Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
nificent showing of Steinway instruments, es-
pecially so at the present time. The demand
for new styles in fancy woods is well illustrated
by the splendid lines of instruments in ebony,
walnut, white mahogany, satin wood and ma-
hogany on exhibition. In addition to the
"Steinway" their general stock includes such
fine instruments as the A. B. Chase, Vose &
Chicago Cottage Organ Co.
Son, Kurtzmann and Webster pianos, the Mason
There are few firms that present such a sug- & Risch vocalion, Wilcox & White organs and
gestive lesson in Western push and enter- "Symphony" and the A. B. Chase organs.
prise as the Chicago Cottage Organ Co. Their The famous Erard harps are also among the
go-ahead methods reflect in a marked degree the specialties to be found in their warerooms.
It would be almost out of place just now to
spirit that has made Chicago the important
say
anything about the very spacious and hand-
•commercial centre it is to-day. It is a music
trade house which in all phases is distinctively somely appointed warerooms at present occupied
Chicagofsque, and yet the founders of this great by Lyon, Potter & Co., for it is expected that
institution — the Messrs. Cable — are trans- they will move next May to the large building
planted Easterners, who some fourteen years on Wabash Avenue and Jackson Street, now
ago went West and possessed of brains and occupied by the Domestic Sewing Machine Co.,
ability, and full of faith for the future, laid the a lease of which they recently secured for ten
foundation of what is to-day one of the greatest years with a privilege of renewal. They will
corporations in the music trade in the United remodel it and perhaps add one or two stories,
States. It is impossible to overlook that en- and when completed it is expected it will equal
vironment has had much to do with their suc- if not surpass any of the stores upon that avenue.
cess. In fact we of the East candidly admit it. It is their intention to use this entire building
An important step which, however, has exclusively, and in their hands all the attributes
matked a new era ia the progress of this con- of convenience and artistic taste will be consulted
cern, is their identification with the production to make their new home one which the musical
of pianos in 1891, when they secured the rights public will visit with pleasure and interest.
The house of Lyon, Potter & Co. has attained
and title of that high-grade instrument, the
a
formidable standing in the West. This can
Conover—a piano of an established worth and
niii'ical standing,—which was manufactured in be attributed to the established merits of the
New York up to that date. They also secured instruments handled by them and the sound
tlie services of Mr. Frank Conover, to whose business intelligence which is expected from
technical and inventive genius the tone charac- and realized in the men constituting the firm.
teristics of ihe Conover piano can te attributed, Mr. E. A. Potter, the active Western representa-
tive, is a popular and efficient officer of the
to supervise its production.
In the hands of the Chicago Cottage Organ firm. He occupies a noted place in a commer-
Company the Conover piano is forging ahead at cial and social life in Chicago, and he is enthu-
a rattling pace in the musical world of the W. st. siastic and earnest in his efforts to.promote the
The Conover is an instrument of sterling meiit, interests of the firms which his house represents.
replete in radical and invaluable ideas, which It can truly be said that the house of Lyon,
have been confirmed by trial and approved of Potter & Co. represent the typical spirit of
Chicago in its most refined and best expression.
by noted authorities.
A goodly share of the success of this house
Freeborn Q. Smith—J. M.
can be attributed to the aggressive policy inaugu-
rated by the president, H. D. Cable, with singu-
Hawxhurst, Manager.
lar success. He believes that by strengthening
Freeborn G. Smith is certainly a wonderful
the individual dealer a strong following can be
man—
optimistic, energetic, full of vitality, with
built up for his house, and he has put his belief
into practice, for the Chicago Cottage Organ a large fund of common sense and foresight, his
Company are reaching out in all directions, moves have always been successful. When he
strengthening themselves and establishing feed- makes a change or an appointment it is not
ers, so to speak, here and there, which must haphazard—it is well calculated and invariably
inevitably result in a solidification and largely right. He has strongly demonstrated his perspi-
increased growth of business. This plan of be- catiousness by surrounding himself with repre-
ing practically interested in a large number of sentatives in the leading cities throughout the
country, who are not only smart and capable
live dealers is a progressive policy.
The Chicago Cottage Organ Company are a men, but men thoroughly devoted to the in-
marked illustration of what can be achieved by terests of the house they represent.
