Music Trade Review
Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 21 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Paderewski to Steinway.
Messrs. Steinway & Sons,
New York.
Gentlemen:—Before leaving- your hospitable shores, I must convey to you my
heartiest thanks for the beautiful Steinway upright piano that you placed in my pri-
vate car.
In view of the fact that in my recent concert tournee we covered over 22,000 miles,
and that we went through many changes of climate, from the most severe cold to tropi-
cal heat, I was surprised beyond words that this little piano did not show the slightest
changes in action, mechanism and tone under the trying .ordeal. The beauty of its
tone, the power of its resonance and the perfection of its mechanism were a source of
daily delight to me, as I had the instrument in constant use practising for my concerts.
May the 15th, 1900.
Sincerely yours,
I. J. Paderewski.
Piano Hovers Strike.
SOME DIFFERENCE REGARDING SUNDAY WORK
AND LATER PAY FOR SELF-IMPOSED HOL-
IDAY INTERFERES WITH BUSINESS
BOTH IN HARLEM AND
DOWN TOWN.
Business this week in both wholesale and
retail lines of the piano industry in this
city has been hampered through the strike
which occurred on Monday of two hundred
and fifty piano movers, who some time ago
formed the Piano Movers' Union, affiliat-
ing with the Knights of Labor.
The trouble appears to have originated
with the employees of W. L. Byrnes, a
"boss" piano cartman at 2084 Lexington
avenue, who works for several of the Har-
lem manufacturers. He demanded of his
men, of whom there were six, that they
spend an hour each Sunday in shifts of
three for the purpose of looking after the
horses and wagons which they drive. The
men claimed no grievance other than this,
being satisfied with their wages of $15.00
a week.
At the meeting of the employing cart-
men held Wednesday evening at the Union
Square Hotel it developed that Mr. Byrnes
received a delegation from the Movers'
Union Monday night and the matter com-
plained of was satisfactorily adjusted, and
they parted with the understanding that
work was to be resumed on Tuesday morn-
ing. Later the delegation reappeared and
demanded pay for the day they went on
strike, Monday. Mr. Byrnes peremptorily
refused to pay them for what he had not
received an equivalent. Hence a general
strike was ordered. The employing cart-
men decided after a thorough discussion of
the situation to stand by Mr. Byrnes in
his position, and further if the men, after
due notice, refuse to come back uncon-
ditionally, to fill their places.
It was further resolved that until such
time as the strike is over, the employing-
cartmen would help each other to the end
that the interests of manufacturers and re-
tailers should not be injured.
The "boss" cartmen who look after the
retail section of the trade, complain bitter-
ly of the present state of affairs. They
have been made the victims of the mis-
takes of one man, for the complaint made
about Sunday work is individual and not
general. They state that the matter could
have been adjusted in a few hours, if the
men had asked any of the employing cart-
men to see Mr. Byrnes and ask him to
remedy matters.
Meanwhile, as related at the meeting,
the original complaint regarding Sunday
work has been adjusted and the only mat-
ter now is whether the men should get
pay for a holiday which they choose to
give themselves. This position taken by
the Movers' Union is absurd and untenable.
The "strike" has resulted in serious incon-
venience and loss to manufacturers and
dealers through their inability to deliver
pianos according to promise.
Yesterday's papers contained advertise-
ments for piano movers and many applica-
tions for positions have resulted. As a
consequence it would now appear that the
strikers are weakening and that a number
of men have decided to abandon the union
and accept their old places.
firs. David H. Schmidt.
The many friends of Mr. David H.
Schmidt, the well-known member of the
supply trade of this city, will learn with
sincere sorrow of his recent bereavement
in the loss of his wife. Mrs. Schmidt, who
was a lady of estimable qualities, died after
a short illness at the family residence last
Saturday, the funeral occurring Tuesday.
A Mehlin Outing.
The entire working force at Paul G.
Mehlin & Sons factory closed shop this
morning and left for Staten Island where
a special boat was in waiting to take
them on a sea trip down the Jersey Coast.
Ample provision has been made in the
way of viands and refreshments to satisfy
the inner man. An enjoyable day's sport
is hoped for. The members of the firm
accompany the party. In this connection
we may say that there are few business
institutions where such a nice spirit of
fraternity and good will exists between em-
ployer and employee as at the Mehlin fac-
tory. Paul G. Mehlin, himself a practical
man, takes a warm interest at all times in
the advancement of those who are working
for him. He is one of the " old school "
who believe that piano making is an art—
a noble calling.
/Eolian Co. Branches.
The Brooklyn branch warerooms of the
^Eolian Co., to be opened at 500 Fulton
street, on May 31, will be in charge of J.
R. Hartpense, formerly of the Weber and
Emerson warerooms in this city.
