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51
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CH. WEISS' 30TIi^ANNIVERSARY
Celebrated with Great Eclat in Trossingen,
Germany, Where Thousands of Workmen and
Friends the World Over Felicitate Him.
at concerts up to a few years ago. His collection
includes an Amati of 16(30, valued at $3,000; a
Gion Batta Dodio, Venice, 1788, valued at $3,000;
a Diuuiffo-Prugard of 1617 and a Delaney, also
valued at $3,000.
A special daily concert was given in the audi-
torium at the Wanamaker store during the period
of the exhibition.
HOHNER HARMONICA PRAISED.
Interesting Letter from Colwell Townsend, of
Hammondsport, N. Y M Who Has Used
One of These Instruments for Twelve Years.
Ch. Weiss, head of the prominent harmonica and
M. Hohner, 114 East Sixteenth street, New
iluta manufacturing house which bears his name,
York, the prominent manufacturer of harmonicas
celebrated last month, his thirtieth anniversary.
and accordeons, received the following interesting
Appropriate recognition of this important event
letter this week from a Hohner enthusiast named
OUTLOOK IS ENCOURAGING
was accorded Mr. Weiss by the thousands of em-
Colwell Townsend, R. F. D. No. 4, Hammonds-
ployes in the Weiss factories at Trossingen, Ger-
port, N. Y.:
Says William R. Gratz in Discussing Conditions
many, and congratulations and expressions of fe-
"I am sending you my harmonica to be tuned;
—Jos. Mock and Carl Fuchs Returning from
licitation were received from all corners of the
I sent it to the Estey Organ Co. and several other
Western Trip Which Was Most Successful.
globe, where the Weiss products have achieved
houses, but they evidently have not the facilities
popularity and renown.
for putting it in order. 1 have had this harmonica
"The new year has opened up encouragingly,"
Ch. Weiss, the present head of the House of
stated William R. Gratz, president of the Win. R. for twelve years, and value it very much. Send
Gratz Import Co., 35 West Thirty-first street, New bill when it is put in order."
York. "After closing a satisfactory year in 1913,
William J. Haussler, advertising manager of M.
we are prepared to take care of the needs of our Hohner naturally refers to this letter with consid-
customers and our business to date indicates a re- erable pride, as it is a remarkable tribute to the
sumption of business activity that augurs well for
House of Hohner, when one of its harmonicas
the new year."
gives service for twelve years. The arrival of the
Joseph Mock, secretary of the company is ex- mouth organ from Hammondsport is awaited with
interest, as Mr. Hohner is desirous of seeing which
pected back at his desk early next week after a
particular one of their many lines has given twelve
short trip through the Middle West, where he
years of perfect service. It is quite likely that Mr.
secured a good-sized list of orders. Mr. Mock
Townsend will receive a new Hohner harmonica,
was accompanied on this trip by Carl Fuchs, of
which will be tuned in perfect accord with his de-
the prominent band instrument house of Bohland
& Fuchs, Graslitz, Austria, whose products are sires.
handled exclusively in this country by the Wm. R.
In a chat with The Review, Mr. Haussler stated
Gratz Import Co. Mr. Fuchs was greatly impressed
that, up to date, M. Hohner is showing a very
with the popularity which the Bohland & Fuchs
gratifying increase over last January's business.
Ch. Weiss.
are achieving in this country, due to the energetic
There is no doubt -but that the harmonica is grow-
Weiss has directed the policies and methods of
sales nrethods of the American representatives.
ing in popularity with each succeeding year and
this prominent house with signal ability and suc-
the excellent quality of the mouth-organs turned
cess. From his childhood he studied harmonica
out by the leading manufacturers, together with
RUDOLPH WURUTZER'S DEATH.
construction and perfection, and under the able
the splendid co-operation offered the trade in vari-
guidance of his father who founded the business
In connection with the death last week of Ru- ous ways, has contributed to this satisfactory state
some fifty years ago acquired an intimate knowl-
dolph Wurlitzer, founder of the prominent piano
of affairs.
edge of the business that is reflected in the steadily
and musical merchandise house which.bears his
growing success of the House of Weiss during the name, the New York Times made the following
FOREIGN TRADEJ>LANS HALT.
thirty years that Ch. Weiss has been at its head. remarks in its interesting obituary notice:
Can't
Reorganize Bureau Till Congress Votes
The Weiss business as founded by Ch. Weiss,
"The name of Rudolph Wurlitzer is familiar to
Funds, Says Redfield.
