Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Decker grands and uprights of this
season have added largely to the firm's
good repute, especially a Decker Colonial,
with inlaid paneling, and a Decker parlor
grand, both admirable examples of skilled
Workmanship and of richness and even-
ness of tone. Orders are plentiful and the
outlook is reported as excellent. Decker
& Son are prospering. Long may they
continue to do so.
Facing the Southern Boulevard, and to
the westward of the Decker factory is the
factory of
LUDWIG & CO.
There would seem to be no limit to the
prosperity of the Ludwig firm. Their
output is increasing by leaps and bounds
each year.
Like every other instance of prosperity
noted in this review of the present condi-
tion of the Harlem piano factories, that
now enjoyed by Ludwig & Co. is the out-
come of hard work. Messrs. Ludwig and
Ericsson are never so happy as when in
the midst of their workmen, setting a good
example of well-directed energy and in-
dustry.
As The Review has had occasion to re-
mark before, there is no secret about the
Ludwig success. They please their whole-
sale customers by supplying exactly what
they contract to supply, and in such a satis-
factory manner that retail purchasers have
no fault to find. That is business,, and
Ludwig & Co. were established to do busi-
ness. They are doing it, too.
Somewhat hidden from a boulevard
view, but well in evidence, nevertheless, is
the
NEWBY & EVANS
factory, to the north and east of the main
Ludwig building. Quietly but effectively,
this firm does an important out-of-town
trade.
The standard of the Newby & Evans
products has met with wide approval and
the volume of business is increasing. A
new Newby & Evans catalogue, containing
several new styles, is about to be issued.
This is a good sign of prosperity.
About three-quarters of a mile to the
northward of the Newby & Evans estab-
lishment is the
WHEELOCK
factory at 149th street, near Third avenue.
These works cover an entire block and are
well equipped in every particular. Is it
necessary to say aught about the Wheelock
products or to state that they are now in
active demand? Like the man whose name
they bear, they never flinch from investi-
gation and come out ahead of every test
and trial.
From 149th street to Park avenue and
i32d street is rather a far cry, but we are
still within the boundaries of Harlem. At
the latter point is located the
BEHNING PIANO CO.,
concerning whose products The Review
has spoken on several occasions recently.
This firm is prospering and its output is
increasing rapidly in volume.
The merits of the Behning products are
recognized in all important centers of pop-
ulation, and the latest reports from Augus-
tus Behning and Charles Spanier show
plainly that not only are the Behning in-
terests prospering, but that they are
spreading in influence.
Last to be noted in our Harlem review
is the
MILTON PIANO CO.
situated at 128th street and Park avenue.
The firm is young, but healthy in its busi-
ness condition, and therefore prospering.
The Milton products are selling steadily on
their merits. That their merits are con-
ceded by experts is shown, by the recent
selection of the Milton to occupy an honor-
able place in the new Gimbel p*iano ware-
rooms at Philadelphia.
This ends the summary. Who shall say,
in the face of the facts presented, that the
East is not holding its own as a piano
manufacturing center ?
flajor Howes.
Major Howes has been accomplishing
satisfactory results for the Mason & Hamlin
piano during his recent tour of the South
and the Pacific Coast. He is well equipped
to revive the faltering faith of dealers in
their belief in a high grade product. The
Major works with enthusiasm, has un-
bounded faith in the artistic product which
he represents and has a host of friends
among the dealers who are admitting the
sound logic of his argument.
ts
Gabler Time.
Gabler time is correct. It indicates with
unvarying regularity a steady demand for
an artistic product. It records a steady
advance for high-grade wares. Gabler
time is all right. It keeps perfect tick with
the advanced thought of the trade. It
strikes some architectural'and musical hits
and its reverberations are heard through-
out the land.
Mr. WesselFs Condition.
Carreno, the "lioness of the pianoforte,"
left these shores after a most successful
tour last Tuesday afternoon.
It is with expressions of extreme regret
that we are unable to report an improve-
ment in the health of Otto Wessell, who has
been seriously ill for many months. Mr.
Wessell possessed a magnificent constitu-
tion, which has thus far successfully battled
disease, and his friends hope that it
will not be long before his familiar face will
be seen again on the street. Otto Wessell
is a man of much ability, and his strong
and aggressive personality has been thor-
oughly emphasized upon the development
of the piano action business in America.
Schwankovsky and the Pianola.
Change at Brockport.
F. J. Schwankovsky always manages to
keep well before the people of Detroit
through the mediumship of the public"
print. He is a liberal advertiser, and he
attributes his business success in a large
degree to the advantages won by advertis-
ing. The subjoined notice recently ap-
peared in the Free Press of Detroit:
One is inclined to wonder if the time is
not coming when it will be quite useless to
teach musical technique to young people.
The wonders performed by new musical
inventions, such as the seolian and pianola,
are so remarkable as to lend encourage-
ment to that large class of people who love
music yet have not the power to express it
for want, perhaps, of a proper education,
while at the same time it can give no possi-
ble discouragement to musicians in the ac-
cepted sense.
At a recent meeting of the stockholders
of the Brockport Piano Mfg. Co., Brock-
port, N. Y., the following officers were
elected for the ensuing year: W. H. Park,
president; G. D. Crippen, vice-president;
G. A. Witney, secretary, and William Daly,
treasurer.
The business of the company is found to
be in a most flourishing condition, and Mr.
Witney was warmly complimented upon
his management of the company's affairs.
He is not only an expert piano builder,
but he is a man possessing excellent busi-
ness qualifications as well. He was in
town Monday on his way to eastern points.
The Brockport Piano Co. seem to be
moving straight ahead.
Carreno off for Europe.
About Charlie Russell.
There seems an evident desire on the
part
of some to censure Charles C. Russell
Grunewald's Exhibit.
for
his
action in the recent bankruptcy
(Special to The Review.)
proceeding.
Charlie Russell was over en-
New Orleans, La., May 14, 1899.
thusiastic
years
ago, and he had great con-
Down in New Orleans we have been
fidence
in
men,
some
of whom did not keep
having a Fair this week. One of the im-
their
word
with
him
at
a critical period in
portant exhibits was that of the L. Grune-
the
history
of
his
business.
He was forced
wald Co. At their booth they had a mag-
to
go
down,
and
now
he
has
been
following
• nificent display of pianos, including a num-
up
a
plan
which
certainly
entitles
him to
ber for which they hold exclusive agency.
the
broadest
consideration
from
fellow
Among them I may mention the Steinway,
members
of
the
trade.
The
Russell
&
Knabe, Behr, Fischer, Mehlin, Shoninger,
Lane
Piano
Co.
is
all
right,
and
Mr.
Russell
Singer and others. They also had an
"Orpheus," the self-playing organ of Story is built on those lines which will entitle
him to a larger hearing in years to come.
& Clark, Chicago.