Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
CHICAGO'S GREAT EXPORT TRADE.
TO MAKE PIANO PLAYERS.
NEW FACTORY FOR LAUTER CO.
Frank S. Shaw Sums Up the Situation and
Chats Interestingly of Methods That Bring
Business Success.
New Concern Formed in Burlington, la., With
A. L. Hart as President.
Contract Signed for Plot for New Plant on Mor-
ris and Essex Railroad Avenue, Newark, N.
J.—Ground Will be Broken in April.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., March 13 ; 1905.
Frank S. Shaw, president of the Cable Com-
pany, in the course of an interview with the rep-
resentative of the Chicago Post, makes the fol-
lowing statement regarding local export trade
in musical instruments, as well as some inter-
esting facts regarding their manufacture:
"Chicago has reached a high standard in the
manufacture of pianos. When a single establish-
ment can produce 30,000 high-grade pianos and
organs in a single year, or an average of 100 for
every working day, it is a fair indication of the
healthy state of the industry and art.
"Chicago now exports musical instruments,
and especially pianos, to Norway and Russia, to
South Africa and to South America, besides to
the better-known countries of Europe and Great
Britain.
"Chicago capital and energy have brought this
condition about, although fifty years ago it would
not have been suspected that in this particularly
delicate line of work Chicago would lead at all.
"As a matter of fact the history of the piano
trade and manufacture in this city is a chronicle
of progress and perseverance, with few, if any,
parallels in the history of the nation.
"The explanation of this lies in this, I think:
The manufacturer who tries to direct his plant,
his sales department, and his collection depart-
ment soon discovers that his competitor, who has
found the right men and has given them charge
of these departments, is getting away from him
—not because the competitor is more able and
brainy than he is, but because with a better or-
ganization he is getting better results from men
of the same caliber, and is giving himself time to
think and plan.
"The employe of a concern, from the office
boy to the president, has a certain amount of
brain power, and the house that gives each em-
ploye the largest chance to use his or her brain
power is the one that succeeds.
"The manufacturer or dealer who tries to
master details which could be attended to by a
$75-a-month clerk is wasting money. He is
spending the time of a $10,000-a-year man on a
$l,000-a-year job.
"From the time the tree is cut down and the
crude iron taken to the foundry every process
through which a piano in process of manufacture
passes is performed by men selected for their
peculiar ability to do a special work.
"Over each department, as foreman, is a man
who combines executive ability with special
technical qualifications. His duty is to see that
the best possible results are got, not alone from
the men of that department, but from the mate-
rial while it is in his charge.
"He is the responsible man of the department,
and, realizing his responsibility, having nothing
else to think about but the work which is con-
stantly under his eye, and being supplied with
men fitted to do that work, he is enabled to se-
cure high quality of workmanship and large
quantity of output at comparatively low cost, and
have the performance repeated daily with clock-
like regularity.
"Result—order instead of disorder, and pianos
within the reach of the millions, instead of only
the wealthy hundreds."
The S. A. Mondschein Piano Co., of Milwaukee,
Wis., have certified to a change of name to the
Mondschein, Usbeck Co. Mr. Usbeck, as an-
nounced in The Review two weeks ago was for-
merly connected with the business department of
E. Gabler & Bro., of this city.
The Denver Music Co., of Denver, Colo., report
a tremendous business in talking machines and
records for the past two months of 1905.
Schock & Wogoman have opened a new store
on East Washington street,, Go.8h.en, Ind.
(Special to The Review.)
Burlington, la., March 13, 1905.
Articles of incorporation for the Hart Mfg. Co.
have been filed with the county recorder as re-
quired by law. A. L. Hart, who is president of
the new concern, when interviewed said:
"I have been working for years on several pat-
ents along this line of automatic piano players
and music for the same. The machine for mak-
ing electric cut music is perfected, and the prod-
uct of the model machine is pronounced practi-
cally perfect by the best judges in this country.
It may be that the machines will prove so valu-
able that we shall grow into a prosperous con-
cern with no need to sell our patents. Burling-
ton is good enough for me, and is in some ways
well suited to our business."
For the present the company will occupy the
old laboratory room of the Institute building as
an experimental shop. Should they decide to
manufacture here they will secure other quar-
ters. It will be necessary to do the experimental
work in some place where strict privacy can be
enforced, as is usual in such cases.
SHIP PIANOS IN TRAIN LOADS.
Geo. Heidinger, of the Eilers' Piano house,
States That It Will Take Fifty Carloads of
Pianos to Supply the Territory North of San
Francisco This Year.
(Special to The Review.)
Portland, Ore., March 11, 1905.
G. A. Heidinger, manager of Eilers' piano
house in this city, has just returned from a hur-
ried business trip to the Pacific coast, during
which he visited the various agencies of the Eil-
ers company, including the branches at Portland
and San Francisco. During the trip Mr. Heid-
inger attended a meeting of the managers of the
various agencies, at which plans for the coming
summer were outlined.
