Music Trade Review
Issue: 1896 Vol. 22 N. 16 - Page 11
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
C, J. Whitney Retires from the
Trade.
A Horning Call at Peek's.
THF. "OPERA" PIANO—NOT DROPPING OUT OF
AFTER HAVING CONTROLLED IT FOR FORTY
YEARS WILL TAKE LIFE KASY ONLY
TEN THEATRES LEFT.
THE RACE
N our peregrinations of the trade we
called in upon Peek & Son one day this
week. Mr. Geo. W. Peek was at his desk,
the condition of which indicated an activity
in business, as he was half immersed in
documents of various kinds, which meant a
goodly correspondence.
In answer to our query as to the business
situation, he said:
"While our wholesale trade has been
somewhat slight, yet we are doing a very
satisfactory business, times considered.
Here are three pianos which we have sold
this morning," taking out his watch, "and
it is now only 10 o'clock. If I look upon
yesterday's sales I find that we disposed of
eight instruments, five at retail, three at
wholesale. Eleven instruments in less than
a day and a half is not very bad, I'm think-
ing."
Geo. Peek is working harder than ever,
which means a good deal, as Mr. Peek was
always an indefatigable worker. He will
pay particular attention to the wholesale
trade, and the company have a number of
staunch dealers who have learned by many
years of successful handling that the
"Opera" piano is one of the good sellers of
the trade. H. Klaber, of Pittsburg, has
made a marvelous record with the "Opera."
While Peek & Son do not pose as the lar-
gest pi-ano manufacturers in existence, they
are pursuing a conservative business course,
and propose to dc some good work in be-
half of the extension of the "Opera" piano
during 1896. Far from dropping out of
the race, they intend to hold to a course
which shall augment the popularity of their
instruments throughout the entire country.
I
C
J. WHITNEY has sold his stock of
musical instruments to the J. L.
#
Hudson Co. and retired from the music
business, after leading that branch of trade
in Detroit and Michigan for the past forty
years.
" I t is a practical retirement from all
kinds of business," said Mr. Whitney. "I
have ten theatres in various cities, but they
are all in good hands, and give me very
little trouble. It is the same with one or
two other enterprises. I don't want you to
say that I have left the music business to
give my whole attention to the theatrical
business, but rather I have reached a period
in life when I wish to enjoy myself, to feel
untrammeled, and free to come and go as
I like. I've got enough property to live
on, and after this I mean to take things
easy."
Few people realize how much C. J. Whit-
ney has done for this community in a musi-
cal way. Besides erecting two handsome
theatres and several business blocks, con-
trolling the best class of amusement enter-
prise in Michigan for over a quarter ot a
century, and pushing the music trade to its
present large proportions, he is also respon-
sible for two of Detroit's great manufactur-
ing concerns—the Clough & Warren and
Farrand & Votey organ companies. ^,
Away back in '32 Mr. Whitney was born
on a farm at Avon, Oakland County, .Mich.
When 16 years old he embarked in the fish-
ery business, first at the Beaver Islands,
Lake Michigan, and then on Lake Huron,
with headquarters in Detroit. In '55 he
sold his interests, and with A. A. Simmons
began the manufacture of melodeons.
After a few years Simmons retired, and
Mr. Whitney added pianos and musical
merchandise to his stock. Twice during
ten years Mr. Simmons came back and was
admitted to partnership on the old terms,
but these singular men never had any arti-
cles drawn up, and scarcely a scrap of paper
ever passed between them. Each consid-
ered the other's word as good as his bond.
To cut a long story short, Simmons
finally bought Mr. Whitney's interest in
the manufacturing business, sold it to Mr.
Clough and started an organ factory under
the name of Simmons & Clough, which
afterward became Clough & Warren.
Mr. Whitney subsequently bought the
Detroit Organ Co.'s plant and ran it a few
years. Messrs. Farrand and Votey were
young men in his employ. When the pres-
ent factory was built Mr. Whitney sold his
interest to Mr. Farrand, and the firm reor-
ganized as the Farrand & Votey Organ Co.
These two institutions now employ hun-
dreds of men, and rank among the largest
and best organ factories in the world.
In 1874 Mr. Whitny trected on Fort
street west the largesi and most conveni-
ent music establishment in America, which
he occupied for many years.
CONTEMPLATED BUSINESS
EXTENSIONS.
CLARK J. WHITNEY.
In 1875 he bought land on the site of old
Fort Shelby, corner of Fort and Shelby
streets, and erected a handsome theatre at
a cost of $135,000.
When the Government in 1886 chose that
location for the new Government building,
and bought the opera house, Mr. Whitney
immediately found a new site on Griswold
street, and erected the present Whitney
Opera House building, eight stoiies high,
at a cost of $300,000.
