Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S MUSICAL CENTER.
Popular Taste in Case Work—Names as a Selling Factor—Doddridge's Good Work For the Bald-
win—W. G. Fischer Returns—Allen's Stock of A. B. Chase Pianos—Strawbridge & Clothier
News—Business Very Satisfactory—The Situation in Detail.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 25, 1905.
Nearly four weeks of October have passed, and
from the returns obtainable from the trade gen-
erally In Philadelphia, it may be deduced that
the Philadelphia piano dealers are more than
pleased with the results. The sales are not
alone large but good in their character. There
are no exceptions to the verdict that a much bet-
ter grade of goods have been sold in October than
in past years, and business is being done on
a much firmer and more satisfactory basis. If
present conditions were to continue, there is no
doubt that piano dealers would feel themselves
particularly fortunate in having chosen piano
selling as a business. Every one takes the Octo-
ber business as a sample of what is to be ex-
pected for the remaining two months of the
year—the holiday season, and if there is not a
landslide business, there are going to be a num-
ber of undigested Christmas dinners. In antici-
pation of such conditions the piano men have
laid in an exceptionally large stock, and I have
never seen the Philadelphia warerooms look as
pretty as at present. The manufacturers seem
to have been carefully studying the popular taste
and in case work there is marvelous neatness dis-
played. The plain case is the most popular style,
and the medium size piano the best seller. The
Philadelphia buyers seem to have gotten away
from the idea that the bigger the piano the more
they have to show for their money. One thing
that particularly portends to the selecting of a
smaller piano in Philadelphia is the fact that
the majority of the purchasing population are
living in the regulation two-story houses, where
the parlors are small and the large size uprights
would look out of proportion.
Names have considerable to do with selling
properties at present, which is another expres-
sion that business is good at present and will
continue so for some time. When money is
scarce and people want pianos they will take any
name, because they cannot afford to be particular.
But to-day, if they can afford it, the wealthy pur-
chasers will not be satisfied unless their pur-
chase bears the name of Steinway, or Chicker-
ing, or Knabe, or Steck, or Weber, or Baldwin.
Let me say "or Baldwin." for it has been my
first chance. A week ago I had never seen a
Baldwin piano and consequently its name never
entered my mind. But now I have examined the
stock of Baldwin pianos sold in the Weightman
building by Mr. Doddridge, and I am not at all
surprised that that piano won the grand prix
at Paris, as well as the Legion of Honor. Mr.
Doddridge is the first real representative the
Baldwin piano has had in Philadelphia, and while
I have never gained any fame as a prophet, yet I
would be willing to stake my reputation in affirm-
ing that before another six months has rolled
about, all lovers of music will have heard of the
Baldwin piano, and a big per cent, of them will
have seen it, and a goodly number will have
purchased it. Mr. Doddridge is going at the
question of piano selling in the right way, and
he is going to attract the attention of all lovers
of the highest in art in piano construction to
the Baldwin before the mild weather of spring
comes again.
But in drifting into this little paean of praise
of the Baldwin, I did not mean to forget that I
have not mentioned all the great names that the
wealthy Philadelphians love to see on their
pianos, for they are just as proud of the Estey,
the A. B. Chase, Kimball, the Heppe and the
Ludwig, and then the less moneyed element are
finding satisfaction in seeing on their instru-
ments the names of other pianos of fine quality.
But where they do really draw the line is when
it comes to a number of names, such as are to
be found on the stenciled instruments which are
selected for their attractiveness, just the same
as the cigar manufacturer selects a tuneful and
easy name for the favorite five cent cigar. The
stencil is going to go if this prosperity continues
for any length of time, and there is no reason
why it should ever have come. Why is any piano
manufacturer afraid to put his name on any-
thing he makes? Why should he not grade his
instruments as do other manufacturers? To re-
turn to the Baldwin, Mr. Doddridge is showing
four different grades made by that firm, the Bald-
win, the Ellington, the Hamilton and the How-
ard, and each of them are as fine as anything
ever made in their class, and if any purchaser
should feel as if he could afford only the Howard,
the cheapest piano of the Baldwin manufacture,
he can be sure that he is getting the worth of
his money and that the firm's name on the instru-
ment is sufficient guarantee that if things are
not right, the firm will make them right.
William G. Fischer has just returned from a
three months' trip spent in the State of Wash-
ington, where his son, Edgar S. Fischer, is at the
head of the violin department of the Whitman
School at Walla Walla. During his stay there he
visited the Portland Exposition, going with the
singing society of Walla Walla, which is led by
his son, and he also had the pleasure of witness-
ing the wedding of his son to Miss M. Alice Rey-
nolds, who is at the head of the piano depart-
ment in the same institution. Mr. A. B. Camp-
bell, the piano dealer of the firm of Ludden,
Campbell & Smith, of Jacksonville, Florida,, has
arrived in Philadelphia with his wife to spend a
few weeks with Mr. Fischer. For thirty years
Mr. Fischer and Mr. Campbell have spent part
of the year together, Mr. Fischer going south
in the winter and Mr. Campbell coming north
in the early fall.
