Music Trade Review
Issue: 1913 Vol. 56 N. 7 - Page 50
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50
TH
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A VIOLIN MAKING CENTER
LEAVES ONJWAD TRIP.
Evidenced in the Increasing Demand for Those
Instruments at the Ditson Establishment.
Is Markneukirchen in Saxony, Where 15,000
People Do This Work in Their Homes.
Hermann Weiss to Visit Various Sections of
the Country—Showing Any New Styles.
Chas. H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty-fourth
street, New York, has devoted a great amount of
space in its catalog and in its showrooms to the
violoncello. Its claim is that this instrument is
growing rapidly in popularity, and is being taken
up by music houses in far greater numbers than
ever before.
"The house of Ditson carries a very fine line of
new 'cellos and also some excellent old instru-
ments," states H. L. Hunt, manager of the mu-
sical manufacturing department. "We also have a
most expert 'cello repairman, who not only keeps
our own instruments in fine order, but does work
for musical artists. It was only a few years ago
that it was considered rather unusual to see a lady
playing a violoncello, but to-day there are hun-
drers of women 'celloists, and many well known
society ladies of this city play these instruments.
"The 'cello unquestionably possesses one of the
most noble tones of any musical instrument. Once
a person acquires sufficient skill in playing a 'cello
to bring out the beautiful quality of tone, they
are rarely, if ever, satisfied with any other in-
strument. We cannot conscientiously say that the
'cello is an easy instrument to learn to play well.
However, it is a very easy one to pick out simple
melodies on, but to play these melodies well re-
quires great skill and artistic ability.
"We carry in stock all sizes of small 'cellos from
one-eighth up, and a great many people who have
children seven, eight and ten years old start them
in on these instruments at that age. The demand
for bow string instruments is certainly growing
greatly in this country among all classes of people."
Nearly every inhabitant of the little town of
Markneukirchen, in Saxony, is engaged in the
manufacture of violins, and very many can play
them. In the town and the surrounding villages
some fifteen thousand persons are employed. The
violin is usually made of maple wood and con-
sists of about sixty pieces, each one of which is
cut, smoothed and measured with mathematical
precision.
The old men make the ebony finger-boards,
screws and string-holders, and the younger ones,
with strong steady hands and clear eyes put the
pieces together—the most difficult performance.
The women do the polishing and almost every
family has its own peculiar method, which is
handed down from mother to daughter, some
excelling in producing a deep wine color, others
in citron or orange color. The best instruments
are polished at least twenty times before they are
considered perfect.
VIOLONCELLO POPULARITY
W. R. GRATZ IN MIDDLE WEST.
Win. R. Gratz, president of the Wm. R. Gratz
Import Co., 35 West 31st street, New York is at
present in the Middle West on a short business
trip. Mr. Gratz expects to be away about two
weeks, and secured many substantial orders during
the first few days of his trip. Traveler Stein, of
the company's road staff, is at present on the
Coast, where he reports excellent business in the
musical merchandise trade, with Gratz customers
enthusiastic over the popularity of the various
lines handled by the Wm. R. Gratz Import Co.
Hermann Weiss, 393 Broadway, New York,
American representative for Ch. Weiss, manufac-
turers of harmonicas and the Fluta, left Saturday
for a five weeks' business trip through various sec-
tions of the country. Mr. Weiss will carry, in ad-
dition to his regular line, a complete sample assort-
ment of the new "Metalla" style of harmonicas,
introduced by the house of Weiss last fall, but
which were withdrawn for the time being, owing
to a shortage of stock. Mr. Weiss returned from
a short trip to Europe last week and brought
these samples over with him, in addition to the as-
surances of his father that all orders for the
"Metalla" will now receive prompt attention.
The trade will be enabled to place their orders
for the "Metalla" with a definite date of delivery,
as a substantial stock of this type of harmonica
will probably have arrived in New York by the
time this paper goes to press. As the name im-
plies, the "Metalla" is a harmonica constructed
wholly of metal, without the slightest particle of
wood entering into its make-up. Many advantages
for this type of harmonica are advanced by the
manufacturers, including remarkable durability
and freedom from any unsanitary features.
AN HARMONICA ADMIRER.
