Music Trade Review
Issue: 1903 Vol. 37 N. 16 - Page 10
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE:
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A GREAT SOUTHERN INSTITUTION.
The Jesse French Piano Co.—What Oscar A. Field Has Done To Build Up This Notable House—The
Alliance With the Starr Piano Co., an Institution of Millions.
Throughout the South the Jesse French
Piano Co. is widely known and the presi-
dent, Mr. Oscar A. Field, has devoted more
than two decades to the upbuilding of this
great retail institution. Mr. Field, whose
headquarters are at St. Louis, came to that
city in December, 1882.
He bought out the piano business of C.
W. Handley and associated with himself
Mr. John Lumsden and Mr. Jesse French,
under the name of Field, French & Co.,
which name was changed in 1885 by organ-
ization, to the Field-French Piano Co., at
which time Mr. Henry Gennett, now presi-
dent of the Starr Piano Co., became an
enthusiastic worker with Mr. Field, and a
large stockholder.
In 1887, by a consolidation with the
Southern houses and capitalization at
$500,000, the name of the company was
changed to the Jesse French Piano & Or-
other stockholders, bought out the Starr
Piano Co., of Richmond, Ind., and by his
superior business ability started that or-
ganization on a successful business career,
is widely known and respected, and who
possesses rare managerial ability.
W. W. KNIGHT RECOVERING FROM INJURY.
(Special to The Review.)
Denver, Col., Oct. 12, 1903.
W.
W . Knight, of the Knight-
Locke Music Co., who fell from a
Broadway
car a few nights ago,
sustaining a severe cut over his right
eye, and a concussion of the brain is,
at the time of writing, holding his own.
Mr. Knight was on his way to the Broad-
way Theatre, with his wife, and while in
the act of alighting from the car to trans-
fer to 9th avenue, he slipped and fell.
He is sixty-five years old, and it is feared
that his injuries may prove more serious
than they would to a younger man. T h e
doctors, however, hope that no serious
complications will ensue.
HAROLD F. MERRIAM A BENEDICT.
[Special to The Review.]
Springfield, Mass., Oct. 10, 1903.
Miss Blanche E. Wilder, cashier of the
Ludwig piano warehouse of this city, and
OSCAR A FIELD.
which has—since the death of Mr. Lums-
den—under the able management of Mr.
Henry Gennett, its president, become
one of the largest factors of pianos in the
world.
The Starr piano is not only widely
known
throughout the entire South, but
WIIERK THE PRESIDENT HOLDS FORTH.
has a magnificent following from the At-
gan Co., a Missouri corporation, with its lantic to the Pacific. Henry Gennett, the
president, assisted by his able sons, Clar-
parent office at St. Louis.
Mr. Field is widely known and respected ence and Harry, devote their entire time
in St. Louis, and is the only member of the to a superintendence of the manufacturing
firm residing in that city. He is one of and distribution of this distinguished
the largest stockholders, and is secretary product.
During Oscar A. Field's
business
and treasurer of the corporation as well as
business manager. H e has succeeded in career, he has bought out the Nennstiel
making this company the largest of its Piano Co., the Koerber Piano Co., t h e
kind in the country, with branches at Mason & Hamlin branch house, and later
In October,
Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; on all their bills receivable.
1901, he was elected to the office of
Montgomery, Ala., and Dallas, Texas.
An alliance with a piano making concern president of the Jesse French Piano & Or-
was a logical move, and shortly after the gan Co.
organization of the Jesse French Piano &
On February 12, 1902, Mr. Field and Mr.
Organ Co., Mr. John Lumsden, with the Henry Gennett, bought out the minority
stockholders, thus making them the abso-
lute owners of all the stock and business
of the Jesse French Piano Co. which, in
conjunction with the Starr Piano (Co.,
makes a combination that figures up in the
millions.
Thus, in brief, is told what an active
business man has accomplished.
The St. Louis house is located at 1114
( Hive street and is splendidly fitted up.
There are five floors and basement all de-
voted to the exhibition and sale of pianos.
As will be seen from the accompanying il-
lustrations, there are many rooms special-
ly fitted up in a most attractive manner.
The manager of the St. Louis branch
is
Mr. W. M. Robinson, a gentleman who
AN ARTISTIC DISPLAY ROOM.
Harold F. Merriam, manager of the Green-
field store of the same company, were
united in marriage Tuesday noon by Rev.
Williard E . Waterbury at the latter's
house.
The bride was attended by Miss Grace
E. Wilder, while Robert F. Merriam
acted as best man. After the marriage
ceremony had been performed a wedding
lunch was served at the home of the bride,
19 Winthrop street. The newly wedded
couple left on the 2 123 train for the eastern
part of the State, where they will spend
ten days.
They will be at home at 19 Winthrop
street after November 1. Mr. and Mrs.
