Scan 25
Musical Courier 1893-06-07: Vol 26 Iss 692, 1893
142 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 26. 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.
1THE MUSICAL COURIER.
3PHILADELPHIA
5We are glad to throw a little diversity into the business outlook by announcing a very decided improvement in the trade of Philadelphia during the past two weeks. Previous to that time for a month back dealers were, as one of them remarked, "holding down chairs and staring into space."
7Conditions here were the same as reported from all other principal points.
9It is somewhat surprising, though, that Philadelphia should be about the first city to experience a reaction and tendency toward activity in the musical instrument line.
11No one has any explanation to offer as to why people within the last 10 days have demanded pianos and organs.
13The sales account, cartage account and condition of the warerooms are evidence of the fact, and that's enough.
15Cunningham Piano Company.
17Mr. P. J. Cunningham returned not long since from a Western trip, in which he was successful in placing the Cunningham pianos in several prominent points, viz., Chicago, Pittsburg, Harrisburg and Altoona.
19The parties who will handle them in the places named are first-class dealers, and will give this instrument the show its merits entitle it to.
21Mr. P. J. Cunningham, the principle factor in the Cunningham Piano Company, is working for a reputation for the piano bearing his name, a reputation for the tone quality, construction, finish of case and general appearance. He intends that the Cunningham piano shall be recognized among dealers as a reliable instrument, with money in it for them, and he will surely succeed if he continues the conscientious mode of construction followed so far from the beginning.
23N. Stetson & Co.
25The two stores of N. Stetson & Co., 1416 and 1418 Chestnut street, are being connected by archways. The work has been in progress for a week or more, and will be completed in a few days. In connecting these two rooms the floor space of the Stetson wareroom will be larger than that of the wareroom or warerooms of any firm in Philadelphia, and it would probably be safe to say as large as any in the country.
27Regarding the business of this firm since they started at 1418 Chestnut street, it has been uniformly good, fully up to their expectations and considerably better.
29This is accounted for principally on the ground that the Steinway pianos are now having closer attention given the sale of them than has been known in this market for years.
31Another reason, the class who purchase Steinway pianos are less affected by the fluctuations in business which so influence the class who are purchasers of medium and low grade instruments.
33Half time work in a factory would in all probability prevent one of the employees of that factory from indulging in the luxury of a piano, while the mill owner would buy one if he desired to do so. And the mill owners, figuratively speaking, are the purchasers of Steinway pianos. This is further demonstrated by the sale of so many grands by N. Stetson & Co.
35The Bradbury and Webster are having a fair share of trade, and in the next store, 1416, the Hallet & Davis and Henning are holding their own, the general confusion of alterations, &c., interfering somewhat with the business in this store.
37Four high priced vocalions have been sold recently by N. Stetson & Co.
39F. A. North & Co.
41F. A. North & Co. have in some respects perhaps the most desirable location in Philadelphia, just opposite the great trading place of John Wanamaker.
43There is something of an advantage in being located in the immediate vicinity of a large mart if the success of your business depends upon the patronage of the general public. If they are obliged to pass by your door or are even in sight of your store window, and their attention can be secured by any manner of means, the full benefit of an advertisement is obtained. North & Co. appreciate this fact and every once in a while strike something particularly novel and attractive and profit by their ingenuity.
45The last venture in this direction was unique and consisted in a complete display in their front window of the component parts of a piano. Everything was included even to the smallest detail—keys, hammers, actions, rails, pins, wire, sounding boards and frames; several of each were represented, and the artistic manner in which they were arranged caused pedestrians to stop and examine. The display filled them with wonder and gave them a subject to discuss with their neighbors; and F. A. North & Co. and the Lester pianos profited.
47Geo. R. Fleming & Co.
49It is barely possible that many in the trade, not knowing the versatility of Geo. Fleming and his corps of assistants as purveyors of musical instruments, may think that we are exaggerating when we credit them with doing an amount of business largely out of proportion to what their opportunities would seem to warrant.
51There are several good reasons to explain why Geo. R. Fleming & Co. are doing a first-class profitable business.
53Mr. Fleming himself has been associated with the Philadelphia trade for many years. He is well known and thoroughly liked as a piano salesman. He is a conservative talker; one who in conversation with a customer keeps well within the lines of dignified argument on the merits of his goods.
55His sales are clean business arrangements. If on the installment plan, the condition of the customer must be sufficiently prosperous, in his judgment, to maintain the obligations of the contract entered into. He rarely, if ever, has trouble with a customer after the sale has been made. Then George R. Fleming & Co. handle a line of pianos and organs that are as reliable as are made, and they are known to be such everywhere around Philadelphia.
57Then Behr Brothers, Briggs, Newby & Evans—what a trio! And that old standby, the Marshall & Wendell, for a lower priced instrument.
59Organs—The Lehr seven octave piano cased organs, of Easton, are dreams for the musician; and another, the Crown, of Chicago. The line right through will bear out any statement regarding them, and the purchasers of these goods advertise them for George R. Fleming & Co.
61These are some of the reasons why when you call on Geo. R. Fleming & Co. you rarely hear any growling about trade being dull.
63We are not at liberty to give figures, but we question if any firm on the street can show a more prosperous four weeks just passed than this very firm we have been writing about. We know whereof we are speaking.
65Jas. Bellak's Sons.
