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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JULIUS KRAKAUER DEAD.
President of Krakauer Bros. Passes Away in His
Seventieth Year—Had Been Identified with
the Piano Industry Since 1869—Had Many
Friends in the Trade—Was an Accomplished
Musician—Noted in Orchestral Field*
Julius Krakauer, president of Kraukauer Bros..
Cypress avenue and 136th street, New York,
passed away at 5 :40 p. m. Sunday last at his sum-
mer home at Far Rockaway, L. I., in his seventieth
year. Although for the last three years Mr
Krakauer had been in poor health, and had been
Julius Krakauer.
unable to attend his regular duties at the factory,
his death was not looked for, and the end came
suddenly, as two days before he had been walking
and riding about as usual.
Julius Krakauer was born in Loch, Germany,
and when thirteen years of age came to this coun-
try with his father, Simon Krakauer. The family
were all musical, and the late Mr. Krakauer, be-
sides other talents, was a very fine violinist and
pianist, playing with his father in Barnum's Mu-
seum when it opened at Ann street and Broadway,
and later playing violin and piano for many years
with the Theodore Thomas orchestra.
When Krakauer Bros, was formed in 1869 by
his father Julius Krakauer entered the offices of
the company and also acquired an expert knowl-
edge of piano building. He always conducted the
financial end of the business. On the death of his
father he became president, holding this position
until his death. He was a piano maker of the old
school, very keen witted and conservative, besides
being highly respected by his many friends and
business associates.
He always stood for the best in piano building,
and was a great advocate of the maintenance of
quality. He loved the piano business, and always
aimed to give the trade full value in producing in-
struments of "honest worth and artistic merit. Al-
ways considerate, he was looked up to and beloved
by his employes, many of whom have grown gray
in the service of the house.
He is survived by a wife, Mrs. Henrietla Kia-
kauer; Daniel Krakauer, a brother residing in
Mount Vernon, who is interested in Kraukauer
Bros.; Mrs. I. E. Bretzfelder, wife of I. E. Bretz-
felder, treasurer of the company, who has repre-
sented Mr. Krakauer since he has been unable to
actively manage the business, and Mrs. Caroline
Luster. Mr. Krakauer was very fond of his fam-
ily, and never fully recovered the shock of the
death of his son, Morris, who died eleven years
ago at the age of twenty-seven. Another brother
who was associated with him in' business for thir-
ty-one years died ten years ago.
"The funeral was held on Wednesday, and the in-
terment took place at Union Fields, Cypress Hills
Cemetery. The factory was closed during the week.
OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Increase—Exports for Eleven Months Much
Larger—Player Shipments Make Fine Rec-
ord—The Figures in Detail Regarding the
Various Instruments Furnish Some Inter-
esting Particulars for Our Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, July 2, 1912.
The summary of exports and imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month of
May, 1912, the latest period for which it has been
compiled, has just been issued by the Bureau of
Statistics of the Department of Commerce and
Labor. The figures relating to musical merchan-
dise, including pianos, organs, piano players and
miscellaneous "small goods" are as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments dur-
ing May amounted to $186,449, as compared with
$152,716 worth which were imported the same
month of 1910. The eleven months' total ending
May shows importations valued at $1,491,270, as
against $1,501,261 worth of musical instruments im-
ported during the same period in 1911 and $1,249,-
777 in 1910. This gives an increase in imports for
the eleven months ending May of $9,991.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for May, 1912, amounted to $298,723, as
compared with $311,021 for the same month of the
previous year. The eleven months' exportation of
musical instruments amounted to $3,390,377, as
against $3,134,492 for the same period in 1911 and
$2,896,838 in 1910. This shows an increase in ex-
ports for the eleven months ending May of $255,-
885.
Of the aggregate exportations in May there were
796 organs, valued at $69,923, as compared with
711 organs in 1911, valued at $64,048. The eleven
months' total shows that we exported 9,195 organs,
valued at $655,383, as against 8,417 organs, valued
at $598,189 for the same period in 1911, and 8,815,
valued at $666,879, for the same period in 1910.
In May, 1912, we exported 625 pianos (including
player-pianos), valued at $142,665, as against 488
pianos, valued at $109,747, in May, 1911. The
eleven months' total exports show 7,044 pianos (in-
cluding player-pianos), valued at $1,630,710, as
compared with 5,062, valued at $1,176,084, exported
in the same period of 1911, and 4,588, valued at
$1,072,938 for the same period in 1910.
Of the aggregate exportations in May there were
64 automatic piano-players, valued at $17,912, as
compared with 266, valued at $82,565, in May, 1911.
For the eleven months' period 1,598 of these in-
struments, valued at $437,384, were sent abroad, as
compared with 2,608, valued at $718,458, in 1911,
and 2,477, valued at $669,329 in 1910.
The value of all other instruments and parts
thereof sent abroad during May, 1912, amounted
to $68,223; in the same month of 1911 the value
was estimated at $54,661.
The total exports for the eleven months under
this heading foot up $666,900, as against $641,761
exported during the same period of 1911, and
$487,692 exported during the same period 'in 1910.
This shows an increase of $25,139.
LOVETT WITH BAMBERGER & CO.
The Newark Department Store Secures Man-
ager for Its New Piano Department.
It was announced in The Review some months
ago that L. Bamberger & Co., who conducts a de-
partment store in Market street, Newark, N. J.,
would take on pianos early in the fall. At the
time this was not confirmed, but developments
since then have demonstrated the correctness of the
original re'port.
Last week L. Bamberger & Co. closed negotia-
tions with L. E. Lovett, manager of the Ludden &
Bates Southern Music House in Savannah, Ga.,
whereby he becomes the manager of the piano de-
partment which this concern will open in the fall.
As soon as he comes north he will at once decide
on the full line of pianos to be handled. The
department will not be opened before the fall.
HALTS NEW BAGGAGE RULES.
Board Suspends Cut in Amount Sent Free and
Higher Excess Charges.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, June 29, 1912.
Every common carrier, railroad and steamship
line of the United States was affected by the
suspension by the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion to-day of the proposed new regulations re
stricting the dimensions of pieces of personal bag-
gage.
The new regulations suspended would further
limit the amount of baggage transported free for
a passenger and increase the charges on excess
baggage. They were suspended from July 1 to
October 29.
PIANO DEALER MISSING.
(Special to The Review.)
San Francisco, Cal., June 29, 1912.
J. C. Boone, 975 Market street, reported to the
police yesterday the diseppearance of H. P. Malan,
a piano dealer of Modesto, who has not been heard
of since June 12. Malan left Modesto on June 10
in a Buick automobile for San Francisco. On the
next day he wired his wife from this city that he
would be in Modesto June 12. On that day he
started on his homeward journey, did not arrive
and no trace has been found of him. Malan is 28
years of age.
The Martin-Adams Music Co., of Wichita, Kan.,
who recently secured the agency for the Chickering
& Sons piano, have been bringing this fact to the
attention of the public in a very impressive manner.
The fact that the Chickering is the oldest piano in
the United States is being emphasized as well as
its artistic worth.