Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
idated jinriksha and a perambulator, much
the worse for wear, which articles, the Em-
peror requested, he was also to put into
proper order. The Englishman is still
wondering whether Kwang-Su, in his
Chinese simplicity, imagined that a piano-
maker was an expert in all kinds of tinker-
ing, or whether there was a touch of celes-
tial humor in that last consignment of
broken-down articles.
*
*
*
*
The redeeming feature of these com-
mercial times in the piano trade is the
tendency to differentiate between pianos
and pianos. The sound common-sense for
which the American people are distin-
guished never fails to materialize, notwith-
standing the industrial or financial crises
which temporarily interfere with sound
reasoning, with the result that the pur-
chasing public is commencing to eschew
low prices and quantity in favor of high
prices and quality. This "common-sense"
is now observable among purchasers of
pianos. They are discriminating. They
are more willing to pay a fair price for a
meritorious instrument.
If we take the business of the Everett
Piano Co., for instance, we learn from
dealers all over the country a willingness
among purchasers to recognize the superior
qualities of the Everett Pianos—to appre-
ciate their unique tonal attributes, due to
the remarkably perfect scales embodied in
these instruments—to appreciate the
modernity of the designs and the perfec-
tion of workmanship observable in interior
and exterior parts of the instrument.
This sign of the times is pregnant with
meaning. It is ominous of the "better
times" which we are all looking for, because
the spirit now abroad to recognize merit
arid skill affects the entire industry. Mean-
while this recognition of the artistic
qualities of the Everett piano is well
merited. Its position in the trade and in
the musical world to-day is of the highest
standing, and the future unfolds great
possibilities for the company and their
products generally, but more especially for
their superb creation, the Everett concert
grand'which has won a legion of admirers.
It is not difficult to solve the secret of
Everett success. It is not a new story. It
is found in untiring effort in the mechani-
cal departments to reach a certain ideal in
the matter of tone, construction and relia-
bility, combined with brains, capital and
enterprise in the business departments.
Analyzing present day conditions it is
safe to prognosticate a season of great
activity for the Everett Company and an
augmentation in appreciation of the Everett
products that may surprise many who have
not kept in touch with the artistic develop-
ment of this progressive institution in the
domain of piano building.
Vice-President Strauch.
Peter D. Strauch, head of the firm of
Strauch Bros., was the recipient of an ex-
ceptional honor on Thursday. He was
elected vice-president of the Gansevoort
Bank, one of the strongest and most high-
ly esteemed institutions in this city.
The Popular Pease.
Important Chicago Deal.
The Popular Pease, the "right piano at
a right price," an example of which was
conspicuously shown on page 26 of the last
issue of The Review, is, according to this
week's report, forging ahead at an Oregon
rate, the men and machinery at the Pease
factory straining every nerve to keep up
with the demand.
Mr. Pease, asked for his views, ob-
served that the only fault he had to find
was with the variable weather. Whole-
sale trade, he said, is excellent. Retail
business has been kept back by disagree-
able climatic changes.
THE SMITH
THE J. A.
TURES
THE
&* BARNES PIANO CO. BUY OUT
NORRIS CO. ALSO STOCK, FIX-
AND LEASE WILL HANDLE
MASON & HAMLIN PIANO
AS LEADER.
An important deal was consummated in
Chicago this week whereby the Smith
& Barnes Piano Co. purchased for cash
the interests of the J. A. Norris Co., in-
cluding the entire stock of Mason & Ham-
lin pianos, store fixtures, as well as lease
of building.
The Smith & Barnes Piano Co. will
make these premises their general whole-
sale headquarters and will conduct a large
Cameron Returns.
and up-to-date retail business as well.
A. B. Cameron returned on Wednesday They will carry the Mason & Hamlin piano
from a six-weeks' tour in the West and as their leader; in addition, the instru-
Northwest. He reports good success in ments which they manufacture, as well as
securing orders. There are now many some of the pianos handled by the Norris
Cameron pianos in process of completion. Co.
Mr. Cameron found trade generally along
While we have not definite information
his route in fair condition, with some as to Mr. Norris' future movements we
room for improvement.
would not be surprised if he continued
with the Smith & Barnes Piano Co. as gen-
Behr Bros. & Co.
eral manager.
This move is an important and desirable
The Behr products are reported this
week as in good demand. There is no one for the Mason & Hamlin Co. The of-
phenomenal rush, but a steady incoming of fer made them was a liberal one and they
orders from near and distant points. A were wise in taking advantage of it. It
number of these are from recently frees them of certain responsibilities in
appointed agents, duplicating the first the West, and at the same time secures
shipment received. This is a good sign them an excellent Chicago representation.
Of the Smith & Barnes Co. it is only
and looks well for future progress.
necessary to say that their progress in the
wholesale field has been steadily upward.
Working Night and Day.
Their
immense output of instruments and
Frank B. Burns, who recently returned
their
growing
importance generally, in-
from a successful trip, started off again
sure
their
becoming
live factors in the re-
early in the week. He reports business
tail
trade
of
Chicago.
excellent. So active is it that the Burns'
The Mason & Hamlin piano has a large
force of stool and scarf makers is kept
clientele of supporters and admirers in the
hard at work night and day.
West and the enterprising policy of the
Mr. Waldecker, formerly superintendent Smith & Barnes Co. will help to bring its
of the Marshall & Wendell Piano Co., superb merits—now so universally ac-
Albany, N. Y., is now connected with a knowledged—to public notice with greater
force than ever.
piano factory in this city.
New
Tuning;=Pin Support
USED IN ALL THE NEW SCALE
KELLER BROS. PIANOS.
T H E customary manner of stringing full iron plate pianos is either to pass
tuning-pin through the iron plale free, without its touching the plate, or to
have ihe tuning-pin fit close against the plate. If the first system is adopted,
the powerful leverage resulting from the draught of the string on the tuning-
pin (a strain on the tuning-pin of from 125 to 225 pounds) has a tendency to
bend the pin over against the plate. This not only causes the piano to get
out of tune very quickly, but, from the fact that the tuning-pin conies against
the plate, a disagreeable metallic quality of tone is produced. This metallic
quality of tone also follows when the pin is made to fit close against the plate.
A further disadvantage in these two systems is that the tuning-pins are diffi-
cult to set in place, as they jump in tuning.
OUR TUNING-PIN SUPPORT,
which is designed to overcome all these evils, consists of a maple collar fitting
close around the tuning-pin, thereby not only reducing the heavy leverage
on the tuning-pin between the surface of the pin block and the pull of the
string, but also preventing the pin from coming in contact with the iron plate,
and doing away with any possibility of the undesirable metallic quality of
tone. It should also be borne in mind that when the leverage is reduced, as
in the case of our tuning-pin support, the piano will keep in tune for a
much longer period.
FACTORY, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
ro"m, No. 2 Union Square, East, New York,
O. C. KLOCK, M g n