Mr. Whitney was one of the first men in
Michigan to see.the possibilities of electric
lighting. With the late W. W. Leggett he
erected the first dynamo in Detroit, and
afterward helped to organize the Brush
Electric Light Co. He is a Scottish Rite
Mason, and a Republican, but takes no in-
terest in "practical politics."
Mr. Whitney sold his piano business last
fall to C. W. Marvin. The small musical
instrument jobbing trade which he has just
sold to the J. L. Hudson Co. is the only
one of its kind in Michigan, and so is the
sheet music publishing plant, which a stock
company of Detroit capitalists is being or-
ganized to take off Mr. Whitney's hands.
He will then be free to travel and enjoy
himself with "only ten theatres" and the
presidency of two Detroit companies to en-
gage his attention. The companies referred
to are the Home Building & Loan Associa-
tion and the Preferred Masonic Insurance
Society.
Looking back upon Mr. Whitney's busi-
ness life, and remembering many things
well known to the public, but not mentioned
in this article, it must be conceded that he
has done his share toward developing the
greater Detroit.—A r ezvs, Detroit, Mich.
Hilitary Bands.
A MILL TO RESTRICT THEM TO OFFICIAL WORK.
BILL has been introduced in the
House of Representatives by Con-
gressman Low to provide for the reorgani-
zation and improvement of the musical ser-
vice of the Army and Navy Marine Corps
of the United States, and to regulate the
employment of enlisted men in competition
with civilians. It provides that hereafter
no musicians enlisted in the service of the
United States, the Army and Navy, re-
spectively, shall be detailed or ordered or
permitted to leave their post or engage in
Norris & Hyde.
any pursuit, business or performance in
civil life for emolument, hire or otherwise,
in competition with local civilians in their
ORRIS & HYDE, manufacturers of respective arts, trades or professions. The
the transposing keyboard pianos, arc bill would have the effect of preventing the
receiving a just lecognition of their instru- .Marine Band in Washington and other mili-
ments in all sections of the country. Their tary bands from serving in any other than
business during the past few months—in an official capacity.
the face of marked commercial depression
—-has been very satisfactory, indeed ; and
the outlook for better business in the near
ESTEY & Co.'s Philadelphia branch house
future is eminently hopeful.
report a big demand for organs.
N
A
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
C, J. Whitney Retires from the
Trade.
A Horning Call at Peek's.
THF. "OPERA" PIANO—NOT DROPPING OUT OF
AFTER HAVING CONTROLLED IT FOR FORTY
YEARS WILL TAKE LIFE KASY ONLY
TEN THEATRES LEFT.
THE RACE
N our peregrinations of the trade we
called in upon Peek & Son one day this
week. Mr. Geo. W. Peek was at his desk,
the condition of which indicated an activity
in business, as he was half immersed in
documents of various kinds, which meant a
goodly correspondence.
In answer to our query as to the business
situation, he said:
"While our wholesale trade has been
somewhat slight, yet we are doing a very
satisfactory business, times considered.
Here are three pianos which we have sold
this morning," taking out his watch, "and
it is now only 10 o'clock. If I look upon
yesterday's sales I find that we disposed of
eight instruments, five at retail, three at
wholesale. Eleven instruments in less than
a day and a half is not very bad, I'm think-
ing."
Geo. Peek is working harder than ever,
which means a good deal, as Mr. Peek was
always an indefatigable worker. He will
pay particular attention to the wholesale
trade, and the company have a number of
staunch dealers who have learned by many
years of successful handling that the
"Opera" piano is one of the good sellers of
the trade. H. Klaber, of Pittsburg, has
made a marvelous record with the "Opera."
While Peek & Son do not pose as the lar-
gest pi-ano manufacturers in existence, they
are pursuing a conservative business course,
and propose to dc some good work in be-
half of the extension of the "Opera" piano
during 1896. Far from dropping out of
the race, they intend to hold to a course
which shall augment the popularity of their
instruments throughout the entire country.
I
C
J. WHITNEY has sold his stock of
musical instruments to the J. L.
#
Hudson Co. and retired from the music
business, after leading that branch of trade
in Detroit and Michigan for the past forty
years.
" I t is a practical retirement from all
kinds of business," said Mr. Whitney. "I
have ten theatres in various cities, but they
are all in good hands, and give me very
little trouble. It is the same with one or
two other enterprises. I don't want you to
say that I have left the music business to
give my whole attention to the theatrical
business, but rather I have reached a period
in life when I wish to enjoy myself, to feel
untrammeled, and free to come and go as
I like. I've got enough property to live
on, and after this I mean to take things
easy."
