Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
C. H. Parsons on fir. Hobart's
Death.
PAYS A SPLENDID TRIBUTE TO THE CHARACTER
OF LATE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES WHO WAS A STOCKHOLDER
IN NEEDHAM CO., AND A
PERSONAL FRIEND.
Charles H. Parsons,president of the Need-
ham Piano & Organ Co., paid a warm tribute
to the memoryof the late Garret A. Hobart,
Vice-President of the United States and
an influential stockholder in the Needham
Co., during the visit of The Review to
the Needham warerooms on Wednesday.
Asked to express his views as to the
correctness of the public estimate concern-
ing the public and private virtues of the
deceased stateman, as voiced in the lead-
ing newspapers throughout the country.
Mr. Parsons said:
"It would be impossible for the press or
the people to eulogize Mr. Hobart's char-
acter too highly. He was in many ways
an exceptional man. He had a charm and
attractiveness of manner that enabled him
to make friends easily, and he possessed
sterling qualities of mind [and heart that
caused those friends, once made, to value
his friendship and endeavor to retain it.
"The quality we sometimes refer to as
' personal magnetism ' he possessed in an
unusual degree. Had his opportunities
led him into that branch of commercial
work, he would have excelled as a sales-
man. In the transaction of business he
was wonderfully clear-headed. This is
evidenced in the good work done for many
years as an officer or director of numerous
important commercial enterprises. In poli-
tics, too, he was as sagacious as he was
honest and seemed instinctively to know
what to do and how to do it.
"I happen to know, from personal ob-
servation and experience, that he wielded
more influence at Washington than any of
his predecessors in the Vice-Presidential
chair for a long time past. In the depart-
ments, without exception, he was greatly
respected because of his good judgment,
and held in high esteem because of his
never-failing courtesy and thoughtfulness
toward all with whom he came in contact.
His advice was valued, too, in the councils
of the Cabinet—an honor heretofore rarely
conceded to Vice-Presidents.
"In connection with our company's
work, we saw little of him after his re-
moval to Washington. He felt, and prop-
erly^ that the dignity he had assumed
called for abstinence from participation in
private enterprises. But, even so, when a
man with a strong personality and capa-
bilities such as his is taken, a gap is made
that can never be adequately filled again.
Personally, as a matter of sincere friend-
ship and esteem, I feel the death of Mr.
Hobart more keenly than I can well ex-
press."
When asked concerning the present con-
dition and future prospects of the Needham
Piano & Organ Co., Mr. Parsons made a
most encouraging report. Wholesale and
retail trade in both piano and organ de-
partments is so active that overtime at the
factories has been the rule since the season
Cole's Mammoth Mahogany Log,Weighs n tons.
The largest log of'mahogany which has probably ever been landed in New York, is
that shown in the accompanying picture and imported by the well-known reneer house
of Isaac I. Cole & Son of this city. It is thirtaen feet long, sixty-eight inches square
and weighs eleven tons. In a talk with Mr. Geo. O. Cole of the firm, he stated that not
only is this log one of the largest in dimensions ever seen in this city, but it is of rare
quality, the veneers being beautifully figured.
H
THE LARGEST MAHOGANY.LOGiEVER LANDED IN NEW YORK.
The second picture shows one of the veneers taken from this log. It is twenty-four
inches wide and thirteen feet long. Manufacturers desiring something unique in the
way of woods should make it a point to visit the Cole mills at the foot of Eighth street
and East River, and inspect these veneers. We are sure they will become enthusiastic
over them and that Mr. Cole's tremendous log transformed into cases will ere long be
commanding admiration in the warerooms of some of our leading manufacturers.
VENEER FROM ABOVEILOG SHOWING FIGURE.
At the further end of the picture first shown, is easily recognizable the figure of Mr.
Geo. Cole, well known to the piano trade.
The house of Cole is an historic one, being the oldest veneer concern in the city. Mr.
Geo. Cole has always given personal attention to the needs of the trade. He is an ex-
pert lumberman and his taste and experience has been of great value to piano manufac-
turers.
began. "The pressure is so great now,"
said Mr. Parsons, "that it has become nec-
essary to insert an additional electric light
plant for the machinery section, in order
that all our motive facilities may be
brought into play for overtime labor.
Hitherto, we have worked at night in de-
partments where the use of motive power
is not needed. The new plant will be
ready in a day or two."
Woodbury in the Saddle.
HAS PURCHASED THE NAME AND ASSETS OF
THE JEWETT PIANO CO. HAS STARTED
IN TO MANUFACTURE WITH EVERY
PROSPECT OF SUCCESS.
As predicted in a recent issue of The
Review, Frank J. Woodbury has obtained
proprietorship of the assets of the Jewett
Piano Co. and is going ahead in a business-
like way to manufacture the instruments.
He has purchased the material in the fac-
tory, the fixtures, good will of the business,
together with the name, and has leased the
factory at Leominster, Mass., for a term of
years.
Mr. Woodbury has many friends in the
trade who will be pleased to learn of this
new deal, and will be ready in a short time
to cater to their wants with the Jewett
piano, made better and manufactured on
more up-to-date and progressive lines than
ever. Mr. Woodbury knows the needs of
the trade, and now that he can carry out
his own ideas he will demonstrate his ajbil-
ity to build a successful business.
Francis Connor, when visited by The
Review on Tuesday, reported trade con-
ditions to be healthy, with a steady call
for each of the Connor styles.