A branch of the ^Eolian Co. is to be
opened at Cincinnati on Aug. 1, in charge
of G. F. Cornell, at present with yEolian
headquarters. Both of the new warerooms
will be handsomely decorated, and
equipped with every form and style of the
^
products.
The Foundrymen's Convention.
The Convention of the Piano Manufac-
turers Association is to be followed on
June 5-7 by the fifth annual convention of
the American Foundrymen's Association
which will take place at the Great North-
ern Hotel, Chicago. The necessary pre-
liminary details are in the hands of a com-
petent organization, so that the visiting
members will be sure of receiving a warm
welcome during their stay in the capital of
the West. The formal work laid out for
the Association consists of the reading and
discussion of papers and the presentation
and discussion of reports.
The Review is interested in this Con-
vention inasmuch as the foundrymen's
work in the department of piano making
is an important one. The application of
iron to piano making, so effectively pro-
moted in this country in the past, is now
being adopted in all piano manufacturing
centers the world over. Even France, so
exceedingly conservative, is waking up to
the necessity of the use of iron, particu-
larly in the manufacture of pianos for ex-
port trade. We trust the foundrymen in
the music trade industry, as well as their
fellow workers outside of it, will have a
good time in Chicago.
The Minority Stencil Report.
The minority report of the stencil com-
mittee prepared by Robt. A. Widenmann
was received at Chicago some time after
the majority report had been presented
and formally accepted. Mr. Widenmann
was a member of the committee on sten-
cilling, but his report received no consid-
eration owing to the fact that it reached
Chicago long after the matter had been
definitely closed.
Burns' Liberal Offer.
Frank B. Burns announces that, for
thirty days, he will offer a big lot of Ger-
man square covers, richly embroidered,
which he has been fortunate enough to se-
cure in Germany, at $2.25, in green and
red. The regular price is $2.75.
He also offers, for ten days, a fine lot of
damask scarfs at $1.32^. He considers
both of these bargains as exceptionally
good opportunities for those who are in-
terested and all communications on the
subject will receive prompt attention. His
This week's report at the Goepel ware-
rule in the matter of sending on memor-
rooms is very encouraging. Business is
andum will stand good in each case.
good in every branch of the supply busi-
Henry L. Mason, of the Mason & Ham-
ness. Each and all of the Goepel special-
lin Co., was in town yesterday.
ties is in active demand.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Paderewski to Steinway.
Messrs. Steinway & Sons,
New York.
Gentlemen:—Before leaving- your hospitable shores, I must convey to you my
heartiest thanks for the beautiful Steinway upright piano that you placed in my pri-
vate car.
In view of the fact that in my recent concert tournee we covered over 22,000 miles,
and that we went through many changes of climate, from the most severe cold to tropi-
cal heat, I was surprised beyond words that this little piano did not show the slightest
changes in action, mechanism and tone under the trying .ordeal. The beauty of its
tone, the power of its resonance and the perfection of its mechanism were a source of
daily delight to me, as I had the instrument in constant use practising for my concerts.
May the 15th, 1900.
Sincerely yours,
I. J. Paderewski.
Piano Hovers Strike.
SOME DIFFERENCE REGARDING SUNDAY WORK
AND LATER PAY FOR SELF-IMPOSED HOL-
IDAY INTERFERES WITH BUSINESS
BOTH IN HARLEM AND
DOWN TOWN.
Business this week in both wholesale and
retail lines of the piano industry in this
city has been hampered through the strike
which occurred on Monday of two hundred
and fifty piano movers, who some time ago
formed the Piano Movers' Union, affiliat-
ing with the Knights of Labor.
The trouble appears to have originated
with the employees of W. L. Byrnes, a
"boss" piano cartman at 2084 Lexington
avenue, who works for several of the Har-
lem manufacturers. He demanded of his
men, of whom there were six, that they
spend an hour each Sunday in shifts of
three for the purpose of looking after the
horses and wagons which they drive. The
men claimed no grievance other than this,
being satisfied with their wages of $15.00
a week.
At the meeting of the employing cart-
men held Wednesday evening at the Union
Square Hotel it developed that Mr. Byrnes
received a delegation from the Movers'
Union Monday night and the matter com-
plained of was satisfactorily adjusted, and
they parted with the understanding that
work was to be resumed on Tuesday morn-
ing. Later the delegation reappeared and
demanded pay for the day they went on
strike, Monday. Mr. Byrnes peremptorily
refused to pay them for what he had not
received an equivalent. Hence a general
strike was ordered. The employing cart-
men decided after a thorough discussion of
the situation to stand by Mr. Byrnes in
his position, and further if the men, after
due notice, refuse to come back uncon-
ditionally, to fill their places.
