Music Trade Review
Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 6 - Page 9
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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
BIG NEW YORK PIANO FACTORY DESTROYED BY FIRE.
TO SELL FARRAND STOCK.
Five-Story Factory of Walters Piano Co., with Contents, a Total Loss—Loss of $200,000 Partly
Covered by Insurance—Walters Co. Continues Manufacturing in Factory Annex.
The Receivers, the Detroit Trust Co., to Hold
Special Sale in February to Dispose of Re-
maining Pianos on Hand.
The firemen were blown down stairs and the
One of the worst fires in years in a piano fac-
tory in New York occurred early last Saturday explosion forced several pianos across the
morning when the five-story factory of the Wal- doorways barring admittance, which caused much
ters Piano Co., 226-228 East Sixty-third street, difficulty in getting at the seat of the blaze. As
the firemen picked them-
selves up and returned
to their places another
explosion took place
worse than the first,
which filled the place
with
noxious
gases,
making them run for
the windows and de-
scend the ladder which
had been raised at the
front of the building.
Hardly had they de-
scended when the third
explosion occurred. This
time the front wall
crumpled and fell out-
ward but luckily the
firemen had had lime to
get far enough away to
escape being crushed
under it.
After this it was only
a matter of a few hours
when the other walls
crumpled, but fortu-
nately fell inwardly and
the building became a
mass of burning debris.
In this wreck were 250
completed pianos which
were ready for the re-
tail
wareroom
of
Bloomingdale Bros. The
total loss of the Walters
Co. factory and contents
is expected to exceed
$200,000, with insurance
Factory of Walter* Piano Co. Snapped During FfrOo
owned by Bloomingdale Bros., was completely des- of $61,000 covering the stock alone.
''We are now looking for another location." said
troyed. When the firemen had finished their work
nine of them had been injured, two other buildings Paul Graefe, manager of the piano department of
had been destroyed and the roof of School No. 74 Bloomingdale Bros., this week, "but at present we
will carry on our manufacturing business at the an-
had been blown off and the school flooded.
The fire was discovered by a patrolman who nex of the factory located at 503 East Seventy-
noticed smoke issuing from a second story window second street, where we have sent the em-
of the factory. He turned in an alarm which ployes of the other plant. Although the fire
summoned Engine Co. No. 39, the captain of which has left us temporarily without a large space to
took one look at the building and turned in a work in we will be able to use the annex to ad-
second alarm which was quickly followed by a vantage until we can locate a new factory, which
third, fourth and fifth, which brought more ap- will be in the course of a few days. The fac-
paratus than has been seen at one fire in New tory was totally destroyed but was covered by in-
surance as well as the stock."
York for some time. As soon as the firemen
arrived they broke down the doors and entered
Superintendent Henry Schiebel is busy getting
with hose to play on the blaze. Iron shutters had
things into shape. "It was some fire," he said this
been forced and the firemen reached an advan- week, "not a thing left, which includes 250 fin-
tageous place for fighting the flames when a ter- ished pianos which were ready to be shipped to
rific explosion took place caused by the accumula- the store. We are now manufacturing in the
tion of alcoholic vapors from the varnish de- annex but will find a new factory in a short time,
partment and store rooms.
no doubt."
NEW HOLLANJUtt. OFFICERS.
Prevail at the Extensive Factory of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co.—O. G. Swanitz
Visits New York Pleased with Outlook.
(Special to The Review.)
MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 3.—The new Hol-
land Piano Manufacturing Co., recently organized
at Menomonie, Wis., to succeed the bankrupt
Segerstrom Piano Manufacturing Co., has com-
pleted its organization with the election of the
following officers: President, George B. Norris,
Minneapolis; vice-president, L. G. Verrum, Wat-
seca, 111.; secretary, A. F. Smith, Minneapolis;
superintendent, Henry G. Johnson, Menomonie. The
capital stock of the new company is $200,000. The
main offices will be located in the Metropolitan
building in Minneapolis, but Superintendent John-
son will be in full charge of the company's interests
\n Menomonie.
The new company has placed two traveling rep-
resentatives on the road, and officials of the con-
cern say that others will be sent out soon. Ar-
rangements for the use of the plant formerly
occupied by the bankrupt Segerstrom concern are
now being made.
DEATH OF JOHNJL. MARKLEY.
(Special to The Review.)
