Music Trade Review

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April namm.org
20th, 1881.
102 Music Trade Review
THE
CRITIC AND TRADE
REVIEW.
DEATH OF WILLIAM McCAMMON.
CLOSE OF A LONG, ACTIVE, USEFUL AND PKOFITABLE LIFE.
TRADE CHAT.
M
R. WILLIAM McCAMMON, whose decease lias been looked for several
We are informed that Mr.
days, died yesterday at his residence in this city. He was born in the
Albert Weber of this city is
eity of Albany, February 26, 1811. He received the greater part of his edu-
engaged to Miss Merrie M.
eation at the old Albany academy, under Theodore Romeyn Beck, until
Clowes, and that the wedding
1828, when he left school to learn the trade of pattern-making, for the pur-
will take placo early in June.
pose of becoming a practical civil and mechanical engineer, working at it
We trust that Mr. Weber and
•until 21 years of age. During this time, he studied mathematics, under
his betrothed will experience
Prof. Joseph Henry, now secretary of the Smithsonian Institute. While
every happiness in their mar-
learning his trade and studying with Prof. Henry, he was freely admitted to
ried life. We have frequently
his experimental room, in the Albany academy. At that time, 1830, Prof.
differed with Mr. Weber in
Henry had coils of wire around the room and a machine which vibrated by
matters relating to the music
electricity, and was the incipient electrical telegraph. He heard Prof. Henry
trades and have often sharply
often say that with it communication could be heard at any distance. In
attacked his methods, but when
1855, he was resident engineer of the Erie canal enlargement. After finish-
it comes to his domestic and
ing the trade alluded to he returned to the Albany academy, continuing his
social relations, we are glad to
studies with Prof. Henry. In the fall of 1832 he removed with Prof. Henry
be the first to congratulate him
to Princeton college, and there continued the studies of civil and mechani-
and wish him joy.
cal engineering for six months. He returned to Albany after six months
Captain-General B l a n c o
and took charge of the pattern shop of Townsend's furnace, where he super-
opened the Exhibition at Mat-
intended the building of every description of machinery. In one year from
anzas on April 3. Nearly all
this time, he had full charge of the whole establishment. During 1836 he
the Havanese authorities were
built the first locomotive ever built north of New York city, which was then
present as were also representa-
the largest in the country. In 1838 he built the horizontal low pressure
engine, original design, for the steamship Simeon DeWitt, which plied on tives of various corporations and a volunteer guard. General Reyna, Gov-
Cayuga lake. In 1848 he built a low pressure beam engine for Smith, Patten ernor of the Province, and the Mayor of Matanzas delivered addresses, after
& Go/s flour mill at Albany. This piece of machinery is still running, and which the Captain-General declared the Exhibition formally opened. At
capable of competing with many of more modern construction. During his present there are comparatively few exhibits, but it is expected that within a
connection with Townsend's furnace he built the Rensselaer Iron Works in ortnight there will be no reason, to complain upon this score. The most
the city of Troy. This was the third mill ever built in the United States for complete display of industries is that of Cuba. Spain is sparingly repre-
rolling railroad iron. In 1852, Mr. McOammon was appointed superintend- sented. The United States is fairly represented, principally in hardware
ent of the Albany water works, a position he held two years. He was then and machinery, though its agricultural products have also received some
called to Chicago, as engineer for the Chicago water-works, but soon after ttention.
left, predicting for the whole works a failure, which ultimately proved true.
A woman who usually calls herself Mrs. Catharine A. Waters, but who
In 1854 he returned to Albany and commenced the manufacture of draining sometimes conceals her identity under other titles, obtained a piano from Mrs.
tile, which he continued until 1862, increasing the products of the yard from Caroline Hickock, promising to pay a monthly rental of $6 for it. She
250,000 to 1,250,000 tile per annum. In 1862 he bought out the pianoforte told Mrs. Hickock, who is an aged lady, that she had hired the house No.
manufacturing establishment from Boardman, Gray & Co. From that time 411 West Forty-fifth street, and wanted the piano to adorn her parlor. A
until now he has continually improved the mechanical construction and tone day or two after she had obtained possession of the piano Mrs. Waters
of his instruments until they have no superior. He has proved successful passed it over to one Gustave Simon for $150. Mrs. Hickock learned that
in all of his business pursuits from a rare combination of industry and judg- Simon had her property, and requested him to surrender it or pay her its
ment, which has enabled him to undertake many enterprises, proving him- value. He refused to do either, and she sued him. A jury in the Supreme
self successful under all circumstances. On January 1st, 1877, Mr. McCam- Court, Circuit, April 7th, gave Mis. Hickock a verdict for $250 against
iuon virtually retired from active business life, and the business is now Simon. Mr. Theodore Von Bremsen for the plaintiff, Messrs. Jeroloman &
eonducted by his son Edward.—Daily Press and Knickerbocker, Albany, Arrowsmith for the defendant.
