Music Trade Review

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P R I M MV5I
LYMflN BILU
i—— r
VOL. XVI. No. 21
published Every Saturday.
OME REMARKABLE UTTERANCES-ALFRED DOLGES
—BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND FRATERNITY—
THE "LINDEMAN " PIANO—A PORTRAIT
OF F. G. SMITH—WHAT DANIEL
MAYER COULD DO FOR THE
" ERARD " — WILLIAM
STEINWAY AND MET-
ROPOLITAN RAPID
TRANSIT.
"GLOBE TROTTER "WAGENER SAILS FOR EUROPE
— CHARLES SPANWICK.
^ V E R Y T H I N G done by Mr. Alfred Dolge is
c r
-& > characterized by soundness of judgment
and carried out with such tact, that the graceful
manner in which he celebrated the coming ac-
quisition of his son Rudolf to the firm was no
surprise. And yet, there were many things
about the banquet at Luchow's, as reported in
the last issue, which revealed new and striking
qualities in the character of that successful
member of the music trade community. The
circumstances attendant on that event were, in
many respects, so peculiar and so personal that
Mr. Dolge was constrained to speak to an extent
of himself, his son, and their mutual business
interests to the employees and friends present at
the banquet, and the manly and fraternal spirit
in which he spoke, and the honesty and sincer-
ity so evident in his address, revealed Mr. Dolge
in an admirable and generous light. Referring
to the difficulties and responsibilities connected
with the management of a large business such
as his, Mr. Dolge said :
" I therefore ask of you, do not criticise him
who has all the burden of grave responsibilities
upon himself, by the standard of him who only
does his every-day routine work.
1
' Believe me that the happiest days of my
ife were those years which I spent as a journey-
man in a piano factory. I had no cares,
troubles or anxieties. When Saturday evening
came I went home with my wages in my pocket,
entirely indifferent as to what would become of
the pianos which I helped to build."
Mr. Dolge's unaffected references to his piano
making days stand out in singular contrast with
the snobbishness of certain successful piano
manufacturers on the subject of their original
status, as though it were a degradation to work
at a piano maker's bench.
•
|teuv Yoi% Deeember 31, 1892.
'' Having been successful to a high degree,''
said Mr. Dolge, " I am not, and never have
been, unmindful of the fact that this success was
not solely the result of my own exertions, but
that, on the contrary, it was only possible
through the faithful assistance of my friends
who stood by me and worked enthusiastically
with me. I have been so fortunate as to get
friends around me, who have been devoted to
me and to my interests. And if I have a wish
for my son, it is that he may be as fortunate in
associating with him such staunch, faithful
friends as I have been. It is difficult to find
them, it is easy to keep them when a sense of
justice predominates in the character of him
who is to be the leader.''
Admirable and thoughtful words, these!
They reflect the true spirit of democracy. I have
quoted them to give them emphasis, and I feel
that the remarkable things Mr. Dolge said are
deserving of serious consideration and comment.
And as for Rudolf Dolge, his response was a
creditable little speech of thanks ; brief, but full
of intelligence, frankness and a Dolgeian appre-
ciation of true relations, which should exist be-
tween the employers and the employed. When
the next issue of this paper appears Alfred
Dolge & Son shall have taken the place of the
familiar "Alfred Dolge." Meanwhile, that the
big and successful business due to the genius
and leadership of Mr. Dolge may continue to ex-
pand and prosper under the new regime is the
sincere wish of '' The Reviewer.''
*
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*
*
I met Mr. Henry Lindeman one evening, last
week, and during a short conversation learned
that the Lindeman factory at East 147th street
and Brook avenue, was taxed to its utmost capa-
city at present, so great is the demand for these
long established and excellent pianos. The or-
ganization of the Lindeman & Sons Co. in 1890,
with its backing of ample capital and the effec-
tive executive management of C. B. Lawson and
L. W. P. Norris, gave the "Lindeman " piano
an impetus toward future success now easily
realized in the expansion of the business which
has taken place since that time. The artistic
and musical character of the " Lindeman "piano
has also gained largely, for Mr.Henry Lindeman,
freed from business responsibility, has been able
to devote himself to the improvement of the in-
strument with undivided interest, and I may say
enthusiasm, for this veteran and thorough piano
maker loves his art.
*
*
*
*
*
*
I am told that when F. G. Smith saw himself
in the last Indicator he laughed long and loudly.
Was that a put up thing on the part of witty
" Brudder " Fox ? I never saw such a hideous
example of portrait printing as that daub, which
was given by the Indicator as F. G. Smith.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Daniel Mayer, the owner of the Erard busi-
ness is at present in this country. He came
over with Paderewski last week. While here
he ought to go into some of the leading shops
—-_ —
~^
$3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
to gain an insight into the American method
of making pianos. He is a singularly pro-
gressive man, and has it in his power to make
the " Erard " the musical force it deserves to
be. The commercial fortunes of the instrument
are in good hands, but in these days of the
'' Steinway,'' the '' Bechstein '' and '' Bluthner,''
the '' Erard '' is nowhere in London. It remains
with Mr. Mayer to place the manufacture of the
'' Erard '' into capable hands.
*
*
*
*
*
*
The enormous amount of work done by Wil-
liam Steinway, and its varied character, is
forcibly indicated in his connection with the
proposed system of metropolitan rapid transit.
During the past week he has been laboring with
might and main in that important matter, the
disposal of the franchise. The scheme is now
on a fair way toward being put into practical
effect. The plans, surveys and specifications of
this comprehensive system, which is largely
owing to Mr. Steinway's studies and investiga-
tions in Europe, are completed and work can
be begun at any moment. Mr. Steinway said
to a Commercial Advertiser reporter on Wednes-
day, in referring to the franchise sale : '' One of
the great points of anxiety with all these pros-
pective bidders is a fear that the abutting pro-
perty owners will enter into prolonged litigation.
On this matter I cannot be too emphatic when I
say they will not and cannot. The decision of
the special commission of the Supreme Court in
favor of the Rapid Transit Commissioners has
irrevocably disposed of that point."
*
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*
*
*
*
Mr. Wagener, of the London branch of the
Story & Clark house, sailed on Wednesday for
Europe by the Teutonic, after a flying Christmas
visit to Chicago, where he has a host of friends.
Bon voyage!
*
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*
*
*
*
Mr. Athelstan Riley, for whom Broadwood &
Sons, of London, made the elaborate grand
which was commented on in these columns a
few weeks ago, is being twitted in many direc-
tions for what is termed his '' inconsistency.''
Mr. Riley as a member of the London School
Board is opposed to pianos in the schools, and
is never weary of preaching economy. Church
Bells, a religious publication, wrote of Mr.
Riley's objection to providing pianos for the
education of "less fortunate brethren," that
'' one has to be very careful of oneself—self-
deception is so easy." Mr. Riley, in reply,
wanted to know what his '' decorated grand
pianoforte " had to do with the question of
school board economy, and so the matter stands.
*
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*
*
*
Mr. Charles Span wick, who recently died in
London at the age of 72, was the author of the
first work on the construction, tuning and regu-
lating of the American organ. He was for over
forty years in the employ of Metzler & Co., the
Mason & Hamlin agents, and understood reed
instruments thoroughly.
{Continued on page 439.