Scan 33
Musical Courier 1892-09-28: Vol 25 Iss 657, 1892
80 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 32. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Lawrence & Son Piano Company.
2Marietta, Ohio.
4ABOUT the middle of last August it was noticed in THE MUSICAL COURIER that the Lawrence & Son Piano Company, of Boston, would remove their plant to Marietta, Ohio, as they had purchased most advantageously in that place a factory site with buildings and land, and would as quickly as possible take possession of it.
6Marietta is only 26 hours' ride from Boston, but by the most direct route necessitates traveling through sections of eleven States and the District of Columbia in order to reach there, it being situated in the lower part of Ohio, near the West Virginia line.
8The city is of historical importance, in that it is the oldest west of the Allegheny Mountains, and was selected by a band of Revolutionary veterans who, with their families, took advantage of a special act of the Continental Congress, assembled in New York city in 1778, granting to survivors of the war homesteads in what was known as the Northwest Territory, Ohio being included with other States in making up this Territory.
10Sailing down the Ohio River these pioneers camped for the night at the junction of what are now the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, and were so pleased with the general condition and beauty of the country that they decided to travel no further, but make that their home, and Marietta was founded directly at the conflux of the two rivers.
12Among these pioneers was a son of General Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, who with the others desired a home and the possibilities of a fortune in the Western country. His son, a gentleman some 80 odd years of age, still living on a comfortable farm very near Marietta, became interested many years ago in the manufacture of wooden pails and, a company being formed, extensive buildings were put up and preparations made for a large product.
14The business was continued successfully until the pine lumber of Pennsylvania was exhausted by the draught of this with many other industries, dependent on the western part of that State for their supply of this particular wood; and as it was found impossible to obtain the supply from Michigan, the most available State to turn to, and compete with the Michigan manufacturers in producing this wooden ware, the entire plant, consisting of 5 acres of ground and large and convenient buildings, went into disuse some 10 years ago and remained idle until it was taken possession of by the Lawrence & Son Piano Company, about September 1 last.
16To give some idea of the extent of the buildings they may be described as consisting of one 104×40, one 68×34 and a third 115×32, all brick and four stories high. These, with nine brick dry houses having a capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber each, and four brick warehouses, make up the plant, and it was bought so low that the Lawrence people believe that they can sell what valuable machinery was left in the buildings and included in the sale for fully as much as was paid for the entire plant. At any rate their investment is so slight that they think there is hardly a concern in the country in better shape for doing business than themselves, considering the expense of obtaining factory room.
18Marietta affords some other advantages as a manufacturing point to be considered. In the matter of transportation hardly a place in the Western country is so favorably located; both the Muskingum and Ohio rivers are navigable, connected directly with the East, West and South and Southwest; these, with three competing lines of railroad, give them low freight rates on in-shipments of material and out-shipments of finished products. When it comes to a question of material, especially lumber, West Virginia, just across the Ohio River, furnishes in any quantity desired almost every variety needed, white wood, walnut, oak, ash, beech, hickory and chestnut in abundance, and hauled to the factory yard by the farmers, who are glad to get 50 per cent. of the Eastern market value and deliver it.
20Another important item is coal for steam and heating purposes. It seems almost incredible, but the slack coal which is used by nearly all of the factories is laid down in the yard for 48 cents a ton, and the semi-bituminous coal has a value of only about 75 cents a ton.
22Living is very inexpensive in Marietta, and labor consequently cheap.
24A large chair factory employing some 600 hands averages as a day's labor on their pay roll considerably less than $1, and it is a fact that application has been made to the Lawrence concern by scores of skilled workmen, cabinet makers and varnishers, who were satisfied with $1 a day for a steady winter's job, and they said they could live on that in comfort.
26Something should be said regarding the Lawrence & Son Piano Company, which was reorganized June last in Boston. The original founder was Mr. Arthur H. Lawrence, who established the Lawrence pianos in 1879, having previously been connected with the house of Chickering & Sons for nine years.
28As stated, the company was reorganized last June, taking in some Eastern capitalists.
