Music Trade Review
Issue: 1895 Vol. 21 N. 8 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From A Traveler's
Note Book.
REASSURING
TRADE
CONDITIONS—NO
BUT A STEADY RISING TRADE TIDE
IS
WHAT
THE
DEALERS
BOOM
THAT
SAY
A
GLANCE AT THE TRADE IN AL-
BANY—M'KINNEY
MANAGE-
M E N T OF THE MARSHALL
& WENDELL BUSINESS
LIKES
THE
PI-
ANO TRADE
AT BOARDMAN & GRAY*S
TURING
FACILITIES
LARGER MANUFAC-
URGENT
RETAIL
TRADE WITH THE CLUETTS—DOLGE-
VILLE BECOMING A VAST MUSICAL
MANUFACTURING
CENTER.
NEW INDUSTRIES—TAN-
NER'S NEW FOUNDRY.
THEY WILL MAKE
PIANO PLATES.
BUSY AT BRAMBACH'S—-THE TONE RESONATOR
A SUCCESS—M'CAMMON
ITS
STAR
M'CAMMON
BOUND
• ".
'
MOVES AHEAD.
SHINES
2O.OOOTH
JOHN D. PEASE
WEST
GAND
WI-
SELLING
"STARRS."
.' •"
"Yes, we are having a good steady trade, is up-to-date in every particular. Tc-day
are really busy, and if this sort of thing you could virtually cut Dolgeville off from
continues we shall be compelled to look for the rest of the country, and its manufactur-
larger quarters. Our manufacturing facili- ers thrown upon their resources could go
ties are somewhat limited, and we begin steadily on manufacturing pianos with the
to feel the urgent necessity of greater exception of actions, which I predict will
come there in the very near future. In
manufacturing space."
This condition of affairs is not surprising order to fairly comprehend the extent of the
with Boardman & Gray, because they have manufacturing facilities and powers of
always manufactured instruments of ster- Dolgeville, one must spend a long time
ling worth. The Boardman & Gray pianos, there. A flying visit is hardly sufficient.
wherever they are known, have achieved It only serves to interest and give food for
distinction. A certain conservatism on the future thought. It is simply wonderful.
part of the promoters has not forced them One can never depart from that town with-
to the front as have been some of the other out a feeling of most profound admiration
well-known makes, yet the firm have the for the master mind who founded a future
satisfaction of knowing that they have al- great industrial city amid the wilds of the
ways adhered to a high standard of value Adirondacks.
in piano making.
Take the lumber department in the
* *
establishment of Alfred Dolge & Son,
Strange to say, the retail trade in August and half a million feet is consumed each
in the Capital City has kept up wonderful- month in that department alone. Their
ly; in fact, surprisingly well with some of felt department is now extremely busy; in
the principal dealers. Edmund Cluett, of fact, their tremendous facilities are just at
Cluett & Sons, said to me that while he present inadequate to cope with the pres-
had no reason to complain of the business sure upon them.
in Albany, yet their establishment in Troy
V
had been a surprise to him in the matter of
Alois Brambach has orders piling upon
pianos disposed of there during the past him like snowflakes in a November storm—
month. I asked him as to the kind of just drifting him under, almost. The trade
pianos which were sought for most, and have commenced to realize that the Bram-
stated that I supposed as Troy was a manu- bach piano is made—is made in Dolge-
facturing city that there were possibly con- ville, and is one of the best pianos in
tinuous demands for medium grade pianos America for the money, at that; hence they
during the summer. He replied by saying want them. They cry for them, and the
that such was the case. They had sold a result is that the factory, which a year ago
large number of medium grade pianos. looked big, is now just filled with piano
"And," he said, "as you have stated Troy makers and piano materials in the different
is a great manufacturing city; see the collar stages of construction.
The Brambach
establishments controlled by my brother "tone resonator" seems to have attracted
there. Every morning there enter, through favorable comment everywhere. • Win.
the factory doors, employees numbering Rohlfing, head of the great house of Wm.
seventeen hundred and fifty." If one Rohl6ng & Sons, Milwaukee, is a warm ad-
stops to think what the purchasing power herent of the Brambach piano, and next
of such an establishment is, why they can week he will visit Dolgeville to inspect the
readily understand that a few of such tre- establishment where the pianos bearing
mendous manufacturing plants means a that name are manufactured.
lively and continuous circulation of money
in local channels.
HERE are everywhere most re-
assuring conditions regarding
fill trade. While I do not
anticipate that there will be
a return of the old boom
days of '91—and it is much
better that there should not
be—yet I think that prospects are for the
steady up-building of business in the music
trade. There is going to be a good healthy
volume of trade transacted all along the
line, and I think that there will be no re-
markable drop during the early months of
•96.