"We will ship pianos into the northwest terri-
tory this year in trainloads," stated Mr. Heidin-
ger. "It will take at least 50 carloads to supply
the territory north of San Francisco alone, this
not including the amount that will be sold in
San Francisco and the adjacent territory. I
have placed a rush order for our house here call-
ing for the delivery of 12 carloads here within
the next 60 days.
"In Portland they are making great prepara-
tions for the reception of visitors to the fair.
They believe that a large share of their patron-
age will come from Washington and expect to
furnish good entertainment to the visitors from
this State."
WANTS TO START A PIANO FACTORY.
John Golden is in receipt of a letter from a
New York man, who is desirous of starting a
piano factory in this city. He is no company pro-
moter, but simply a business man. He is inter-
ested in Fall River because he worked here some
time ago, and he believes that a factory with an
output of 50 or 60 pianos a day could be run suc-
cessfully. He was very much pleased to see the
local business men taking up the question of
diversified industries, and he thought the move-
ment ought to be encouraged, and outsiders ought
to be given all the inducements possible to bring
them here. At the same time the local people
ought not to be afraid to invest their money.
Mr. Golden would not divulge the name of the
man. He will turn the communication over to
the committee of the Fall River Trade and In-
dustrial Association for their consideration—Fall
River News.
The Munson Music Co., of Zanesville, O., held
their annual meeting last week and the election
of officers resulted as follows: President, C. E.
Munson; vice-president and general manager, J.
T. Miller; assistant manager, E. W. Stockdale;
treasurer, J. M. Brelsford; secretary, E. A. Old-
bam.
An agreement was signed on Thursday last be-
tween Louis Schlesinger, owner of the property
58, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 Morris and Essex Rail-
road avenue, Newark, N. J., and Peter F. Camp-
bell, secretary of the Lauter Co., by which title
in the site named will pass to the latter before
the close of this month. Mr. Campbell was seen
at the Lauter warerooms, and in response to
questions as to the object of the purchase, said:
"I signed an agreement with Mr. Schlesinger on
Thursday, and title will pass in the course of
two weeks. I do not care to state the price
agreed upon. The plot has a frontage of 100 feet
on Morris and Essex Railroad avenue, and a
depth of 90 feet. Probably early in April ground
will be broken for the erection of a much-needed
new factory. Hurd & Sutton, architects, are now
completing plans and details for a perfect plant
have been arranged. The situation is an ideal
one for our purpose, and when completed we ex-
pect to have an equipment that will compare
favorably with that of any other piano factory
now in existence. The building will have five
stories and basement, and great care has been
taken to secure the maximum of light, and best
manufacturing facilities. A number of novel im-
provements will be incorporated, and we think
we will have a building that will prove a model
of its kind. The formality of taking title is de-
layed pending the return of Mr. Charles B. Cam-
eron, president of the company, who is at pres-
ent on an extended stay in the South.
Asked as to the business outlook in the piano
trade, Mr. Campbell said: "I can only speak for
ourselves. The demand for the Lauter piano not
only in our own retail business here in Newark
and at our branch stores, but by the wholesale
trade all over the country, has been remarkable.
You can see, therefore, that our new departure
is literally forced upon us."
HADDORFF PIANOS LOST
By Fire in Railroad Wreck Consigned to Ta-
coma, Wash.
(Special to The Review.)
Rockford, 111., March 13, 1905.
The Haddorff Piano Co. received news last
Saturday of the destruction by fire of a carload
of pianos consigned to a Tacoma, Wash., house.
The incident occurred while the car was still
in the hands of the railroad company probably
in a wreck, and the railroad people will meet
the full extent of the loss.
There were about 20 pianos in the carload and
the loss will run well up into the thousands.
The factory is rushing work on a second carload
for the same house. Full details of the loss have
not been received, and the whereabouts of the
wreck can only be surmised. The officials of the
company anticipate more news within a day or
so.
THE MEHLIN-KROEGER PIANO CO.
(Special to The Review.)
Roanoke, Va., March 13, 1905.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of
the Mehlin & Kroeger Piano Co., held in this city,
the following officers were elected for the ensu-
ing year: C. B. Garritscn, president; W. G.
Steuffer and H. P. Mehlin, vice-presidents; T. La.
M. Couch, secretary and treasurer. The com-
pany contemplates an extensive addition to their
working capital, and are determined to branch
out considerably during the coming year.
The opening of the nev, piano warerooms of
Otto Baab, at 417 Main street, Springfield, Mass.,
occurred last Saturday evening. The programme
included many interesting musical numbers.
A. D. Ogden, of Schenectady, N. Y., has pur-
chased the Morrison music store on Market
street, Amsterdam,