Music Trade Review
Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 8 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
of the ordinary, should reap some benefit from
the combination of brains and progressiveness
possessed by him.
However, there are men in this trade, the
number is limited, fortunately, who are not
slow to appropriate some special case designs
placed on the market by other manufacturers.
If this sort of thing is continued it seems that
originality is little rewarded. It is a sad
commentary upon trade ethics to have piano
case designs with some slight changes appro-
priated without even an acknowledgment by
copyists. There is one thing about it, how-
ever, the men who do this show their discrim-
inating taste in knowing a good thing when
they see it.
J-jERMAN D. CABLE, president of the Chi-
cago Cottage Organ Co., was in town
this week. Speaking of that great Chicago
institution, a feeling of admiration is evolved
for the master minds which have planned and
developed the gigantic business of that insti-
tution. It seems almost incredible that in a
few short years a corporation which to-day
controls such an enormous output of musical
instruments could have been built up. It
could not, however, save only by genius, di-
rectness, and indomitable will power. These
three requisite principles have been applied
with singular effect in the growth of that great
Chicago corporation, which ranks as one of
the phenomenal industrial developments of
the great West.
(~)NE of the most cheering signs of the times
is the courageous attitude assumed by some
of the members of this trade against the
highwaymen methods adopted by an individ-
ual who trades under the honorable title of
journalist. We have held for years that the
time would come when this trade would throw
off the thraldom of the piratical editor, and
strike from its own hands the villainous
shackles of blackmail. '
If thuggery were to outclass honesty, then
indeed the century's end would be marked by
a lowering of commercial ideas of morality as
applied to trades.
The journalistic buccaneer who has long
floated the black flag over this trade is being
hunted. His ship is now partly dismantled,
and the very men whom he hoped to make
walk the plank are now pouring hot shot in
the rotten old hulk. A few more shots from
the batteries of trade honor and trade inde-
pendence, and the craft which has terrorized
the trade seas will become engulfed by the
waves. No quarter to the pirate! He gave
none.
T H E Gibson Piano Co. deny the report that
they intend to cheapen their instruments.
They have no intention of changing the char-
acter of their product except perhaps to im-
prove their pianos. It is possible that Mr.
W. F. Boothe, however, may secure a Har-
lem factory for the purpose of making a
cheaper piano than the Gibson.
JVJO wonder that Nahum Stetson is popular
with the music trade-paper men. Court-
eous, affable and always willing to furnish
news and information, which should properly
go to a paper representative x Mr. Stetson has
given legitimate trade news with that unvary-
ing courtesy which newspaper men appre-
ciate. There are men in this trade who would
do well to take a few lessons in journalistic
etiquette from him.
To obtain from Mr. Stetson information
which he does not consider that properly
should be given out is—well, a difficult task.
Ask those who have tried it how that dignified
look of non-communicativeness will steal over
his features when a question is propounded
to him that relates to matters that he does
not care to give out.
$15,000 Blaze at Springfield.
[Special to The Review.]
Springfield, O., Feb. 15, 1898.
The warehouse of O. S. Kelly & Co.,
manufacturers of piano plates and general
hardware castings, was burned to the ground
Saturday with part of the contents, causing
$15,000 loss, which is partially covered by
insurance.
Major Howes with the flason
& Hamlin Co.
Last Thursday Major C. F. Howes ar-
ranged with the Mason & Hamlin Co. to take
the position of general traveling agent for
that concern. Major Howes' experience as
a traveler covers a period of many years. He
has many friends among the dealers through-
out the country. He assumes the duties of
his new position at once.
Joe Mann Saw the "flaine"
Blow Up.
Joe Mann, of Mann & Eccles, the well-
known music dealers of Providence, R. I.,
whose trip to Cuba has been recorded,
reached his destination at Havana in time to
see the blowing up of the battle-ship "Maine."
Mr. Mann was interviewed at Key West and
he gave a graphic description of the terrible
catastrophe which happened to the ill-fated
cruiser.
Kimball Display at Omaha.
The W. W. Kim-ball Co. are arranging for
an imposing and attractive display of their
instruments at the Trans-Mississippi and In-
ternational Exposition soon to be held at
Omaha, Neb. A. Hospe, Jr., the Kimball
representative in that section, is maturing
plans, and no stone will be left unturned to
make this display one of the handsomest and
most attractive to be seen at the Exposition.
Julius Krakauer in the South.
Mr. Julius Krakauer of Krakauer Bros.,
manufacturers of the Krakauer piano, is in
the city, a guest of F. W. Baumer, says a
Wheeling, W. Va., exchange of Feb. 15.