When Mr. Smith selected Mr. J. M. Hawx-
sound business training and a determination to
hur&t
to take charge of his Chicago branch some
manufacture instruments that win the support
eight or nine years ago he sized up his man,
of the trade.
knowing full well the importance of the terri-
tory to be covered, and his mental measurement
Lyon, Potter & Co.
of the gentleman was correct. Mr. Hawxhurst
A flourishing example of what capital and has been worthy of the trust reposed in him,
business capacity can accomplish in a few years and Mr. Smith's interests in Chicago, and the
is the house of Lyon, Potter & Co. The gratify- territory controlled by Chicago, have waxed
ing success attained might in a measure be ex- strong, increased and multiplied. Trade has
pected when we estimate the notable executive come steadily, and business has grown to such
force back of this concern. Such names as Wil- an extent that the Bradbury and the other in-
liam Steinway, Edwin A. Potter, Nahum Stetson, struments controlled by Mr. Smith are well
Charles H. Steinway and Fred. T. Steinway are known and esteemed in the Western metropolis
in themselves a strong indication that this is a as well as through the important Western cities.
F. G. Smith's Chicago warerooms are one of
house bound to make its mark in the great com-
mercial centre of the West, and it has done so. the handsomest and be&t located in the city, and
Lyon, Potter & Co. are factors of the Steinway the new style instruments which are being com-
instruments, and they cater to the most exclu- mented on so largely by the trade are there
sive and fashionable circles in the West. In shown off to advantage. Trade in the different
their palatial warerooms there is always a mag- instruments handled by this house is good, and
Hall—which is to-day the very centre of musical
Chicago and the rendezvous of the musical
people of that city—who can prophecy the fu-
ture growth of such a concern ? It is certainly
"bound to exercise a potent influence on the music
trade of this country.
in this respect they seem to be specially favored.
Mr. Hawxhurst is a most popular man socially,
and he has a large circle of acquaintances among
the musical profession of the West.
Steger & Co.
.
:
The Steger p ano although comparatively
young in years, has to-day obtained a distinct
place as an instrument of tried and admitted
worth. It is not merely a piano in name, it is a
piano in its musical functions. Dealers who
have so far tested it, musicians who have used
it, and practical men who have tuned and
examined it thoroughly pronounce it a piano of
considerable merit, made of excellent materials,
and constructed upon improved lines.
The Steger pianos have '' crossed the Rubi-
con " of question and doubt and are rapidly
winning popularity East and West. They hold
the record as the first Chicago instrument sold in
New York, which is something to be proud of.
The success of the house of Steger & Co. must,
aside from the excellence of their product, be
largely attributed to the business capacity of
the president, J. V. Steger, whose reputation
for business acumen and enterprise have un-
doubtedly helped the fot tunes of this progressive
fiim. Mr. Steger has laid down as a basis of
success the axiom that no piano can successfully
claim merit unless it possesses merit—hence
Steger & Co. are turning out pianos in this line
—pianos that are giving satisfaction to dealers
and purchasers.
Newman Bros. Company.
Organs that have won a high place in the
esteem of the trade, East and West, are those
made by the Newman Brothers Company. They
are substantially constructed, their case designs
are unique and attractive, and their musical
quality is concededly of the best. The Newman
Brothers' organs have behind them a trio of
practical men and inventors who have demon-
strated their capabilities by the excellence of
their wares, and they command a strong repre*
sentation with some of the best retail houses
throughout the country. In New York we are
familiar with the Newman Brothers' organs
through the energetic Jack Haynes, who is the
local factor and an enthusiastic admirer of these
instruments.
The " air circulating reed cell," invented by
Mr. J. A. Newman of the firm, is, in a large
measure, responsible for the tone qualities which
have made these instruments famous, not alone
in this country, but in Europe, where Robert
Cocks & Co., one of the best houses in London,
is adding year after year to their already large
sale of these instruments.
The Newman Brothers' organs are instruments
that dealers should look up. They are carefully
built, and their selling features have been widely
remarked by dealers who have handled them.
Estey & Camp.
As factors for the Estey organs and pianos,
Decker Brothers and other instruments, the firm
of Estey & Camp is one of the landmarks, music-
ally, of Chicago. They do a large trade with
the noted instruments they handle. The fame
of the Estey organs is world-wide, and their
excellence and reliability is proverbial. Mr.
Camp is a well known figure in the music trade
of Chicago, and his moves are enterprising, yet
tempered with a wise conservatism. From the
Chicago stores of Estey & Camp, crowded with
a splendid line of instruments, thousands of far
Western homes are annually supplied with the
means of holding sweet and constant converse
with the cheering and ennobling spirit of