Scan 35
Musical Courier 1893-01-04: Vol 26 Iss 670, 1893
160 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 36. 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,
62260 WABASH AVENUE,
7CHICAGO, December 31, 1892.
9Christmas Trade.
11THE Christmas trade now being virtually over, with the exception of a few scattering undecided customers, one can easily sum up that there were not in number of pianos as many disposed of as the previous year, but to make up for any deficiency in numbers there were more high grade pianos sold than usual, and consequently the amount in dollars and cents and in profits to the dealers more than equaled the preceding holiday trade.
13In small goods the trade has been exceedingly satisfactory; the quantity of violins, banjos, guitars, music boxes and the various lesser instruments sold has been enormous. Sheet music has not been in extraordinary demand, but in books relating to the subject of music there has been a very great increase, and to meet the demand our large stores have made extra preparation.
15The Manufacturing Increase.
17The increase in piano manufacturing has been mainly due to the older manufacturing concerns, who have greatly multiplied their product; but the new concerns who began during this year have not as yet made sufficient to affect the output to any appreciable extent, and only three of these new concerns at the present time give any evidence of ever becoming important additions to the piano industry.
19Some Possible Changes.
21One of the older makers has been approached by outside parties with inducements to remove to another locality, and one of the last to enter the arena is now considering, favorably I believe, an offer from still another locality. Nothing can be said as to the results of these negotiations, but the latter one seems the most likely to become an accomplished fact.
23Chicago Improvements.
25In relation to the improvements which have been inaugurated in the construction and other features pertaining to pianos, it is not too much to say that nowhere is more anxiety shown to progress than here, and it is certainly a fact that with the large majority improvement is a veritable reality, and it can be stated without fear of contradiction that there are some of the best pianos in the country made here, and also that the worst pianos are not made here. Another thing which strikes a critic of the instrument in question is that even the lowest grade has that something called tone, and doesn't thoroughly disgust one with an absolute want of any redeeming feature.
27An Important Correction.
29A long half column article in one of our dailies, purporting to be a telegram from Omaha, gives what signifies a loss to the house of Estey & Camp of many thousands. The truth is that the loss in the case of Kirk, instead of being $16,000, was only about $600, and the firm lost nothing by the disappearance of their collecting agent in Omaha, Mr. Edward Daniels. So much for a sensational report.
31Fire in Evansville.
33The G. W. Warren Company, the oldest house in Evansville, Ind., burnt out Thursday last. Said to be a total loss and fully insured. The sole owner of the concern is Mr. A. J. Barclay.
35Who has done a larger business this year than Mr. Edgar C. Smith, with the Kimball Company. His sales up to today amount to the exact sum of $151,194. It was Mr. Smith's ambition to reach the round sum of $150,000, and he has every reason to be proud of having accomplished it, with a small margin and time to spare.
37Some Kimball Salesmen.
39The associate floor salesmen in the Kimball house are now Mr. J. B. Thiery, a young man who left the sheet music branch of the trade to take his chances as a piano salesman, and Mr. G. J. Conchois, a comparative new employee of the house, who has gained his position in probably the shortest space of time of any salesman ever employed by the house.
41Major Scott's Ambition.
43Major S. W. Scott, now with the Chickering-Chase Brothers Company, where any communication will reach him, has started out to secure the position to take charge of the musical instrument exhibits at the world's fair. Mr. Scott has been well and favorable known to members of the trade here for 26 years. The writer has also known him during his residence in this city. With this end in view Mr. Scott invites correspondence and has circulated a petition to secure the general charge of the exhibits, which has already been signed by the following houses and gentlemen who have known him in a similar position to the one he is seeking:
45Chickering-Chase Brothers Company.
46Manufacturers' Piano Company.
47B. Shoninger Company.
48Rice-Macy Piano Company.
49J. O. Twichell.
50Steger & Co.
51Julius N. Brown Company.
52Rappleye Plating and Manufacturing Company.
53C. C. Chickering.
54Arthur T. Goodridge.
55Chicago Conservatory.
56New England Piano Company.
57Pease Piano Company.
58Julius Bauer & Co.
59James M. Hawxhurst.
60J. L. Mahan.
61E. G. Keith.
62Angelo De Prosser.
63John J. Hattsbaedt.
64L. G. Gottschalk and others.
66Some New Reed Agents.
68Mr. Robert C. Reed, representing Messrs. A. Reed & Sons, has just returned from a trip through Iowa and reports having secured 10 concerns to handle the Reed & Sons pianos.
70Failure at Sandusky.
72The failure of Mr. J. H. Gardner, of Sandusky, Ohio, is reported. I have not learned the amount of assets and liabilities, which must be small, as the concern was not a large one.
74Lyon & Healy's Mail.
76The mail which came to Lyon & Healy one day recently numbered 1,564 letters. They also received an order for banjos and fittings from Cape Colony, Africa. The order was only 28 days on the way.