Few people realize how much C. J. Whit-
ney has done for this community in a musi-
cal way. Besides erecting two handsome
theatres and several business blocks, con-
trolling the best class of amusement enter-
prise in Michigan for over a quarter ot a
century, and pushing the music trade to its
present large proportions, he is also respon-
sible for two of Detroit's great manufactur-
ing concerns—the Clough & Warren and
Farrand & Votey organ companies. ^,
Away back in '32 Mr. Whitney was born
on a farm at Avon, Oakland County, .Mich.
When 16 years old he embarked in the fish-
ery business, first at the Beaver Islands,
Lake Michigan, and then on Lake Huron,
with headquarters in Detroit. In '55 he
sold his interests, and with A. A. Simmons
began the manufacture of melodeons.
After a few years Simmons retired, and
Mr. Whitney added pianos and musical
merchandise to his stock. Twice during
ten years Mr. Simmons came back and was
admitted to partnership on the old terms,
but these singular men never had any arti-
cles drawn up, and scarcely a scrap of paper
ever passed between them. Each consid-
ered the other's word as good as his bond.
To cut a long story short, Simmons
finally bought Mr. Whitney's interest in
the manufacturing business, sold it to Mr.
Clough and started an organ factory under
the name of Simmons & Clough, which
afterward became Clough & Warren.
Mr. Whitney subsequently bought the
Detroit Organ Co.'s plant and ran it a few
years. Messrs. Farrand and Votey were
young men in his employ. When the pres-
ent factory was built Mr. Whitney sold his
interest to Mr. Farrand, and the firm reor-
ganized as the Farrand & Votey Organ Co.
These two institutions now employ hun-
dreds of men, and rank among the largest
and best organ factories in the world.
In 1874 Mr. Whitny trected on Fort
street west the largesi and most conveni-
ent music establishment in America, which
he occupied for many years.
CONTEMPLATED BUSINESS
EXTENSIONS.
CLARK J. WHITNEY.
In 1875 he bought land on the site of old
Fort Shelby, corner of Fort and Shelby
streets, and erected a handsome theatre at
a cost of $135,000.
When the Government in 1886 chose that
location for the new Government building,
and bought the opera house, Mr. Whitney
immediately found a new site on Griswold
street, and erected the present Whitney
Opera House building, eight stoiies high,
at a cost of $300,000.
Mr. Whitney was one of the first men in
Michigan to see.the possibilities of electric
lighting. With the late W. W. Leggett he
erected the first dynamo in Detroit, and
afterward helped to organize the Brush
Electric Light Co. He is a Scottish Rite
Mason, and a Republican, but takes no in-
terest in "practical politics."
Mr. Whitney sold his piano business last
fall to C. W. Marvin. The small musical
instrument jobbing trade which he has just
sold to the J. L. Hudson Co. is the only
one of its kind in Michigan, and so is the
sheet music publishing plant, which a stock
company of Detroit capitalists is being or-
ganized to take off Mr. Whitney's hands.
He will then be free to travel and enjoy
himself with "only ten theatres" and the
presidency of two Detroit companies to en-
gage his attention. The companies referred
to are the Home Building & Loan Associa-
tion and the Preferred Masonic Insurance
Society.
Looking back upon Mr. Whitney's busi-
ness life, and remembering many things
well known to the public, but not mentioned
in this article, it must be conceded that he
has done his share toward developing the
greater Detroit.—A r ezvs, Detroit, Mich.
Hilitary Bands.
A MILL TO RESTRICT THEM TO OFFICIAL WORK.
BILL has been introduced in the
House of Representatives by Con-
gressman Low to provide for the reorgani-
zation and improvement of the musical ser-
vice of the Army and Navy Marine Corps
of the United States, and to regulate the
employment of enlisted men in competition
with civilians. It provides that hereafter
no musicians enlisted in the service of the
United States, the Army and Navy, re-
spectively, shall be detailed or ordered or
permitted to leave their post or engage in
Norris & Hyde.
any pursuit, business or performance in
civil life for emolument, hire or otherwise,
in competition with local civilians in their
ORRIS & HYDE, manufacturers of respective arts, trades or professions. The
the transposing keyboard pianos, arc bill would have the effect of preventing the
receiving a just lecognition of their instru- .Marine Band in Washington and other mili-
ments in all sections of the country. Their tary bands from serving in any other than
business during the past few months—in an official capacity.
the face of marked commercial depression
—-has been very satisfactory, indeed ; and
the outlook for better business in the near
ESTEY & Co.'s Philadelphia branch house
future is eminently hopeful.
report a big demand for organs.
N
A
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).