Music Trade Review
Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 21 - Page 1
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VOL XXL
N o . 21.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, December 14,1895.
In The West.
HOLIDAY T R A D E — THE ANDREWS FAILURE.
FIRE ON WABASH AVENUE—NEWMAN BROS.
CO.—THE KIMBALL CO.—HOWARD HOME-
WARD BOUND THE STEINWAY PIANO.
B. L. GRISWOLD TO RESUME F. G.
SMITH IN TOWN.
T
HERE has been a slight improvement
in retail trade during the past week.
It may be due, perhaps, to the unusual
amount of advertising which the leading es-
tablishments are carrying in the daily
papers. Business, however, is not steady,
and not in as healthy a condition as expect-
ed this time of the year. Wholesale busi-
ness is fair, but manufacturers are looking
for a lessening up toward Christmas.
In the accounts of the failure of A. H.
Andrews & Co., the name of the Chicago
Cottage Organ Co. has been included
among the list of creditors to the tune of
$40,000. I learn that they are safely se-
cured as they hold a five years' lease of the
Wabash avenue premises occupied by the
company, which is worth $50,000; so they
are on the safe side. The Andrews con-
cern was not directly connected with the
music trade. They manufactured piano
chairs as part of their general line of furni-
ture.
The account of the disastrous fire which
occurred at 178-180 Wabash avenue, this
city, last Sunday evening, has probably
reached you. The principal loss was sus-
tained by Joseph Bohmann, whose large
stock of old violins and other musical instru-
ments were totally consumed. His loss is
placed at $20,000, but he carries an insur-
ance of $40,000. Another sufferer was
Meyer & Weber, agents for the Stieff piano,
whose warerooms were damaged to the ex-
tent of $4,000. This firm was also insured.
The Newman Bros. Organ Co. report a
very excellent business recently. They are
shipping very heavy orders to Europe, and
their trade South and East is above the
average.
The Kimball people are tireless workers.
A week hardly passes that something 1 new
is not issued from this house, either from
the manufacturing or business departments.
The new style Kimball piano is going to
be a big "winner."
R. S. Howard, of J & C. Fischer, was
in town recently on his way home from the
Pacific Coast. He has made some very
good deals for the Fischer house in the far
West, and is not complaining about busi-
ness. He expects that from now on trade
will be on the upward grade.
The Steinway piano must be very popu-
lar as a holiday present, judging from the
remarkable business which is being trans-
acted at the warerooms of Lyon, Potter &
Co., where there is an unusually fine dis-
play of instruments on exhibition at the
present time. Some big sales will be re-
corded before the closing of the year.
It is rumored that B. L. Griswold, of St.
Joseph, Mo., will enter the music trade
arena again just as soon as the old concern
is settled up.
F. G. Smith, Jr., has been spending some
days in this city on his tour of the Brad-
bury agencies. He is well satisfied with the
condition of the Bradbury business in this
section.
I notice that a number of the stores on
Wabash avenue are keeping open late even-
ings.
slN
| f COPIE!/£CENTS.
Philadelphia Fun.
HEY have an odd way of advertising
down in Philadelphia. Maybe we
don't appreciate it. We all recollect Colo-
nel Gray's balloons. We all recollect Blas-
ius' "fifty-five points of merit," and that
Cunningham went him one better by an-
nouncing that his pianos had "fifty-six
points of merit," but this is the latest
which we have received from the Quaker
City. It is truly Philadelphiaesque in the
highest degree, or as Charlie Russell would
say, "in the highest type."
T
Philadelphia, DecemberJ6th, 1895.
MR. PATRICK J. CUNNINGHAM.
President of the Cunningham Piano Co.
DEAR S I R :
The following card appears in to-day's issue
of the Public Ledger:
WE WILL GIVE
$10,000 .00
for a better made Piano than
CUNNINGHAM
This offer stands. We have other makes of
Pianos and Organs at less prices than any house
in Philadelphia (cash or easy payments). See us
before purchasing.
The CUNNINGHAM PIANO Co.
M. Sonnenberg Piano Co.
M
R. M. SONNENBERG, for thirty
years the senior partner and mana-
ger of B. Shoninger & Co., lately dissolved,
has purchased the good will and business
of the firm, and will hereafter, as sole pro-
prietor, conduct the firm's warerooms at
801 Chapel street, and his different stores
located in the principal cities of this State.
