Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
gP HIS week saw the conclusion of all the de-
tat tail work connected with the affairs of
Hardman, Peck & Co. They now have resumed
active charge of their entire business, branch
houses and agencies. Business is now being
conducted on the same progressive lines as here-
tofore, and the Hardman piano will continue to
occupy its accustomed place as one of the great
products of this country. Hardly enough can
be said to emphasize Mr. Peck's splendid man-
agement of this matter. He has proved his
. worth as a man and a financier of the first order.
have, each year, added to the number of our
patrons. We believe in nothing of the cringing
order. If we do not like a man or his methods,
he knows it. Quite soon, too.
(M2HE enterprising action firm of Wessell,
GT» Nickel & Gross will shortly celebrate the
twentieth anniversary of the foundation of their
business. What a record of progress this house
presents for that time ! From comparative ob-
scurity to a position of undoubted pre-eminence
—pre-eminence that is sustained by their splen-
did record at the World's Fair, where they were
accorded
an unequivocal endorsement of their
is indeed a pleasure—a veritable tonic—to
receive such a letter as the following from splendid wares. On every side one hears noth-
the Prescott Piano Company, Concord, N. H.: ing but words of praise for the splendid actions
'' It may interest you to know that we have had manufactured by this firm, of which the popu-
almost as good a year for business as in '92— lar Commodore Wessell is the standard bearer.
that we have been, and still are, running full The Commodore is a staunch Republican, and not
time (60 hours per week) full wages and full quite in love with the administration or its
force, and not only that, we have had no short policy ; however, he views the situation from a
time for six years. Next week we shall shut philosophical standpoint and is not grumbling
down for stock taking and repairs preparatory as much as many of our friends on the other
to starting '94 in good shape. Our new factory side of the house who hungered for the Demo-
addition is giving us ample room now to increase.'' cratic millenium which we are at present en-
This condition of things is truly something to joying. Business with Wessell, Nickel & Gross
be proud of, and it speaks volumes for the Pres- is good and they report an improving condition
cott pianos, which have had an established re- of trade.
putation for the past half century. The various
styles turned out by this house are highly popu-
Henry F. Miller & Sons piano is an
lar with agents.
old and recognized favorite in the musical
world, and their "Artists' Grand" has won
cover page this week is adorned by an golden opinions from such artists as Sherwood,
excellent likeness of Henry Wegman, Lavellee, and others. It is being used in a
senior member of the firm of Wegman & Co., Au- large number of concerts this season. In con-
burn, N. Y. A glance at the features delineated nection with a recent recital by the Boston Trio
proves to the beholder that Henry Wegman is a Club, when Mr. Stasny played Saint Saen 's E
man of determination, as his expression is full Minor Trio, the Boston Daily Traveler says :
of character. Mr. Wegman is a native of Switzer- "The piano at times predominated. The in-
land, and has since early youth been identified strument itself was a noble full toned Miller
with mechanical industries in various parts of grand of wonderful carrying power, and Mr.
the world. For the last twenty years he has Stasny hardly realized how pungent was its
been engaged in the manufacture of pianos in combination of brilliancy and sonority."
this country, and has built up a substantial and
Again on December 14, Mrs. Louis Maas, who
far reaching trade for the pianos which bear his recently returned from Vienna, where she had
name. The pianos of Wegman & Co. received been studying with Leschetizky, gave a recital
marked recognition at the World's Fair, par- which merited the encomiums of the Boston
ticular mention being made of their patent tun- Press, the Miller Grand sharing with her the
ing pin. Wegman & Co. have large factories many compliments bestowed. Mrs. Maas her-
at Auburn, which are under the careful super- self stating that it enabled her to do the best
vision of Henry Wegman.
work she had ever done in a pianoforte recital.
This is indeed a high compliment to the
splendid
qualities of the Miller Grand.
KEYNOTE for December furnishes
conclusive evidence that it is possible to
run successfully, under one management, a trade
and a home paper. The steady advance made
by THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW during the past
two years has been carefully noted by the trade.
This business has shown a healthy development,
until to-day we control a vast publishing busi-
ness in two divisions—trade and home—requir-
ing the maintainence of a competent staff and
well appointed business offices. The influence
from this institution is felt in every state, and
in thousands of homes. We are planning for
still further extensions, and next year our ban-
ners will be planted on higher points. There
has been no sudden inflation of business with
us, but a firm adherence to honorable principles
combined with good tone quality, make the
Lehr an instrument progressive dealers should
not overlook.
fflHERE is every evidence that Walter Dam-
^T* rosch is weakening in his fight with the
Musicians' Union. Last week he resigned from
the Union, and in this connection said to the
Times man : " I wish now I had broken with
the Union two years ago. It has given me
nothing but trouble, and I fail to see of what
advantage the Union is to real musicians, who
can always find employment with any good
orchestra. " Yet here we have him on Wednes-
day withdrawing his resignation. This policy
of vacillation is regretable, for it proves how
unwise it would have been for the' men to trust
their future in his hands. Whether he is sac-
rificing himself to expediency we care not,
but it is clearly evident that he has weak-
ened himself and the principle which underlies
this controversy.
On the other hand, the men have strengthened
their position, and presented their side of the
case in a pretty strong light during the week.
Mr. Brodsky, for whose special benefit the six
months' clause was suspended, has come out in
a letter stating that it would be most unreason-
able and unwise to expect the men to sacrifice
their future for Mr. Damrosch.
It looks just now as if Mr. Damrosch would
not give up conducting and go farming, as some
unkind friends said a few days ago, and we may
expect an amicable termination to the musical
war in a few days. The question arises, which
is to go, the 'cello player or the six months'
clause ?
Century Piano Company, of Minne-
apolis, made quite a deal during the past
week, whereby the whole stock of the Anderson
Piano Company, of Rockford, 111.—comprising
some 70 finished and 400 pianos in various stages
of completion—have passed into their hands.
Mr. M. A. Paulson, president of the Century
Company, who was seen by a Minneapolis news-
paper man, said that his company was now the
owner of the stock. They had not, however,
made any definite arrangements in regard to the
factory, whether the plant will be removed to
Minneapolis and consolidated with the Mehlin
Company's plant or reopened in Rockford. The
citizens of that place are anxious to keep the
plant where it is, and will no doubt feel inclined
to render considerable assistance to the pur-
& COMPANY, Easton, Pa., are chasers to do so. It is not believed, however,
having quite a success with their seven that the Minneapolis parties will see their way
octave organs. With dealers they are a favorite, clear to maintain the factory so far away from
and their many points of excellence enable their principal place of business. Negotiations
them to almost sell themselves. The prominent are now pending with John Anderson, the
features of the Lehr organs are the attractive founder of the Anderson Company and the
and popular piano style of case, the enlarged originator of the pianos bearing that name, to
keyboard compass, which enables the performer come to this city and take charge of the factory.
to play the regular pianoforte compositions, and He is a mechanic of high order, and is, more-
their new piano pedal arrangement, by which, over, the possessor of a large number of draw-
with the least motion of the foot on the pedal, ings, models and patents, which he will use in
the performer gets the full bellows power. This case he is made foreman of the works. Mr.
is a decided improvement over the old carpeted Paulson made the deal personally, and says that
board pedals and adds materially to the appear- in all probability the plant will be removep
ance of the instrument. These special features, to Minneapolis.