Charles H. Fischer is having a very prosperous
fall trade and is doing some excellent work with
the Kimball. Mr. Fischer says he has heard con-
siderable talk of the Kimball player piano, but
as yet he has not been able to pass judgment
upon it, as the firm have not honored him with
a first shipment. Mr. Fischer says the prospect
for Kimball pipe organs is very promising for
the winter.
E. B. Bartlett. secretary of the W. W. Kimball
Co., was a recent visitor in Philadelphia.
Joseph F. Allen has the largest stock of A. B.
Chase pianos that he has ever had, and his busi-
ness on those instruments has been very good.
Style I is the most popular seller and he has
one of these fine Chase instruments on show in
his window. Style A is the next most popular.
The other half of the Allen window is taken up
with the Simplex piano player, which instru-
ments have a very large sale in Philadelphia.
Strawbridge & Clothier are just in receipt of a
fine Steck small grand, of which they are very
proud. They have placed it in a suitable alcove
in their department, where it is attracting much
attention. The room the S. & C. department de-
vote to the Steck player-pianos is a very interest-
ing one, and the firm have already had a very
good business on these instruments. The firm
have given an elaborate window display this
week to their piano department, something some-
what unusual.
TAXING TRAVELERS IN QUEBEC.
No Likelihood of Law Being Repealed, Accord-
ing to Provincial Treasurer McCorkill.
Some time ago the Legislature of Quebec passed
a law taxing commercial travelers from the
United States doing business in that province.
Since that time it was expected that the law
would be repealed or become inoperative through
federal legislation, but this is evidently not likely
to happen, for J. C. McCorkill, the provincial
treasurer of Quebec, is reported as having said
this week that there was no likelihood of the re-
moval of this tax on commercial travelers. In
this connection he said:
"This tax does not apply to the representatives
of any Canadian firm, or of any firm from the
outside, with a branch established in Canada. We
are not taxing our own people. We do tax, how-
ever, agents, established in other provinces who
come here to take orders for firms in other coun-
tries. The effect will be to cause the establish-
ment of branch offices of outside firms in the prov-
ince. Isn't this to be desired?"
ENLARGING KRELL-FRENCH PLANT.
(Special to The Review.)
New Castle, Ind., Oct. 23, 1905.
By the authorization of an addition by the
stockholders, the plant of the Krell-French Piano
Co. here will be among the largest and best
equipped in the world. The stockholders have
just authorized this addition and work has be-
gun on it already. It will be 60 by 170 feet, and
three stories high. The plant has of late been
working at night in order to fill orders, and em-
ploys about 650 men. It is expected to have the
addition ready for occupancy by December 15.
J. A. WARREN CONVALESCENT.
The many friends of J. A. Warren, of the
Clough & Warren Co., Detroit, Mich., will be
pleased to learn that he is now on the road to
recovery after a very serious illness at his home
in Adrian. He has made such excellent progress
in convalescence that his friends expect him to
be able to attend to business in a couple of weeks.
The Clough & Warren Co. have had many anx-
ious inquiries from friends in all parts of the
country, as well as abroad, who will doubtless
be pleased to receive this gratifying news
through the medium of The Review.
THE HARDMAN IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
Flood & Sons, who control a big business in the
Province of New Brunswick, with headquarters in
St. Johns have secured the representation of the
Hardman piano for the entire province. In their
hands this celebrated instrument is certain to
win a big following among our Canadian cousins.
HARVEST TIME PUBLICITY.
The harvest time bulletin issued by the pub-
licity department of the Krell-French Piano Co.,
New Castle, Ind., is an exceedingly clever piece
of work. Special attention is called to the merits
of the Krell-French and Lagonda pianos, and the
point is made that "harvest time is piano time."
CALLERS AT MASON & HAMLIN'S'.
MASON & HAMLIN IN MONTREAL.
Arrangements were consummated last week
whereby the Nordheimer Piano & Music Co., of
Montreal, will handle the Mason & Hamlin piano
in that city and vicinity. The initial order was a
large one, and the Nordheimer house expect to
build up quite a business with this well-known
instrument.
R. W. Gertz w.as a visitor at the Mason &
Hamlin New York warerooms on Wednesday and
Thursday. Mr. Gertz came to see his brother,
Emil Gertz, on board the steamer which carried
him back \o his home in Hamburg. Mr. Gertz
was much impressed with America and its tre-
mendous strides in everything that pertains to
the commercial and scientific, world.
The Merrifleld piano, style 60, made by the
Western Piano and Cottage Organ Co., Ottawa,
111., is winning its way into a large measure of
public favor by reason of its special merits. The
manufacturers are in receipt of many commenda-
tory letters regardng this instrument.
Bell Bros., of Topeka, Kan., have opened a
branch store at 108 West Eighth street, Topeka,
Kan., under the management of W. Bolinger.
The opening, which occurred on Saturday, was
well attended, the rooms being beautifully dec-
orated.