Merriam were the recipients of many beauti-
ful gifts.
10
THE:
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A GREAT SOUTHERN INSTITUTION.
The Jesse French Piano Co.—What Oscar A. Field Has Done To Build Up This Notable House—The
Alliance With the Starr Piano Co., an Institution of Millions.
Throughout the South the Jesse French
Piano Co. is widely known and the presi-
dent, Mr. Oscar A. Field, has devoted more
than two decades to the upbuilding of this
great retail institution. Mr. Field, whose
headquarters are at St. Louis, came to that
city in December, 1882.
He bought out the piano business of C.
W. Handley and associated with himself
Mr. John Lumsden and Mr. Jesse French,
under the name of Field, French & Co.,
which name was changed in 1885 by organ-
ization, to the Field-French Piano Co., at
which time Mr. Henry Gennett, now presi-
dent of the Starr Piano Co., became an
enthusiastic worker with Mr. Field, and a
large stockholder.
In 1887, by a consolidation with the
Southern houses and capitalization at
$500,000, the name of the company was
changed to the Jesse French Piano & Or-
other stockholders, bought out the Starr
Piano Co., of Richmond, Ind., and by his
superior business ability started that or-
ganization on a successful business career,
is widely known and respected, and who
possesses rare managerial ability.
W. W. KNIGHT RECOVERING FROM INJURY.
(Special to The Review.)
Denver, Col., Oct. 12, 1903.
W.
W . Knight, of the Knight-
Locke Music Co., who fell from a
Broadway
car a few nights ago,
sustaining a severe cut over his right
eye, and a concussion of the brain is,
at the time of writing, holding his own.
Mr. Knight was on his way to the Broad-
way Theatre, with his wife, and while in
the act of alighting from the car to trans-
fer to 9th avenue, he slipped and fell.
He is sixty-five years old, and it is feared
that his injuries may prove more serious
than they would to a younger man. T h e
doctors, however, hope that no serious
complications will ensue.
HAROLD F. MERRIAM A BENEDICT.
[Special to The Review.]
Springfield, Mass., Oct. 10, 1903.
Miss Blanche E. Wilder, cashier of the
Ludwig piano warehouse of this city, and
OSCAR A FIELD.
which has—since the death of Mr. Lums-
den—under the able management of Mr.
Henry Gennett, its president, become
one of the largest factors of pianos in the
world.
The Starr piano is not only widely
known
throughout the entire South, but
WIIERK THE PRESIDENT HOLDS FORTH.
has a magnificent following from the At-
gan Co., a Missouri corporation, with its lantic to the Pacific. Henry Gennett, the
president, assisted by his able sons, Clar-
parent office at St. Louis.
Mr. Field is widely known and respected ence and Harry, devote their entire time
in St. Louis, and is the only member of the to a superintendence of the manufacturing
firm residing in that city. He is one of and distribution of this distinguished
the largest stockholders, and is secretary product.
During Oscar A. Field's
business
and treasurer of the corporation as well as
business manager. H e has succeeded in career, he has bought out the Nennstiel
making this company the largest of its Piano Co., the Koerber Piano Co., t h e
kind in the country, with branches at Mason & Hamlin branch house, and later
In October,
Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; on all their bills receivable.
1901, he was elected to the office of
Montgomery, Ala., and Dallas, Texas.
An alliance with a piano making concern president of the Jesse French Piano & Or-
was a logical move, and shortly after the gan Co.
organization of the Jesse French Piano &
On February 12, 1902, Mr. Field and Mr.
Organ Co., Mr. John Lumsden, with the Henry Gennett, bought out the minority
stockholders, thus making them the abso-
lute owners of all the stock and business
of the Jesse French Piano Co. which, in
conjunction with the Starr Piano (Co.,
makes a combination that figures up in the
millions.
Thus, in brief, is told what an active
business man has accomplished.
The St. Louis house is located at 1114
( Hive street and is splendidly fitted up.
There are five floors and basement all de-
voted to the exhibition and sale of pianos.
As will be seen from the accompanying il-
lustrations, there are many rooms special-
ly fitted up in a most attractive manner.
The manager of the St. Louis branch
is
Mr. W. M. Robinson, a gentleman who
AN ARTISTIC DISPLAY ROOM.
Harold F. Merriam, manager of the Green-
field store of the same company, were
united in marriage Tuesday noon by Rev.
Williard E . Waterbury at the latter's
house.
The bride was attended by Miss Grace
E. Wilder, while Robert F. Merriam
acted as best man. After the marriage
ceremony had been performed a wedding
lunch was served at the home of the bride,
19 Winthrop street. The newly wedded
couple left on the 2 123 train for the eastern
part of the State, where they will spend
ten days.
They will be at home at 19 Winthrop
street after November 1. Mr. and Mrs.
Merriam were the recipients of many beauti-
ful gifts.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).