Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 3 - Page 5
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Now a Piano Dealers' " Trust. 1
STARTLING NEWS FROM THE WEST PROMINENT
DEALERS HAVK LITTLE FAITH IN IT
THINK SOME MANUFACTURER
IS BEHIND THE SCHEME.
A dispatch from the West conveys the start-
ling information that there is being formed a
big combination of piano dealers of the United
States for the purpose of organizing a stock
company or piano trust, with Henry Acker-
man, of Marion, O., as president.
It seems that the company is to be composed
of twenty-four dealers, and of these eight are
residents of Ohio. A member of the contem-
plated " trust " has been interviewed on this
matter, and from him it was learned that a
company was to be formed by the dealers for
the manufacture of their own pianos. He
states that all the stock has been paid in and
all of it taken. The company has not been
organized yet, but will be in a short time. It
is proposed to manufacture pianos on a much
more economical plan for the buyer and it will
be a benefit as well to the dealers. The pianos
manufactured for each dealer are to have a
different name, while the instruments will be
practically the same.
Prominent piano dealers of the western
cities are of the opinion that the proposed
combine will not amount to much. A Toledo,
C , dealer suggested that some manufacturing
concern was back of the association. He said
it was likely that the concern had offered to
turn out pianos for the dealers and stamp the
name of each dealer on the piano. This
scheme would, in a way, give a dealer some
prestige, enabling him to sell a piano of his
own " special make." All the members of the
association would get the same make of piano,
but the instrument would be stamped in the
name of the dealer ordering it.
J. W. Green, of Toledo, says that about six
months ago he was asked to go into such an
association, but declined. He did not give the
man who called on him any encouragement,
and the individual left.
Mr. Currier, of Whitnev & Currier, when
interviewed, said he was not a member of the
association, and placed but little faith in it, if
there was such an organization. The only
combine that paid was one with money be-
hind it, and he knew that the association now
talked of had no capital, if composed of small
dealers as stated. The only combine in the
piano business, if combine it could be called,
is the John Church Company, organized in
Cincinnati years ago. They make their pianos
in Boston, and control Cincinnati, New York,
and Chicago houses. This concern has several
million dollars behind it,.and, as Mr. Currier
said, is the kind of combine that pays.
It is amazing how this news about a " piano
trust " crops up periodically. No doubt this
combine will end as many other rumors of this
kind have ended—in talk.
WeberJfMeeting.
The creditors of the Weber Piano Co. were
to hold a meeting at TO8 Fifth Avenue, this
city, yesterday afternoon, when all the accounts
for and against the corporation, and all of its
open and subsisting contracts, were ascertained
and adjusted, and the amount of money in the
hands of the receiver of the company declared.
The meeting did not take place before The Re-
view went to press, hence we are unable to give
details.
Annual Meeting of the A. P. M. A.
The American Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation of New York held its annual meeting
for the election of officers and other business
at the Union Square Hotel, last Tuesday. A
goodly attendance of members was present,
and a lively interest was shown in the proceed-
ings.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President, Adolpho H. Fischer;
First Vice-president, Samuel Hazelton; Sec-
ond Vice-president, Nahum Stetson; Third
Vice-president, there was no selection for this
office—it will be rilled by some member out-
side of New York and vicinity; Secretary,
Robert C. Kammerer; Treasurer, John Evans.
Executive Committee: Chas. H. Steinway,
chairman; Robt. A. Widenmann, secretary;
Wm. E. Wheelock, Louis P. Bach.
Nominating and Membership Committee:
H. Paul Mehlin, John D. Pease, Chas. H.
Parsons.
The Weber Piano Co. and Wm. E. Wheel-
ock & Co. having gone out of existence were
dropped from the roll. The application for ad-
mission to membership of the new Weber-
Wheelock Co. was referred to the membership
committee.
The following resolution was adopted: That
a committee of three be appointed, names to be
selected by the chairman, to confer with other
associations and outside manufacturers in the
piano trade, to devise some plan whereby
the members can be protected against fraud in
the trade.
At the close of the meeting, a very gracious
event was the presentation by the Association
of beautifully engrossed resolutions on the
death of William Steinway, to the firm of
Steinway & Sons.
La Grassa with Doll.
Salvadore La Grassa has made an arrange-
ment with Jacob Doll, whereby he will assume
the duties of factory superintendent on an
after January 18th.
Mr. La Grassa has arranged to have th
La Grassa piano placed on the market; the
instrument will be built on his own lines and
entirely under his personal supervision.
Chickering Musicale.
Messrs. Chickering & Sons have issued in-
vitations for the next matinee musical, which
will take place Tuesday next, January 19, as
usual, at Chickering Hall, this city.
The programme, which is of unusual ex-
cellence, will be interpreted by the following
artists: Adelina Hibbard, Soprano; Anton
Hegner, Cello; Emile Levy, Accompanist;
and Hortense Hibbard, Pianoforte. Tht
opening number will be Brahm's Sonata, op.
38, for piano and cello.
The ^olian in Minnesota.
