Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
TO REGULATE FREIGHT RATES.
THE GABLER IN DENVER.
FREEBORN G. SMITH'S PLANS.
Interstate Commerce Commission Asks for
Power in This Connection—Amendatory
Legislation Necessary in Order to Redress
Transportation Wrongs.
Will Be Leader With the McKannon-Hinkle
Music Co.
Has in Contemplation the Manufacture of the
Webster Piano in Leominster Instead of
Brooklyn—The Bradbury Piano, However,
Will Continue to Be Made in the Factory on
Fulton Street.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C., Dec. 19, 1904.
In its annual report, transmitted to Congress
to-day, the Interstate Commerce Commission re-
fers to the two principal objects of the act to
regulate commerce, the publication and observ-
ance of tariff rates, and the correction, on com-
plaint, of established tariff rates. The commis-
sion says in substance that successful regulation
of rates depends upon the effective operation of
both branches of regulation.
The act, as amended by the Elkins law of
February 19, 1903, and which deals with the pub-
lication and invariable application of tariffs, ap-
pears to be operating successfully as applied to
carriers subject to its provisions; but it is be-
lieved that these provisions might be made some-
what more definite and extended to apply to
other agencies connected with transportation
which may now be used as a means of affording
concessions to shippers, which in effect reduces
the cost of moving their products.
The commission calls attention to the fact that
there has been no amendatory legislation con-
ferring power over this rate and making the or-
ders of the commission effective.
The amendments to the statute recommended
by the commission involve no fixing of whole
tariffs of rates in the first instance or at any
time, but simply the redressing of transporta-
tion wrongs shown to exist after full investiga-
tion, during which all affected interests have
been heard; and when an order is issued against
a carrier under such procedure, it should by
operation of law become effective upon the date
therein specified.
In the fixing of rates by carriers upon all com-
modities for transportation in all directions and
between all points reached by railroads, says the
report, it is inevitable that much injustice, un-
fairness, unreasonableness, preference, and dis-
crimination will be practiced, notwithstanding
the greatest care and ripest judgment may be
exercised by the railway officials. These errors
of judgment on the part of the railway officials
constitute the reason for Federal regulation and
the basis of the present widespread demand for
an amendment of the existing statute which will
enable their speedy correction.
BAUER CO.'S GREAT TRADE.
The Most Satisfactory in Years—Big Call for
Bauer Products in the Far Western and New
England States.
The McKannon-Hinkle Music Co... of Denver,
Col., have taken the agency of the Gabler pianos,
which they will handle as their leader. This
concern was organized some time since and is
composed of experienced and progressive piano
men who will do much to make the Gabler still
more favorably known in that section of the
country. During a visit to New York last week
Mr. Hinkle made a selection of various Gabler
styles, both grand and upright, and a carload
was shipped this week to the McKannon-Hinkle
Music Co,, with more to follow.
MORGAN BUYS HISTORIC PIANO?
Said to Have Paid $6,000 for Eighteenth Cen-
tury Instrument Shown at St. Louis Fair.
A despatch to the New York Herald of Sun-
day last from Joplin, Mo., contains this inter-
esting information:
"Rudolf Vivoli, of Italy, while in this city to-
day received a telegram from J. P. Morgan, of
New York, stating that he would accept Mr. Vi-
voli's proposition to purchase the first piano ever
built for $6,000. The instrument, built by Ros-
sini in Italy in 1708, was on exhibition at St.
Louis during the fair.
"Mr. Morgan began negotiating for the instru-
ment several months ago. The trade was made
through Mr. Vivoli, representing the owner, who
lives in Italy. Vivoli expressed the opinion to-
night that Mr. Morgan was getting the instru-
ment at a very reasonable price, its age and his-
tory considered. Rossini was only seventeen
years of age when he built the piano."
Here is another illustration of daily paper
bungling when it comes to discussing anything
relating to pianos or the industry. We question
whether Mr. Vivoli made the absurd and inac-
curate statements contained in the foregoing des-
patch, for unless all reliable histories are incor-
rect this is not "the first piano ever built."
The claim made for this instrument during its
display at St. Louis was simply that it was a
piano of great antiquity and used by the great
master Rossini in the composition of his notable
operas, and thus abounded in historic associ-
ations of great value. The instrument belongs
to Antonio Malerbi, of Bologna.
Meanwhile the first piano made by Cristifori,
not Rossini, appeared in 1708. Rossini, the com-
poser, was not born until 1792, and there were
evidently a goodly number of pianos made and
sold throughout the world before Rossini dis-
played his remarkable genius for musical com-
position.
GOLD MEDAL FOR BYRON MAUZY.
