Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW
FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S MUSICAL CENTER.
The Business Outlook in Philadelphia Excellent—All at the Helm Alert and Bright After Vacation Pre-
paring for Fall Trade—Something of the Dealers in and Manufacturers of Small Goods—Publishers
Working on Many New Compositions—Strong Testimony For the Lester Piano—What James C. Miller
Says—Fischer Activity—Estey Organs Dedicated—Ludwig's Big Business—Bellak and the Hardman
—Blasius Co.'s New Player Rooms.
13
new pipe organ they built in the First
Presbyterian Church, at Ambler, Pa., was
given. The soloists were G. H. Ryder, or-
ganist; Miss Marie Fischer, violinist; Miss
Marie F. Stoddart, soprano, and Frederick
Ayres, bass. Mr. Ryder is likely to be
selected by the company to take the place
of the late D. E. Kern, who had charge of
the pipe organ department of the Estey
Company.
The Estey Company has just taken the
contract to build an organ for the Parnas-
sus Presbyterian Church, Parnassus, Pa.
The new style in case Estey pianos have
begun to arrive, and are the most beau-
tiful in design of any yet turned out by
that firm.
The Ludwig Piano Company are hav-
ing exceptionally good business with the
Ludwig Style 17. A number of these
pianos have been sold recently, two of
them having been shipped this week to
prominent people up the State. Herbert
Friderici is spending two weeks' vacation
at his former home at Auburn, Pa. Eugen
Myers, long a salesman at the Ludwig
house, has started composing again, and
has a number of selections under way. He
has had printed about eighteen pieces in
all, the best money-makers being "Aunt
Jemima's Tar Baby" and "Her Majesty
Waltzes." He has composed nothing in
the past two years."
George Zimmerman, for a long time one
of the most efficient salesmen in the Wan-
amaker department, has gone to Lit Bros,
as a salesman in their piano department.
The Heppe baseball team played the
team of the Blasius piano factory, at
Woodbury, N. J., on the afternoon of La-
bor Day. It was an exciting contest and
attracted a large crowd. The Blasius team
won, the score standing 7 to 6. The Heppe
battery was Messrs. Sparks and Pyle, and
the Blasius battery, Messrs. Connor and
Johannes.
B. F. Owens returned from his vacation
on Tuesday of this week, feeling much
improved in health.
James Bellak's Sons are laying in a big
stock "of instruments for their fall trade.
They are just in receipt of a full line of
Hardman pianos, one of the best selec-
tions of that fine piano that they have ever
had. They are also making great prepa-
rations for a heavy fall and winter trade
with the Chase & Baker self-player.
I was shown through the new self-play-
er rooms of the Blasius Co. this week, and
found them entirely finished and ready for
occupancy. New hard wood floors have
been placed throughout, and the walls are
decorated in maroon and white, the elec-.
trical display is particularly attractive.
The Harmonist and the Peerless, in the
various styles of these instruments, will be
handled generally, and concerts wrill be
given from time to time.
[Special to The Review.]
C. Wagner & Sons, of Edgar, Wis.>
Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 8th, 1903.
write as follows: "The Lester piano is
The piano business in Philadelphia has a high-grade instrument in every respect.
opened exceptionally well, and it looks as It has made a friend of every customer to
if the fall trade was going to be larger whom we have sold one."
than in years. One of the biggest dealers
E. W. Shortridge, of Newport News,
said that it was astonishing the number Va., writes: "I have had a Lester piano
of visitors they entertained during in my possession for 12 years, and I as-
the first week in the month, which sure you that it has given entire satis-
bespoke the best kind of encourage- faction. The tone is as good as I have
ment. Vacations at all of the houses heard. It still retains its sweetness."
are over, and every one is back in
Amos H. Rodgers, of Edgar, Wis.,
harness, and ready to "push things along" writes: "Having used a Lester piano for
as never before. Several of the firms have five years, I feel it my duty to let you
added to their force.
know that we have never seen a piano
There is also exceptionally bright pros- that has given such splendid satisfaction.