Among the latest accessions to the /Eolian
staff of representatives are the New England
Furniture & Carpet Co., of Minneapolis and
St. Paul, Minn., who are going to push the
,ZEolian energetically in that section of the
country. Special ^Eolian recital rooms will be
fitted up, and those progressive methods in-
augurated which have made the yEolian so
well known throughout the country.
Meeting of the Estey Corporations.
The annual meeting of the Estey Piano Co.
was held in this city, Friday, January 8th, when
the following officers were elected for the ensu-
ing year: President, Julius J. Estey; Vice-
president, J. B. Simpson; Treasurer, Robert
B. Proddow; Secretary, Stephen Brambach.
The above officers and J. Gray Estey constitute
the board of directors.
The Estey Organ Co. held their annual
meeting at Brattleboro, Vt., on Tuesday last,
January 12th; the following officers were
elected for 1897: President, Julius J. Estey;
Vice-president, J. Gray Estey; Secretary and
Treasurer, J. Harry Estey. The board of di-
rectors remains unchanged.
What Mr. Poole Says.
Chatting this week with W. H. Poole, of the
Poole Piano Co., Boston, he said: " The pub-
lished reports of the incorporation of the Kis-
ner Piano Co. are incorrect. While it is true
I am considering the incorporation of another
piano company, yet I wish it distinctly under-
stood that it will in no way affect or interfere
with the manufacture of the Poole piano,
neither will there be any change in the Poole
name. The -Poole Piano Co. will continue.
The other matter is a business arrangement
which I shall be prepared to talk about later."
Chickering Changes.
Among the important transfers of agencies
for the week, we may mention that Chickering
& Sons have transferred their agency in New
Haven, Conn., from C. M. Loomis & Sons to
the Sonnenberg Piano Co. The Loomises have
held the Chickering agency, we believe, next
longest of any concern in the trade, the term
of years which they have handled the Chicker-
ing being only exceeded by S. R. Lcland,
Worcester.
In Philadelphia, we understand that they
have also transferred the agency for their
pianos, in that city, from James Bellak's Sons
to Henry Steinert, who, it will be remembered,
bought the good will for a term of years of
W. D. Dutton & Co., and conducts his busi-
ness under that name.
The Staib Piano Action.
The Staib Piano Action Co., East 134th
Street and Brook Avenue, received some
heavy orders during the past week; one in
particular, from Story & Clark, of Chicago,
was for seventy-two actions. The Staib con-
cern are building up a very satisfactory busi-
ness, and everything points to a steady prog-
ress during the present year.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Now a Piano Dealers' " Trust. 1
STARTLING NEWS FROM THE WEST PROMINENT
DEALERS HAVK LITTLE FAITH IN IT
THINK SOME MANUFACTURER
IS BEHIND THE SCHEME.
A dispatch from the West conveys the start-
ling information that there is being formed a
big combination of piano dealers of the United
States for the purpose of organizing a stock
company or piano trust, with Henry Acker-
man, of Marion, O., as president.
It seems that the company is to be composed
of twenty-four dealers, and of these eight are
residents of Ohio. A member of the contem-
plated " trust " has been interviewed on this
matter, and from him it was learned that a
company was to be formed by the dealers for
the manufacture of their own pianos. He
states that all the stock has been paid in and
all of it taken. The company has not been
organized yet, but will be in a short time. It
is proposed to manufacture pianos on a much
more economical plan for the buyer and it will
be a benefit as well to the dealers. The pianos
manufactured for each dealer are to have a
different name, while the instruments will be
practically the same.
Prominent piano dealers of the western
cities are of the opinion that the proposed
combine will not amount to much. A Toledo,
C , dealer suggested that some manufacturing
concern was back of the association. He said
it was likely that the concern had offered to
turn out pianos for the dealers and stamp the
name of each dealer on the piano. This
scheme would, in a way, give a dealer some
prestige, enabling him to sell a piano of his
own " special make." All the members of the
association would get the same make of piano,
but the instrument would be stamped in the
name of the dealer ordering it.
J. W. Green, of Toledo, says that about six
months ago he was asked to go into such an
association, but declined. He did not give the
man who called on him any encouragement,
and the individual left.
Mr. Currier, of Whitnev & Currier, when
interviewed, said he was not a member of the
association, and placed but little faith in it, if
there was such an organization. The only
combine that paid was one with money be-
hind it, and he knew that the association now
talked of had no capital, if composed of small
dealers as stated. The only combine in the
piano business, if combine it could be called,
is the John Church Company, organized in
Cincinnati years ago. They make their pianos
in Boston, and control Cincinnati, New York,
and Chicago houses. This concern has several
million dollars behind it,.and, as Mr. Currier
said, is the kind of combine that pays.
It is amazing how this news about a " piano
trust " crops up periodically. No doubt this
combine will end as many other rumors of this
kind have ended—in talk.
WeberJfMeeting.
