Music Trade Review

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VOL. XL. No. 8.
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Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Ave., New York, Feb. 25, 1905.
THE HOUSE OF KIMBALL.
The Record of Curtis N. Kimball, the New
President, Col. E. S. Conway and Other Of-
ficers of This Company—Expansion the
Keynote of This Great Institution.
(Special to The Review.)
Review Office, 36 La Salle St.,
Chicago, 111., Feb. 22, 1905.
An aggregate of over a century and a quarter
of active service with the house of Kimball is
represented by the officers of the W. W. Kimball
Co.
This in itself throws something of light on
the remarkable success of the house. All of
the officers are working officers. All have been
associated for years with the great house and
have received their training in the business.
All have for years worked harmoniously to-
gether consulting with each other on every
question of moment which arose.
The W. W. Kimball Co. has never been a one-
man house. Its founder surrounded himself
with men in sympathy with him and whom he
could at all times trust to intelligently carry
out the lines of policy on which the house had
been established. He chose men whom he knew
could stand alone, when circumstances made it
necessary for instant decision, but whose actions
would under these circumstances always be in
harmony with the deep laid principles of the
business.
Thus it is that the passing away of the great
founder has caused no change in method or sys-
tem—the business is moving along smoothly in-
stinct with the genius which created it.
Curtis N. Kimball., who assumed the office of
president in January, has seen the evolution of
the business from a wholesale house, making a
few organs of its own, to a point where the great
plant covering acres of land produces upward of
30,000 pianos and organs a year. Mr. Kimball
entered the house in the early eighties as a
clerk. His capability was at once apparent. He
was given the opportunity of acquainting him-
self with the work of the various departments
by actual experience, was cashier for a time and
later traveled in Iowa, North and South Da-
kota and Minnesota, becoming acquainted with
the demands and character of the trade. Com-
ing back to the office he was elected vice-presi-
dent and with other duties assumed the manage-
ment of the advertising, so vital a factor in the
company's success. At the annual meeting in
January he was elected president.
Col. B. S. Conway's connection with the house
began thirty-three years ago, with retail expe-
rience. About 1875 or 1876 he came to the office
to take charge of the wholesale department.
When the company was incorporated in 1882 he
was elected secretary, which office he retained
until the last annual meeting, when he was made
vice-president.
Twenty years- has elapsed since General Su-
perintendent W. W. Lufkin joined the Kimball
forces, always in the mechanical department
and for at least half of the term as general su-
perintendent. The great plant has grown into
its larger proportions under his competent super-
vision.
Manager E. B. Bartlett came into the house
via the retail route twenty-four years ago, and
for a while combined outside retail work with
occasional general traveling. In January, 1883,
he came into the office without duties defined,
but it was not long before he was instructed to
inscribe himself as manager of the wholesale
department. As the business increased and pipe
organs and players were added, his responsibil-
ities increased, and for five or six years he has
borne the title of manager.
E. E. Conway, the newly elected secretary of
the company, has been with the house for twelve
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
BIG FIRE AT DOHERTY CO.
Case Room and Finishing Plant Destroyed—
Loss Exceeds $30,000.
(Special to The Review.)
Clinton, Ont., Feb. 20, 1905.
On Wednesday morning the large machine
shop, case room and finishing room of. the
Doherty Organ Co. was totally destroyed by fire,
nothing being left but the bare walls. The origin
of the fire is a mystery, as the night watchman
had gone through a short time previously. The
inflammable material in the finishing depart-
ment caused the fire to spread rapidly, and the
whole building was consumed in one hour. The
loss will be about $30,000, insured for almost this
amount. The company will rebuild at once.
CAME NEAR BEING TRAPPED.
Daniel F. Beatty, of New Jersey, Escaped Being
the Victim of Wire Tappers.
l'WO.SIDKXT ( . . T i m s X. KIMBALL.
years, starting like most of the others in the
outside retail field. He was soon made general
traveler. Two or three years ago he was made a
director and was elected secretary in January.
Auditor E. R. Blanchard came into the office
as clerk eighteen years ago, was soon given a
position in the collection department, served in
various capacities until he became head of the
lease collection department, and four years ago
was made an officer, so that he could sign checks.
In the above brief references, no characteriza-
tion of the different men has been attempted,
simply an outline, giving an idea of the years of
service and the general nature of the connection
of each with the great business.
This year the company will reap the result
of the great building operations of 1903. The ex-
tensive changes necessitated and the quantities
of new machinery to be installed prevented the
company getting much benefit until this year,
but all the departments are now lined up in their
proper proportions to the whole, and the com-
pany will therefore secure in 1905 the largest
production they have ever had.
One of the New York papers told a story the
other day of the discovery of a wireless wire-
tapping plant and pool room over the office of
the Western Union Telegraph Co., at 172 Fifth
avenue, which is described by the detectives as
having the most complete equipment for swin-
dling so far unearthed. It is believed many
wealthy men have been duped there. The place
was discovered through the guilelessness of a
young woman who by mistake entered the office
of the telegraph company to place $500 on a
horse which she had been told would win for
her $25,000. When informed that she was be-
ing swindled, she almost fainted, and hurriedly
left the office.
Another person who was about to lose a large
sum of money at the same place, says the New
York American, was Daniel F. Beatty, of Wash-
ington, N. J., who described himself as a piano
manufacturer, who came to New York with his
pockets bulging with bills of a large denomina-
tion and with certain advance information. He
was saved from loss by Charles M. Vilas, one of
the owners of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, to whom
he confided his scheme.
Mr. Beatty was in the city just a few days
ago. The circulars and agents of the wire-tap-
pers carefully explained that the offices were
just above the Western Union Telegraph Co.'s
offices at 172 Broadway, and Mr. Beatty believed
that he was really dealing with men in the em-
ploy of the telegraph company, who could hold
back information. He was placed "wise" in
time, however, and is thanking his stars.
CHASE & BAKER CO. IN NEW YORK.
The agency for the Chase & Baker piano player
for New York, Brooklyn, Newark, Jersey City
and Bridgeport, Conn., has been secured by Otto
Wissner.
B. S. Porter & Son, piano dealers, Lima, O.,
have consummated a deal whereby they secure
ownership of the south end of the Commercial
block, on the east side of Main street. The deal
includes the south room, under which is an ex-
cellent basement, the second and third floors.
The consideration is said to have been $9,600.