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 2.—John L. Maik-
ley, for a number of years a salesman in the piano
department of Gimbel Bros., this city, and well
known as a choir leader in several of the promi-
nent local churches, died at his home here last
Thursday. The deceased was forty-nine years old
and is survived by a widow.
INCORPORATED.
The Thomas Piano Co., Lockport, N. Y., has
been incorporated, with capital stock of $10,000,
by G. M., G. A. and W. P. Thomas.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., February 3.—The Detroit Trust
Co., receiver for the Farrand Co., will hold a
special sale at the factory in February, to dispose
of the remaining pianos on hand. The last report
to the creditors stated that the unfinished stock
on hand at the time of the failure has been nearly
all made up and sold to dealers. Dealers have
ceased to buy now, however, knowing that the
Farrand line soon will cease to exist and having
taken on other representations in its place. Thus
the necessity for the special sale.
There are about eighty new players to be dis-
posed of, and about fifty straight pianos. The
latter are mostly repossessions, which have been
refinished at the factory and made like new. The
sale will be at retail. Afterwards the office will
be kept open indefinitely for collections, but the
factory itself will be closed down permanently be-
fore the first of March, it is believed.
It is known that several offers have been made
for the name "Farrand" and the patents on the
metal player action, but which, if any, of them
will be accepted has not been seriously considered
as yet. The names of the bidders are withheld.
PROSPEROUS CONDITIONS
Prevail at the Extensive Factory of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co.—O. G. Swanitz,
Who Visits New York Pleased with Outlook.
O. G. Swanitz, general traveling representative
of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle,
Ind., was in New York this week on special mat-
ters, remaining here several days. Mr. Swanitz
commented on the unusual prosperous condition
in the piano industry, and stated that the factory
at New Castle was working on an extended
schedule in order to get out shipments as de-
manded.
SMOKE CAUSES^IQ DAMAGE.
The stock of the Bauman-George Piano Co.,
Shreveport, La., was damaged to the extent of
several thousand dollars by smoke and water as
the result of a fire which broke out in the upper
floors of the building occupied by the company.
THIS is rn
The Christman
Attachable Player
which can be installed in any grand *r
upright piano, regardless of size or style,
without altering th« case.
Writt us for Further Information.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.
597-601 East 137th St, New York
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
BIG NEW YORK PIANO FACTORY DESTROYED BY FIRE.
TO SELL FARRAND STOCK.
Five-Story Factory of Walters Piano Co., with Contents, a Total Loss—Loss of $200,000 Partly
Covered by Insurance—Walters Co. Continues Manufacturing in Factory Annex.
The Receivers, the Detroit Trust Co., to Hold
Special Sale in February to Dispose of Re-
maining Pianos on Hand.
The firemen were blown down stairs and the
One of the worst fires in years in a piano fac-
tory in New York occurred early last Saturday explosion forced several pianos across the
morning when the five-story factory of the Wal- doorways barring admittance, which caused much
ters Piano Co., 226-228 East Sixty-third street, difficulty in getting at the seat of the blaze. As
the firemen picked them-
selves up and returned
to their places another
explosion took place
worse than the first,
which filled the place
with
noxious
gases,
making them run for
the windows and de-
scend the ladder which
had been raised at the
front of the building.
Hardly had they de-
scended when the third
explosion occurred. This
time the front wall
crumpled and fell out-
ward but luckily the
firemen had had lime to
get far enough away to
escape being crushed
under it.
After this it was only
a matter of a few hours
when the other walls
crumpled, but fortu-
nately fell inwardly and
the building became a
mass of burning debris.
In this wreck were 250
completed pianos which
were ready for the re-
tail
wareroom
of
Bloomingdale Bros. The
total loss of the Walters
Co. factory and contents
is expected to exceed
$200,000, with insurance
Factory of Walter* Piano Co. Snapped During FfrOo
owned by Bloomingdale Bros., was completely des- of $61,000 covering the stock alone.
''We are now looking for another location." said
troyed. When the firemen had finished their work
nine of them had been injured, two other buildings Paul Graefe, manager of the piano department of
had been destroyed and the roof of School No. 74 Bloomingdale Bros., this week, "but at present we
will carry on our manufacturing business at the an-
had been blown off and the school flooded.