The creditors of the Weber Piano Co. were
to hold a meeting at TO8 Fifth Avenue, this
city, yesterday afternoon, when all the accounts
for and against the corporation, and all of its
open and subsisting contracts, were ascertained
and adjusted, and the amount of money in the
hands of the receiver of the company declared.
The meeting did not take place before The Re-
view went to press, hence we are unable to give
details.
Annual Meeting of the A. P. M. A.
The American Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation of New York held its annual meeting
for the election of officers and other business
at the Union Square Hotel, last Tuesday. A
goodly attendance of members was present,
and a lively interest was shown in the proceed-
ings.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President, Adolpho H. Fischer;
First Vice-president, Samuel Hazelton; Sec-
ond Vice-president, Nahum Stetson; Third
Vice-president, there was no selection for this
office—it will be rilled by some member out-
side of New York and vicinity; Secretary,
Robert C. Kammerer; Treasurer, John Evans.
Executive Committee: Chas. H. Steinway,
chairman; Robt. A. Widenmann, secretary;
Wm. E. Wheelock, Louis P. Bach.
Nominating and Membership Committee:
H. Paul Mehlin, John D. Pease, Chas. H.
Parsons.
The Weber Piano Co. and Wm. E. Wheel-
ock & Co. having gone out of existence were
dropped from the roll. The application for ad-
mission to membership of the new Weber-
Wheelock Co. was referred to the membership
committee.
The following resolution was adopted: That
a committee of three be appointed, names to be
selected by the chairman, to confer with other
associations and outside manufacturers in the
piano trade, to devise some plan whereby
the members can be protected against fraud in
the trade.
At the close of the meeting, a very gracious
event was the presentation by the Association
of beautifully engrossed resolutions on the
death of William Steinway, to the firm of
Steinway & Sons.
La Grassa with Doll.
Salvadore La Grassa has made an arrange-
ment with Jacob Doll, whereby he will assume
the duties of factory superintendent on an
after January 18th.
Mr. La Grassa has arranged to have th
La Grassa piano placed on the market; the
instrument will be built on his own lines and
entirely under his personal supervision.
Chickering Musicale.
Messrs. Chickering & Sons have issued in-
vitations for the next matinee musical, which
will take place Tuesday next, January 19, as
usual, at Chickering Hall, this city.
The programme, which is of unusual ex-
cellence, will be interpreted by the following
artists: Adelina Hibbard, Soprano; Anton
Hegner, Cello; Emile Levy, Accompanist;
and Hortense Hibbard, Pianoforte. Tht
opening number will be Brahm's Sonata, op.
38, for piano and cello.
The ^olian in Minnesota.
Among the latest accessions to the /Eolian
staff of representatives are the New England
Furniture & Carpet Co., of Minneapolis and
St. Paul, Minn., who are going to push the
,ZEolian energetically in that section of the
country. Special ^Eolian recital rooms will be
fitted up, and those progressive methods in-
augurated which have made the yEolian so
well known throughout the country.
Meeting of the Estey Corporations.
The annual meeting of the Estey Piano Co.
was held in this city, Friday, January 8th, when
the following officers were elected for the ensu-
ing year: President, Julius J. Estey; Vice-
president, J. B. Simpson; Treasurer, Robert
B. Proddow; Secretary, Stephen Brambach.
The above officers and J. Gray Estey constitute
the board of directors.
The Estey Organ Co. held their annual
meeting at Brattleboro, Vt., on Tuesday last,
January 12th; the following officers were
elected for 1897: President, Julius J. Estey;
Vice-president, J. Gray Estey; Secretary and
Treasurer, J. Harry Estey. The board of di-
rectors remains unchanged.
What Mr. Poole Says.
Chatting this week with W. H. Poole, of the
Poole Piano Co., Boston, he said: " The pub-
lished reports of the incorporation of the Kis-
ner Piano Co. are incorrect. While it is true
I am considering the incorporation of another
piano company, yet I wish it distinctly under-
stood that it will in no way affect or interfere
with the manufacture of the Poole piano,
neither will there be any change in the Poole
name. The -Poole Piano Co. will continue.
The other matter is a business arrangement
which I shall be prepared to talk about later."
Chickering Changes.
Among the important transfers of agencies
for the week, we may mention that Chickering
& Sons have transferred their agency in New
Haven, Conn., from C. M. Loomis & Sons to
the Sonnenberg Piano Co. The Loomises have
held the Chickering agency, we believe, next
longest of any concern in the trade, the term
of years which they have handled the Chicker-
ing being only exceeded by S. R. Lcland,
Worcester.
In Philadelphia, we understand that they
have also transferred the agency for their
pianos, in that city, from James Bellak's Sons
to Henry Steinert, who, it will be remembered,
bought the good will for a term of years of
W. D. Dutton & Co., and conducts his busi-
ness under that name.
The Staib Piano Action.
The Staib Piano Action Co., East 134th
Street and Brook Avenue, received some
heavy orders during the past week; one in
particular, from Story & Clark, of Chicago,
was for seventy-two actions. The Staib con-
cern are building up a very satisfactory busi-
ness, and everything points to a steady prog-
ress during the present year.
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