchestra played popular airs
N. J.; Geo. L. Bantor, Ault & Wiborg Co.; Albert turers showed the greatest increase in losses. The
during the serving of the several courses, and
Behning, Behning & Limbach; Gus Behning, Henry large number of grocers, butchers and keepers of
when artist William Logan sang popular songs
Behning, Behning Piano Co.; E. B. Bogart, Bogart general stores obliged to suspend indicates either
all joined in the chorus, and it may be said that
Piano Co.; A. M. Bollerman, Bollerman & Son; that ultimate consumption is cut down somewhat
this added to the pleasure of the evening. After
I. E. Bretzfelder, Krakauer Bros.; T. F. Cheva- over the country or that the extreme conserva-
cigars the following program proved highly enter-
lier, George Chevalier, Chevalier Bros., Brooklyn; tism of purchasing at wholesale by many of these,
taining :
John Christman, Christman Piano Co.; G. A. Clark, with resulting depletion of stocks, is resulting in
Musical Comedian
M. Huehn
Hirsh, Stein & Co.; A. Conrow, Connorized Music an increase of the business of mail-order houses.
Singing Comedienne
Miss Mabel Burke
Co.; Adolph Doll, Anthony Doll, Jr., Wasle &
1. "You'll Do the Same Thing Over Again."
2. "Sing Me a Good Old Irish Song."
BIO PRIZES BEING OFFERED.
Co.; Wm. II. Dykes, Music Trade Review;
3. "Silver Threads Among the Gold."
John A. Engers, the Ault & Wiborg Co.; S. B. A $4,000 pipe-organ, two player-pianos and
4. "If I Had the World to Give You."
Eggleston, Matawan Steel & Iron Co., Matawan, six pianos are among the prizes offered in a
Songs and Dances
Miss Nellie Lynton
N. J.; Robt. Bruce Gillie, B. A. & N. G. Williams; contest now being conducted by the Dallas (Tex.)
Topical Song
Miss May Morning
Monologist
• •
Harry Elmer
Walter Goepel, C. F. Goepel & Co.; J. S. Harris, Democrat, a weekly paper. The prizes are all
Broadway Hits
William Logan
De Rivas & Harris; Louis Haas, Henry Haas & to go to churches, lodges and schools in Dallas
Comedy Magician
Fred Dunworth
Son; G. Heller, Winter & Co.; G. W. Hoffman,
This was Mr. Dunworth's second appearance Flood & Conklin Co., Newark, N. J.; George and surrounding territory, and the instruments
at the club, and as usual, made a hit. His tricks Holz, S. S. Mapes; Chas. F. Howard, Hammacher, were all purchased from the Leyhe Piano Co., of
that city.
were most mystifying.
Schlemmer & Co.; Eugene T. Harrington, -B. A. &
Joe Harris and John A. Engers, club members, G. N. Williams; L. M. Ide, the Laffargue Co.;
also took an active part in the program, ably as-
sisting Miss Burke and Miss Lynton in their B. H. Janssen, poet laureate; Robert L. Kapp,
Zeph Cory, the oldest piano man in Providence,
C. A. Kapp, Harry A. Kapp, F. Cornell, R. I., and who retired from the business a decade
dances.
At the close of the program Albert Behning, with Robert L. Kapp; Geo. E. Keeler, J. ago owing to poor health, is again in a position to
chairman of the entertainment committee, pre- Davenport Co., Stamford, Conn.; Charles Jacob take up active business and has again opened
sented to the club, in behalf of the C. D. Potter and C. Albert Jacob, Jacob Bros.; J. R. A. Lang, piano warerooms in that city, where he is handling
Co., of Stamford, Conn., a handsome bronze loving Estey Piano Co.; Alex. Lichtenstein, Mansfield a piano of New York manufacture.
Piano Co.; J. W. Looschen, Looschen Piano Case
Co., Paterson, N. J.; S. S. Mapes, W. Irving
Mapes, S. S. Mapes; Fred'k Mathesius, Jr., Fred'k
Mathesius, Jr.; Percy McFeeley, Chase, Roberts
& Co.; L. S. Macomber, Strich & Zeidler; Joseph
A SUPERIOR ACTION
Oktavec, the Laffargue Co.; C. D. Potter, C. D.