Chatting with various dealers and manu-
facturers recently, I find that they nearly
all believe the same. A consensus of their
opinions is "we expect a good trade, a
steady trade and a growing trade. We are
*
not looking for a boom, and hope it will
What a tremendous manufacturing cen-
not strike us; we prefer to avoid it."
ter Dolgeville is becoming! Ever)- time I
In New England I find nearly the same visit that charming, bustling little city
conditions exist, and a trip through the founded by Alfred Dolge, I am impressed
Empire State this week convinces me that with its wonderful growth and develop-
on these matters they all think alike.
ment and the possibilities of its future
* *
greatness. Steadily one by one different
*
industries relating to the musico-industrial
In Albany I had a chat with Mr. McKin- affairs of our country have sprung up
ney, who, by the way, has made a tremen- within the corporate limits of that Adiron-
dous success of the Marshall & Wendell busi- dack town.
To-day in Dolgeville are
ness. He is a young, energetic man with manufactured all parts of a piano save the
plenty of vital force, and says he is in the actions. I say all parts, perhaps I am a
piano business to stay—a refutation, by the trifle premature in this statement, as at
way, of a rumor which has reached me present piano plates are not cast there, yet
that he intended to retire from the piano no one can walk through the vast foundry
business. Mr. McKinney says he likes and manufacturing plant recently erected
piano manufacturing, and intends to make by R. W. Tanner & Son without at once
a life work of it. Judging from some of realizing that their line will include, aside
the new styles in case designs, he is work- from all branches of piano hardware, in the
ing assiduously to augment the value of the near future piano plates. Their main plant
instruments which are manufactured under is three hundred feet long, and planned as
his supervision.
it has been, under the personal supervision
At Boardman & Gray's, Mr. Gray said: of Messrs, Tanner, it is safe to say that it
•
.
•
. .
.
Down in the thriving little city of One-
onta, is located a piano manufacturing es-'
tablishment which is steadily making its
wares known and winning for them recog-
nition in all parts of the country. I refer
to the McCammon Piano Co. This firm as
it is to-day, controlled and officered by
young, energetic and ambitious men, is ex-
ercising a steadily augmenting influence in
the music trade. The McCammon pianos
to-day are being sold from Maine to Cali-
fornia, and from Dakota to Texas. The
real value which is attached to a name
which has the coating of age tipon it is
seen in the new management of the Mc-
Cammon business. When the present
management assumed control of affairs,
they were far from a roseate hue. The
very name itself had been dragged
into disrepute. All this has been wiped
away, and old dimness has been replaced
by the new star of McCammon, which
blazes brightly, shedding its brilliancy over
all the land.
Good judgment is omnipresent there. A
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From A Traveler's
Note Book.
REASSURING
TRADE
CONDITIONS—NO
BUT A STEADY RISING TRADE TIDE
IS
WHAT
THE
DEALERS
BOOM
THAT
SAY
A
GLANCE AT THE TRADE IN AL-
BANY—M'KINNEY
MANAGE-
M E N T OF THE MARSHALL
& WENDELL BUSINESS
LIKES
THE
PI-
ANO TRADE
AT BOARDMAN & GRAY*S
TURING
FACILITIES
LARGER MANUFAC-
URGENT
RETAIL
TRADE WITH THE CLUETTS—DOLGE-
VILLE BECOMING A VAST MUSICAL
MANUFACTURING
CENTER.
NEW INDUSTRIES—TAN-
NER'S NEW FOUNDRY.
THEY WILL MAKE
PIANO PLATES.
BUSY AT BRAMBACH'S—-THE TONE RESONATOR
A SUCCESS—M'CAMMON
ITS
STAR
M'CAMMON
BOUND
• ".
'
MOVES AHEAD.
SHINES
2O.OOOTH
JOHN D. PEASE
WEST
GAND
WI-
SELLING
"STARRS."
.' •"
"Yes, we are having a good steady trade, is up-to-date in every particular. Tc-day
are really busy, and if this sort of thing you could virtually cut Dolgeville off from
continues we shall be compelled to look for the rest of the country, and its manufactur-
larger quarters. Our manufacturing facili- ers thrown upon their resources could go
ties are somewhat limited, and we begin steadily on manufacturing pianos with the
to feel the urgent necessity of greater exception of actions, which I predict will
come there in the very near future. In
manufacturing space."
This condition of affairs is not surprising order to fairly comprehend the extent of the
with Boardman & Gray, because they have manufacturing facilities and powers of
always manufactured instruments of ster- Dolgeville, one must spend a long time
ling worth. The Boardman & Gray pianos, there. A flying visit is hardly sufficient.
wherever they are known, have achieved It only serves to interest and give food for
distinction. A certain conservatism on the future thought. It is simply wonderful.
part of the promoters has not forced them One can never depart from that town with-
to the front as have been some of the other out a feeling of most profound admiration
well-known makes, yet the firm have the for the master mind who founded a future
satisfaction of knowing that they have al- great industrial city amid the wilds of the
ways adhered to a high standard of value Adirondacks.
in piano making.