MANAGER J. P. LOFTUS A BENEDICT
Byron Mauzy, the well-known manufacturer
and dealer, of San Francisco, Cal., has been noti-
fied by David R. Francis, president of the Su-
perior Jury of the Louisiana Purchase Exposi-
tion, that he has been awarded a gold medal for
his exhibit of pianos a t the World's Fair. A
medal and diploma for this award will be issued
by the Exposition company as soon as they are
ready for delivery.
Mr. Mauzy's exhibit at the Fair has been fre-
quently referred to for its attractiveness and all-
around excellence. It was a credit to California
and to the piano industry at large.
(Special to The Review.)
ANGELUS PLAYERS IN GREAT DEMAND.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 21, 1904.
The small goods business in this city has been
unusually large during the early winter and
holiday season. There has been some little fall-
ing off in the music box and graphophone or talk-
ing machine business, but this has been more
than made up in the sale of banjos, mandolins,
etc., which instruments have taken quite a spurt
this year. For instance, the Bauer Co., the home
of the famous Stewart instruments, has never
had such a holiday trade. Their factory, for the
past four months, has been run to its capacity,
but many more instruments have been ordered
for the holiday trade than the firm has been
able to make, and naturally Emil Bauer is al-
ready looking to the future with the hope,
through enlargement, of overcoming this situa-
tion by another year. Sherman, Clay & Co., of
San Francisco, have been one of the biggest pur-
chasers of the Bauer output, but these fine in-
struments have gone into every city in the coun-
try and almost every musical center of the world.
Mr. Bauer is particularly gratified at the sales
through the New England States, where close
competition of home-made goods would almost
be expected to exclude all others. The New York
business of the firm has also been very large.
A despatch from Worcester, Mass., to the local
papers dated Dec. 18th, states that F. G. Smith,
of Brooklyn, manufacturer of piano cases and
maker of the Bradbury and Webster pianos, is
talking of moving his Brooklyn business to Leo-
minster, Mass., and consolidating it with his fac-
tory there. Mr. Smith has been talking the mat-
ter over with Nathan Crosby, his Leominster
superintendent, and has given him instructions
to go ahea/l and figure for plans for a new shop
in Leominster. Mr. Crosby says the figures are
for a building 150 feet long by 50 wide and four
stories in height. The new factory will cost
about $20,000. It will make the largest manu-
facturing establishment in the town and will
give employment to about 100 additional hands,
most of whom are expected to come from Brook-
lyn.
When Mr. Smith was seen at his Brooklyn fac-
tory on Fulton street, relative to the foregoing,
he said: "I have in contemplation the removal
of my Webster piano works, which are now at
the corner of Flatbush avenue and State street,
to Leominster, Mass., where all my present case
and cabinet work is done, and to put up an addi-
tion to the present large factory, which covers
six acres. The facilities are much better there
than they are here to manufacture, complete and
finish pianos."
Mr. Smith said he could continue to manufac-
ture the Bradbury pianos in the factory on Ful-
ton street, but the Webster industry would go to
Leominster. Mr. Smith said that the labor sit-
uation is more satisfactory there. He intimated
that while a strike could occur here in Brook-
lyn at most any time, the labor field in Leo-
minster has a certain permanency and stability
about it, because of the fact that nearly all of the
men own their own cottages there and every-
thing they have is in Leominster.
Pueblo, Col., Dec. 19, 1904.
Friends of Manager J. P. Loftus, of the Colum-
bine Music Co., are still sending in their con-
gratulations, as many of them are just learning
that he has taken unto himself a wife, the happy
event having occurred November 15 last. It was
a surprise party to even the intimate friends and
relatives of both parties. The bride was Miss
Julia M. Curtis-, who at the time was cashier for
the Columbine Co.
Both have a host of friends, who are tender-
ing all sorts of congratulations and best wishes.
The groom is one of the most progressive young
piano men in the State, and is making a great
success in his new position as manager of Lhe
Pueblo store of the Columbine Co. The bride
combines a charming personality with a wealth
of womanly sweetness and beauty, and friends
of the young couple pronounce the match ideal
in every way.
Manager Wray, of the Bush & Gerts Temple
of Music in Memphis, Tenn., is conducting an
alteration sale which is proving most successful.
The Angelus piano player, made by the Wil-
cox & White Co., has been in great demand dur-
ing the holiday season in all parts of the coun-
try. Representatives in widely separated sec-
tions have been unable to supply the demand
and many orders are now in for delivery after
the holidays. At the Wanamaker stores in New
York and Philadelphia, there has also been an
enormous trade in Angelus players. It is need-
less to say that as a result of this activity the
factory at Meriden, Conn., has been working
night and day in order to cope with this demand.
WHO'LL WIN THAT SCHUBERT PIANO ?
There is still a chance, according to the Schu-
bert Co.'s statement on another page, for piano
dealers and piano salesmen to enter the contest
for the "Schubert" piano. The last day to re-
ceive answers is announced to be January 25,
1905.
The E. H. Towle Co. are handling a fine line
of talking machines in Waterbury, Conn.