Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
11
REVIEW
IMPORTANT CHANGES IN MASON & HAMILIN CO.
A. M. Wright Elected Vice-President and Director of the Famous Boston House—Richard W.
Business Has Improved for April—No Pessi-
Gertz, President; Henry Lowell Mason, Chairman of Board of Directors; Wm. P. Daniels,
mistic Reports from Any of the Piano Men—
Secretary—The Association of Mr. Wright With the Mason & Hamlin Co. Will Come as a
Items of Trade Interest—Here and There
surprise to His Many Friends—Well Equipped for the Important Position.
Among Dealers.
Recent changes which have occurred in the
directorate of the Mason & Hamlin Co. will be of
interest to the trade. At a special meeting of
the board of directors of the corporation, held in
Boston on the 12th inst, the resignation of Ed-
ward P. Mason as president and director of the
company was accepted. Richard W. Gertz was
elected president for the unexpired term.
The office of the chairman of the board of di-
rectors was created, and Harry Lowell Mason
was elected to that office; W. P. Daniels was
elected secretary of the company, vice Richard
W. Gertz, and A. M. Wright was elected a director
and vice-president of the company.
The association of Mr. Wright with the Mason
& Hamlin Co. in an active capacity is an im-
portant trade announcement. He is one of the
best equipped men in the music trade of this
country, and has long been
associated with the artistic
side of the industry, hav-
ing a temperamental lean-
ing in that direction. He
was in town early this
week and left for Chicago
on Monday night. When
asked if he had anything
to state regarding possible
business moves he said:
"Not a word! It would
hardly be becoming in me
at the present time to
make any announcement,
when I have been so short-
ly associated with the con-
cern. I have long been an
admirer of the Mason &
Hamlin product, and the
Mason & Hamlin creations
of to-day are well worthy
of the highest praise. I
am in entire sympathy
with any work which may
promote the artistic side of
the industry, and I feel
that nothing will be left
undone by the present di-
rectors of the Mason &
Hamlin enterprise which
will promote their inter-
ests along dignified and
progressive lines."
A. M. Wright has long
been identified in a man-
agerial capacity with prom-
inent music trade interests,
and possesses ability of the
highest order. His many
friends predict for him a
brilliant future in his new
position.
KNABE SECURES APPOINTMENT.
Piano Makers to the Shah of Persia.
(Special to The Review.)
Baltimore, Md., April 17, 1906.
The Knabe piano is steadily gaining a strong
foothold in foreign lands, and one of the latest
honors which has been paid this institution is
the appointment of purveyors of pianos to the
Shah of Persia.
The appointment came through the Persian
Foreign Office, and is in the form of an imperial
Prman, decreeing the selection of the Messrs.
Knabe on account of the merit of their instru-
ments. The document is accompanied by a gold
medal slightly smaller than an American silver
dollar. On one side is the imperial arms, and
on the other an inscription in Persian. It is
suspended by a green silk ribbon.
Messrs. Knabe & Co. have made three ship-
ments of pianos to Persia. The first was ordered
Richard W. Gertz, who is now president, is
conceded to be one of the most talented piano
experts of our times. He views piano building
as an art, and is proud of his association with
the Mason & Hamlin piano, and what he has
done to develop its tonal powers.
With Henry Lowell Mason as chairman of the
board of directors, and Wm. P. Daniels as sec-
retary, it will be seen that the present directorate
of this famous old Boston institution is composed
of men who have clean cut views upon the piano
situation, and without doubt such a combination
must mean the augmentation of Mason & Ham-
lin fame.
Certainly there is combination of varied talent
which must act as a powerful force and propeling
power to Mason & Hamlin interests everywhere.
(Special to The Review.)
Minneapolis and St. Paul, April 16, 1906.
Not much is ordinarily expected during Holy
Week, and this was pretty generally the case this
year, with some few exceptions. Wet weather the
latter half was very discouraging to shoppers, too.
