Scan 33
Musical Courier 1893-04-12: Vol 26 Iss 684, 1893
131 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 34. 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.
1Wood in Boston is driven into the fatal digression of accepting a paper toy piano as a $25 first payment. The enormous price charged for the Everett piano at retail enables him to make any kind of concession, such, for instance, as accepting either a one cent toy piano at $25 or nothing at all as a first payment. It makes no perceptible difference.
3In that kind of retail piano business where only legitimate prices are charged no such offer as the acceptance of a one cent toy piano as the equivalent of a $25 first payment could be possible. Of course not. It requires considerable indifference to reputation and business standing before any man would stoop to such a step, which demonstrates without a moment's reflection that the article involved is either overcharged or the whole scheme is a detestable humbug. No music paper of standing can permit the introduction of such methods without protest. The whole trade feels the necessity of the protest; in fact it represents a forcible trade sentiment.
5If the Everett makers desire to degrade the piano still more, they need do nothing but continue such a system; that is all that is necessary to get the instrument into a grade from which it will be difficult to elevate it. People who find that a toy paper piano is taken at a valuation of $25 will have a decidedly forcible opinion of the value of the article to be disposed of on such a basis. If they are people endowed with common sense they certainly will avoid the establishment that makes the offer, and if they trade in the place their trade is worth nothing. Competition need not fear such custom or its loss to them.
7And what really is the difference between a dealer in Boston pursuing such a course and a dealer in Michigan, as shown in these columns last week, advertising Swick pianos at $450? What is the difference between these dealers and an individual like Beatty, who manages to get $400 and more dollars for stencil pianos costing $120? What is the difference? There is none.
9Piano Contests.
11A recent newspaper feature, particularly in Western cities, is the Piano Contest, consisting of the gift of a specially selected piano given by the newspaper to the most successful competitor for votes cast in the shape of coupons cut from the paper and forwarded to its office, each coupon representing a vote. The interest in such a contest frequently extends beyond the locality and it most effectively advertises the piano selected.
13Whether the piano is purchased outright by the newspaper publishers on the strength of an advertising contract, whether it is presented as a gift by dealer or manufacturer or both, or whatever may be the inside arrangement, one thing is absolutely sure, and that is that the piano for which the contest is made gets enormous local advertising, and its acquisition by the winner means many subsequent sales of the same make.
15The Detroit "Tribune" now has one of these voting contests on its hands, and the piano selected is a Vose upright. It is taking place under these conditions, which are the same as usual in such cases:
17To the saleswoman employed in any store in the city who has secured to her credit on June 22, 1893, the largest number of votes (no ballots will be accepted unless they are written on coupons clipped from this paper) shall be declared the most popular saleswoman in Detroit.
19To the lady who shall thus be designated as the most popular saleswoman the "Tribune" will present a handsome mahogany upright piano valued at $550.
21In recapitulating each day's and the total result of the contest up to date, the names and number of ballots are given and the piano (this time the Vose piano exhibited at Schwankovsky's) is fully described. So does each coupon mention the name and style of the piano.
23A paper such, for instance, as the Detroit "Tribune" necessarily reaches thousands of readers daily all through the State of Michigan. Who says that such advertising is not remunerative? Of course it is.
25PATENTS RECENTLY GRANTED.
26Piano case. Jeronimus Reimer, Toron. No. 494,163
27Attachment for guitars and other stringed instruments. Isaiah Nightingale, Evansville, Ind. 494,485
28Violin. Chas. C. Kropp, Newark, N. J. 494,276
29Manual gymnasium for musicians. Joseph Hall, Kermington, near Brocklesby, England. 494,197
31BOSTON
33THE severe, but just publicity given the peculiar business methods practiced by some dealers on Tremont street in THE MUSICAL COURIER of week before last has met with the hearty approval of every concern, excepting the parties interested.
35It is universally acknowledged that such methods detract not only from the dignified character which should be maintained in a business so important as the selling of pianos, but as well from the substantial standing of every firm associated in the same line in Boston.
37The ball has been started, and it would not be surprising if the dealers combined to give a local publicity to the matter which will probably have a purifying tendency.
39Vose & Son.
41Mr. Millard Vose, who has been sojourning in the South some weeks, returned on Saturday much benefited by a relief from business cares and the congenial climate of Florida.
43Vose & Son have a number of pushing agents who, by unique advertising and energy, are doing a profitable business. The S. D. Lauter Company, of Newark, N. J., are among them. The manner in which this firm utilize the local papers shows them to be well versed in the compilation of noticeable advertisements, and that they are benefiting by a liberal use of printers' ink is extremely probable.
45Thompson & Odell Company.
47This firm have made a departure from their regular line of small musical instruments and musical publications and have added pianos to their stock.
49Their place of business is 519 Washington street up stairs, and in banjos, guitars, violins and the smaller goods there have been very extensive sales, and the catalogue of publications is said to be one of the most carefully selected of any in the country.
