Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 28 N. 6 - Page 11
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
\i
The Gabler Pianos of 1899.
The Piano Trade of Havana.
THE BEST PRODUCTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE DISTINGUISHED GABLER HOUSE CANNOT FAIL
TO MEET WITH A LARGE DEGREE OF FAVOR FROM THE TRADE AT LARGE
DESIRING HIGH-GRADE INSTRUMENTS.
SOME VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS FROM
THE PEN OF J. A. SCHAFF, WHO IS A
MEMBER OF THE ARMY OF OC-
CUPATION.
The Gabler pianos have long been es-
teemed by the dealers and musicians of
this country for their artistic musical qual-
ities and perfection in construction. This
is best evidenced by the fact that there are
now over forty thousand users of the
Gabler pianos, from one of whom there
has never been a complaint. This is a
record that cannot be lightly overlooked.
It is cheering to note that Ernest Gabler
out. These styles possess all the patent
improvements which are characteristic of
the Gabler products.
In a recent talk the Gabler program was
thus set forth: " The Gabler is a strictly
high-grade piano sold at a reasonable price.
That price is the lowest price for which a
good piano may be bought. It would not
be possible to make a good piano a cent
cheaper. It would not be possible to make
STYLE M.
& Bro. are more progressive and up-to-
date in this close of the century year than
ever before. Their new creations, two of
which appear on this page are handsome
instruments, not only good to look upon,
but an examination of their structure, their
musical qualities, their perfect action
mechanism, will demonstrate that they are
a better piano than the Gabler tor any
amount of money.
" The tone is the vital part of any piano.
Without that all other improvements are
worthless. The tone of the Gabler is
faultless. You will realize that when you
hear it for the first time.
" I n the Gabler piano we have accom-
GAWER
STYLE S.
bound to accentuate cne aiready high rep- plished just what we tried to accomplish.
utation of the Gabler house. Both these We intended to make an entirely satisfac-
tory piano at a moderate price. We set
instruments are made in figured walnut our
standard first, and then we made our
and mahogany. The decorations are very price. We made as good a piano as we
elaborate, beautifully hand carved. The knew how, and then we decided how
cases are double veneered within and with- reasonably we could sell."
Wm. G. Schaff, son of John A. Schaff,
the piano string manufacturer of Chicago,
and a member of the Second Regiment, I.
N. G., who is now doing duty in Havana,
writes a very interesting letter to The In-
dicator, from which we clip the following
pertinent remaks regarding music trade
conditions in the much talked about Cuban
metropolis:
"If you are interested in the music trade
and are in Havana, you will call on Ansel-
mo Lopez. He is a Spaniard and a highly
respected merchant of the city. He will
tell you that the Havanese public are mu-
sical. For twenty years Anselmo has sold
pianos and musical merchandise in or
around Obrapia street, and, it is said, has
amassed quite a competence—therefore he
should know. Some thirty pianos con stir
tute the entire stock of Havana's leading
music store. One or two searching glances
at a dozen different fall-boards failed
reveal an)' of American manufacturer
Pleyel and Erard' of Paris, Chassaigne
Freres of Barcelona, Ronisch of Germany,
and a few grands of R. Gors & Kallman,
Berlin, are about the makes he carries.
With their coats of unadorned funeral
black they would present a sorry show to
the brilliance of the 'pianos del America-
nos.'
'' Senor Lopez gets a fair price for these
European delicacies. His cheapest instru-
ment—a Chassaigne, Barcelona—lists at
$290. This is a somber and depressed
looking affair about 4 feet 4 inches in
height, and possessed of uncertain tonal
power. Should you show an unsatisfied
and wavering disposition the obsequious,
ever watchful salesman hastens to assure
you that ' there are others,' and with con-
summate grace he displays another of sim-
ilar height, but with a very apparent ' lift'
in the price. . With a flourish he announces
that it is a Ronisch at $425. Pleyel is
shown next at $476. Uprights of indiffer-
ent quality rent for $5.30 per month. You
may buy on payments if you wish. Senor
Lopez is obliging. Seventeen dollars a
month, Spanish gold, is, however, the
very best that he can do.
" He and Senor Girard of O'Reilly street
are the only two merchants that are at all
demonstrative in the piano line hereabouts,
and they do not pretend to sell goods on
any $5 or $10 a month arrangement. Life
is too short. I have heard of New York
men making similar observations and next
moment turn about and execute a double
shuffle in their mad haste to get a ripe
prospect to sign such a contract. Perhaps
the two sole exponents of piano life in
Havana do the same, but I am inclined to
think otherwise. They are living a happy,
peaceful existence. The turmoil of Wabash
avenue has not as yet oozed into the
island, and the clang of cable trains and
the whirring trolleys are things that they
read of in a vague, far-off sort of way."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
\i
The Gabler Pianos of 1899.
