Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE "SMALL GOODS" TRADE
The
t4
rienzenhauer=Phonoharp
Controversy."
AN EXPLANATION FROM THE PHONOHA RP CO. *S
ATTORNEYS.
Boston, Mass., April 15, 1897.
Editor, Music Trade Review,
New York, N. Y.
Sir,—Our attention has been called to
the publication in a recent issue of your
paper of certain statements concerning
what is called the "Menzenhauer-Phono-
harp Controversy," wherein certain some-
what garbled reports of a correspondence
between us and Messrs. Baldwin, David-
son & Wight, representing the Menzen-
hauer interest, appear. As the above
article in your paper is calculated to give a
wrong impression of the position of the
Phonoharp Co., we wish to state that
our client, the Phonoharp Co., is not re-
sponsible for the communications aforesaid
and is not desirous of making peace with
the Menzenhauer interest if that involves
giving up rights to which they are plainly
entitled. As counsel for the Phonoharp
Co., and in view of the nature of the con-
troversy existing, and in view further of
the fact that we knew the counsel for the
Menzenhauer interest, it seemed to us wise
to propose a conference with a view to
avoiding litigation about a matter which
seemed comparatively simple and capable
of settlement without resort to the courts.
This is all that prompted our communica-
tions, and these latter had no bearing what-
ever on the merits of the controversy.
Respectfully,
Macleod, Calver& Randall.
Conn's Instruments at the Ten=
nessee Centennial Exposition.
Mr. Conn has decided that it will be
superfluous to make an exhibit of his
justly celebrated instruments at the Ten-
nessee Centennial Exposition, because the
soloists of the bands that have been en-
gaged to give concerts are, for the most
part, using Conn instruments, and the vis-
itors may better judge of their merits by
the music produced from them in the hands
of the best musicians in America, than by
viewing them through the glass of a show
case.
The great bands that have been selected
to furnish music for the Exposition are
Victor Herbert's famous Twenty-second
Regiment Band, formerly known as Gil-
more's; Innes' famous band; Bellstedt &
Ballenberg's band and Co.nterno's band.
Every band of any note in the country was
"in evidence," but those chosen seemed to
meet the fullest requirements.
Victor Herbert has a world wide reputa-
tion as a bandmaster, and his band has
more than "sustained its great reputation
established by the lamented and peerless
Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore.
Everyone knows Fred Innes, who is
great as a trombone soloist, and is greater
still as a bandmaster. His band occupied
a place of honor at the World's Fair in
Chicago, and he there established for his
unrivaled organization an almost immortal
reputation.
Conterno's band under direction of the
Conternos—father and son—has an envi-
able name in the great music centers of the
East. The younger Conterno, besides be-
ing an accomplished musical director, is
pre-eminent as a composer.
Bellstedt & Ballenberg's band has come
to the front with amazing rapidity, and is
praised not only by the public, but by its
rivals. Herman Bellstedt, the leader, is
famous as a cornet virtuoso, and is con-
sidered one of the first cornet players in
the country.
Each band has contracted to supply at
least six well-known soloists, and every-
thing in music "up-to-date" is to be sup-
plied.
beat the record in several respects, is unde
way, but there is still much to be done to
it. Trade in all branches is reported as
being satisfactory at present. The travel-
ing representatives now on the road are
sending in very good reports.
Gordon's Good Showing.
The Rev. S. D. Sammis, of South River,
N. J., who employs a graphophone in his
services, is receiving letters from preachers
in many different cities and towns, making
offers to him to visit their churches.
In his own church last Sunday the bene-
diction was pronounced by the machine for
the first time. The machine will hence-
forth be a regular feature in the services
at South River.
" I think it perfectly proper to use the
wonderful gifts of God in church services.
Organs have been used for many years, and
no one objects to stereopticons in churches.
I am thinking of having the graphophone
repeat my sermons for me."
The Aluminum £landolins.
The attention of dealers is directed to
the advertisement of the Hutchins Mfg.
Co., which appears elsewhere in this issue.
The aluminum mandolins manufactured by
this company have, by reason of their
special musical attributes and artistic ap-
pearance, won an immediate popularity.
All "live" dealers who wish to continue
up-to-date should place a sample order for
these instruments. They are proving ex-
cellent sellers.
H. S. Gordon Going Abroad.
Hamilton S. Gordon, the well-known
manufacturer of pianos and small musical
instruments, of this city, will leave for Eu-
rope by the "Columbia," of the Hamburg
line, on May 13. He will be accompanied
The Apollo Harp in Europe.
by his wife and will go direct to Hamburg,
spending two weeks in Germany visiting
In talking with The Review on Tuesday the principal piano factories in that coun-
concerning the recent departure of Apollo try. From there he will journey to Lon-
harp representatives for Europe, Mr. Frank don and probably Paris. Mr. Gordon is a
Scribner said that the enterprise had only tireless worker, and his vacation will do
been undertaken after a careful survey of him a world of good.
the proposed field, and that now, having
fairly started, no stone would be left un-
The New Phonoharp Factory.
turned in order to secure lasting success.
Of course, the territory to be covered is
The new phonoharp factory to replace
not entirely new in the matter of musical the one recently destroyed by fire is at 150
novelties of this class, but those who have Liverpool street, East Boston. Some of
gone as pioneers with the Apollo harp have the instruments were saved from the burn-
full confidence in the ability of the instru- ing building. These have been used to
ment to tell its own story so well that it meet urgent calls from agents in several
will quickly win a host of friends and sup- sections of the country. A large force was
porters. The use of the Symphonic slide, placed at work in the new factory immedi-
Mr. Scribner thinks, will be as much ap- ately after its occupation. As a matter of
preciated in Europe as it has been here. course, there will be a temporary delay in
It does not often happen that, in the short filling orders sent in during the past three
space of sixteen months, so complete a weeks, but everything is now in full swing.
success can be recorded as is placed to the
credit of the Apollo harp.
Graphophone in a Church.
."Fifteen to twenty percent, ahead of last
year's business" was Mr. Freeland's report,
in answer to The Review's question as to
the result of a comparison of Hamilton
S. Gordon's musical merchandise and instru-
ment sales during the last twelve months
as compared with those of the year preced-
ing. This is good news. It means that
the Gordon products are appreciated. It
also means that Mr. Freeland has not al-
lowed the grass to grow under his feet, but
has been wide-awake to the Gordon
interests.
The new catalogue, which promises to