30The management consists of D. W. Crosby, president; T. W. Moore, vice-president; D. P. Bosworth, treasurer; T. B. Bosworth, secretary and Arthur H. Lawrence, superintendent.
32D. W. Crosby, the president, is a resident of Boston, and has been engaged for years as a manufacturer of rubber goods. It is very probable that his extensive rubber plant will shortly be moved to Marietta.
34Mr. D. P. Bosworth, the treasurer, has been identified in most cases as the promoter of about every important movement made in Marietta toward its advancement. A man of large means and thoroughly imbued with ambition for the growth of what is to him the brightest spot in the country, he is an untiring worker; and the handsome buildings and many improvements emanate directly from his interest in the city.
36Mr. Bosworth is an active worker in the Lawrence & Son Piano Company, and under his shrewd management the finances will be creditably taken care of. Mr. Arthur H. Lawrence will have charge of the factory, and his skill as a piano maker in every detail is a guarantee that the quality of the Lawrence pianos will never deteriorate as long as he has charge of the work.
38The excellent reputation which these instruments have acquired in Boston and vicinity will, it is hoped by the new concern, extend now to the West, and they fully expect to be recognized in time as among the large piano manufacturers of the country, as their move to Marietta has opened up possibilities most important to their future prospects.
40Forcible Entry Not Permitted.
42IN the case of the commonwealth against * * * who was yesterday found guilty of assault and battery upon L. B. Shipman, Judge Dean gave an important decision in regard to the validity of the leases which are made by credit sales merchants in disposing of household goods, pianos, organs, sewing machines, &c.
44The judge decreed that with these leases, in case the payment on the goods was not made, the seller could proceed to the house where the article in question was and have it removed. He could not, however, in case his ingress was barred, make a forcible entry; but in that instance his redress lay in securing writs of trover and conversion or a writ of replevin.—Altoona "Mirror," June 30, 1892.
46"Crown" Pianos and Organs.
48The finest piano and organ now known,
49For beauty of finish, for compass and tone,
50For ornament, wear and responsive effects,
51Is conceded to be, by common consent,
52The instrument furnished by Geo. P. Bent.
54How superior it is, no artist can doubt,
55In workmanship, style and materials throughout;
56That its merits deserve to be "Crown"-ed with success,
57No one, who has tried it, is loath to confess.
58On getting the best then, if you are intent,
59You are wise if you buy one of Geo. P. Bent.
61Pumping Organs by Electricity.
63IN addition to the largest reed organ in America, James Bellak's Sons exhibit the only electric apparatus hereabouts that feeds six organs with air. A system of pipes, connected with large bellows, surrounds the room, and by merely hooking or unhooking a chain any one or all six of the organs may be supplied with air by electricity. The mammoth reed organ comes from the factory of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, and has all the power and sweetness of a pipe organ, but costs one-third less.—Philadelphia "Record."
65Rost's Directory.
67NOW in preparation, Rost's new directory for the music trade of the United States. This will be the most complete work of its kind ever published, particularly valuable for next year and a necessary compendium for every manufacturer and business man engaged in the music industry and its varied branches.
69About 10,000 names and addresses will be found in this valuable and most exhaustive publication, which will make all previous music trade directories appear insignificant and trivial.
71Advertising in Rost's new directory will prove remunerative in view of the large edition and the permanency of the volume. For advertising rates address O. Hauter, 116 East Fifty-ninth street, New York.
73—Detective McGilge arrested Charles Collin at 174 Federal street, Allegheny, last Thursday on a warrant sent from Philadelphia, charging him with embezzlement. An officer, Richard Kingston, of that city, arrived in the morning, having heard Collin was here selling books. He alleges Collin was a collector and salesman for George C. Dearborn six months ago and embezzled $700 from him. Officer Kingston went East with the prisoner.
75MALCOLM LOVE PIANOS.
76A High Grade Piano, equal to any!
77MANUFACTURED BY
78WATERLOO ORGAN CO., Waterloo, N. Y.
79We invite correspondence from Dealers in localities where we are not represented.
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