Music Trade Review

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R Y J f eDV/Aiy> LYMAN
VOL. XVIII. No. .37.
published Every Saturday.
TRADE IN
"THE HUB."
Manufacturers Busy—Quiet at the Ware=
rooms—A Big Month for the Chicker=
ings—Furbush with Briggs—Trade
with Hallet & Davis—Large
Sale of Miller Grands—The
Busy Vose Concern—
P. H. Powers
Absent.
Harry Lowell Mason at the Helm—Happy
Charlie Cummings—Karl Fink and a
Story—John Merrill is Doing Well
—The Supply Suburbs of
Boston—Towers—Seaverns
—Standard—Dashes
Here and There.
Will all Leases be Renewed?
the retail trade in Boston has suf-
fered in a like degree with other cities,
the wholesale trade may be truthfully said to
have maintained a greater activity than in some
other cities. I believe to-day in Boston that it
may be said of manufacturers that they are run-
ning their factories a number of hours per day,
and with a force of men which approximates
nearer the normal condition than the trade in
almost any other manufacturing city in the
piano line of this country.
Mr. C. H. W. Foster, of Chickering & Sons,
stated to me that the output of the Chickering
factory for the month of March exceeded that of
March, '93, by a considerable number.
The Chickering piano need not rest upon past
traditions. It is, however, a piano not only of
history, but it is a piano of to-day. The reor-
ganization of this old concern, and the infusion
of new blood have been felt in a beneficial way
both in the systematic manner in which the
Chickering affairs are conducted and on the
advanced lines which marks the progress of this
house. This business is in the hands of men
who are thoroughly alive to the exigencies ot
the times—men who realize that this is the age
of evolution.
When I entered the office of the Briggs Piano
Company, at their desks were Mr. C. C. Briggs,
Jr., Mr. F. B. Irish and Mr. E. W. Furbush, who
«s was announced in these columns last week,
had joined the forces of this concern to further
emphasize among the dealers of this country
the excellence of the Briggs product. I really
can't say that Mr. Furbush looked perfectly
natural to me in his new position, having for
years seen him in the office of the Vose Piano
Co. I am frank to admit that his position seem-
ed to me somewhat odd. There is no doubt,
however, that a man with a large trade experi-
*
YbrK, ppril 7, 1894!
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
ence and intimate knowledge of men and affairs
For the first time in many years when I called
which Mr. Furbush possesses will largely aid in at the business headquarters of the Emerson
making the Briggs piano a stronger factor than Piano Co., I found Mr. P. H. Powers absent.
ever in the piano trade of this country.
Possibly with the ordinary individual there is
nothing in this, but after visiting a place for a
*
In the office of the Hallet & Davis Co., when number of years and always seeing the chief in
asked the condition of affairs with them, Mr. E. one position at his desk naturally it seemed a
N. Kimball, after removing his cigar and gently trifle odd to me. Something was lacking to
blowing a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling, complete the Emerson circle. However, young
responded with, " I don't suppose that my state- Mr. Fred Powers, who, by the way, is now in the
ment would differ materially from others en- best of health, and Mr. Edward Payson did the
gaged in piano manufacturing. While the out- honors in a very cheering manner.
Young Mr. Powers is a very popular member
put of this concern has not been as large as we
probably could desire, yet it has been, consider- of the piano trade in Boston. The years of care-
ing prevailing trade conditions, satisfactory. ful business training, which he has had under
Our trade has remained comparatively normal his father, are apparent. " I am confident,"
in nearly all States with the exception of Penn- said he, "that we are receiving orders which
sylvania, where, owing to the labor troubles will compare favorably with any other concern
existing in that State, our sales have naturally in this trade. If I should tell you that our
business was booming, it would hardly be true.
lessened.
Mr. E. N. Kimball, Jr., has just returned from We are maintaining a fair output, and there is
a trip down to Florida, and had to remark, con- every evidence of a continued increase."
The senior Mr. Powers was absent on a trip as
sidering the cold wave that we were then ex-
far
South as Washington, visiting Baltimore
periencing, that it would have been well for him
to have remained there and avoided the chilly and Philadelphia. He will probably be in New
York to day. This is the first trip that Mr.
bretzes of this climate.
Powers has taken for many years. It was not a
*
Henry F. Miller said, " Trade with us is ex- business trip, but Mr. Powers will probably not
cellent. In fact it is decidedly brisk just now. " refuse any orders that he may receive for the
Emerson piano en route. Mr. O. A. Kimball is
" Facetiously or seriously ? " I enquired.
now in the Southwest.
*•' I will show you," he responded.
* * *
And very soon as I was listening to the tones
of a superb Miller grand, he supplied me with
Mr. Harry Lowell Mason who, by the way,
documentary evidence as to the seriousness of has given evidence of the possession of execu-
his remark. I saw in black and white convin- tive ability of the first magnitude in his suc-
cing proof of the fact that the Henry F. Miller cessful management of the great interest of
pianofortes were in lively demand notwithstand- Mason & Hamlin during his brother's absence
ing the depression of the times. The sales of in Europe, is a very busy man. He said : " To-
grands with this concern have been very large. day we have advance orders sufficient to run our
The Henry F. Miller piano is a favorite with factory at its fullest capacity." Mason & Ham-
the artist and student.
lin 's interests are assuming greater prominence
*
in New York, Boston and Chicago. The im-
At the warerooms of Vose & Sons I found portant changes which they are making and
everyone in a happy frame of mind. Mr. Willard have made in their establishments in these three
Vose said : " Yes, business is looking up a good cities show that their policy will be more ag-
deal. In fact last month we made larger ship- gressive in the future. The president, Edward
ments than we had anticipated." Here is a P. Mason, sails from Europe to-day.
concern that never cry dull times. They are
* *
manufacturing a piano to-day which is meri-
Charlie Cummings is one of the most opti-
torious, and the dealers know it. Result: The
mistic of men. He says: " I find our whole-
Vose concern are always busy.
sale business is unusually good. In fact we
While sitting in the office Mr. James W. Vose,
have not five pianos in the world, and have or-
the honored founder of this house entertained
ders for at least two months ahead. This, I
me with some exceedingly pleasant reminis-
suppose, will be gratifying, but I would very
cences of the early days of piano manufacturing
much rather have a wareroom full of pianos and
in " The Hub." Mr. Vose has been engaged
no customers than have customers and no
actively in piano manufacturing since 1851 and
pianos. However, I hope to get in better con-
can look back with much pride and pleasure on
dition in the course of a month. My own pianos
a successful business career. In the early fifties
I have been doing very well, indeed, with, al-
two or three pianos per week was the average
though I have not been using any efforts to push
output of the Vose factory ; while in some weeks
them."
of the later years they have shipped one hundred
Regretting that I could not accept Charlie's
pianos per week. Truly a marvelous business.
invitation for a spin behind one of his trotters,
Regarding a successor to Mr. Furbush, the
{Continued on page 8.)
firm had nothing to say for publication.