IS THE HEART OF A
Potter Co., Stamford, Conn.; C. O. B. Peuss,
SUPERIOR PIANO.
Cleveland Varnish Co.; Philip W. Parker, B. A.
& G. N. Williams; William M. Plaisted, Bogard
A SUPERIOR HAMMER
Piano Co.; Russell C. Price, F. W. Devoe & C. T.
Reynolds Co.; G. A. Rosenau, Isley & Held Co.;
IS THE HEART OF A
E. Rouvet, Wasle & Co.; R. H. Schroeder, C. F.
SUPERIOR
ACTION.
Goepel & Co.; Louis F. Schutte, Schencke Piano
Co.; A. V. W. Setley, Estey Piano Co.; Adolph
Stern, David T. Schmidt; Wm. Strich, Strich &
Zeidler; F. Von Schuckmann, Peter Cooper's Glue
Co.; Paul M. Zeidler, Strich & Zeidler.
Second Annual Affair of New York Piano Men's
Organization Proves Most Successful—Ex-
cellent Entertainment Provided for the Many
Guests—Supply Men Make Presentation of
Loving Cup to Club—Congratulations for En-
tertainment Committee Upon the Success of
Their
Efforts—Complete
List
of Those
Present, Both Members and Guests.
GETTING BACK INTO HARNESS.
A satisfied customer
is a real profit maker
-—the best salesman a
piano dealer can possibly
have
Every Packard owner is a Packard
booster. He is more than satis-
fied—for he has received more
than "full value" for his money
That's the reason Packard pianos
are easy to sell—and thaVs the
reason you will find profit and
pleasure in selling them. Also it's
the reason why we are finding it
easy ,to get the better d,ealers
everywhere to handle them. Write
The Packard Company, Fort
Wayne, Indiana—to-day. If we
are not already represented in
your territory, we may be glad
to make agency arrangements
with you—and it may mean for
you the one big opportunity.
Among other guests were: Col. W. A. Lytle,
on the Governor's staff of Massachusetts, guest of
Wm. M. Plaisted; George G. Foster, American
Piano Co.; Eugene A. Schmidt, with Hardman,
Peck & Co.; C. Logan, with Aeolian Co.; H. S.
Beckwith, with Henry Haas & Son; Henry Kuem-
mel, with Henry & S. G. Lindeman; C. H. A.
Bungart, with Chas. Roberts & Co.; J. B. Brouck,
B. B. Buckingham and J. H. Shanley, with Pratt
& Lambert; Henry Sandlas and C. P. Vogt, with
William Knabe & Co., Baltimore, Md.; Leonard
Foerschauer and William Schott, with Wasle &
Co.; Fred Lohr, of Hardman, Peck & Co.; Geo.
L. Bouton, with the Ault & Wiborg Co., Cincin-
nati, O.; R. Keiffer, with the Laffargue Co.; Will-
iam Heller, with Winter & Co.; H. W. Eschen-
brenner, with Krakauer Bros.; H. J. Becker, with
Kranich & Bach; Frank Fechteler, of Palm, Fech-
teler & Co.; Paul G. Mehlin, of Paul G. Mehlin
& Sons; James E. Jonas, Frank L. Simonton and
Edward I. Choate, with Illsley & Held Co.; Rich-
ard Wade, Thomas Moore, A. C. Fiske Hupfauf,
J. W. Schmidt, D. H. Schmidt, Fred W. Schmidt,
L. Munch, G. L. Bouton, A. Hahn, Mitchell May,
George G. Holz, W. J. Colihan, Joseph Wenner,
John H. Campbell, A. Kenyon, A. C. Fiske, Thomas
When you find this ham-
mer in a piano, you know
it is a superior piano.
It is the hall-mark of piano
superiority, and the life of
the music.
Ma e of superior German
felt.
ASK FOR THEM
401-424 E. 163d St., New York
Chicago Office: Republic Bldg.

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