Britt Wood, the popular "rube" entertainer, who
has been playing in the leading vaudeville theaters
of New York to crowded houses, is an enthusiastic
admirer of the Hohner harmonica, and in a chat
with Mr. Haussler, stated that the Hohner 34B,
one of the most popular models of the Hohner line,
is his favorite instrument and is used by him at all
performances. Mr. Wood attains splendid results
Among the trade visitors this week at the offices
If you are a salesman, tuner or traveler, and from the harmonica, not only from an entertaining
of the Wm. R. Gratz Import Co., 35 West 31st
desire a position, forward your wants in an ad- standpoint, but from the musical side, and dealers
vertisement to The Review in space not to ex* are closing an excellent harmonica business, as the
street, New York, were Chas. E. Mauzy, San
harmonica increases in popularity with professional
Francisco, Cal., and Secretary Rauth, of the ceed four lines and it will be inserted free of
players.
charge and replies sent to you.
Koerber-Brenner Music Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Bell Brand Harmonicas
"Made in America"
Have won a national reputation because of their remarkable and durable
qualities. They are not the best merely because they are American made,
and the only harmonicas made in this country, but they stand competition
with the products of the world, embodying the very best musical qualities
and workmanship.
BELL BRAND HARMONICAS
CAN BE PROCURED FROM THE FOLLOWING WHOLESALE HOUSES:
C. BRUNO & SON, New York City, N. Y.
BUEGELEISEN & JACOBSON, New York City, N. Y.
OLIVER DITSON CO., Boston, Mass.
C. H. DITSON & CO., New York City, N. Y.
W. J. DYER & BRO., St. Paul, Minn.
J. W. JENKINS SONS' MUSIC CO., Kansas City, Mo.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Cincinnati, O.
ROBT. C. KRETSCHMAR, Philadelphia, Pa.
KOERBER-BRENNER MUSIC CO., St. Louis, Mo.
LYON & HEALY, Chicago, III.
C. MEISEL, New York City, N. Y.
SHERMAN, CLAY & CO., San Francisco, Cal.
JOS. W. STERN & CO., New York City, N. Y.
TONK BROS. CO., Chicago, 111.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Chicago, HI.
The National Musical String Co., S
50
TH
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A VIOLIN MAKING CENTER
LEAVES ONJWAD TRIP.
Evidenced in the Increasing Demand for Those
Instruments at the Ditson Establishment.
Is Markneukirchen in Saxony, Where 15,000
People Do This Work in Their Homes.
Hermann Weiss to Visit Various Sections of
the Country—Showing Any New Styles.
Chas. H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty-fourth
street, New York, has devoted a great amount of
space in its catalog and in its showrooms to the
violoncello. Its claim is that this instrument is
growing rapidly in popularity, and is being taken
up by music houses in far greater numbers than
ever before.
"The house of Ditson carries a very fine line of
new 'cellos and also some excellent old instru-
ments," states H. L. Hunt, manager of the mu-
sical manufacturing department. "We also have a
most expert 'cello repairman, who not only keeps
our own instruments in fine order, but does work
for musical artists. It was only a few years ago
that it was considered rather unusual to see a lady
playing a violoncello, but to-day there are hun-
drers of women 'celloists, and many well known
society ladies of this city play these instruments.
"The 'cello unquestionably possesses one of the
most noble tones of any musical instrument. Once
a person acquires sufficient skill in playing a 'cello
to bring out the beautiful quality of tone, they
are rarely, if ever, satisfied with any other in-
strument. We cannot conscientiously say that the
'cello is an easy instrument to learn to play well.
However, it is a very easy one to pick out simple
melodies on, but to play these melodies well re-
quires great skill and artistic ability.
"We carry in stock all sizes of small 'cellos from
one-eighth up, and a great many people who have
children seven, eight and ten years old start them
in on these instruments at that age. The demand
for bow string instruments is certainly growing
greatly in this country among all classes of people."
Nearly every inhabitant of the little town of
Markneukirchen, in Saxony, is engaged in the
manufacture of violins, and very many can play
them. In the town and the surrounding villages
some fifteen thousand persons are employed. The
violin is usually made of maple wood and con-
sists of about sixty pieces, each one of which is
cut, smoothed and measured with mathematical
precision.