78Stegar & Co. purchase the stock held in their corporation by Sommer & Co. for $50,000.
80The above mistake in the title of the concern and all is from the "Art Journal." The gentlemen connected with that delectable journal should know that no concern in the city of New York or elsewhere has ever had a dollar's worth of stock in the concern of Steger & Co., either before or after the incorporation. Mr. J. V. Steger has always been the main owner, and is to-day. The only other party who ever had any considerable interest was Mr. Paul Sauber, and his interest was recently purchased by Mr. Steger.
82Announcement.
84CHANDLER W. SMITH,
85Nineteen years with Chickering & Sons. Eleven years as manager of retail department.
87GEO. W. BEARDSLEY,
88Thirteen years with Chickering & Sons; later Harwood & Beardsley and Beardsley Piano Company.
90Smith & Beardsley.
92WE, the undersigned, hereby announce to our customers, friends and the public that we have formed a copartnership for the purpose of continuing the piano business at Mr. Beardsley's old stand, under the firm name of Smith & Beardsley. We shall handle the Gildemeester & Kroeger piano, an instrument which has few equals and no superiors. Also other good and reliable makes.
94Our thorough knowledge of the piano business in all its branches, our years of experience with high grade pianos, and the honorable manner in which we have always endeavored to serve our patrons in the past, we trust will be a guarantee for our success in the future. We shall employ skilled workmen only in our several departments, and guarantee satisfaction in all cases.
96All orders will receive prompt attention, and we shall strive to merit the patronage of our customers by studying how to please them best. Respectfully,
98SMITH & BEARDSLEY.
99176 Tremont street, Tremont Theatre Building.
101In Justice to Wing & Son.
103WE copied in our issue of December 14 a notice which appeared in the Austin, Tex., "Statesman," signed, or as it now appears, pretended to have been signed, by Wing & Son, of this city.
105We received the following day a letter from that firm, as follows:
107Musical Courier Company:
108DEAR SIRS—We have just read your article in yesterday's issue concerning our firm.
110(no line here) one of two readings
111We beg to advise you that Wing & Son never use bad English in their announcements, neither do they make misrepresentations (which would be a particularly bad use of English).
113(no line here) one of two readings
114The article purported to be signed by us we never saw or heard of before receiving your journal. It is a rank forgery and misuse of our name.
116(no line here) one of two readings
117We have sent for and shall obtain the report of the Austin "Statesman," which will state that we did not sign or authorize the notice purporting to bear our signature. Yours respectfully,
119(no line here) one of two readings
120WING & SON.
122We of course have taken the trouble to investigate—as rapidly as was possible at this most busy season—the facts of the case, with the result that we are willing to lay before our readers the following communications:
124[Telegram.]
126(no line here) one of two readings
127NEW YORK, December 14, 1892.
128"Statesman" Publishing Company, Austin, Tex.:
129November 27 you published forged notice over our signature. Wire statement. Not signed by or authorized by us.
131WING & SON.
133THE "STATESMAN" PUBLISHING COMPANY,
134AUSTIN, TEX., December 19, 1892.
136WING & SON:
137GENTLEMEN—Your inquiry as to who was responsible for the article appearing in the "Statesman" of the 27th, to which the name of your firm was signed, to hand. In reply would say that the ad. in question was handed in to us and a special contract for it was made by Ed. Pfeifer & Son, who claimed to be your agent here. We knew nothing of your firm in the matter. I very much regret if you have been in any way injured by the same.
139(no line here) one of two readings
140Yours very truly,
141PEYTON BROWN, General Manager.
143The above shows conclusively that Wing & Son were in no way responsible for the statements in the ridiculous notice we copied. We were misled by it, as any journalist might have been, as forgeries of that nature are fortunately not very usual. The conclusion must be reached, however, that all piano houses should use the greatest caution before forming business relations with strangers at a distance who may essay to represent them and their goods.
145That THE MUSICAL COURIER is in the truest sense a newspaper we have frequently stated. For this reason we are quite as willing to publish the foregoing news as we were a few weeks since to reprint our discovery in the columns of the Austin "Statesman." We cannot agree with Wing & Son in all things, and they very well know it, but we can be just, if not generous.
147We are glad that so venerable a house has proven itself innocent of making the statement that they had recently enlarged their factory at 245 Broadway, and to know that it was the silly concoction of a little house selling their goods in Austin. By our criticisms we did not intend to intimate that the firm was irresponsible; from what we hear and can learn from the commercial agencies they have large means and are in excellent credit.
149WANTED—Scale, patterns, &c., of an upright piano. Address, with full particulars, to box 876, Philadelphia, Pa.
151MALCOLM LOVE PIANOS.
152A High Grade Piano, equal to any!
154(no line here) one of two readings
155MANUFACTURED BY
156WATERLOO ORGAN CO., Waterloo, N. Y
158(no line here) one of two readings
159We invite correspondence from Dealers in localities where we are not represented.
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