During Mr. Sonnenberg's business career
in this city he has built up an important
and lucrative industry, and the reputation
he has gained for honorable dealing and the
esteem with which he is regarded as one of
our foremost citizens, assures his continued
success and prosperity. This long estab-
lished business identified with the growth
of our city, and known throughout the
country, will hereafter be designated as
the M. Sonnenberg Piano Co. — Courier,
New Haven, Conn.
1-717 Chestnut
Street
Open Evenings Until Christmas.
Will remove January 1st to 1105 Chestnut St.
In reply to same, I am ready to deliver to
you, a better made Piano than the Cunningham.
It would be grotesquely ridiculous to enter-
tain for a moment the thought of sending you
the Schomacker Piano, which was awarded the
highest premium at the World's Columbian Ex-
position, but will give you the choice of the fol-
lowing lesser known make of Pianos, to wit :—
Steinway & Sons, Knabe & Co., or Decker Bros.,
any of which to be a better Piano than the Cun-
ningham.
As your offer gives me the option of naming
the make of a Piano that is better than the Cun-
ningham, I might name any other make of Piano,
but in consideration of your generous offer, I
will also be liberal, and will supply you with a
Steinway & Sons Piano
Trusting there will be no delay on your part
m accepting the same, and arranging for the ap-
pointment of Judges, that the question of a bet-
ter made Piano than the Cunningham may be
decided before Christmas, as it is niv inten-
iion to distribute vour magnanimous offer of
$10,000 to charity. Yours truly,
H. W. GRAY.
We are not surprised to read Mr. Cun-
ningham's advertisement, but we are, to
read Colonel Gray's reply. Such announce-
ments as Mr. Cunningham's are best passed
by without recognition. Undoubtedly he
wished to obtain a certain amount of adver-
tising by some one accepting his challenge,
and if so, he is liable to secure quite a little
before the matter shall have closed. Think
A VALUABLE publication, neatly printed of it, a Steinway in competition with a
and beautifully illustrated, entitled "Help- Cunningham!
ful Hints for the Holidays," has reached
us from the establishment of Lyon &
G. M. MCDOWELL, sheet music, musical
Healy, of Chicago. It will be found of merchandise,
Danville, 111., reported sold
great service to holiday purchasers.
out.
VOL XXL
N o . 21.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, December 14,1895.
In The West.
HOLIDAY T R A D E — THE ANDREWS FAILURE.
FIRE ON WABASH AVENUE—NEWMAN BROS.
CO.—THE KIMBALL CO.—HOWARD HOME-
WARD BOUND THE STEINWAY PIANO.
B. L. GRISWOLD TO RESUME F. G.
SMITH IN TOWN.
T
HERE has been a slight improvement
in retail trade during the past week.
It may be due, perhaps, to the unusual
amount of advertising which the leading es-
tablishments are carrying in the daily
papers. Business, however, is not steady,
and not in as healthy a condition as expect-
ed this time of the year. Wholesale busi-
ness is fair, but manufacturers are looking
for a lessening up toward Christmas.
In the accounts of the failure of A. H.
Andrews & Co., the name of the Chicago
Cottage Organ Co. has been included
among the list of creditors to the tune of
$40,000. I learn that they are safely se-
cured as they hold a five years' lease of the
Wabash avenue premises occupied by the
company, which is worth $50,000; so they
are on the safe side. The Andrews con-
cern was not directly connected with the
music trade. They manufactured piano
chairs as part of their general line of furni-
ture.
The account of the disastrous fire which
occurred at 178-180 Wabash avenue, this
city, last Sunday evening, has probably
reached you. The principal loss was sus-
tained by Joseph Bohmann, whose large
stock of old violins and other musical instru-
ments were totally consumed. His loss is
placed at $20,000, but he carries an insur-
ance of $40,000. Another sufferer was
Meyer & Weber, agents for the Stieff piano,
whose warerooms were damaged to the ex-
tent of $4,000. This firm was also insured.
The Newman Bros. Organ Co. report a
very excellent business recently. They are
shipping very heavy orders to Europe, and
their trade South and East is above the
average.
The Kimball people are tireless workers.
A week hardly passes that something 1 new
is not issued from this house, either from
the manufacturing or business departments.
The new style Kimball piano is going to
be a big "winner."
R. S. Howard, of J & C. Fischer, was
in town recently on his way home from the
Pacific Coast. He has made some very
good deals for the Fischer house in the far
West, and is not complaining about busi-
ness. He expects that from now on trade
will be on the upward grade.