67The Bellak boys had three pianos and an organ in Horticultural Hall—two Gablers, one Shoninger and a Pelubet organ.
69There was a candy exposition on the tapis, and these instruments were placed there for the edification of the music lovers in the crowd.
71A fire occurred last Saturday week, resulting in the total destruction of everything, including the Bellak boys' pianos and organ.
73They are not specially concerned over the matter, as the floating insurance policy they carry will cover the loss.
75The popular Pease pianos have been placed with Bellak's Sons.
77John W. Stearns, who has been employed with Bellak's Sons, goes to Chicago to take charge of the Ivers & Pond exhibition at the World's Fair.
79Herman D. Cotter, formerly connected with Beliak's Sons, but for the last few months with Geo. E. Dearborn, will again be found in the wareroom of the former concern. Mr. Cotter takes the place of Mr. Stearns.
81C. J. Heppe & Son.
83C. J. Heppe & Son report the sale of a style F Steck piano, with the automaton attachment, to Mr. Charles Ellis, president of the Tenth and Eleventh Street Traction Company. The sale was made last week.
85We noted in a previous number of THE MUSICAL COURIER that C. J. Heppe & Son had perfected and had on sale an octave coupler for the piano, one which could be incorporated in any upright piano.
87Several musicians called at Heppe's store last week to examine this novelty, and all expressed great satisfaction at the tone effect and simplicity of the invention.
89C. J. Heppe & Son will for the present use this attachment in the pianos on sale in their warerooms, but in the fall it is their purpose to make a push for business among piano manufacturers, as they fully believe the time is coming when the octave coupler will be as essential to the completeness of a piano as it now is to an organ.
91Jas. G. Ramsdell.
93Mr. Ramsdell is the yachtsman of the Philadelphia trade, and almost any pleasant afternoon finds him enjoying this sport in his fast yacht on the Delaware River and bay.
95Mr. Ramsdell is an expert sailor.
97Mr. Ramsdell reports that his business has benefited by the recent spurt, and Webers and Shaws have received the attention of piano buyers.
99The Needham organ can now be found in the warerooms of Mr. Ramsdell.
101Wm. G. Fischer.
103Mr. Wm. G. Fischer has returned from Florida much improved in health. His illness while there was very serious, and even yet he experiences some trouble from its effects.
105It may not be generally known that Mr. Fischer is quite an extensive property owner on Chestnut street. One very desirable location for a business house, now occupied as the site of a private residence, will very likely be the future home for the Fischer business.
107It is some distance up Chestnut street, but Mr. Fischer says business is drifting that way.
109***
111J. F. Allen, with Geo. E. Dearborn, is one of the best musicians on the street. He is a composer as well. The A. B. Chase Company, of Norwalk, Ohio, wanted to send something around the trade in the shape of an advertisement calling attention to the desirability of the A. B. Chase pianos. So Joe composed a quickstep, which the A. B. Chase Company published and distributed. It is very catchy and bright.
113***
115The rumor that the Blasius Piano Company, of Woodbury, N. J., had closed down is without foundation.
117They have reduced somewhat their output owing to the prevailing dullness about the country, but are employing the most of their men and the factory is running about full time.
119***
121Some evil minded individual has been reproducing from a mimeograph the High School Cadet March arranged for the guitar.
123Mr. Harry Coleman is the sole publisher of this celebrated march, and immediately instructed his lawyer to have the parties who were responsible for the circulation of these mimeograph copies arrested.
125This march by Sousa is very valuable property.
127Cooper, Hewitt & Co.
129Manufacturers of Music Wire.
131THIS wire, though but six months on the market, is making a name for itself. Some of the first houses in the trade have used it for several months, and some have adopted it exclusively.
133Cooper, Hewitt & Co. are the largest wire manufacturers in the United States, and have begun the manufacture of music wire as a permanent industry, with the idea of making the finest and best wire possible, and a large percentage of its bar steel is imported. They feel, from the reports received, and from the number of contracts made, that they are in a fair way to gain the larger share of the music wire trade in this country. Their agent is Robt. M. Webb, 190 Third avenue, New York city.
135Embezzlement Charged.
137JOHN R. KERR, general agent for the Farand & Votey Organ Company, of Detroit, Mich., has been in Anderson, Ind., for a few days looking after his company's interests. The company has been represented in this county for some time past by Jasper N. Cox. Last evening Kerr went before Squire McCarty and swore out a warrant for Cox's arrest. The complaint alleges that Cox sold six organs, the property of the company, and converted the proceeds of the sale to his own use, and that the amount of money embezzled is $376.—Indianapolis "Sentinel."
139—The Walter S. Pierce Company has been incorporated at San Francisco; capital, $30,000, in 300 shares of $100 each. The business of the company is to manufacture and trade in pianos. Directors—Walter S. Pierce, George T. Shaw, John Watt, M. M. Pierce, E. Worth.
141—A CORNER STONE LAID.—The exercises incident to the laying of the corner stone for the new factory building of H. Holtzman & Sons on Main street, at Alum Creek, will occur at 10 o'clock, standard time, Wednesday morning. The corner stone will be laid under the auspices of the manufacturing committee of the Board of Trade. Addresses will be made by President Bruck and Mayor Karb. The company will manufacture piano covers, stools, fringes, &c.—Columbus, Ohio, "Press."
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