Music Trade Review

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lishing business which embraces all lines
of music publishing, including books speci-
ally prepared for our public school system as
well as everything else in the domain of mu-
sic. Then there is the manufacturing of
small goods which by the way is a very suc-
cessful part of the business, and I may add I
believe that the John Church Co. were the
first ones to introduce aluminum in the
manufacture of musical instruments.
Next we must consider the piano busi-
ness, which includes the manufacture of the
Everett and Harvard pianos, and thus we
see the John Church Co. together with the
lines for which they are general factors
supply almost everything that is needed by
people musically inclined.
In Cincinnati, Chicago, and New York,
the company occupy magnificent quarters
on the principal thoroughfares of those
cities, in which]an enormous retail business
is conducted, radiating over a vast section
of the country. In fact the influence of
this company permeates the entire conti-
nent, and I question if in the entire trade
there is a concern which is better officered
or works upon more advanced lines. Ow-
ing to its perfect system or organization
the business of this vast concern is oper-
ated with much more ease than is apparent
in. the management of firms of lesser mag-
nitude. It seems to me that the manage-
ment of this company concentrates its en-
ergy upon one particular product until its
success is assured. Take the Everett pi-
ano for instance. How that instrument
has within the past few years sprung as it
were into popular favor.
First the company sought to produce an
instrument of such worth as to win a posi-
tion. Then by original methods they cre-
ated, through popular mediums, an interest
on the part of the people in regard to this
instrument. The result of their efforts has
been a steadily augmenting fame for the
Everett pianos, and a steadily increasing
factory output.
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D. H. Baldwin & Co. is another concern
of which Cincinnati may well feel proud.
D. H. Baldwin, than whom no man in the
trade is more courtly or dignified, has in-
fused that very spirit into his business
dealings, assisted by his confreres, Messrs.
Armstrong and Wulsin, together they have
built up a business which to-day reflects
credit upon their superb business qualities.
Take the Baldwin piano, the Ellington and
the Valley Gem, each made by separate
corporations but controlled by members of
D. H. Baldwin & Co., and you have a line
of instruments which appeal to almost any
musical taste.
Again, there is the Hamilton Organ Co.
in Chicago, which to-day has a fine output.
No matter from what standpoint we may
view the Baldwin house, we must admit
that it is influential, and has contributed
in every way toward making the music
trade industry a great one.
It was with a sorrowful heart that I ex-
pressed my sympathy to Mr. Lucien Wul-
sin at the death of his late lamented bro-
ther Clarence. I always enjoyed meeting
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Clarence Wulsin. He was one of those
bright, happy, and withal forceful men
who always leave an impression upon one
that is lasting. He had that sunny tem-
perament which belonged to his native
South. Alas, would that there were more
Clarence Wulsins.
Albert Krell was absent in New York at
the time of my call upon business relating
to the new Krell warerooms and wareroom
staff as well. The Krells are shipping many
pianos and I have seen the ' ' Royal " at nu-
merous points in my travels.
Ernest Urchs has tastefully fitted up
warerooms, a complete description of which
has appeared in a former issue of The
Review. Mr. Urchs seems much gratified at
the success which he has achieved in Cincin-
nati during his comparatively brief stay.
He certainly had many obstacles to over-
come, and the times have not been propi-
tious for the establishment of new business
concerns. Mr. Urchs is a man of energy and
of ideas as well and he is moving straight
ahead. He showed me rather an unique
idea of advertising which he proposes to
use until Easter. It is an original concep-
tion of the''Man of Sorrows " by the emi-
nent sculptor Ezekiel of Rome.
He
has arranged the bronze bust in such a
way that it produces an effect almost
startling.
Louis Levassor as I wrote you last week
has arranged to handle the Blasius piano as
his leader. A call at the other warerooms
in Cincinnati elicited the information that
trade thus far during the year had been
somewhat quiet and in a measure disap-
pointing. The floods throughout this
locality have not accelerated the business
pace.
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under the insecurity which existed pre-
vious to the adoption of civil service rules.
Again, Washington is steadily growing,
and as a piano distributing point, cannot
be overlooked. I question if there is a
city in the country where the piano renting
business even approximates that of Wash-
ington. It is always good here. Of
course, Washington feels keenly the politi-
cal changes. Trade is always dull the few
months preceding the inauguration of a
new President. But aside from that, I
think the trade runs more evenly in Wash-
ington than in almost any other city.
There is hardly an instrument of note that
is not represented in the Capitol city.
I am led to believe, however, from what
I have gleaned while on my visits to Wash-
ington that it has not suffered to any ap-
preciable extent by the encroachments of
the very cheap piano. To my mind Wash-
ington dealers show an unwillingness to
handle the very cheap piano except in a
very gingerly manner. They speak of it
as if it were objectionable to them, and as if
they were heartily sick of its presence even
in a limited way.
I recollect one man with whom I con-
versed about trade conditions and the cheap
piano in particular remarked: "Well, of
course you know I have to put in a few,
but I can tell you we are not pushing them,
and," he continued, "those we have sold
have proved very unsatisfactory. In fact I
am heartily sick of the cheap piano, and
wish I did not have to carry it at all. It is
a trade I don't like to cater to and it has
caused me all sorts of annoyance. But
then," he said in a sort of half whisper, "we
have to carry it."
Musicale at Ramsdell's.
From Wheeling, W. Va., I was the sole
occupant of a sleeper to Washington, show-
A large and fashionable audience as-
ing bow seriously travel had been affected sembled at Ramsdell's drawing room, m i
by the floods. Washington had hardly re- Chestnut street, on Tuesday evening last,
covered from the effects of the inaugura- to enjoy one of a series of musical treats
tion. The stands had not been taken provided by Mr. James G. Ramsdell, whose
down and the decorations, although some- popularity as a piano dealer and enter-
what bedraggled, were still in evidence.
tainer has long been established. Mr.
I learned that quite a number of music Ramsdell spares no expense in providing
trade men from all over the country were " the best " for his friends and patrons, and
present here at the inauguration. The this was further exemplified at this concert.
register kept by manager Van Wickle, of
The program included vocal selections
Freeborn G. Smith's branch, showed that charmingly rendered by Miss Kate C. Mc-
the visitors had made Van Wickle's place Guckin, a Mozkowski number on the piano
a sort of rendezvous. I may say, however, by Mr. T. Stoll,a pipe organ solo by Mr. D.
that after calling at Smith's, Droop's, E. Kern, and selections on the Wilcox &
Knabe's, The Piano Exchange, Ellis', White "Angelus," which, through Mr.
Pfeiffer's, Sanders & Stayman's and
Ramsdell's efforts, has attained a wonder-
Steiffs, proved conclusively to my mind
ful popularity in Philadelphia and vicinity.
that the members of the Washington trade
The hall was handsomely decorated with
anticipate good business as soon as things
palms and potted plants, and the entire
are fairly under way under the new admin-
affair was heartily enjoyed.
istration. There will, of course, be many
new residents added to Washington who
C. B. Garritson, of the Kroeger Co., left
will undoubtedly become purchasers of
town on Friday last for an extended busi-
pianos.
Again, civil service regulations are such ness trip.
that men now feel a certain sense of secur-
The mechanical resources of the Ludwig
ity in their positions which was lacking factory are, as usual, in full play. Mr.
years ago. Therefore they are more liable Ludwig'sprogressiveness and general bus-
to procure home accessories in the shape of iness enterprise are meeting with much
musical instruments and furniture, than encouragement.