Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
K. E. Letton, Quincy, 111., is having a good trade.
He Is constantly inventing something for pianos and
organs. His latest achievement is a new method for
stringing upright pianos, which I believe will be in
use before long with several manufacturers. Mr.
Letton will soon make a trip East and explain to the
manufacturers the advantages of this new invention.
*
• *
I was very much surprised upon arriving at Kansas
City to notice its growth since my last visit, about one
year ago. I thought then that it was a very thriving
town, and stated in the paper that I believed it was
destined to become a great city. I am convinced
now that I was right in my predictions. There has
been three cable roads constructed; one on Eight
ANOTHER OF THE MUSIC TRADE RE-
VIEWS EXTENDED TOURS.
TZHIE
No. III.
QUINCY, Ilili. ; KANSAS CITY, MO. ; DETROIT, MICH. ;
RICHMOND, IND., PITTSBTJRO, PA. ; NEW HAVEN,
MEBIDEN AND NEW BRITAIN, CONN. ; BBAT-
TIJKBORO, VT., AND BOSTON, MASS.
MANUFACTUBERS OP
The manufacturers and dealers along my route all
tell me that they are perfectly content with the pres-
sent condition of business, and that they expect a
larger holiday trade than for a number of years past.
There does not seem to me to be that reckless sys-
tem of doing business that was indulged in by many
a few years ago. The people have learned wisdom
through the past months of depression, and are now
doing a careful business. They do not now stock
their stores with goods away beyond their wants,
just for the sake of show, but instead order only
what their trade will warrant and what their capital
justifies.
* *
I had a very pleasant ride from Chicago to Quincy
in company with Mr. Ellsbree, of the Wilcox & White
Organ Co., of Meriden, Conn. Mr. Ellsbree was
going as far West as St. Joseph, to call on Huyett
Bros., who are selling large quantities of Wilcox &
White organs. He makes a trip twice a year among
all the firm's agents, for the purpose of settling up
and seeing just what they are doing, how they stand
and to give advice when needed. In this way the
company are acquainted with the affairs of their
agents and are not liable to have any lossea, as is
the case with many firms who are by far too lenient.
In carrying on a large business it should be gov-
er ed bv strict business rules, and in this respect I
believe the Wilcox & White Organ Co. excel most
firms. It is due to their method of doing business,
as well as the excellence of their organs, that they
hav« secured the best of firms to represent their
goods.
* *
The Whitney & Holmes Organ Co., Quincy, III.,
are having a good, steady trade. Their organ sales
are not quite as large as was anticipated in October
last. Their piano trade, however, is greater than they
expected, and growing larger every year. This firm
has handled the Hazelton Bros, and Pease pianos
for a good many years, and they probably sell more
of these two makes than any other firm in the coun-
try. They have their agencies established all through
the West and Northwest, and have gained a reputa-
tion for honesty in business not excelled by any firm
in the country. The house has just taken the agency
of the Sterling piano for a large Western territory,
and propose to use every effort in making it a pop-
ular instrument throughout the West. Mr. Whitney
told me that he considered the Sterling piano equal
in tone to any manufactured.
HIGHEST GRADE
ing a regular old-fashioned boom with no prospect
of an abatement for some time to come. Every one
seems to be crazy about real estate, and as fast as
the residents accumulate any money they invest it
in this way. Many of the Eastern capitalists are
also putting their money here, which of course adds
to its prosperity.
The piano and organ trade here is by no means
left out in the cold, and all the dealers seem to be
happy, although competition is greater than in any
other place I know.
* *
Geo. W. Strope is continually branching out, and
has formed several excellent agencies of late through-
out Missouri and Kansas. He has the Strope piano
and organ made expressly for his trade. The piano
is made by a well-known and reliable house in New
York, and the organ is manufactured by the Whitney
Organ Co., Detroit, Mich., which is a guarantee of
good workmanship, as this firm do not turn out any-
thing but excellent work. Mr. Strope has placed his
piano into the homes of many of the leading people
of Kansas City, and has splendid testimonials as to
the quality of the instruments. He has speculated
in real estate quite extensively during the past year,
and has probably cleared a clean $100,000 from it
during 1886. In another column we present a cut of
Mr. Strope's traveling men ready for a start.
* •
PARLOR AND CHAPEL
Best of Workmanship and Quality of
Goods Guaranteed.
Correspondence Solicited.
ADDRESS,
A.+B.+CHASE+COMPANY,
19 Whittlesey Ave.,
NORWALK, OHIO.
street to Ninth and one branch running to Indepen-
dence avenue; another on Fifteenth street, which
runs to the city limits ; and a third on Troost avenue,
about five miles long. There is franchise out for one
on Twelfth street and another on prospect avenue,
and work will commence on these early in spring.
Besides these mentioned, there is a line of cars on
Fifth street which are run by electricity, which seems
to work well. Altogether, Kansas City is equal to
any city in regard to car lines. As a proof of the
amount of business done in this place, I will state
that the Clearing House reports show a weekly
amount of over $7,000,000. The rush at the depot
reminds me of the Grand Central in New York, and
upon inquiry I found that over 4,000 pieces of baggage
are handled daily. I tell you Kansas City is enjoy-
Conover Brothers tell me that their trade Is in-
creasing every year, and that they have until recently
been bothered to get pianos fast enough, owing to
their limited manufacturing facilities. They have
now, however, a new factory with much more room,
and hope to be able to meet the demands for their
goods promptly. A party addressed a letter to me,
" care of the largest music house in Kansas City,"
which was delivered during my visit at Conover
Bros. I judge from this that they must be the
largest.
* •
The Smith American Organ Co. handle the Knabe,
Steck, Wheelock and Bradbury pianos, which gives
them a variety and enables them to satisfy all-comers.
Since Mr. McGlaughlin has been managing the busi-
ness in Boston, the Kansas City branoh has been
under the management of Mr. H. F. Anderson, who
appears to be a thorough business gentleman and
well qualified to fill the important position. Mr.
Anderson says he is anxiously awaiting the first in-
voice of Smith American pianos, which he expects
will arrive early in January.
*
* *
The W. W. Kimball Co.'s branch house is a great
success, which is largely due to the untiring efforts
of Mr. Roberts, the efficient manager. He showed
me the business done during the past two months,
and it mounted away up into the thousands. This
year's business has been larger than any previous
year and the cash sales more frequent. Roberts is
one of the most popular gentlemen in Kansas City.
He seems to know every one and everybody knows
him.
The Whitney Organ Co., Detroit, Mich., have
moved into their new factory, which Is the best
equipped in the country. It seems to me as though
it contains every possible improvement, but Mr.
Votey says that there are a few more improvements
which he will make. When these are all completed
I shall give a full description of it, which will be in
January. The faotory has a capacity of 200 organs
per week, which number the firm will turn out when
they get in good running order. The company have
made several valuable improvements in their organs
of late. One of these is in the arrangement of the