pects for the dealer in small goods. Rob- In tone, action and durability it cannot be
ert C. Kretschmar says that he has ex- surpassed."
ported almost double the amount of goods
H. F. Holt, of Janesville, Wis., writes:
this year as last,'and finds already that the "The Lester piano is a favorite here with
demand in certain lines is going to be be- musicians. All of those to whom I have
yond his supply, and he is planning still sold this piano are highly pleased. I have
further orders. The firm of Charles F. Al- received a number of letters in which the
bert is making many fine violins to order. writers say they are glad they selected the
Mr. Albert is working hard on getting a Lester piano."
supply of his celebrated strings on hand
L. W. Burkhardt, of West Palm Beach,
to meet the demands that are sure to come Fla., writes: "After years of constant use
through the wide popularity of the Albert in a climate usually hard on pianos, the
product, particularly the G string.
Lester piano retains its full, rich tone."
At the Wanamaker small goods depart-
Edw. Clark & Co., of Brattleboro, Vt.,
ment several new men have been taken write: "No piano has given better satis-
on, and that department will be pushed at faction than the Lester to our patrons. In
the big store more than it has ever been tone, touch, workmanship, as well as for
pushed before. J. E. Ditson & Co., Theo- staying in tune, it has no equal."
dore Presser, M. D. Swisher, and the other
James C. Miller is well satisfied with
Philadelphia music publishers, are getting the results obtained by Mr. Whitehill dur-
out many new compositions, and the big ing his absence, and says he has had one
firms have under way a number of attrac- of the best summers since he has been in
tive publications. The sheet music deal- business here. He is feeling in perfect
ers are doing particularly well, since the health after two months spent at Marble-
local stage has been presenting a number head and along Long Island Sound. His
of bright musical productions, .including son, Bert Miller, has gone to the Boston
"The Sultan of Sulu" and "Miss Bob factory, where he is going to learn the
White."
piano business from start to finish. Mr.
Scarcely a day passes at the offices of Miller and his daughter will continue to
the Lester Piano Company, 1308 Chestnut reside at "The Clinton."
street, but the firm is in receipt of a num-
Ben H. Janssen was here this week and
ber of letters bearing upon the Lester closed some good deals for pianos and
piano as a high-grade instrument. These piano cases.
represent the views of the dealers who
Charles H. Fischer was in New York
have handled and sold the Lester, as well several days this week, and his father,
as the purchasers who have learned to William G. Fischer, is continuing his visit
know the instrument. It will be interest- to his son at Walla Walla, Washington.
ing to the trade generally to know just The Fischer business has been large, and
how the Lester stands in the opinion of this week the house is displaying one of
the seller and buyer. I have selected at the finest Kimball pianos as a prize, offer-
random a few of these letters, and print ed under certain conditions, by the Malta-
them herewith:
Vita Company. The first of September
FREDERICK'S BIG ORDER.
Mrs. A. Hume Sprinkle writes from her Mr. Fischer took on two new salesmen,
W. F. Frederick, the well known dealer of
home in Staunton, Va.: "It gives me and while he has been receiving many pi-
pleasure to testify to the many merits of anos during the summer, at present his Pittsburg, Pa., has placed orders for 319
pianos for the fall trade which will reach
the Lester piano. Its durability is re- warerooms look particularly bare. Several his various stores about October first. The
markable. I have had a Lester piano in fine Kimballs were being sent out during instruments ordered were the Chickering,
my home for nine years. It has been my visit.
Hardman, McPhail, Kroeger and Haines
moved frequently, and handled as freight
The Estey Company dedicated the new Bros. Manager Schroeder of the Frederick
on two occasions. Its tone is as sweet as pipe organ of their manufacture at the house places the aggregate cost of these in-
struments at $112,500. Mr. Frederick has.
ever. I expect to have many more years Trinity M. E. Church, at Trenton, N. J., just opened a branch store at Du Bois, Pa.,
of its faithful service. I most cheerfully on Tuesday evening last, and on Thurs- which is in charge of W. J. Bramlage, as-
recommend the Lester piano."
day evening the inaugural recital of the sisted by Howard Carr.