April 4th.
Mr. C. M. Loomis, of New Haven, Conn., has taken the agency of the
Combination Organ," manufactured by The Mechanical Orguinette Com-
pany of 831 Broadway, N. Y., for the south-western part of Connecticut.
THE DUNHAM PIANOFORTE NANUFACTORY.
Messrs Christie & Co., of this city, lately unpacked an old piano which
CALLED at the Dunham Pianoforte Manufactory, at One Hundred and they had taken in trade, it is an exceedingly ancient instrument, and bears the
Fifty-sixth street and Fourth avenue, this city, one day last week, to find name of Peter Erben, Pump street, New York.
The Score in its April number got our Beatty conundrum so badly mixed
out how the affairs of the manufactory were getting on since the suspension
of the firm of Dunham & Sons. I talked with Mr. David H. and Mr. J. B. up that we could hardly recognize it as our own.
Dunham and learned from them that the affairs of the old firm were in a fair
The Judge of Probate for the county of Suffolk, Mass., has decreed that
way of being adjusted, all of the creditors, with the exception of two, having the return of the commissioners of the estate of George H. Davis, late of
accepted the firm's offer to compromise.
Boston, shall be reopened to allow the creditors to present their claims for
The business has been reorganized and it will in future be carried on proof.
under the name of The Dunham Pianoforte Manufactory. An abundance
of capital to meet all possible requirements in manufacturing has been
placed at the disposal of the new organization, and the new concern means
business.
The old firm of Dunham & Sons, of which the father of the present
managers was the head, was one of the oldest and best known in the country,
as well for the quality of the instruments manufactured by it, as for the
intelligence with which the business was conducted. The present site of
the factory is one of the best for this purpose in this city, being located in
the extreme upper part of New York, where the charge for rent, which is
such a burden on manufacturers located in the heart of the city, is a com-
paratively small item, while at the same lime the location is all that can be
desired for shipping or receiving goods, as it is right alongside of the tracks
of the Harlem and New York and New Haven railroads. In addition to this
the location is a better one for the workmen employed than one further down
town, because they can obtain more comfortable roomy dwellings at a much
lower rent than in the crowded portions of the city, and it is reasonable to
siippose that a healthy condition of the workmen employed will have its
eflect on the quality of the work turned out by them.
The factory building is a large one, entirely constructed of brick, with
plenty of room for the making of a large number of pianos, and containing,
of course, all the modern improvements in the machinery line, the power
being furnished by a steam engine of about forty horse power.
Every part of the Dunham pianos put upon the market is made in this
establishment with the exception of the iron frames and the actions, which,
as is customary with nearly every piano manufacturer, are made by parties
who make a specialty of these things.
Having entire control of every detail in their own factory, and on
account of their advantageous location, light manufacturing expenses and the
The general condition of the country is sound and prosperous, and
not less important item that all their purchases are made strictly for cash at
bottom prices, the concern is enabled to compete favorably as regards low- although there have been complaints of slowness in making collections on
the part of some manufacturers this is not likely to continue and may be
ness of price and quality of goods, with any other house in the trade.
The Dunham Pianoforte Manufactory is at present making about ten considered incidental to the severe winter which all parts of the country
pianos per week, a number which they expect to largely increase as soon as has experienced. The producing capacity of the piano and organ trade
the Spring trade becomes active. One of the Messrs. Dunham has lately (particularly the latter which has grown and is growing with surprising
returned from a western business tour, during which he found encouraging rapidity) is larger this spring than ever before in the history of the country,
prospects for business in the Dunham Piano anil made actual sales of a large but the growth of musical tastes on the part of the people has been growing
number of instruments.
at the same time, and what is more important in a business sense, their
The instruments, both square and upright, which I saw in the Dunham ability to purchase has been rapidly growing also.
In spite of the unprecedented production the demand seems as far as
factory, were made of excellent materials, skillfully put together, had a fine
powerful tone, and will no doubt give good satisfaction to the buyer. There ever from being filled, and we do not think that any dull business as a
seems to be every reason to think that the new concern is entering upon a result of overproduction will be experienced this season or for many yet to
long period of prosperity.
G. W.
come.
I
J