Music Trade Review

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VOL. XIX. No. 12.
published Every Saturday.
Down East.
Through New England—Better Conditions
—Boston News—Merrill's Move—Trade
Rumors—Over in Cambridgeport—
Among the Supply Trade—
Prescott of Concord — At
Peterborough.
The Estey Phonorium—Qov. Fuller—Car-
penter's Foreign Trade—Woodbury
Bound West—The Case Factories—
A. W. Colburn & Co.—The
Trade in Worcester — In
the Nutmeg State.
Win, Wander & Son—The Popular Fischer
—Ludlow Barker & Co.—Gallup &
Metzger—The Hartford Diamond
Polish.
I wrote you last week trade conditions
have improved materially throughout New
England. Business with the leading manu-
facturers and dealers furnishes ample evidence
that the music trade is surely improving
throughout the East. It is not, of course, up to
the old time standard, and after such a pro-
longed business depression who could expect
such a condition of affairs to be sprung imme-
diately upon us? There is rejoicing over the
bettered conditions and the dealers are stimu-
lated to greater efforts in the distribution of
their wares. It is eminently desirable that this
stimulus may be kept at a healthy point. I
notice that the dealers are advertising largely,
and in almost every city which I have visited
they keep themselves and their wares before the
purchasing public through the agency of that
all-potent engine of modern improvement—the
newspaper press.
* * *
In Boston there is little more to add regarding
business conditions other than I wrote you last
week, save that I may add that the bettered con-
ditions are further accentuated this week.
There is an item of news, however, in the fact
that J. N. Merrill, proprietor of the Merrill Piano
Company, has leased the warerooms on Boylston
street adjoining those occupied by the Emerson
Company. This makes another addition to the
new '' piano row '' of Boston, and places Mr.
Merrill as a stronger factor in the retail trade in
that city ; as it is evident by this new move that
he intends interesting a greater portion of the
retail buyers.
*
The finishing touches are being applied to the
interior of the Mason & Hamlin building. Aside
from pianos of their own make this firm will
also handle pianos of the Pease make. There is
no doubt but that this is a capital move for the
Pease Piano Company as it gives them a strong
Boston representation.
*
YorK, October 13, 1894.
Of course there are plenty of rumors regarding
contemplated changes. It is believed by some
that the Weber Piano Company will open new
warerooms here in the near future, also that
Freeborn G. Smith will himself take a hand at
the retail trade in Boston. Still there is nothing
settled about these reports ; it is mereiy the flot-
sam and jetsam of the trade.
*
Over in Cambridgeport the supply trade is
looking up. George W. Seaverns is in receipt
of a goodly number of orders and he tells me
that improvement goes steadily along. Of
course, Sylvester Tower said that business was
good with him. In all the years that I have
been acquainted with Mr. Tower, never have I
known him to say otherwise. Down at the
Standard Action Company are four energetic
men who have succeeded in building up a good
trade. D. E. Frasier, the popular hammer
coverer, is also in receipt of a goodly number of
orders from manufacturers, and consequently he
is busy.
* * *
Up in the old city of Concord, N. H., is a
piano manufacturing establishment, which has
gone steadily ahead during the past year with-
out the slightest decrease in the working hours
or in the force of men employed. I refer to the
Prescott Piano Company, of which George D.
B. Prescott is the head. Since my former visit
they have extended their factory facilities con-
siderably, which shows a healthy growth of the
business. Mr. Prescott informs me that not
many months will have elapsed before there
will be a Prescott grand upon the market.
Taken altogether, the outlook for this house is
decidedly encouraging. Just now they are mak-
ing a large exhibit of their pianos at the various
fairs throughout New England.
* * *
Peterborough is at the end of the Boston and
Maine Road, and it can boast of as snug a hotel
as can be found in any town several times its
size in New England. George L. Ropes & Co.
do not seem to be burdened with a great num-
ber of orders at present. They are ivory cut-
ters, and intend to manufacture key-boards in
the near future. The Peterborough Manufactur-
ing Company is the successor to the old Spofford
Stool concern. They likewise have not exper-
ienced the improved conditions of trade. They
have a good plant, and hope to start up in the
near future.
Over at Brattleboro, Vt., I passed a pleasant
half day. At the Estey factory I was much in-
terested in the "Phonorium," an instrument
which is destined to find a large sale for chapel
and lodge purposes throughout the United
States. It is an instrument capable of produc-
ing wonderful effects, and in a near issue I shall
have considerable to say regarding the Estey
"Phonorium." Gov. Fuller was at Montpelier
attending the inauguration of the new governor
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE CUPlEJs, lu CENTS.
of Vermont. In all parts of the State I heard
the most complimentary words regarding Gov-
ernor Fuller's actions when in office. One man
said to me in Brattleboro '' Governor Fuller is
the best governor Vermont ever had."
*
At the Carpenter organ factory they are
doing an excellent foreign business. In fact,
their foreign trade has held up much better
than their trade in the States. At present
Will. C. Carpenter, the general manager, is
away on a business trip.
#
At Leominster I found F. J. Woodbury of the
Jewett Piano Company, making preparations
for a Western jaunt. He left last Monday, and
will journey as far as Omaha, Neb., visiting in
the Northwest the cities of St. Paul and Minne-
apolis. He will be absent several weeks, visit-
ing many places through the West and North-
west.
*
A good condition of the bettered state of
trade is emphasized in the fact that the case
factories in Leominster are busy.
*
A. W. Colburn & Co. have a well appointed
factory at 71 Pleasant Street, Leominster, Mass.,
where they manufacture piano and organ sharps,
violin finger boards, drum sticks and a line of
specialties which are not manufactured by any
other concern in this country. Their business is
carried on solely with the wholesale trade.
* * *
The Taber Organ Company, of Worcester, are
adding new dealers to their list this Fall. The
infusion of new blood into this concern has
operated beneficially. The Taber is an organ
well made, and some of their recent styles have
made decided hits. They are becoming exceed-
ingly popular with the dealers. Mr. Clark, of
this concern, is absent on a business trip through
New England.
* * *
Mr. A. J. Mason, manager of the Vocalion
Company, is looking well after his protracted
tarry in Europe. He tells me that business
with them is looking up considerably of late.
On the day of my call they were shipping a
twenty-four hundred dollar vocalion to San
Francisco.
#
Geo. W. Ingalls, manufacturer of organ reeds
and organ specialties, whose factory is at 25
Hermon street, Worcester, is eminently satisfied
with the condition of affairs. He is doing a
good trade among the best of organ manufactur-
ers in this country, and is manufacturing a line
of specialties which can be found at no other
factory.
* * *
A call at the retail warerooms in Worcester
elicited the information that the dealers of Wor-
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