Music Trade Review
Issue: 1898 Vol. 27 N. 17 - Page 6
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Seizure of Violins.
Collector Bidwell on Tuesday received
word from Special Agent Traitteur, who is
now in Philadelphia, that he had made a
seizure of a number of violins recently
imported by Frank Vandeveken, who is
said to be a well-known Belgian musician
and composer. Vandeveken brought the
violins to this country on the American
liner Southwark. It is said that he de-
clared their value to be only $55. The
Treasury agents investigated the matter,
and obtained from the musician, it is said,
a confession that the aggregate value of
the instruments imported by him was
nearer $10,000. The violins are now in
the custody of the Collector of the Port of
Philadelphia, to which city they were
shipped by Vandeveken, after they had
been passed by the local inspectors. They
will be reshipped to this city and appraised
here. The duty on musical instruments
is 45 per cent.
Referring to Rot.
The Indicator, that sturdy exponent of
trade interests in the West, says the sub-
joined :
"Old man M. T. Poccet, has been
writing insufferable rot for the Musical
Courier and its trade extra for some years.
Now the Trade Extra's running mate, the
Chicago Small-Fry, has unearthed M. T.
Poccet, Jr., of Pewtertown, N. J., and in
a small way has spread before a few mem-
bers of the trade more silly rubbish. If
anyone can inform us why the reputable
members of the music trade of this coun-
try should have such an infliction as this
put upon them we wish they would rise
and explain."
Our contemporary scores a bull's eye in
this, and how any paper can serve up such
rank doses as the " Poccet " stuff to read-
ers is beyond the comprehension of ordi-
nary minds. Thank Heaven there are
papers which are run on decent, respecta-
ble lines, and it is gratifying too to note
that there is a large element in the trade
which rebels against brainless rot, which,
after all, only brings the utterances of such
dignified journals as the Indicator into
stronger relief.
Strich & Zeidler.
Activity at the Strich & Zeidler factory
continues. So far, the present season's
results have been very satisfactory. Mr.
Widenmann, during his last Eastern trip,
made some valuable connections and
secured a number of good orders.
In the lists of orders received since the
fall business began, the percentage of S. &
Z. Baby Grands called for prove beyond
doubt that the merits of these delightful
instruments are becoming more and more
widely recognized.
Comstock, Cheney & Co.
THIS GREAT INSTITUTION FEELS THE BUSINESS
BETTERMENT ORDERS COMING IN SUFFI-
CIENT TO KEEP THE IMMENSE PLANT
VERY BUSY THE SECRET
OF SUCCESS.
In the commercial world the opinion pre-
vails, and very correctly, we think, that
there can be no safer or surer basis on
which to compute the real position of a
product in trade esteem than that afforded
by a steadily augmenting business; and
this is more forcible when the quality of
the product and the reputation of the house
are fully recognized.
Now, this applies with especial aptness
to that great piano action, key and hammer
institution of Ivoryton, Conn.—Comstock,
Cheney & Co.
From an unpretentious beginning, year
after year, we have had to record their suc-
cessful progress as manufacturers up to to-
day when they occupy several acres of floor
space in the manufacture of their special-
ties, and hold a front rank as specialists in
their line. The tremendous extent of their
business and the popularity of their wares
in all sections of the country are irrefut-
able testimony to the excellence of the
piano actions, keys, hammers and other
supplies which they manufacture. In the
piano action and key departments especial-
ly, there has been a steadily increasing
trade this season, due to the general im-
provement in business as well as to a
broader appreciation of the merits of their
wares.
There are many substantial reasons why
Comstock, Cheney & Co. continue to pro-
gress with the times, some of which may
be summarized briefly as follows: " Their
policy has been and is to put honor and re-
liability before aught else. They have
been keenly alive to the tremendous
changes and advances in the manufac-
turing world and have succeeded in keep-
ing in the front in the battle of com-
petition, aiming meanwhile at a greater
perfection of their wares and a recognition
of the necessity of employing modern
methods to that end."
Anyone having dealings with Comstock,
Cheney & Co., or who has visited their im-
mense establishment at Ivoryton, will con-
cede that this is hardly an adequate esti-
mate of those admirable business methods
which have made their wares so deservedly
popular with the trade.
Indeed, it is only after a visit to the
Comstock Cheney factory that one can
properly appreciate the important place
which this firm occupy in the music trade
industry of this country as large producers
of these important specialties, piano
actions, keys, hammers, etc. Just now
there is an atmosphere of activity prevalent
that furnishes a very excellent idea of the
prosperity of this institution and general
business betterment in the music trade.
E. S. Conway, of the W. W. Kimball
Co., and James Lane Allen, the lawyer of
this city, will entertain Gen. Shaf ter during
his stay in town jubilee week. Mr. Conway
A. B. Cameron, of the A. B. Cameron
will ride with Gen. Shaf ter in a carriage Co., left town on Tuesday for a brief tour
during the great procession.—The Indi- of the New England States. Cameron
cator.
products are jn active demand.