Mr. Krakauer represents that class of suc-
cessful business men, who, having for years
strictly adhered to the principle of manufac-
turing only the best instruments and putting
them on the market with the least possible
expense, are now rapidly reaping the reward
by a justly acquired reputation.
The Krakauer piano, Mr. Krakauer states,
has never been so popular in all parts of the
country as now, and that his trade is rapidly
increasing and many of the best dealers have
recently taken the agency. They are plan-
ning to build a large addition to their factory,
in order that they may supply the rapidly in-
creasing trade. They are bringing out sev-
eral new styles of instruments, one of which,
a Colonial design, he thinks will make quite a
success in the trade. It is a new scale and
new design throughout. They have also just
completed a new small baby grand over which
he is very enthusiastic, as he believes it pos-
sesses a tone which is remarkable for its
beauty and volume.
Mr. Krakauer will return to New York to-
night.
Peter D. Strauch Talks.
When The Review called at the Strauch
Bros, warerooms on Thursday, the head of
the firm happened to have a few minutes to
spare, and an invitation to sit down was ac-
cepted. The talk ran chiefly on business
topics concerning the making of actions.
Replying to the usual inquiry as to existing
trade conditions, Mr. Strauch said that the
firm's business is better now than at any time
since 1892. In confirmation of this statement
he referred to orders very recently received
for 150, 100, and lots of several dozens each.
Then, going to his desk, Mr. Straueh read
aloud orders received by the mail of Thurs-
day morning, of course omitting names. They
were many in number and urgent. A big
force is working until eight o'clock nightly.
"These," said he, referring to the orders
he had quoted, "are examples of our daily
correspondence and, to my mind, they are
healthy business symptoms.
"We are getting our full share of all the
action making in the United States and are
satisfied. W T e are pleased to think that these
same symptoms probably exist throughout
the entire action making industry.
" I t has never been our policy to grudge
success to our competitors. Competition has
many advantages and is to be encouraged
rather than suppressed."
Estey Exhibit.
The Estey organ and piano exhibit at the
new Estey warerooms in the Estey building is
rapidly shaping itself into one of the best on
Fifth avenue. In the windows are splendid
examples of Estey products, notably Style
I O O O — a marvel of completeness and good,
taste in organ building.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
of the ordinary, should reap some benefit from
the combination of brains and progressiveness
possessed by him.
However, there are men in this trade, the
number is limited, fortunately, who are not
slow to appropriate some special case designs
placed on the market by other manufacturers.
If this sort of thing is continued it seems that
originality is little rewarded. It is a sad
commentary upon trade ethics to have piano
case designs with some slight changes appro-
priated without even an acknowledgment by
copyists. There is one thing about it, how-
ever, the men who do this show their discrim-
inating taste in knowing a good thing when
they see it.
J-jERMAN D. CABLE, president of the Chi-
cago Cottage Organ Co., was in town
this week. Speaking of that great Chicago
institution, a feeling of admiration is evolved
for the master minds which have planned and
developed the gigantic business of that insti-
tution. It seems almost incredible that in a
few short years a corporation which to-day
controls such an enormous output of musical
instruments could have been built up. It
could not, however, save only by genius, di-
rectness, and indomitable will power. These
three requisite principles have been applied
with singular effect in the growth of that great
Chicago corporation, which ranks as one of
the phenomenal industrial developments of
the great West.
(~)NE of the most cheering signs of the times
is the courageous attitude assumed by some
of the members of this trade against the
highwaymen methods adopted by an individ-
ual who trades under the honorable title of
journalist. We have held for years that the
time would come when this trade would throw
off the thraldom of the piratical editor, and
strike from its own hands the villainous
shackles of blackmail. '
If thuggery were to outclass honesty, then
indeed the century's end would be marked by
a lowering of commercial ideas of morality as
applied to trades.
The journalistic buccaneer who has long
floated the black flag over this trade is being
hunted. His ship is now partly dismantled,
and the very men whom he hoped to make
walk the plank are now pouring hot shot in
the rotten old hulk. A few more shots from
the batteries of trade honor and trade inde-
pendence, and the craft which has terrorized
the trade seas will become engulfed by the
waves. No quarter to the pirate! He gave
none.
T H E Gibson Piano Co. deny the report that
they intend to cheapen their instruments.
They have no intention of changing the char-
acter of their product except perhaps to im-
prove their pianos. It is possible that Mr.
W. F. Boothe, however, may secure a Har-
lem factory for the purpose of making a
cheaper piano than the Gibson.
