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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
THREE INTERESTING INSTRUMENTS
NEW PIANO HOUSIHN BALTIMORE.
SETTLED IN NEW QUARTERS.
Rosenstein Piano Co. to Handle the Seeburg
Automatic Pianos at 406 North Howard
Street—Hub
Piano Co. Featuring the
Christman, Milton and Peerless Lines—G.
Fred Kranz's Health Shows Improvement—
Retail Trade Rather Quiet—Other News.
Kirby Piano Co. Occupy Handsome New Build-
ing on South Fourth Avenue, Louisville.
(Special to The Review.)
11
(Special to The Review.)
Louisville, Ky., May 6, 1912.
The Kirby Piano Co. is now settled in its new
quarters at 646 South Fourth avenue after some
weeks' delay about moving.
The new quarters
have been handsomely decorated and are filled
with a full line of pianos and player-pianos. The
sheet music department o£ the company, which
has proved very successful, has been greatly en-
larged.
Recently Placed in the South Kensington
Museum, London, by King George and Queen'
Mary—A Harpsichord with a History.^
King George and Queen Mary have just de-
posited on loan at the Victoria arid Albert Museum,
South Kensington, London, a small but highly in-
teresting collection of musical instruments, con-
sisting of a harmonium, a piano and a harpsi-
chord.
The harmonium, which was made by A. Muller,
of Paris', was specially constructed for traveling
and can be fitted into the small leather trunk which
is exhibited beside it. This instrument was used
formerly on the royal yacht.
The piano, which is an early specimen of the
upright grand type and which was made in 1808 by
R. Jones, of London, was probably constructed
specially for George IV. when he was Prince of
Wales. It is decorated with carved and gilt work
with tracery in the revived Gothic style. In the
upper part are two artistically designed doors with
silvered glass panels.
The most interesting, however, of the t'hree in-
struments is the harpsichord, which is said to have
been bequeathed by Handel to King George II. It
was made by Hans Ruckers the elder of Antwerp,
the founder of the famous family of Flemish
musical instrument makers. In addition to the in-
scription, "Joannes Rvckers me Fecit Antverpiae,
1612," it bears the characteristic trade-mark rep-
resenting an angel seated and playing a harp be-
tween the letters "H. R."
The sounding board is decorated with painting
and gilding. The instrument was constructed for
two keyboards on the system invented by Hans
Ruckers the elder, but the actual keyboards with
which it is at present provided are of modern
make. It is an interesting fact that in the East
Court, where it and the piano are being shown,
there is another harpsichord made by a member of
the Ruckers family.
Baltimore, Md., May 7, 1912.
Dealers in this city are not at all enthusiastic
over the way trade has been running for the past
month or so and some of them have gone so far as
to say that it begins to look as though this will be
an off year all around. It.is true that the weather
for some time past has been anything but favorable
WANTS COURT TO DECIDE
and some of those engaged in business here are in-
clined to blame this for the poor showing of trade, Upon Claim of Stockholders in John A. Jones
but others declare that if people really wanted to
Music Co. That They Be Considered as Gen-
make purchases they would not let unfavorable
eral Creditors.
weather deter them. These are the dealers who
are inclined to think that 1912 will go down in the
The opinion of the court has been asked by
piano annals as an off year for piano sales. What C. F. Templeman, trustee for the John A. Jones
puzzles the dealers is the cause for the poor show- Music Co., Huntington, W. Va., regarding the
ing of trade. They do not know whether to blame claims of certain preferred stockholders that they
it on the extreme cold winter, which threw so many be treated as general creditors and share in the
persons out of work and has thus brought about a distribution of dividends. The trustee now has in
shortage of money at this time, or whether the hand an amount sufficient to pay a dividend of
Presidential mixup and the forthcoming election of 60 per cent- to the creditors, as soon as the de-
the Chief Executive of the nation is really respon- cision of the court is handed down. There are
sible. At any rate, they are clamoring for better still $1,500 in outstanding accounts to be collected
business conditions and are working along every by the trustee.
line to boost trade.
MOVE TO BETTER LOCATION.
Despite the adverse condition of trade recently,
another new piano establishment has made its ap-
(Special to The Review.)
pearance in this city. This is the Rosenstein Piano
Gloversville, N. Y., May 6, 1912.
Co., located at 406 North Howard street. This
W. H. Becker & Co., well known piano dealers
firm has on hand the J. P. Seeburg electric piano, of this city, have moved from the second floor to
and they are making pretty window displays. They the first floor of the building at 9 Cayadutta street,
have now in the window a beautiful art upright where they have greatly increased space for the
grand on which daily concerts are given that at- display of their line of pianos and player-pianos.
tract large crowds.
The company has also installed a complete assort-
The Hub Piano Co., another new addition to ment of musical merchandise.
piano row, makes fair reports for the past week
with the Peerless electric player-piano, which it
THE STARR BRANCH IN DAYTON.
WRIGHT BANKRUPT SALE MAY 15.
represents in this city. This firm is also carrying
(Special to The Review.)
the Christman, Milton and Ricca lines in addition
' A meeting of the creditors of the Wright Piano
Dayton, O., May 6, 1912.
to the Peerless, which promises to be a'big favorite
Co., New York, will be held on May 13, at which
The
Starr
Piano
Co.
has
moved
into
handsome
here. While this firm is young in the business, the
an opportunity will be offered to object to the sale
proprietors say that they are looking for good re- warerooms in the new Schwind building, the most by auction of the pianos which were in work at
modern
and
the
handsomest
of
the
business
sults and expect to be heard from before the year
the time of the failure and the machinery and
buildings in this city.
rolls by.
tools, which are about all the available assets to be
President G. Fred Kranz, of the Kranz-Smith
disposed of. If no objections are made the sale
DEATH OF W. D. KEENY.
Piano Co., who has been confined to his home as
will take place on May 15.
W. D. Keeny, who for over a quarter of a cen-
the result of a nervous breakdown, is reported to
be much better. He will be unable, however, to tury conducted a retail piano store in Manheim,
CAPTAINS FOR BAIL TEAMS CHOSEN.
attend the concert to be given by the Musical Art Pa., and who was a chorister of wide reputation,
died
recently
in
that
city,
aged
forty-nine
years.
Club, of Baltimore, at Lehmann's Hall. Mr. Kranz
The piano manufacturers and the supply men
is president of this organization.
The Schroeder Piano Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., an- are planning to have a real ball game at the annual
James Mather, formerly representative for the nounces that branch stores of the company will be outing of the members of the Piano Club of New
French & Sons Piano Co., is now with the Mann opened in Utica and Rochester, N. Y., as soon as York, which will be held on July 16. L. D. Perry,
Piano Co.
suitable locations can be secured in those cities. of Ludvvig & Co., has been chosen captain of the
Manager John Clous, 6f William Knabe & Co., George Schroeder recently made a trip through piano manufacturers' team, while the supply men
has just returned from a short business trip to New York State in connection with the new will be headed by Ed. Rouvet. Great doings are
New York.
expected.
project.
S. P. Walker, manager of the out-of-town Stieff
branch stores, is in Richmond, Va., on a short busi-
ness trip.
You ean successfully
meet any competition with the
Chase-Hackley Line
It begins with CHASE BROS.,
the pioneer piano of the West,
and goes down to a good com-
mercial piano—the CARLISLE
Chase-Hackley Piano Co.
ESTABLISHED 1863
BRATON S. CHASE
General Manager
Muskegon
-
Mich.
YER LEAF
r^^o BRAND
edicke Hammerfelt
THE FELTERS CO. N E W YORK