Trading on Established Reputa-
tions.
Conditions across the water, as far as
trading under the names of reputable man-
ufacturers, are not far different from at
home. : The following, clipped from the
Piano, Organ and Music Trades Journal,
of London, refers to this matter very per-
tinently :
" A more insidious evil than any of
these has affected the reputation and inter-
fered with the business of some of the
firms of highest repute in the piano trade.
We allude to the frequently-repeated at-
tempts which have been made recently to
pass off tenth-rate pianos at prices far
above their actual value, by conveying the
impression that the instruments have been
turned out by firms whose name is a suffi-
cient guarantee for their excellence. The
method employed is the adoption of some
colorable imitation of the name of a noted
house, as in the celebrated " Bachstein"
piano case, or as in the more recent Brins-
mead case, the starting of another firm
under the same name but with a variation
in style; or again, the labelling of pianos
with the names of well-known firms which
have had nothing to do with the making of
them.
Of course, these devices are readily de-
tected by the observant; but in auction
sales and under conditions where the cus-
tomer is liable to buy hurriedly or without
a full and careful inspection of the articles
acquired, the disposal of such goods is by
no means a difficult matter. The Mer-
chandise Marks Act of 1887 has been of
great service in putting a stop to frauds of
this kind. But in spite of all laws to the
contrary they still recur from time to
time, and ingenuity is still exercised in
evading the spirit of the law while appar-
ently observing the letter. Good firms
thus lose custom, and their name suffers
through association with inferior instru-
ments wrongly supposed to be theirs."
Within the last week R. E. Johnson has
closed for Emil Sauer engagements at Mon-
treal, Ottawa, Cleveland, St. Paul, and two
orchestral concerts and six recitals in Chica-
go. This is certainly not a bad week's
work.
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY.
A young man who thoroughly understands
piano action and case repairing, and who is will-
ing to work for reasonable wages can secure a
good situation by applying to D E. N. Care of
The Review.
A SPLENDID FACTORY
OPPORTUNITY.
A well equipped piano factory, located in a manufactur-
ing: city, easy of access to all parts of the country, is for
sale. This plant has all the necessary accessories for the
production of pianos. The name is well known, thousands of
instruments having; been sold over the country from the
Atlantic to the Pacific A regular output is assured If party
purchasing did not desire to buy factory a lease on suitable
terms could be secured. A moderate amount of capital
would be sufficient to purchase the entire machinery and
stock which is now being manufactured Parties who de-
sire to investigate this matter can address: " Factory Oppor-
tunity", Care of The Review, 3 E 14th Street, New York.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Seizure of Violins.
Collector Bidwell on Tuesday received
word from Special Agent Traitteur, who is
now in Philadelphia, that he had made a
seizure of a number of violins recently
imported by Frank Vandeveken, who is
said to be a well-known Belgian musician
and composer. Vandeveken brought the
violins to this country on the American
liner Southwark. It is said that he de-
clared their value to be only $55. The
Treasury agents investigated the matter,
and obtained from the musician, it is said,
a confession that the aggregate value of
the instruments imported by him was
nearer $10,000. The violins are now in
the custody of the Collector of the Port of
Philadelphia, to which city they were
shipped by Vandeveken, after they had
been passed by the local inspectors. They
will be reshipped to this city and appraised
here. The duty on musical instruments
is 45 per cent.
Referring to Rot.
The Indicator, that sturdy exponent of
trade interests in the West, says the sub-
joined :
"Old man M. T. Poccet, has been
writing insufferable rot for the Musical
Courier and its trade extra for some years.
Now the Trade Extra's running mate, the
Chicago Small-Fry, has unearthed M. T.
Poccet, Jr., of Pewtertown, N. J., and in
a small way has spread before a few mem-
bers of the trade more silly rubbish. If
anyone can inform us why the reputable
members of the music trade of this coun-
try should have such an infliction as this
put upon them we wish they would rise
and explain."
Our contemporary scores a bull's eye in
this, and how any paper can serve up such
rank doses as the " Poccet " stuff to read-
ers is beyond the comprehension of ordi-
nary minds. Thank Heaven there are
papers which are run on decent, respecta-
ble lines, and it is gratifying too to note
that there is a large element in the trade
which rebels against brainless rot, which,
after all, only brings the utterances of such
dignified journals as the Indicator into
stronger relief.
Strich & Zeidler.
Activity at the Strich & Zeidler factory
continues. So far, the present season's
results have been very satisfactory. Mr.
Widenmann, during his last Eastern trip,
made some valuable connections and
secured a number of good orders.
In the lists of orders received since the
fall business began, the percentage of S. &
Z. Baby Grands called for prove beyond
doubt that the merits of these delightful
instruments are becoming more and more
widely recognized.
Comstock, Cheney & Co.
THIS GREAT INSTITUTION FEELS THE BUSINESS
BETTERMENT ORDERS COMING IN SUFFI-
CIENT TO KEEP THE IMMENSE PLANT
VERY BUSY THE SECRET
OF SUCCESS.