JVJO wonder that Nahum Stetson is popular
with the music trade-paper men. Court-
eous, affable and always willing to furnish
news and information, which should properly
go to a paper representative x Mr. Stetson has
given legitimate trade news with that unvary-
ing courtesy which newspaper men appre-
ciate. There are men in this trade who would
do well to take a few lessons in journalistic
etiquette from him.
To obtain from Mr. Stetson information
which he does not consider that properly
should be given out is—well, a difficult task.
Ask those who have tried it how that dignified
look of non-communicativeness will steal over
his features when a question is propounded
to him that relates to matters that he does
not care to give out.
$15,000 Blaze at Springfield.
[Special to The Review.]
Springfield, O., Feb. 15, 1898.
The warehouse of O. S. Kelly & Co.,
manufacturers of piano plates and general
hardware castings, was burned to the ground
Saturday with part of the contents, causing
$15,000 loss, which is partially covered by
insurance.
Major Howes with the flason
& Hamlin Co.
Last Thursday Major C. F. Howes ar-
ranged with the Mason & Hamlin Co. to take
the position of general traveling agent for
that concern. Major Howes' experience as
a traveler covers a period of many years. He
has many friends among the dealers through-
out the country. He assumes the duties of
his new position at once.
Joe Mann Saw the "flaine"
Blow Up.
Joe Mann, of Mann & Eccles, the well-
known music dealers of Providence, R. I.,
whose trip to Cuba has been recorded,
reached his destination at Havana in time to
see the blowing up of the battle-ship "Maine."
Mr. Mann was interviewed at Key West and
he gave a graphic description of the terrible
catastrophe which happened to the ill-fated
cruiser.
Kimball Display at Omaha.
The W. W. Kim-ball Co. are arranging for
an imposing and attractive display of their
instruments at the Trans-Mississippi and In-
ternational Exposition soon to be held at
Omaha, Neb. A. Hospe, Jr., the Kimball
representative in that section, is maturing
plans, and no stone will be left unturned to
make this display one of the handsomest and
most attractive to be seen at the Exposition.
Julius Krakauer in the South.
Mr. Julius Krakauer of Krakauer Bros.,
manufacturers of the Krakauer piano, is in
the city, a guest of F. W. Baumer, says a
Wheeling, W. Va., exchange of Feb. 15.
Mr. Krakauer represents that class of suc-
cessful business men, who, having for years
strictly adhered to the principle of manufac-
turing only the best instruments and putting
them on the market with the least possible
expense, are now rapidly reaping the reward
by a justly acquired reputation.
The Krakauer piano, Mr. Krakauer states,
has never been so popular in all parts of the
country as now, and that his trade is rapidly
increasing and many of the best dealers have
recently taken the agency. They are plan-
ning to build a large addition to their factory,
in order that they may supply the rapidly in-
creasing trade. They are bringing out sev-
eral new styles of instruments, one of which,
a Colonial design, he thinks will make quite a
success in the trade. It is a new scale and
new design throughout. They have also just
completed a new small baby grand over which
he is very enthusiastic, as he believes it pos-
sesses a tone which is remarkable for its
beauty and volume.
Mr. Krakauer will return to New York to-
night.
Peter D. Strauch Talks.
When The Review called at the Strauch
Bros, warerooms on Thursday, the head of
the firm happened to have a few minutes to
spare, and an invitation to sit down was ac-
cepted. The talk ran chiefly on business
topics concerning the making of actions.
Replying to the usual inquiry as to existing
trade conditions, Mr. Strauch said that the
firm's business is better now than at any time
since 1892. In confirmation of this statement
he referred to orders very recently received
for 150, 100, and lots of several dozens each.
Then, going to his desk, Mr. Straueh read
aloud orders received by the mail of Thurs-
day morning, of course omitting names. They
were many in number and urgent. A big
force is working until eight o'clock nightly.
"These," said he, referring to the orders
he had quoted, "are examples of our daily
correspondence and, to my mind, they are
healthy business symptoms.
"We are getting our full share of all the
action making in the United States and are
satisfied. W T e are pleased to think that these
same symptoms probably exist throughout
the entire action making industry.
" I t has never been our policy to grudge
success to our competitors. Competition has
many advantages and is to be encouraged
rather than suppressed."
Estey Exhibit.
The Estey organ and piano exhibit at the
new Estey warerooms in the Estey building is
rapidly shaping itself into one of the best on
Fifth avenue. In the windows are splendid
examples of Estey products, notably Style
I O O O — a marvel of completeness and good,
taste in organ building.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).