The Steinway piano must be very popu-
lar as a holiday present, judging from the
remarkable business which is being trans-
acted at the warerooms of Lyon, Potter &
Co., where there is an unusually fine dis-
play of instruments on exhibition at the
present time. Some big sales will be re-
corded before the closing of the year.
It is rumored that B. L. Griswold, of St.
Joseph, Mo., will enter the music trade
arena again just as soon as the old concern
is settled up.
F. G. Smith, Jr., has been spending some
days in this city on his tour of the Brad-
bury agencies. He is well satisfied with the
condition of the Bradbury business in this
section.
I notice that a number of the stores on
Wabash avenue are keeping open late even-
ings.
slN
| f COPIE!/£CENTS.
Philadelphia Fun.
HEY have an odd way of advertising
down in Philadelphia. Maybe we
don't appreciate it. We all recollect Colo-
nel Gray's balloons. We all recollect Blas-
ius' "fifty-five points of merit," and that
Cunningham went him one better by an-
nouncing that his pianos had "fifty-six
points of merit," but this is the latest
which we have received from the Quaker
City. It is truly Philadelphiaesque in the
highest degree, or as Charlie Russell would
say, "in the highest type."
T
Philadelphia, DecemberJ6th, 1895.
MR. PATRICK J. CUNNINGHAM.
President of the Cunningham Piano Co.
DEAR S I R :
The following card appears in to-day's issue
of the Public Ledger:
WE WILL GIVE
$10,000 .00
for a better made Piano than
CUNNINGHAM
This offer stands. We have other makes of
Pianos and Organs at less prices than any house
in Philadelphia (cash or easy payments). See us
before purchasing.
The CUNNINGHAM PIANO Co.
M. Sonnenberg Piano Co.
M
R. M. SONNENBERG, for thirty
years the senior partner and mana-
ger of B. Shoninger & Co., lately dissolved,
has purchased the good will and business
of the firm, and will hereafter, as sole pro-
prietor, conduct the firm's warerooms at
801 Chapel street, and his different stores
located in the principal cities of this State.
During Mr. Sonnenberg's business career
in this city he has built up an important
and lucrative industry, and the reputation
he has gained for honorable dealing and the
esteem with which he is regarded as one of
our foremost citizens, assures his continued
success and prosperity. This long estab-
lished business identified with the growth
of our city, and known throughout the
country, will hereafter be designated as
the M. Sonnenberg Piano Co. — Courier,
New Haven, Conn.
1-717 Chestnut
Street
Open Evenings Until Christmas.
Will remove January 1st to 1105 Chestnut St.
In reply to same, I am ready to deliver to
you, a better made Piano than the Cunningham.
It would be grotesquely ridiculous to enter-
tain for a moment the thought of sending you
the Schomacker Piano, which was awarded the
highest premium at the World's Columbian Ex-
position, but will give you the choice of the fol-
lowing lesser known make of Pianos, to wit :—
Steinway & Sons, Knabe & Co., or Decker Bros.,
any of which to be a better Piano than the Cun-
ningham.
As your offer gives me the option of naming
the make of a Piano that is better than the Cun-
ningham, I might name any other make of Piano,
but in consideration of your generous offer, I
will also be liberal, and will supply you with a
Steinway & Sons Piano
Trusting there will be no delay on your part
m accepting the same, and arranging for the ap-
pointment of Judges, that the question of a bet-
ter made Piano than the Cunningham may be
decided before Christmas, as it is niv inten-
iion to distribute vour magnanimous offer of
$10,000 to charity. Yours truly,
H. W. GRAY.
We are not surprised to read Mr. Cun-
ningham's advertisement, but we are, to
read Colonel Gray's reply. Such announce-
ments as Mr. Cunningham's are best passed
by without recognition. Undoubtedly he
wished to obtain a certain amount of adver-
tising by some one accepting his challenge,
and if so, he is liable to secure quite a little
before the matter shall have closed. Think
A VALUABLE publication, neatly printed of it, a Steinway in competition with a
and beautifully illustrated, entitled "Help- Cunningham!
ful Hints for the Holidays," has reached
us from the establishment of Lyon &
G. M. MCDOWELL, sheet music, musical
Healy, of Chicago. It will be found of merchandise,
Danville, 111., reported sold
great service to holiday purchasers.
out.
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