Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
2O2
NAPOLEON J. HAINES SEN'R.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE LARGEST
FIRMS OF PIANO-MAKERS IN THE WORLD.
N
APOLEON J. HAINES, SEN'R, like many another
"citizen of credit and renown," is one of the
most modest and unassuming gentlemen to be
found anywhere. So devoid is he of all vanity and self-
glorification that numbers of persons engaged in the
music trade are unaware of the vastness of his business
interests; of the fact that from time to time within the
past half century he has ably and honorably filled public
positions of great responsibility; or of the further fact
that his counsel is frequently sought by the leading finan-
ciers of New York cjty. It is undeniable that, were
Napoleon J. Haines the elder removed from our midst,
not a few of those who are eminently distinguished in
various walks of life would realize that they had in very
truth to lament the loss of a guide, philosopher, and
friend.
During a recent visit at the new piano factory of
Haines Brothers, Alexander avenue, 132nd and 133rd
streets, N. Y., we enjoyed an exceedingly pleasant and
profitable half hour's chat with this self made and in
every way remarkable man.
On being asked how long he had been engaged in the
manufacture of of pianos, the veteran maker replied:
"I commenced piano-making on May 1st, 1839, having
a year or two previously arrived from England with my
brother, who subsequently entered into partnership
with me, and remained my partner until his death, which
occurred a few years ago."
"You have witnessed many changes and important
events, Mr. Haines ?"
" I have, indeed. But I have been a pretty busy man
all the time, and the years have flown with almost in-
credible swiftness. I well remember the great fires of
1835 and 1845. I attended the funeral ceremonies held
in honor of Lafayette. I have dined with all sorts of
celebrities, including General Grant, the Duke of Con-
naught, Duke Alexis of Russia, and a host of military
and civil notabilities. I have passed safely through
some of the direst financial crises that ever afflicted the
commerce of a country, and have held well-nigh all
kinds of positions of trust. I was one of the hundred
Americans who signed the famous document that was
dispatched to the Russian court."
" You have been largely and intimately interested in
banking affairs, I believe ?"
"Well, a little. I was a banker for fifteen years. During
twenty-six years I have been a director of the Fifth
National Bank. Then I was one of the founders of the
Union Dime Savings Bank at Thirty-second street and
Broadway, and have been concerned in other enterprises
of like character."
On the veVy morning of our call this Napoleon of
business (for there are Napoleons in business as well as
in war) was interviewed by a prominent capitalist of this
city, who had been delegated to request Mr. Haines' ac-
ceptance of an important and responsible position in
connection with a new bank that it is proposed to estab-
lish.
At one time and another Mr. Haines has had control, as
trustee, of no less a sum than twenty millions of dollars,
every cent of which was ultimately turned over to the
parties who entrusted it to his keeping without a single
complaint being made as to the manner in which his
stewardship had been fulfilled.
In spite of the honors, the wealth, and the praises
that have been showered upon him, this simple-minded,
honest-hearted old man devotes himself quietly and un-
ostentatiously to his daily duties, going round among
his clerks and workmen with a nod of recognition here,
a kindly smile there, and a right hearty word of en-
couragement wherever it is needed or deserved.
Mr. Haines speaks of his trip to Europe, in company
with his excellent wife, as one of the pleasantest inci-
dents in his long career. Many letters of introduction
were given to him by prominent citizens, notably one
by the President of the United States. Mr. and Mrs.
Haines crossed the Atlantic with Mme. Adelina Patti,
by the express invitation of that renowned cantatrice,
and after landing accompanied her in a private car to her
lovely castle home at Craig-y-Nos (The Rock of the
Night), South Wales, where they were her honored
guests for an entire week.