Take the lumber department in the
* *
establishment of Alfred Dolge & Son,
Strange to say, the retail trade in August and half a million feet is consumed each
in the Capital City has kept up wonderful- month in that department alone. Their
ly; in fact, surprisingly well with some of felt department is now extremely busy; in
the principal dealers. Edmund Cluett, of fact, their tremendous facilities are just at
Cluett & Sons, said to me that while he present inadequate to cope with the pres-
had no reason to complain of the business sure upon them.
in Albany, yet their establishment in Troy
V
had been a surprise to him in the matter of
Alois Brambach has orders piling upon
pianos disposed of there during the past him like snowflakes in a November storm—
month. I asked him as to the kind of just drifting him under, almost. The trade
pianos which were sought for most, and have commenced to realize that the Bram-
stated that I supposed as Troy was a manu- bach piano is made—is made in Dolge-
facturing city that there were possibly con- ville, and is one of the best pianos in
tinuous demands for medium grade pianos America for the money, at that; hence they
during the summer. He replied by saying want them. They cry for them, and the
that such was the case. They had sold a result is that the factory, which a year ago
large number of medium grade pianos. looked big, is now just filled with piano
"And," he said, "as you have stated Troy makers and piano materials in the different
is a great manufacturing city; see the collar stages of construction.
The Brambach
establishments controlled by my brother "tone resonator" seems to have attracted
there. Every morning there enter, through favorable comment everywhere. • Win.
the factory doors, employees numbering Rohlfing, head of the great house of Wm.
seventeen hundred and fifty." If one Rohl6ng & Sons, Milwaukee, is a warm ad-
stops to think what the purchasing power herent of the Brambach piano, and next
of such an establishment is, why they can week he will visit Dolgeville to inspect the
readily understand that a few of such tre- establishment where the pianos bearing
mendous manufacturing plants means a that name are manufactured.
lively and continuous circulation of money
in local channels.
HERE are everywhere most re-
assuring conditions regarding
fill trade. While I do not
anticipate that there will be
a return of the old boom
days of '91—and it is much
better that there should not
be—yet I think that prospects are for the
steady up-building of business in the music
trade. There is going to be a good healthy
volume of trade transacted all along the
line, and I think that there will be no re-
markable drop during the early months of
•96.
Chatting with various dealers and manu-
facturers recently, I find that they nearly
all believe the same. A consensus of their
opinions is "we expect a good trade, a
steady trade and a growing trade. We are
*
not looking for a boom, and hope it will
What a tremendous manufacturing cen-
not strike us; we prefer to avoid it."
ter Dolgeville is becoming! Ever)- time I
In New England I find nearly the same visit that charming, bustling little city
conditions exist, and a trip through the founded by Alfred Dolge, I am impressed
Empire State this week convinces me that with its wonderful growth and develop-
on these matters they all think alike.
ment and the possibilities of its future
* *
greatness. Steadily one by one different
*
industries relating to the musico-industrial
In Albany I had a chat with Mr. McKin- affairs of our country have sprung up
ney, who, by the way, has made a tremen- within the corporate limits of that Adiron-
dous success of the Marshall & Wendell busi- dack town.
To-day in Dolgeville are
ness. He is a young, energetic man with manufactured all parts of a piano save the
plenty of vital force, and says he is in the actions. I say all parts, perhaps I am a
piano business to stay—a refutation, by the trifle premature in this statement, as at
way, of a rumor which has reached me present piano plates are not cast there, yet
that he intended to retire from the piano no one can walk through the vast foundry
business. Mr. McKinney says he likes and manufacturing plant recently erected
piano manufacturing, and intends to make by R. W. Tanner & Son without at once
a life work of it. Judging from some of realizing that their line will include, aside
the new styles in case designs, he is work- from all branches of piano hardware, in the
ing assiduously to augment the value of the near future piano plates. Their main plant
instruments which are manufactured under is three hundred feet long, and planned as
his supervision.
it has been, under the personal supervision
At Boardman & Gray's, Mr. Gray said: of Messrs, Tanner, it is safe to say that it
•
.
•
. .
.
Down in the thriving little city of One-
onta, is located a piano manufacturing es-'
tablishment which is steadily making its
wares known and winning for them recog-
nition in all parts of the country. I refer
to the McCammon Piano Co. This firm as
it is to-day, controlled and officered by
young, energetic and ambitious men, is ex-
ercising a steadily augmenting influence in
the music trade. The McCammon pianos
to-day are being sold from Maine to Cali-
fornia, and from Dakota to Texas. The
real value which is attached to a name
which has the coating of age tipon it is
seen in the new management of the Mc-
Cammon business. When the present
management assumed control of affairs,
they were far from a roseate hue. The
very name itself had been dragged
into disrepute. All this has been wiped
away, and old dimness has been replaced
by the new star of McCammon, which
blazes brightly, shedding its brilliancy over
all the land.
Good judgment is omnipresent there. A
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).