51They believe that the many years of business, with their extensive acquaintance and an enviable reputation, should insure them a fair trade in pianos, and so have taken the agency for the Bradbury and Rogers Brothers, and will enter the list in competition with other dealers.
53They further intend to make a strong point on the one price system—something they have followed in their other lines with success—and will place the price of a piano at a figure to afford them a living profit, and will adhere to that if they don't sell an instrument. On instalment sales interest will be charged, as the difference between a cash and a time transaction.
55Their progress under these conditions will be watched with considerable interest by the trade.
57The corporation consists of the members of the old firm of Thompson & Odell, Mr. W. O. Peterson and Mr. Wm. C. Pfaff, the last named gentlemen have been connected with the house as employés.
59Emerson Opening.
61The removal of the Emerson Piano Company to their new Boylston street warerooms has taken several days. They have been favored with pleasant weather and no mishaps have occurred.
63McPhail Announcement.
65"It is the pleasure of this company to announce the opening of warerooms for the sale of its pianos in the Masonic Temple building, Chicago, corner of State and Randolph streets.
67The large increase of business in the West has necessitated this move, and your inspection of the fine line of goods we have here displayed would result, we believe, to our mutual advantage.
69The thoroughly artistic and appropriate decoration of our pianos, in addition to their acknowledged superiority, is a prominent feature.
71(Signed) "THE A. M. McPhail Piano Company."
73The above announcement has been elegantly gotten up on heavy cardboard and will be mailed to the trade.
75A reproduction on the card of the panel work of Styles A and C pianos is a handsome and noticeable feature.
77Mr. Justin M. Thatcher, of the Tremont street wareroom, will have charge of the Chicago branch.
79Exhibition Pianos.
81The Hallet & Davis collection of instruments destined for the Chicago fair on exhibition in the Tremont street warerooms still attracts many visitors.
83Everyone connected with the Hallet & Davis Company seems to be on the friendliest footing with everybody connected with the other warerooms on the row, and among the most interested visitors have been those from competing houses, who look upon the magnificent instruments as the product of a Boston factory and therefore something of which they may all be proud.
85H. W. Flagg, Manager.
87Considerable curiosity has been caused by the sign "Sterling Piano Rooms," which appears at the entrance to the Chickering Hall on Tremont street.
89The whole situation is that Mr. H. W. Flagg, formerly connected with C. C. Harvey & Co., has been given the management of a wareroom on the second floor front of the Chickering Building and which will be devoted to the sale of Sterling pianos. He will also handle a line of second-hand and renting instruments.
91Mr. Flagg anticipates a fair share of the business.
93The Lowell-Spofford Manufacturing Company.
95This concern is a consolidation of the Lowell Windmill Company and the Spofford Manufacturing Company, and they will operate the mills at Lowell and Peterboro, N. H., for the manufacture of piano scarfs, music cabinets, piano stools, ottomans and taborets.
97Mr. F. A. Whitney is the president, F. Allen Whitney secretary and treasurer, Mr. Spofford general manager.
99The company has been incorporated with a capital of $100,000.
101The main offices will be at Lowell, Mass.
103The Boston salesroom, which was started a few months ago at 197 Tremont street, has been moved to 181 same street, upstairs.
105They gain in the move a much larger room, which better accords with their business.
107Mr. Whittemore Dodd will have charge of the Boston office.
109The Sander Musical Instrument Company.
111Mr. Fred H. Sander, manager for the Sander Musical Instrument Company, informs us that they have leased part of the premises corner Boylston street and Park square for a term of five years, and will remove their business from 146 Franklin street, their present location, as soon as the extensive alterations which they anticipate making can be perfected.
113The room is in every way adapted for a music parlor, and it is the purpose of the managers to make it one of the most attractive in the city.
115Some handsome show cases have been made for the world's fair exposition, and the Sander concern will display an assortment of musical novelties as extensive as it will be interesting.
117Another Woodward & Brown Piano.
119Mr. Patrick A. Collins was appointed by President Cleveland as Consul General at London, and in appreciation of the honor thus conferred upon their commonwealth some of the prominent citizens of the State of Massachusetts assembled at the Hotel Vendome on Tuesday evening, April 4, and celebrated the appointment by a dinner.
121Among the guests was Mr. Geo. T. McLoughlin, who, by the way, is a good deal of a politician. Aside from the interest which Mr. McLoughlin would naturally take in a political dinner, the fact that Mr. Patrick A. Collins had not long before purchased a Woodward & Brown Baby Grand made the occasion one of still greater moment; and further, Mr. Collins had notified Mr. McLoughlin that his family were so attached to that Woodward & Brown Baby Grand that it was his purpose to have it shipped to London to be used during the foreign stay of his family.
123All this was exceedingly gratifying to Mr. McLoughlin, who, although perfectly aware of the beautiful qualities embraced in the Woodward & Brown instruments, yet appreciates a compliment coming from a patron.
125Story & Clark Organ Company.
127FACTORIES:
128CHICAGO. LONDON.
129Largest Exclusive Organ Manufacturers in the World.
130HIGH GRADE ORGANS ONLY.
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