father of the present head of the house, was con- every drummer boy and trumpeter who served in
fined to a small one-story building and employed
the Union Army during the Civil War, for the
(Special to The Review.)
but a few workmen; all the work being done by
veteran builder of musical instruments in general
WASHINGTON, D. C, January ID.—Plans for the
hand. From this humble start the Weiss business
and wind instruments in particular received the development of American trade with foreign coun-
rapidly increased, until to-day, the Weiss harmoni- contract frojn the Federal Government to furnish
tries through a reorganization of the Bureau of
cas are favorably known in all parts of the world, its armies with drums and trumpets. At the pres-
Foreign and Domestic Commerce cannot be further
and thousands of workmen are employed in the ent time the Wurlitzer trumpets are used in excess
pursued, said Secretary Redfield, of the Depart-
immense and thoroughly up-to-date factories at
of any other make in the United States army and
ment of Commerce to-day, until the money is
Trossingen.
in the State militia."
forthcoming.
Ch. Weiss well deserves the hearty congratula-
Mr. Redfield said that no attempt would be made
tions that have been showered on him on the cele-
to reorganize the Bureau until Congress acted
IMPORTERS MAKE PLANS.
bration of his thirtieth anniversary as the execu-
favorably upon the recent recommendation, and
tive director of the House of Weiss, and The Re- New Association Hopes to Recruit 10,000 that he was ready to put his plans into execution
Members.
view joins his many friends and business associ-
when the necessary money was in sight.
ates in wishing him a continued growth of the
The proposed reorganization, he added, '"would
The
directors
of
the
National
Association
of
Im-
impressive success that has marked this thirty
mark a turning point in American policy toward
porters,
at
a
meeting
held
on
Wednesday
at
165
years' direction.
the great world of commerce and industry abroad
Broadway, prepared tentative by-laws to govern
and be reflected in increased prosperity to our cap-
the new organization. The directors also dis-
VALUABLE VIOLINS EXHIBITED.
ital and labor at home."
cussed the lines of activity which the association
will
follow.
Highly Valued Instruments by the Old Masters
TRUMPETS_AS TOYS.
Officers probably will be chosen next week, after
Shown at Wanamaker's.
The Board of United States General Appraisers
which permanent headquarters here will be en-
Twenty-five rare violins, ranging in value from
this week upheld C. Fischer, of New York, under
gaged. Ex-Judge Sharretts, counsel of the asso-
$8,000 to $200, were exhibited at Wanamaker's in
the old tariff law, on small trumpets of one tone.
ciation, said yesterday that the work of recruiting
the collection made by the violin expert, Bernard
The goods were returned at 45 per cent, as musi-
members throughout the country was making good
Kirsch. A second collection belonging to Michaelo
cal instruments and were claimed dutiable at 35
progress. The membership ultimately, it is hoped,
Vitale, a Brooklyn violin lover, was also on view,
per cent, as toys.
will include 10,000 importers.
both of which were referred to in last week's Re-
view. The finest examples of the first collection
Largest Jobbers in America of
were a Joseph Gtiarnerius (del Jesu), Cremona,
1737, made in the same year as the King Joseph
ODERN
and valued at $8,000; a Nicola Amati, Cremona,
USICAL
1667, of exceedingly beautiful wood, the back a
ERCHANDISE
113-115 University Place
rare piece of bird's-eye, valued at $2,000; a Pietro
NEW YORK
WRITE FOR NEW CATALOG
Giovanni Guarneri, Cremona, 1702, valued at
$1,800; a David Tedhler, Rome, 1703, said to be
the finest specimen of this master, valued at $1,600,
and a Giuseppe Guadagnini, Milan, 1790, valued at
$1,500. The others included a Pressenda, a Tes-
V7////77/A
tore, a Gagliano, a Gobetti, a Palestrieri, a Tononi
and a Castello. Of the Vitale collection one was
V//////S
a fine Stradivarius, dated Cremona, 1675. and
Warranted that neither Bow Screw Rings nor Caps can fall off on Bow Screws as above illustrated.
worth about $4,000. Mr. Vitale owns another of
this famous old master, which was not on exhibi-
No advance In price if Violin Bows are purchased having the Patented Screw Attached to the Frog.
tion. This latter instrument has been in the family
W M . R. G R A T Z I M P O R T C O . ,
35-37 West 31st Street, New York City
for nearly 250 years and is valued at $12,000. Mr.
Vitale himself played several of the instruments
B
UEGELEISEN
& JACOBSON
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A PROBLEM
SOLVED!