Scan 49
Musical Courier 1891-12-16: Vol 23 Iss 617, 1891
60 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 736. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1CHICAGO.
3Latest from Our Chicago Representative.
5CHICAGO OFFICE MUSICAL COURIER,
6238 STATE STREET,
7CHICAGO, December 12, 1891.
9THE following circular, issued by Mr. Webb as assignee for the Ayres & Wygant Company, has been distributed among the trade here:
11For Sale.
13Under an order of the County Court of Cook County, State of Illinois, made December 8, 1891, the undersigned hereby advertises for bids for the following described property, belonging to the estate of the Ayres & Wygant Company, insolvents.
15First.—Pianos and organs in store at 182 and 184 Wabash avenue, together with the store fixtures and furniture.
17Second.—Pianos and organs at various parts throughout the country.
19Third.—The trade mark "Reed's Temple of Music," and the goodwill of the business.
21Fourth.—Pianos out on rental in Chicago, numbering between 60 and 70 instruments.
23Fifth.—The lease of store and basement Nos. 182 and 184 Wabash avenue, which expires April 30, 1895.
25Sixth.—The bills receivable and book accounts.
27Information in detail will be furnished by the undersigned.
29Bids may be made for the whole or in parts, and must be delivered to the undersigned at 182 and 184 Wabash avenue, Chicago, before 10 o'clock A. M. December 18, 1891, accompanied by a certified check for 5 per cent. of the amount of the bid.
31They will be opened in the presence of His Honor, Judge Scales, in the County Court of Cook County at 10 o'clock A. M. December 18, 1891.
33The court reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
35GEORGE L. WEBB,
36Assignee Ayres & Wygant Company,
37182 and 184 Wabash avenue.
39As no schedule of any of the items accompanies this announcement, it would seem to be a difficult matter for anyone to make intelligent bids; then, too, the time is short, and outside parties are effectually barred from competing.
41Two of the most prominent dealers of this city have stated to us that they will pay no attention to the circular in question.
43"Pianos and organs at various points throughout the country" seems like a very indefinite statement, and although the circular states that "information in detail will be furnished," the question naturally arises why more definite information should not accompany the circular.
45The Finest Window Display.
47A gentleman who has traveled extensively both in Europe and America declared on seeing Lyon & Healy's holiday show window that it was finer than anything he had ever previously beheld. The nature of the merchandise is such that perhaps it is impossible in any other line to build up a display which will prove at once so marvelous and attractive. Everyone in Chicago will certainly see this window; in fact, from the moment of its completion there has been an immense throng of admiring spectators before it. But to those who live outside the city a brief description may be of interest, and to members of the musical trade a number of valuable suggestions will at once become apparent.
49Lyon & Healy's show window is 50 feet long by 20 in height, and about 10 feet in depth. This space from wall to wall is one large compartment, divided into six sections by five slight pillars. The front consists of six huge panes of plate glass. These iron dividing columns have been extended back to a depth of 2 feet by pleats of the most brilliant red cloth trimmed with evergreens. This gives an effect to the window of a series of stage pictures, and renders it possible to change abruptly from one class of goods to another without marring the artistic design. The window, beginning about 5 feet from the glass, is built up in steps which extend to the ceiling. The ceiling of the window is composed of white snow-like material, and extends from the extreme depth of the window (where it joins the top ledge) forward and upward to the glass. It is everywhere interspersed with brilliant red coloring, while holly and evergreen are entwined in reckless profusion throughout its entire expanse.
51Having outlined the background of which this veritable fairyland of musical goods is composed, it is easier to give a description of it, which will convey to the reader its salient points. Beginning at the right hand corner, on the floor, close to the window is a superb musical box, which stands directly in front of an ivory finished Knabe piano. Then the eye ranges over guitars, mandolins, violins, musical boxes, tambourines and copper trumpets in endless array, every part of the side wall and the ceiling, as well as the ledges, being decked with beautiful specimens of these instruments. In the next section the design begins with flageolets and batons, the ivory finished, the ebony, the walnut and nickel being brought in sharp contrast and forming a carpet leading up to a group of superb Washburn guitars.
53These are followed by a series of Lyon & Healy's professional banjos, then musical boxes, large and small, including decanters and musical novelties, draw the eye intuitively upward where the ledges glow with accordions, guitars, banjos and small brass horns. A beautiful swinging lamp (electric) laden with flowers gives an added charm. In the third section are flutes, harmonicas, flute accordions and bijou music boxes. In the centre a large bell music box attracts the attention. The ledges display the odd forms of guittarines and the warm colored ranks of a regiment of violins. Here the ceiling design is a huge circle set with violins, tambourines, flutes and accordions. A swinging bouquet and an electric lamp complete the effect.
55The next section breaks sharply from its predecessors in arrangement and tone color, and gives an idea of the wealth of resources between the extremes of a complete musical stock. This section is composed entirely of holiday musical gift books. All the collections displayed are of nearly uniform size. The front space extends back about 8 feet, so that the ledge wall in this case is almost vertical and presents a glittering array of gilt titles on backgrounds of rich hued leather. Lines of evergreens divide the wall into seven columns. Here the ceiling of holly and white furnishes a fitting canopy. But the main feature of this section is a huge circular floral piece composed of red, green and white everlastings embellished by a few daisies and yellow roses. The name Lyon & Healy in blue immortelles on a white background glances out through a wealth of ferns.
57In the fifth section the predominant color is a vivid yellow. The display begins with an elaborately carved Swiss musical box. Surrounding it on all sides are smaller boxes of various designs and flanking this a row of Prussian snare drums gives a mirror like effect. One the first ledge is a group of the finest grade of Washburn instruments. Guitars and mandolins are daintily bound together with evergreens and holly, upheld by three drum major's batons. Accordions, banjos and tambourines are arranged as an effective background until the ceiling is reached. This has an oblong centrepiece composed of two guitars and two banjos. The swinging lamp and bouquet add the final touch.
59The extreme section on the left hand employs a very different method, but it is not one whit behind its fellows in drawing forth encomiums from the spectators. A superb mahogany Fischer upright piano and a Lyon & Healy harp in electric blue with gold trimmings are the striking objects which furnishes the keynote of the design. Beginning with sundry music boxes upon a carpet extend-
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