The fire was discovered by a patrolman who nex of the factory located at 503 East Seventy-
noticed smoke issuing from a second story window second street, where we have sent the em-
of the factory. He turned in an alarm which ployes of the other plant. Although the fire
summoned Engine Co. No. 39, the captain of which has left us temporarily without a large space to
took one look at the building and turned in a work in we will be able to use the annex to ad-
second alarm which was quickly followed by a vantage until we can locate a new factory, which
third, fourth and fifth, which brought more ap- will be in the course of a few days. The fac-
paratus than has been seen at one fire in New tory was totally destroyed but was covered by in-
surance as well as the stock."
York for some time. As soon as the firemen
arrived they broke down the doors and entered
Superintendent Henry Schiebel is busy getting
with hose to play on the blaze. Iron shutters had
things into shape. "It was some fire," he said this
been forced and the firemen reached an advan- week, "not a thing left, which includes 250 fin-
tageous place for fighting the flames when a ter- ished pianos which were ready to be shipped to
rific explosion took place caused by the accumula- the store. We are now manufacturing in the
tion of alcoholic vapors from the varnish de- annex but will find a new factory in a short time,
partment and store rooms.
no doubt."
NEW HOLLANJUtt. OFFICERS.
Prevail at the Extensive Factory of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co.—O. G. Swanitz
Visits New York Pleased with Outlook.
(Special to The Review.)
MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 3.—The new Hol-
land Piano Manufacturing Co., recently organized
at Menomonie, Wis., to succeed the bankrupt
Segerstrom Piano Manufacturing Co., has com-
pleted its organization with the election of the
following officers: President, George B. Norris,
Minneapolis; vice-president, L. G. Verrum, Wat-
seca, 111.; secretary, A. F. Smith, Minneapolis;
superintendent, Henry G. Johnson, Menomonie. The
capital stock of the new company is $200,000. The
main offices will be located in the Metropolitan
building in Minneapolis, but Superintendent John-
son will be in full charge of the company's interests
\n Menomonie.
The new company has placed two traveling rep-
resentatives on the road, and officials of the con-
cern say that others will be sent out soon. Ar-
rangements for the use of the plant formerly
occupied by the bankrupt Segerstrom concern are
now being made.
DEATH OF JOHNJL. MARKLEY.
(Special to The Review.)
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 2.—John L. Maik-
ley, for a number of years a salesman in the piano
department of Gimbel Bros., this city, and well
known as a choir leader in several of the promi-
nent local churches, died at his home here last
Thursday. The deceased was forty-nine years old
and is survived by a widow.
INCORPORATED.
The Thomas Piano Co., Lockport, N. Y., has
been incorporated, with capital stock of $10,000,
by G. M., G. A. and W. P. Thomas.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., February 3.—The Detroit Trust
Co., receiver for the Farrand Co., will hold a
special sale at the factory in February, to dispose
of the remaining pianos on hand. The last report
to the creditors stated that the unfinished stock
on hand at the time of the failure has been nearly
all made up and sold to dealers. Dealers have
ceased to buy now, however, knowing that the
Farrand line soon will cease to exist and having
taken on other representations in its place. Thus
the necessity for the special sale.
There are about eighty new players to be dis-
posed of, and about fifty straight pianos. The
latter are mostly repossessions, which have been
refinished at the factory and made like new. The
sale will be at retail. Afterwards the office will
be kept open indefinitely for collections, but the
factory itself will be closed down permanently be-
fore the first of March, it is believed.
It is known that several offers have been made
for the name "Farrand" and the patents on the
metal player action, but which, if any, of them
will be accepted has not been seriously considered
as yet. The names of the bidders are withheld.
PROSPEROUS CONDITIONS
Prevail at the Extensive Factory of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co.—O. G. Swanitz,
Who Visits New York Pleased with Outlook.
O. G. Swanitz, general traveling representative
of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle,
Ind., was in New York this week on special mat-
ters, remaining here several days. Mr. Swanitz
commented on the unusual prosperous condition
in the piano industry, and stated that the factory
at New Castle was working on an extended
schedule in order to get out shipments as de-
manded.
SMOKE CAUSES^IQ DAMAGE.
The stock of the Bauman-George Piano Co.,
Shreveport, La., was damaged to the extent of
several thousand dollars by smoke and water as
the result of a fire which broke out in the upper
floors of the building occupied by the company.
THIS is rn
The Christman
Attachable Player
which can be installed in any grand *r
upright piano, regardless of size or style,
without altering th« case.
Writt us for Further Information.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.
597-601 East 137th St, New York
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