It was further resolved that until such
time as the strike is over, the employing-
cartmen would help each other to the end
that the interests of manufacturers and re-
tailers should not be injured.
The "boss" cartmen who look after the
retail section of the trade, complain bitter-
ly of the present state of affairs. They
have been made the victims of the mis-
takes of one man, for the complaint made
about Sunday work is individual and not
general. They state that the matter could
have been adjusted in a few hours, if the
men had asked any of the employing cart-
men to see Mr. Byrnes and ask him to
remedy matters.
Meanwhile, as related at the meeting,
the original complaint regarding Sunday
work has been adjusted and the only mat-
ter now is whether the men should get
pay for a holiday which they choose to
give themselves. This position taken by
the Movers' Union is absurd and untenable.
The "strike" has resulted in serious incon-
venience and loss to manufacturers and
dealers through their inability to deliver
pianos according to promise.
Yesterday's papers contained advertise-
ments for piano movers and many applica-
tions for positions have resulted. As a
consequence it would now appear that the
strikers are weakening and that a number
of men have decided to abandon the union
and accept their old places.
firs. David H. Schmidt.
The many friends of Mr. David H.
Schmidt, the well-known member of the
supply trade of this city, will learn with
sincere sorrow of his recent bereavement
in the loss of his wife. Mrs. Schmidt, who
was a lady of estimable qualities, died after
a short illness at the family residence last
Saturday, the funeral occurring Tuesday.
A Mehlin Outing.
The entire working force at Paul G.
Mehlin & Sons factory closed shop this
morning and left for Staten Island where
a special boat was in waiting to take
them on a sea trip down the Jersey Coast.
Ample provision has been made in the
way of viands and refreshments to satisfy
the inner man. An enjoyable day's sport
is hoped for. The members of the firm
accompany the party. In this connection
we may say that there are few business
institutions where such a nice spirit of
fraternity and good will exists between em-
ployer and employee as at the Mehlin fac-
tory. Paul G. Mehlin, himself a practical
man, takes a warm interest at all times in
the advancement of those who are working
for him. He is one of the " old school "
who believe that piano making is an art—
a noble calling.
/Eolian Co. Branches.
The Brooklyn branch warerooms of the
^Eolian Co., to be opened at 500 Fulton
street, on May 31, will be in charge of J.
R. Hartpense, formerly of the Weber and
Emerson warerooms in this city.
A branch of the ^Eolian Co. is to be
opened at Cincinnati on Aug. 1, in charge
of G. F. Cornell, at present with yEolian
headquarters. Both of the new warerooms
will be handsomely decorated, and
equipped with every form and style of the
^
products.
The Foundrymen's Convention.
The Convention of the Piano Manufac-
turers Association is to be followed on
June 5-7 by the fifth annual convention of
the American Foundrymen's Association
which will take place at the Great North-
ern Hotel, Chicago. The necessary pre-
liminary details are in the hands of a com-
petent organization, so that the visiting
members will be sure of receiving a warm
welcome during their stay in the capital of
the West. The formal work laid out for
the Association consists of the reading and
discussion of papers and the presentation
and discussion of reports.
The Review is interested in this Con-
vention inasmuch as the foundrymen's
work in the department of piano making
is an important one. The application of
iron to piano making, so effectively pro-
moted in this country in the past, is now
being adopted in all piano manufacturing
centers the world over. Even France, so
exceedingly conservative, is waking up to
the necessity of the use of iron, particu-
larly in the manufacture of pianos for ex-
port trade. We trust the foundrymen in
the music trade industry, as well as their
fellow workers outside of it, will have a
good time in Chicago.
The Minority Stencil Report.
The minority report of the stencil com-
mittee prepared by Robt. A. Widenmann
was received at Chicago some time after
the majority report had been presented
and formally accepted. Mr. Widenmann
was a member of the committee on sten-
cilling, but his report received no consid-
eration owing to the fact that it reached
Chicago long after the matter had been
definitely closed.
Burns' Liberal Offer.
Frank B. Burns announces that, for
thirty days, he will offer a big lot of Ger-
man square covers, richly embroidered,
which he has been fortunate enough to se-
cure in Germany, at $2.25, in green and
red. The regular price is $2.75.
He also offers, for ten days, a fine lot of
damask scarfs at $1.32^. He considers
both of these bargains as exceptionally
good opportunities for those who are in-
terested and all communications on the
subject will receive prompt attention. His
This week's report at the Goepel ware-
rule in the matter of sending on memor-
rooms is very encouraging. Business is
andum will stand good in each case.
good in every branch of the supply busi-
Henry L. Mason, of the Mason & Ham-
ness. Each and all of the Goepel special-
lin Co., was in town yesterday.
ties is in active demand.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).