Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Gimbel house have added a new piano to
their long list, the Furbush, and are doing very
well with this beautiful piano. They are hav-
ing a particularly good business on the Packard,
Notable Increase in Business During the Past Three Weeks—Settled Weather
and Better
style R.
Conditions Generally Help^The Removal of Weymann & Sons to Larger Quarters on Chest-
The Estey Co. have taken orders for two fine
nut Street—Some Reflections on the Matter of Locations—The Question as to Which Is
pipe organs to be placed in the Baptist Church at
the Best Center a Matter of Opinion—Ludwig Piano Co. Delighted With Their New Home—
Jenkintown and the Christ Reformed Church, of
The Influence of the Philadelphia Operatic Society on Trade Generally—Grand Opera at
Enzabethtown, Pa.
Strawbridge & Clothier's—Great Activity With Lester Piano Co.—Other Items.
D. E. Woolley is very much interested in the
formation of a State association of piano men,
(Special to The Review.)
almost to points that the piano man cannot touch.
and will later make an effort to start such an
Philadelphia, Pa., April 24, 1907.
The Wanamaker department will be moved
association, following the forming of State asso-
The past week there has been a notable in- from the Chestnut to the Market street end of
ciations in other sections. I t would be of great
crease in the piano business, and it is quite likely their building, but this is not because that firm
benefit in many ways, he thinks, but particularly
that April will be a little better than the average believe it is a better end of the building for the
in handling the annoying legislative questions
month. The settled weather has had a little to piano business.
that come up with every session. The Philadel-
do with the better condition, and the people are
The Ludwig Piano Co. are delighted with their
phia dealers are in quite close contact with the
recovering from their Easter "debauch." All of
new home. It is a veritable little paradise, with
dealers in Pittsburg, but with the State dealers
the dealers are looking for a very good May, and its decorative effects of white and gold. It is a
they have practically no association.
there is reason for so doing, as all the big in- first-class store for the piano business in every
dustries of the city are in a flourishing condition, way. The first floor is not broken up with a
CHANCE TO SELL PIANOS IN CAIRO.
and money seems plentiful. There is a much series of piano rooms, which few firms really
more healthy condition also among the small need, for it is very rare that more than one cus-
(Special to The Review.)
goods manufacturers, who are making in greater tomer is on tne floor at a time, and if that is
Washington, D. C, April 22, 1907.
quantities than ever before, and are selling their the case, there are fine piano rooms on the other
Consul-General L. M. Iddings gives the name
goods about as fast as they come from the work- floors to which to take them.
shop.
Mr. Ryan was able to open with a fine stock—• of a firm in Cairo doing a large business in
In the small goods business the most notable a finer stock than he has ever before had of the pianos and all other musical instruments, and
announcement is that H. A. Weymann & Sons Ludwig upright, grand and player-pianos. He calls attention to the necessity of handling all
will move from their present location at 925 has started to advertise extensively—especially orders promptly, Egyptian dealers complaining
Market street to 1012 Chestnut street, where the player—and since getting into their new of the indifference of American manufacturers in
they have secured the entire building, and will home they have had many visitors and customers regard to the execution of orders. The name of
the concern may be'had upon application* to the
have the largest establishment of its kind that who complimented them on its appearance.
It is a little bit foreign to a piano trade letter Bureau of Manufactures.
this city has ever had.
There is no doubt that Chestnut street is the to speak about a musical event, but as it indi-
APPOINTED GABLER AGENTS.
better retail street of the two for the small goods rectly helps the piano business I want to refer to
business, and there was a time that Market street the Philadelphia Operatic Society organized in
Among the latest concerns to be appointed
was selected because of the reduced rental, but this city, and which last week gave their first
the prices have been going up so high on Market opera, "Faust." This opera was given in mag- agents for the pianos made by E. Gabler & Bro.,
street that if anything rents are more expensive nificent style, and most favorably complimented were the Ludden & Bates Southern Music House,
by all the Philadelphia papers. This Society Savannah, Ga., and Darnell & Thomas, Raleigh,
on that thoroughfare than on Chestnut street.
The building the Weymanns secured is prac- has been formed to give grand opera from time N. C. Both these were secured during the trip
tically the only building between Eighth and to time by local talent, and if their first effort of C. Strathy, traveler in that territory for
Broad street on Chestnut for rent, and the only bespeaks future efforts, it is the greatest ad- Ernest Gabler & Bro.
one that stood untenanted for some time. It is vancement of music this city has ever seen.
