Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
by an expenditure of hard cash, and it is
sheer nonsense to talk of really good
"I know you will all agree with me
pianos selling for anything less than $350.
when I say that pianos and Harlem flats
For a diminutive upright piano $300 is the
are indissolubly associated," said the Har-
bedrock price for a new instrument, and
lem music dealer. "There is always a
for a grand, $800. For an upright instru-
good business done in the instruments up
ment $750 is enough for anyone to pay,
here if the dealers are acute and alert men
and for a grand, twice that amount is about
and know how to handle the trade. 'What
the reasonable limit, unless the instrument
is home without a piano?' is a motto in-
is especially made. Extremely ornate
delibly inscribed on the heart of many a
cases for the homes of the very rich some-
young and ambitious married man, and
times cost as much as $50,000, but the in-
I'll warrant you that about the first thing
struments are no better than those which
the swain of to-day who is contem-
sell for $1,500 each, so far as relates to
plating matrimony thinks of is the piano
their musical value."—Daily News.
when he is casting up the amount of fur-
niture which will be required to furnish
Dolge in Los Angeles.
his flat.
"But Harlem wants a cheap piano, and,
Alfred Dolge is now in Los Angeles,
moreover, it wants to buy it on the install- where, it is rumored, he may become per-
ment plan, which is unfortunate for some manently located.
makers, who allege that they cannot afford
to turn out cheap instruments. If they
Mason & Hamlin Display.
are engaged in the manufacture of really
The Mason & Hamlin Co. will have a
superfine pianos, they talk in a lofty strain
magnificent
display of their products at
about the present tendency to commercial-
the
Philadelphia
Export Exposition. In-
ism in art, and sneer voluminously at the
deed
some
of
their
recent creations in
instruments sold at regular bargain prices
pianos
and
organs
are
works of art, not
on the installment plan. But still the
only
in
the
matter
of
architecture,
but we
cheap piano is not without its use, and
may
say,
tonal
qualities
as
well.
In
these
even merit is not impossible to it."
instruments the Mason & Hamlin Co. fur-
"Yes, the department stores in other
nish proof of their ability to rank in the
sections of the city, I notice, are selling
future as in the past among the progres-
cheap pianos," said the quizzical young-
sive institutions which are imbued with
man. "Doesn't that hurt you music deal-
the highest ideals in the art of piano and
ers somewhat?"
organ structure.
" Not a bit," protested the music dealer.
Dealers handling the Mason & Hamlin
" In fact, we are glad to see the big stores
products
are naturally enthusiastic over
handling pianos at $125 to $200 apiece on
the
magnificent
instruments which are
the installment plan. It really does our
reaching
them
from
the factory these days.
business good. Every cheap piano sold
And
well
they
might,
for they are crea-
means a sale for a first-class instrument
tions
well
worthy
of
admiration
and praise.
later on. It's just like a boy, you know,
Foreign trade with this firm is unusually
who gets a watch that runs and stops very
active.
Shipments to all parts of the world
shortly after the purchase. Its total in-
efficiency makes him hanker for a 'real' are growing in frequency and in size.
timekeeper, and he does not rest until he
At the Kroeger Factory.
has achieved his desire. Cheap pianos are
bought by those who consider a low price
At the Kroeger warerooms* on Wednes-
essential to economy, and when they be- day The Review saw a complete showing
come useless and their owners educated to of choice Kroeger uprights of the latest
the uses of real musical instruments, and style in several woods. Visiting dealers
are likewise able to purchase them, they ought to inspect the Kroeger products
are exchanged for first-class affairs.
while making a tour of the city factories.
" T h e cost of manufacturing pianos It will be time well spent, and president
changes, of course, but the skilled labor Garritson always sees to it that visitors are
required to make a good instrument always made welcome.
commands high wages. Cheap pianos are
" We are glad to get a call from any out-
merely thrown together like kitchen tables of-town dealer," said he recently, "and will
and chairs, and they are just as much a give him ample opportunity to examine
commercial product. After very little use our instruments, material, and methods of
they become deranged and are utterly construction. Our doors are all fitted with
beyond repair. Want of the very best hinges that swing inward. The only
materials and the very best workmanship, latches and bolts in use with us are thrown
besides want of artistic knowledge by their back when the night-watchman goes off
constructors, make them nothing short of duty at dawn and are not used again, as a
pseudo-musical instruments. Qualities of rule, until he reports for duty after the
tone and durability can only be attained workmen leave at night."
Harlem and the Piano.
POOLE
PIANOS
.
—^•MMH^^^^^^.
fifa
A St. Louisan Talks.
Among the members of the trade who
honored The Review sanctum with their
presence this week was E. A. Kieselhorst,
president of the Kieselhorst Piano Co., St.
Louis. Mr. Kieselhorst arrived in this
city on Saturday, from Boston, where he
spent almost a week sightseeing and tak-
ing in the principal summer resorts in that
locality. This is his first visit to New
York, and it afforded him an opportunity
of meeting many old acquaintances, and
making new friendships. He visited the
principal warerooms on Fifth Avenue as
well as many of the factories, and expressed
himself most appreciatively of the cour-
tesies shown him in this connection.
Asked regarding the trade outlook in
his locality, Mr. Kieselhorst said: "Things
have been going a little slow during the
summer, but there is every indication,
based upon good judgment and general
conditions, which point to an unusiially
large volume of business from the opening
of the fall season proper.
" Piano prices? Yes, of course, we ex-
pect prices to go up. It can't be otherwise
in view of the rise in the market for labor
and materials. It is, however, a good sign
that the purchasing public is already dis-
playing a preference for the reliable or
high-priced piano, as opposed to the gene-
ral demand for the very cheap, which was
in vogue a year or two ago. In good times,
and with money in circulation, the Ameri-
can people will never stint at a few dollars
when the article is worth the money."
Although but comparatively a young
man Mr. Kieselhorst has devoted much
study to the piano business with which the
members of his family have been so long
associated. He is a bright and clever con-
versationalist and splendidly equipped in
many ways to make his mark in the piano
industry as well as in the several other en-
terprises with which he is connected. Mr.
Kieselhorst journeyed to Philadelphia on
Thursday -evening from whence he will
return to New York to-day leaving for
Boston this evening. He will reach St.
Louis from the " H u b " about the 31st
with the L. A. W. excursionists.
Camerons for Pacific Coast.
Two carloads of the A. B. Cameron Co. 's
pianos have been shipped to the Pacific
Coast, in response to orders, during the
past two weeks.
Business Chances at Sing Sing.
To exchange.—The advertiser will be
glad to exchange a banjo, a mouth organ,
a pair of blankets, forty-seven Moody and
Sankey tracts and three prize sermons by
Talmage for a jack-screw, a three-cornered
file and thirty feet of rope. Address Dis-
satisfied Dick, Clinton P.—From the Sing
Sing Star of Hope.
Precious, Perfect, Peerless
As to Tone, Touch, Design,
Durability and Value. . . ,
5 and 7 AFFLETON STREET. BOSTON. MAS§-