In the commercial world the opinion pre-
vails, and very correctly, we think, that
there can be no safer or surer basis on
which to compute the real position of a
product in trade esteem than that afforded
by a steadily augmenting business; and
this is more forcible when the quality of
the product and the reputation of the house
are fully recognized.
Now, this applies with especial aptness
to that great piano action, key and hammer
institution of Ivoryton, Conn.—Comstock,
Cheney & Co.
From an unpretentious beginning, year
after year, we have had to record their suc-
cessful progress as manufacturers up to to-
day when they occupy several acres of floor
space in the manufacture of their special-
ties, and hold a front rank as specialists in
their line. The tremendous extent of their
business and the popularity of their wares
in all sections of the country are irrefut-
able testimony to the excellence of the
piano actions, keys, hammers and other
supplies which they manufacture. In the
piano action and key departments especial-
ly, there has been a steadily increasing
trade this season, due to the general im-
provement in business as well as to a
broader appreciation of the merits of their
wares.
There are many substantial reasons why
Comstock, Cheney & Co. continue to pro-
gress with the times, some of which may
be summarized briefly as follows: " Their
policy has been and is to put honor and re-
liability before aught else. They have
been keenly alive to the tremendous
changes and advances in the manufac-
turing world and have succeeded in keep-
ing in the front in the battle of com-
petition, aiming meanwhile at a greater
perfection of their wares and a recognition
of the necessity of employing modern
methods to that end."
Anyone having dealings with Comstock,
Cheney & Co., or who has visited their im-
mense establishment at Ivoryton, will con-
cede that this is hardly an adequate esti-
mate of those admirable business methods
which have made their wares so deservedly
popular with the trade.
Indeed, it is only after a visit to the
Comstock Cheney factory that one can
properly appreciate the important place
which this firm occupy in the music trade
industry of this country as large producers
of these important specialties, piano
actions, keys, hammers, etc. Just now
there is an atmosphere of activity prevalent
that furnishes a very excellent idea of the
prosperity of this institution and general
business betterment in the music trade.
E. S. Conway, of the W. W. Kimball
Co., and James Lane Allen, the lawyer of
this city, will entertain Gen. Shaf ter during
his stay in town jubilee week. Mr. Conway
A. B. Cameron, of the A. B. Cameron
will ride with Gen. Shaf ter in a carriage Co., left town on Tuesday for a brief tour
during the great procession.—The Indi- of the New England States. Cameron
cator.
products are jn active demand.
Trading on Established Reputa-
tions.
Conditions across the water, as far as
trading under the names of reputable man-
ufacturers, are not far different from at
home. : The following, clipped from the
Piano, Organ and Music Trades Journal,
of London, refers to this matter very per-
tinently :
" A more insidious evil than any of
these has affected the reputation and inter-
fered with the business of some of the
firms of highest repute in the piano trade.
We allude to the frequently-repeated at-
tempts which have been made recently to
pass off tenth-rate pianos at prices far
above their actual value, by conveying the
impression that the instruments have been
turned out by firms whose name is a suffi-
cient guarantee for their excellence. The
method employed is the adoption of some
colorable imitation of the name of a noted
house, as in the celebrated " Bachstein"
piano case, or as in the more recent Brins-
mead case, the starting of another firm
under the same name but with a variation
in style; or again, the labelling of pianos
with the names of well-known firms which
have had nothing to do with the making of
them.
Of course, these devices are readily de-
tected by the observant; but in auction
sales and under conditions where the cus-
tomer is liable to buy hurriedly or without
a full and careful inspection of the articles
acquired, the disposal of such goods is by
no means a difficult matter. The Mer-
chandise Marks Act of 1887 has been of
great service in putting a stop to frauds of
this kind. But in spite of all laws to the
contrary they still recur from time to
time, and ingenuity is still exercised in
evading the spirit of the law while appar-
ently observing the letter. Good firms
thus lose custom, and their name suffers
through association with inferior instru-
ments wrongly supposed to be theirs."
Within the last week R. E. Johnson has
closed for Emil Sauer engagements at Mon-
treal, Ottawa, Cleveland, St. Paul, and two
orchestral concerts and six recitals in Chica-
go. This is certainly not a bad week's
work.
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY.
A young man who thoroughly understands
piano action and case repairing, and who is will-
ing to work for reasonable wages can secure a
good situation by applying to D E. N. Care of
The Review.
A SPLENDID FACTORY
OPPORTUNITY.
A well equipped piano factory, located in a manufactur-
ing: city, easy of access to all parts of the country, is for
sale. This plant has all the necessary accessories for the
production of pianos. The name is well known, thousands of
instruments having; been sold over the country from the
Atlantic to the Pacific A regular output is assured If party
purchasing did not desire to buy factory a lease on suitable
terms could be secured. A moderate amount of capital
would be sufficient to purchase the entire machinery and
stock which is now being manufactured Parties who de-
sire to investigate this matter can address: " Factory Oppor-
tunity", Care of The Review, 3 E 14th Street, New York.
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