The Piano Trade of Havana.
THE BEST PRODUCTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE DISTINGUISHED GABLER HOUSE CANNOT FAIL
TO MEET WITH A LARGE DEGREE OF FAVOR FROM THE TRADE AT LARGE
DESIRING HIGH-GRADE INSTRUMENTS.
SOME VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS FROM
THE PEN OF J. A. SCHAFF, WHO IS A
MEMBER OF THE ARMY OF OC-
CUPATION.
The Gabler pianos have long been es-
teemed by the dealers and musicians of
this country for their artistic musical qual-
ities and perfection in construction. This
is best evidenced by the fact that there are
now over forty thousand users of the
Gabler pianos, from one of whom there
has never been a complaint. This is a
record that cannot be lightly overlooked.
It is cheering to note that Ernest Gabler
out. These styles possess all the patent
improvements which are characteristic of
the Gabler products.
In a recent talk the Gabler program was
thus set forth: " The Gabler is a strictly
high-grade piano sold at a reasonable price.
That price is the lowest price for which a
good piano may be bought. It would not
be possible to make a good piano a cent
cheaper. It would not be possible to make
STYLE M.
& Bro. are more progressive and up-to-
date in this close of the century year than
ever before. Their new creations, two of
which appear on this page are handsome
instruments, not only good to look upon,
but an examination of their structure, their
musical qualities, their perfect action
mechanism, will demonstrate that they are
a better piano than the Gabler tor any
amount of money.
" The tone is the vital part of any piano.
Without that all other improvements are
worthless. The tone of the Gabler is
faultless. You will realize that when you
hear it for the first time.
" I n the Gabler piano we have accom-
GAWER
STYLE S.
bound to accentuate cne aiready high rep- plished just what we tried to accomplish.
utation of the Gabler house. Both these We intended to make an entirely satisfac-
tory piano at a moderate price. We set
instruments are made in figured walnut our
standard first, and then we made our
and mahogany. The decorations are very price. We made as good a piano as we
elaborate, beautifully hand carved. The knew how, and then we decided how
cases are double veneered within and with- reasonably we could sell."
Wm. G. Schaff, son of John A. Schaff,
the piano string manufacturer of Chicago,
and a member of the Second Regiment, I.
N. G., who is now doing duty in Havana,
writes a very interesting letter to The In-
dicator, from which we clip the following
pertinent remaks regarding music trade
conditions in the much talked about Cuban
metropolis:
"If you are interested in the music trade
and are in Havana, you will call on Ansel-
mo Lopez. He is a Spaniard and a highly
respected merchant of the city. He will
tell you that the Havanese public are mu-
sical. For twenty years Anselmo has sold
pianos and musical merchandise in or
around Obrapia street, and, it is said, has
amassed quite a competence—therefore he
should know. Some thirty pianos con stir
tute the entire stock of Havana's leading
music store. One or two searching glances
at a dozen different fall-boards failed
reveal an)' of American manufacturer
Pleyel and Erard' of Paris, Chassaigne
Freres of Barcelona, Ronisch of Germany,
and a few grands of R. Gors & Kallman,
Berlin, are about the makes he carries.
With their coats of unadorned funeral
black they would present a sorry show to
the brilliance of the 'pianos del America-
nos.'
'' Senor Lopez gets a fair price for these
European delicacies. His cheapest instru-
ment—a Chassaigne, Barcelona—lists at
$290. This is a somber and depressed
looking affair about 4 feet 4 inches in
height, and possessed of uncertain tonal
power. Should you show an unsatisfied
and wavering disposition the obsequious,
ever watchful salesman hastens to assure
you that ' there are others,' and with con-
summate grace he displays another of sim-
ilar height, but with a very apparent ' lift'
in the price. . With a flourish he announces
that it is a Ronisch at $425. Pleyel is
shown next at $476. Uprights of indiffer-
ent quality rent for $5.30 per month. You
may buy on payments if you wish. Senor
Lopez is obliging. Seventeen dollars a
month, Spanish gold, is, however, the
very best that he can do.
" He and Senor Girard of O'Reilly street
are the only two merchants that are at all
demonstrative in the piano line hereabouts,
and they do not pretend to sell goods on
any $5 or $10 a month arrangement. Life
is too short. I have heard of New York
men making similar observations and next
moment turn about and execute a double
shuffle in their mad haste to get a ripe
prospect to sign such a contract. Perhaps
the two sole exponents of piano life in
Havana do the same, but I am inclined to
think otherwise. They are living a happy,
peaceful existence. The turmoil of Wabash
avenue has not as yet oozed into the
island, and the clang of cable trains and
the whirring trolleys are things that they
read of in a vague, far-off sort of way."
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