The old men make the ebony finger-boards,
screws and string-holders, and the younger ones,
with strong steady hands and clear eyes put the
pieces together—the most difficult performance.
The women do the polishing and almost every
family has its own peculiar method, which is
handed down from mother to daughter, some
excelling in producing a deep wine color, others
in citron or orange color. The best instruments
are polished at least twenty times before they are
considered perfect.
VIOLONCELLO POPULARITY
W. R. GRATZ IN MIDDLE WEST.
Win. R. Gratz, president of the Wm. R. Gratz
Import Co., 35 West 31st street, New York is at
present in the Middle West on a short business
trip. Mr. Gratz expects to be away about two
weeks, and secured many substantial orders during
the first few days of his trip. Traveler Stein, of
the company's road staff, is at present on the
Coast, where he reports excellent business in the
musical merchandise trade, with Gratz customers
enthusiastic over the popularity of the various
lines handled by the Wm. R. Gratz Import Co.
Hermann Weiss, 393 Broadway, New York,
American representative for Ch. Weiss, manufac-
turers of harmonicas and the Fluta, left Saturday
for a five weeks' business trip through various sec-
tions of the country. Mr. Weiss will carry, in ad-
dition to his regular line, a complete sample assort-
ment of the new "Metalla" style of harmonicas,
introduced by the house of Weiss last fall, but
which were withdrawn for the time being, owing
to a shortage of stock. Mr. Weiss returned from
a short trip to Europe last week and brought
these samples over with him, in addition to the as-
surances of his father that all orders for the
"Metalla" will now receive prompt attention.
The trade will be enabled to place their orders
for the "Metalla" with a definite date of delivery,
as a substantial stock of this type of harmonica
will probably have arrived in New York by the
time this paper goes to press. As the name im-
plies, the "Metalla" is a harmonica constructed
wholly of metal, without the slightest particle of
wood entering into its make-up. Many advantages
for this type of harmonica are advanced by the
manufacturers, including remarkable durability
and freedom from any unsanitary features.
AN HARMONICA ADMIRER.
Britt Wood, the popular "rube" entertainer, who
has been playing in the leading vaudeville theaters
of New York to crowded houses, is an enthusiastic
admirer of the Hohner harmonica, and in a chat
with Mr. Haussler, stated that the Hohner 34B,
one of the most popular models of the Hohner line,
is his favorite instrument and is used by him at all
performances. Mr. Wood attains splendid results
Among the trade visitors this week at the offices
If you are a salesman, tuner or traveler, and from the harmonica, not only from an entertaining
of the Wm. R. Gratz Import Co., 35 West 31st
desire a position, forward your wants in an ad- standpoint, but from the musical side, and dealers
vertisement to The Review in space not to ex* are closing an excellent harmonica business, as the
street, New York, were Chas. E. Mauzy, San
harmonica increases in popularity with professional
Francisco, Cal., and Secretary Rauth, of the ceed four lines and it will be inserted free of
players.
charge and replies sent to you.
Koerber-Brenner Music Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Bell Brand Harmonicas
"Made in America"
Have won a national reputation because of their remarkable and durable
qualities. They are not the best merely because they are American made,
and the only harmonicas made in this country, but they stand competition
with the products of the world, embodying the very best musical qualities
and workmanship.
BELL BRAND HARMONICAS
CAN BE PROCURED FROM THE FOLLOWING WHOLESALE HOUSES:
C. BRUNO & SON, New York City, N. Y.
BUEGELEISEN & JACOBSON, New York City, N. Y.
OLIVER DITSON CO., Boston, Mass.
C. H. DITSON & CO., New York City, N. Y.
W. J. DYER & BRO., St. Paul, Minn.
J. W. JENKINS SONS' MUSIC CO., Kansas City, Mo.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Cincinnati, O.
ROBT. C. KRETSCHMAR, Philadelphia, Pa.
KOERBER-BRENNER MUSIC CO., St. Louis, Mo.
LYON & HEALY, Chicago, III.
C. MEISEL, New York City, N. Y.
SHERMAN, CLAY & CO., San Francisco, Cal.
JOS. W. STERN & CO., New York City, N. Y.
TONK BROS. CO., Chicago, 111.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Chicago, HI.
The National Musical String Co., S
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