Mr. Haines always refers to this visit to the home
of Patti as one of the most interesting and charming
experiences of his life. Patti and Nicolini were pro-
Mr. Tonk's trip, though undertaken for purely busi-
fuse in their kindness and hospitality to their guests,
who were made " free " of the castle in the very fullest ness purposes, was greatly enjoyed by him. Among
sense of the word. Mme. Patti is an enthusiastic ad- other entertainments in which he participated was a
lunch in the Eiffel Tower, at which Mr. Herrburger,
mirer of the Haines piano.
Haines Brothers' new piano factory is one of the Mr. Geo. Steck, and Mr. Edward Bechstein were pres-
largest, best-equipped and most favorably located in the ent. As an interesting memento of his trip, Mr. Tonk
world. The firm own 506 feet frontage—thirty-two brought back with him an exquisitely constructed min-
lots, or two acres of ground. Half a million feet of iature violin, which he picked up in London. The en-
lumber are in the yard all the time. There are two tire length of this little instrument is S/4 inches, the
large drying-rooms, one capable of holding fifty thou- length of the body being but -$% inches. The pro-
sand feet of lumber, and the other a hundred thousand portions of every part of it are wondrously accurate,
feet, and both being always filled to the full extent of and the workmanship of bridge, strings, pegs, F holes,
their space. In addition to an immense stock of other and all the other details must be seen in order to be
veneer woods here are stored ten thousand feet of the sufficiently admired. The cost of its manufacture was
finest black walnut, for Haines Brothers make all their considerably more than that for which a fine violin of
piano-cases, and have achieved great distinction in this, the usual size could be made.
Messrs. Tonk & Bro. are cheerful and confident in
as in every other branch of the piano-building industry.
In every respect the new factory is as complete as regard to their general trade prospects.
the skill of man can make it. As a real estate invest-
ment alone the site of the factory is exceedingly valua-
ble, and it is said that since the purchase of this prop-
SEIBERT FINDS A SYMPATHIZER.
erty by the Haines firm its value has increased by $ 100,
000. It is certain that the location is a splendid one, HOW JUNIUS HART'S EFFORTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
and one that is constantly being improved.
WERE FRUSTRATED BY PHILIP THE APOSTLE.
The interior equipment of the factory is thoroughly
R. JUNIUS HART, of New Orleans, La., the
consistent with the durable and handsome exterior
well-known piano, organ, and music dealer,
structure. It is clear to the intelligent visitor that this
has been baulked—temporarily, at least —in a
gigantic establishment was erected and fitted up with-
out the least regard to present outlay, but with a very praiseworthy effort to bring a rascal to justice, and to
wise and prudent regard to permanency and the swift benefit both the music trade and the public at large.
dispatch of business. The machinery is of the most im- The case has somewhat of a Barretty flavor about it.
It appears that one J. M. Seibert, a tuner in the em-
proved and costly description. Boilers and engines
were made to order, and for material and make cannot be ploy of Mr. Hart, sold a piano belonging to the latter,
excelled. The system of exhaust steam for heating and kept the purchase money. Naturally enough, and
the buildings, placed in fire-proof rooms, is admirable. very properly, Mr. Hart had the embezzler arrested, as
Every possible precaution against fire has been taken. a preliminary step towards placing him for a time
In the matters of lighting, heating and general arrange- where he would be unable to continue his criminal
ment and Surroundings it would seem impossible that practices. It transpired that SeiberJ^ame to New Or-
a factory could be more favorably located or better cir- leans from Mobile, Ala., where he had swindled J. H.
cumstanced. The plan of the Haines factory does not Snow, E. Q. Norton, and others. He was undoubtedly
necessitate a great number of superintendents and fore- a dangerous person.
Dangerous as Seibert was to the community, how-
men, "but is such as to allow of the entire establishment
being placed under the direct supervision of the mem- ever, his incarceration excited the questionable sympa-
bers of the firm, viz., Mr. Napoleon J. Haines and his thy of Mr. Phil Werlein, of whom we have heard and
two sons, each of whom is a practical and experienced written in former years. Mr. Werlein proceeded with-
out delay to undo the good work of Mr. Junius Hart,
piano maker.
