Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Kyrl Uses the Conn Cornet Ex-
clusively.
The retail business of the Mehlin firm at
this time is remarkable. Every time The Re-
view calls for news the stock of Mehlin
grands and uprights is being renewed. This
is a good sign. It shows that people are able
to afford what they nearly always desire—in-
struments of recognized merit at a fair price.
H. S. Harris, who was connected with the
defunct Prince & Co. concern, and who later
succeeded them under the title of Harris &
Co., disposed of his paraphernalia at his
Harlem factory this week. It is said he
dropped a cool five thousand or so.
The Smith & Barnes Piano Co., are now as
was the custom several years ago, placing
" C . A. Smith & Co." on the fall board of
their highest grade pianos. These instru-
ments are making quite a hit.
The piano varnishers and polishers of this
city have elected the following delegation to
the Central Labor Union: William E. Har-
rington, Thomas B. Dardis, William A. Dow-
ney, John T. Burke, William F. Heveran, M.
F. Maguire, Daniel Rooney.
Wholesale business with the Hallet & Davis
Co. of Boston is exceedingly active, while re-
tail trade with their different branches is
reported as looking up exceedingly well.
Prospects for a busy spring are already well
evident.
Will A. Watkin, of the Watkin Music Co.,
Dallas, Tex., is as usual taking a prominent
part in all the musical events in his city and
section, and exerting a considerable influence
toward elevating the musical tastes of that
community. Mr. .Watkin is a fine musician
as well as an able piano man.
John Weser reports this week that the
Weser products are in good demand. "I
guess we are doing as much business as any
of our neighbor?," he said, "so long as we get
fair share of what is going we won't grumble."
Several of our contemporaries have recent-
ly published a reading notice to the effect
that Mr. B. Kyrl, cornet soloist of Sousa's
celebrated band, had selected and was using
" a gold cornet, made especially for him by
J. W. York & Sons, and that the instrument
was selected after the most exhaustive
tests."
In this connection the following statement
made by Mr. C. G. Conn throws some light
on the subject:
" A s a matter of justice to Mr. Kyrl, J.
W. York & Sons, and myself, I beg to call
your attention to the enclosed circular,which
contains a testimonial letter from Mr. Kyrl,
which indicates clearly that he is using a
Wonder Cornet, and is apparently entirely
satisfied with it, for he announces that he will
use none other.
" I t is doubtful if Mr. Kyrl has ever used
a York Cornet.
He has purchased three
cornets of my make and the York Cornet
which he once possessed is now in my posses-
sion, and is most certainly not the beautifully
engraved, gold cornet represented. It has a
very poor quality of gold plating and the en-
graving and ornamentation is of the most
mediocre description."
In the circular referred to by Mr. Conn,we
find a letter from Mr. Kyrl, addressed to C.
G. Conn, under date of Feb. 22d, 1898, in
which he says:
Dear Sir:—After testing thoroughly every
known make of cornet, American and foreign, I
have decided that your Wonder Cornet is far away
ahead of all others, and is the only cornet that
I can use successfully and to my entire satisfac-
tion. I congratulate you as the king of cornet
makers, and I assure you that I shall always use
and recommend the Wonder Cornet as the best on
earth, and I do not believe it is possible to make
one superior to it.
This autograph letter, which is certainly
conclusive as to what cornet Mr. Kyrl uses,
is in Mr. Conn's possession, and can be seen
upon request.
Thus another myth is dis-
posed of.
Wire Trust Scheme Dead.
Work at the Pease factory is proceeding at
full blast. The " P . P. P." is well in evi-
dence and the head of the firm says the out-
look is excellent.
BUT THE PRINCIPAL AND MOST PROFITABLE
MILLS WILL CONSOLIDATE ON APRIL I .
Mr. Wurlitzer, the Cincinnati Symphony
representative, has been staying in the city
for several days. He will probably leave for
home to-day.
Cameron pianos are rapidly working their
way into line with competing instruments.
Mr. Cameron is well and favorably known in
the trade—and that in itself is better than a
fair start.
Prominent citizens of Chesterton, Ind., re-
cently met and appointed a committee to
raise funds to purchase the Hillstrom organ
plant. It is probable, if sufficient encourage-
ment can be had, that a stock company will
be organized.
Geo. C. Crane started on a three-weeks'
tour on Thursday, in behalf of the Krell in-
terests.
A. P. Curtin, of Helena, Montana, was
seen at the Sohmer warerooms when The
Review called yesterday.
Chicago, 111., March 10, 1898.
After a three days' conference the steel
wire companies have decided not to form
a trust, but to effect a consolidation. The
principal and most profitable mills will unite
April 1st.
John W. Gates, president of the Illinois
Steel Co., said: "The idea of a trust has
been abandoned; we shall consolidate."
Representatives of the mills have returned
home and will meet again in this city on
March 30th.
That the proposed amalgamation of the
wire industries of the country has been a
failure is admitted by John W. Gates, who
was one of the originators and promoters of
the proposed combine.
There have been several conferences of
representatives of the Eastern manufacturers
at Mr. Gates' office, and this morning when
shown the dispatch relating to the matter he
said: "That story is correct, and the atten-
[Special to The Review.]
tion of all concerned in the former plan of
combination is now being directed toward
perfecting a consolidation of some of the
companies which were among those in favor
of the original project."
Mr. Gates would not give particulars of the
new organization, but it is known that nego-
tiations are now in progress, and that April
1st is said to be the time by which the details
will have been arranged.
The New Needham Warerooms.
When the new Needham warerooms are
completely fitted up and occupied—which will
probably happen within a week or ten days—
they will be quite as attractive as those of
many other Fifth avenue firms. The offices
will be in a gallery at the far end and the
piano and organ exhibit will have the benefits
of ample light and space.
A Creditable Work.
From M. B. Lamb, publisher of Worces-
ter, Mass., we have received a new mass in
D minor for four voices and chorus with
organ accompaniment written and composed
by Br. Boniface Xav. for the Golden Jubilee
of St. John's Church, Worcester, Mass. It is
a highly creditable work. It is melodic, rich
in effects and the arrangement throughout is
admirable and most effective. The music is
imbued with a devotional spirit which should
win for it a great popularity in Catholic
churches, particularly in small choirs where
masses not over difficult are sought for. This
work certainly reflects credit on the com-
poser.
Prof. Franz Rummel gave a recital in
Boston Thursday afternoon, and achieved
quite a triumph.
Retail business at the Emerson warerooms
is good. Mr. Payson, of the Boston house,
is in town.
There have been no further developments
in the matter of the meetings of the creditors
of Norris & Hyde.
This week's report at the Behr Bros, fac-
tory is encouraging. Orders are plentiful
and out-of-town reports satisfactory.
Dealers throughout the country are again
commencing to hear from Mr. Prince, late of
Prince & Co. He has desk room in a Har-
lem factory devoted to "cheap " pianos.
The International Piano Makers Union are
making an effort to organize the piano makers
employed in all the Harlem factories, with the
object of forming a local union.
Charles G. Lewis will open a music store
in the Flower Building, Watertown, N. Y., in
a few days.
The Algerian music is produced from seven
different kinds of instruments, two being
guitars, one a crude violin, two kinds of
drums, a clarinet and a flute, all of the most
primitive forms.
Spinet or Harpsichord Wanted.
Any of our readers having in their possession
a spinet or harpsichord which they would wish
to dispose of will kindly address "A* B»>" care
of The Music Trade Review,