The outlook for a good month's business in
April, however, is unusually encouraging, judg-
ing from the reports. Not a dealer in these two
towns gives utterance to pessimistic comment.
They are all optimistic.
Foster & Waldo were much heavier advertisers
than usual last week. A clearance sale was on.
Said Mr. Foster: "We don't know what we would
do if we should get much more business just
now. Last week's business was the second big-
gest week we have had in the history of the
house. I have certainly been surprised with the
amount of sales made by our boys, but general
conditions were never better than they are now.
This week we increased our force by six new
men."
At the salesrooms of the Metropolitan Music
Co. trade was reported normal. D. F. Cordingly,
representing the Aeolian Co., spent several days
visiting this house last week, and several good
church deals in organs were reported as having
been closed.
A quiet week was reported at the new ware-
rooms of Howard, Farwell & Co., in St. Paul.
"We are not doing anything startling," said
Grant P. Wagner, "but have succeeded in piling
up a better record than last year. We have
some excellent prospects in sight for the balance
of the month. At our Minneapolis branch, Mr.
VVadleigh reports a pretty fair week in medium
grade instruments."
"We are going to have a big month's business
judging from the trade so far this month," said
David McKee, of the Cable Company. "The aver-
age so far is away ahead of previous months, and
if it keeps up we will have the best month we
have ever had. In the country our business has
been exceptionally good."
Instead of being compelled to vacate their Min-
neapolis branch the first of May, S. W. Rauden-
bush & Co. have had the limit extended nearly
to the first of June. This will give them an op-
portunity to dispose of most of their stock in the
meantime, as it has been definitely decided to
close up the branch. "Our first week's sale was
very good," said George Raudenbush, "but this
last week it was rather quiet."
"Rather quiet last week," said V. E. Seger-
strom, but the prospects for spring business are
simply elegant, and we expect to sell all kinds
of 'Big Four' pianos."
FROM CHICKERING CONVENTION.
A. M. \VI:K;IIT.
through the Washington Embassy, and the others
came direct from the imperial court at Teheran.
The appointment was in acknowledgment of the
last shipment, and is the highest expression of
satisfaction with the instruments. It establishes
the Knabe as the official piano of Persia.
BELL FAILURE.
The failure of the Bell Piano Co., New York,
involves the heaviest accounts with various sup-
ply houses. H. Behlen & Bro., the varnish and
wood finishing material manufacturers, was one
of the creditors petitioning the concern into in-
voluntary bankruptcy. The other two petition-
ers were likewise in the supply line. The lia-
bilities are placed at $25,000, and the assets at
?7,000.
The Erie Organ Co., Erie, Pa., have installed
a large organ in the Christian Church at Peoria,
111.
Prominent Dealers Stop Over in Gotham After
the Big Gathering in Boston.
A good many dealers tarried over in New
York after the Chickering reunion in Boston.
John Goggan, of the well-known house of Thos.
Goggan & Bro., Galveston, Tex,, left on Monday
for the South. H. C. Thiebes and F. C. Stierlin,
of the Thiebes-Stierlin Co., St. Louis, remained
in Gotham two or three days. Henry Eilers, of
the great Pacific Coast house which bears his
name, remained here until Monday. Carl Hoff-
man, of Kansas City, honored New York by a
short visit. Philip Werlein, president of the
Dealers' National Association, left on Sunday for
his New Orleans home.
A number of other prominent dealers, among
whom were E. E. Forbes, of Birmingham, Ala.;
O. C. Muehlhauser, of the Muehlhauser-Locke Co.,
Cleveland; D. G. Pfeiffer, Washington, D. C ; W.
C. Orton, Butte, Mont.; Thomas Hext, Denver,
Col.; W. C. Dorough, of Valdosta, Ga.; M. B.
Armstrong, Oklahoma City, were among those
who were looking over the sights of Gotham dur-
ing last week, and the early part of the present.