What with this magnificently equipped factory, the by becoming Seibert's bondsman and setting the thief
skilled, intelligent artisans who are employed therein to work in his (Werlein's) store. Werlein, like the
and the unsurpassable excellence of the materials used, lamented Barrett, late of Cleveland, O., is a man of
it is not at all surprising that Haines Brothers should God and a pillar of the church. He is regularly in his
place upon the market a piano of the highest rank. seat in the tabernacle, where his voice rises in sonorous
The fact that their wares are so signally appreciated by strains of praise for mercies received. The latest
the American public reflects great credit alike upon the " mercy" vouchsafed to him is Mr. Seibert. Before
status of the makers and the taste of the purchasers. that gentleman's arrival, another thief, who is wanted
It is no uncommon thing for Messrs. Haines to be two in another part of the country, sought and found sweet
and three hundred instruments behind their orders. shelter under the wing of Mr. Werlein. As a competi-
Consequently, although their factory is probably one of t o r of respectable dealers, Mr. Werlein occupies a some-
the very largest in the country, it has already proven what prominent position. If any of our subscribers
too small for their business, and they are contemplat- should meet with persons of the Barrett or Seibert
type, let them point out to such characters the advant-
ing a further increase of facilities at no distant date.
ages of an acquaintance with Philip the Apostle.
It is possible that the officers of the Piano and Organ
Manufacturers' Association of the United States would
WM. TONK «t BRO.
be interested in an investigation of Philip's antecedents,
business methods, and religious and other acquaintance-
THEIR UNPRECEDENTEDLY LARGE FALL TRADE—MR.
WM. TONK'S RETURN FROM PARIS —GREAT PROGRESS
ship.
M
OF .THE HERRBURGER-SCHWANDER ACTION —
A LUNCH IN MID-AIR—A MINIATURE FIDDLE.
M
R. WM. TONK, of the firm of Win. Tonk &
Bro., N. Y., who left this city for Paris about
two months ago, returned home on the 19th
ult. The principal object of his trip was to induce the
firm of Herrburger-Schwander, whose piano-forte
actions the Messrs. Tonk exclusively represent in the
United States, to lose no time in enlarging their man-
ufacturing facilities so as to supply the American de-
mand with greater promptitude. Mr. Tonk informs us
that Messrs. Herrburger-Schwander are fully alive to
the necessity of increasing their powers of production.
On arriving in Paris he found that they had already com-
pleted arrangements for an increased output, and were
prepared to make still further extensions. They con-
template, in fact, the doubling of their present capacity^
The Herrburger-Schwander actions, Mr. Tonk says,
are in greater demand than ever before, not only in the
United States, but in Germany and England. The
prospects of Messrs. Tonk & Bro. were never brighter.
Their trade of the present fall is expected considerably
to exceed that done by them during any other fall since
their establishment in this city.
THE BEHR GRAND.
T
HE following letter is a fair sample of communi-
cations of which Messrs. Behr Bros. & Co., N. Y.,
are in constant receipt. The unqualified praise
which is on all hands bestowed upon the Behr grand
constitutes a gratifying general recognition of fhis
eminent firm's unwearied and successful endeavors to
excel in the art of piano construction:—-
BROOKLYN, NOV. 22, 1889.
Messrs. BEHR BROS. CO.:
GENTLEMEN: On behalf of the entertainment com-
mittee of Crystal Wave Lodge, No. 638, F. & A. M., I
wish to thank you for the superb instrument (grand
piano) you so kindly sent us for our concert last even-
ing. Its praises were heard from all parts of the room,
both from artists and guests. Its sweetness of tone
cannot be excelled.
Yours truly,
W. J. ALLER, Chairman.
THE Story & Clark Organ Co. have just issued a cir-
cular of their Mozart organ which is very neat and at-
tractive and contains some choice testimonials; it also
gives a full description of the organ.