MELLOR ASSISTANT IN DEDICATION.
then wondered where any of the piano houses This society is on a substantial footing, and it is
would go if they were compelled to move, or going to help the piano men in many ways, and
Among those who took a prominent part in
where those firms who are looking for a new it is going to still more help the piano teachers
the dedication of the Museum of the Carnegie
of
th
city,
for
in
no
other
city
in
the
country
location in this section will find a home. Steger
Institute, Pittsburg, was C. C. Mellor, the well-
& Sons will remain in Philadelphia, and are very are pupils in music able to not only study but
known piano dealer of that city, a warm friend
to
present
the
works
of
the
masters.
This
will
anxious to locate along Chestnut street in the
of
the ironmaster. Mr. Mellor is in close touch
business section, but it is hard to see where they be a great inducement to bring other singers
with Mr. Carnegie, and is a member of the
here,
and
what
the
piano
men
should
do,
would
can hope to find a home here, and they undoubt-
board of trustees of the institute and chairman
edly should have such a location, as being a new be to give the Philadelphia Operatic Society all
of the museum committee.
firm in this section, they will want all the pub- the encouragement possible, for their own good
licity possible; in fact, any firm would make a and for the mutual benefit of music in this city.
"DISTINCTIVELY HIGH GKADE"
mistake to move out of the piano section and
The same week the Strawbridge & Clothier
hope to meet with much success, as was demon- Chorus gave a splendid exhibition of what can
strated again by the failure of the Schomacker be accomplished, by singing two acts of the opera
Piano Co. When that firm was in piano row of "Aida" at the Academy in a way to let little
they were doing a very good business, but in- be desired. Willow Grove will shortly open
stantly they went above Broad they were lost to with the best bands in the country playing
many of their customers. The recent failure of
tnrough the season, and all this musical enthu-
Charles H. Fischer is another illustration that siasm in Philadelphia is going to have a splendid
business cannot be done successfully west of
effect on the piano business. I have wondered
Broad. There are two other firms still in that for some time that the Philadelphia manufactur-
section—Gustave Herzberg & Son and Joseph P. ers of mandolins, guitars and banjos did not
Allen; but it must be remembered that location make an effort for the revival of music in their
with them doesn't count for so much. Mr. Herz- line. It would be a great benefit to them, and
berg has been in the piano business in Phila- such a revival ought to be comparatively easy,
delphia for close to fifty years, and has estab- with the proper methods used.
lished himself, and his magnificent Kranich &
The Lester Piano Co. in April have been able
Bach, Mehlin and Straube pianos, that customers to get the factory in a most satisfactory condi-
for those instruments will look him up if he was tion. In spite of their greatly increased business
on South street, besides he has a wide acquaint- during that month over last year they have been
anceship among musicians and the society folk able to fill all orders and get a small stock ahead.
that they hunt for him rather than make him the Their new catalogue has been very well received,
hunter. Mr. Allen, in a measure, is in the same and the new styles they are now getting out show
position. While not so long as Herzberg in busi- more beauty in art work than anything they
is the greatest success of the day.
ness, yet he has been sufficiently long (since the have previously turned out. The Lester player Is
It possesses a scale of rare even-
old days of the Dearborn firm) to have estab- particularly popular, and big shipments of these
ness, a tone of remarkable sonority
lished himself, and with his capital, to do busi- instruments have been going West, for the first
and richness, with a quality that
ness as well at 18th and Chestnut as in any other time, following Mr. Pressey's persuasive visit to
is highly orchestral. Our latest
section. Ridicule the idea as one may, every man the West. Mr. Pressy is nearing home, having
styles of Grands and Uprights
in piano row believes that it would be suicidal about completed the most successful trip he has
mark a decided advance in the art
to move away from this section. There were ever made to the Far West.
of piano-making. We court inves-
those that believed that Market street was going
tigation. Some territory still open.
The Wanamaker store is still decorated with
to take the place of Chestnut as a retail street, the anniversary trimmings, and their business
CHRISTNAN SONS, Manufacturer.
but they are changing their minds on this point, has been excellent. They do not know when
FACTORY AND OFFICE:
WAKEROOMS:
particularly since the owners of the buildings they will get into their new quarters, but prob-
869-873 East 137th St.
35 Weit 14th St.
have gotten the same ideas and have raised rents ably, not for some time.
NEW YOR.K
&/>e CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND