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Musical Courier 1895-02-27: Vol 30 Iss 781, 1895
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1CHICAGO OFFICE OF THE MUSICAL COURIER, 226 Wabash Avenue, February 23, 1895.
3THE damage to pianos by severe cold weather and the more serious mischief caused by dry, overheated flats and dwelling houses in this city are beginning to be extensively felt.
5First-class instruments have been practically ruined, and the matter has become so serious that sooner or later some method must be devised to correct the difficulty. What makes it the more noticeable this year is that during the World's Fair year, and subsequently, such a large number of steam heated flat houses were erected, and the rents were so comparatively reduced as to make the occupancy of such houses as were not supplied with the modern heating apparatus practically undesirable.
7The result is that a much larger number of instruments than usual have been affected and complaints from customers have increased in a ratio truly alarming to the dealers and manufacturers.
9The pianos cannot be made to stand in tune; in fact, no tuner can tune them; pins and screws are loose; actions rattle; and the only way to remedy it is to send the instrument back to the factory for a general overhauling. In some instances we have been told that a whole new set of larger tuning pins would have to be inserted. It has been suggested to place bowls of water in the bottom of the piano, but this has been tried without correcting the difficulty.
11A large manufacturer in this city says pianos cannot be made without beer; we shall have to add that they cannot exist without water.
13The C. C. O. Company's Successful Concert.
15To introduce the Conover piano to the public the Chicago Cottage Organ Company gave a concert last Tuesday evening at Central Music Hall. Tickets were complimentary and the result was one of the largest audiences which was ever gathered together in the famous old concert room, which, by the way, still leads everything of the kind in the city for concert purposes. The hall was not only full to repletion, but there was a fine class of people present.
17As illustrating the merits of the entertainment, we append a critique from the Herald of Wednesday. It will, undoubtedly, be spoken of in the musical columns of the Sunday papers:
19An audience of such proportions as to fill Central Music Hall to overflowing listened last evening with evident pleasure to a charming program of vocal and instrumental music, pleasing in variety and rendered with exceptional skill. The first number on the program was the first movement of the trio, op. 49, of Mendelssohn, by Ernest Kruschwitz, violin; Franz Wagner, 'cello, and Mme. Anna Weiss, and was given with commendable precision and degree of expression, yet with hardly the warmth of tone and color this exquisite movement demanded. The artists appeared to better advantage in their second selection, entitled Noveletten, by Gade, the entire first first movement being remarkably well done and receiving the hearty recognition of the audience.
21The Hartman selection, entitled Favorite, fantasia and variations, proved to be the old Scotch air Robin Adair, with variations, and was a most happy one for exhibiting J. R. Llewellyn's skill as an executant upon the cornet.
23Mr. Kruschwitz contributed two numbers, which were excellently given—the Romanze by Svensen, and the Sarasate Zigeunerweisen, the last one being redemanded by the audience, which was the case upon the conclusion of the second 'cello number, which was heard to advantage.
25Mrs. Emma Porter Mackinson, coming some time ago from a Western city with a brilliant reputation earned upon the concert stage, has since her residence in the city won new laurels and honors and gained hosts of friends because of her excellent work. At every appearance she has been heard with increasing pleasure, and last evening she again delighted everyone present by her fine rendition of the numbers falling to her on the program. The dramatic aria Pleurez, Pleurez, Mes Yeux, from Le Cid, gave an excellent opportunity to display her very flexible voice and its clear, pure tones in the upper register. She was repeatedly recalled and was obliged to respond to the enthusiastic encore. In her second selection, The Soul's Awakening, she was equally successful. Mme. Anna Weiss was heartily applauded for her artistic rendition of the difficult Moskowski Waltz, in which she displayed convincing technic, united with much feeling and sentiment.
27More Damage by Water.
29S. Brainard's Sons Company have had a taste of being damaged by water. The basement, where the presses are located and the extra stock of their publications are stored, was flooded to the depth of eighteen inches.
31The cause of it was the bursting of the air chamber connected with the water pipes, a device which was placed there by the city authorities. The city is undoubtedly responsible for the amount of damage done.
33Mr. Albright, of the company, says the loss will amount to somewhere in the neighborhood of $8,000, although he can hardly estimate it at present, as some of the sheet music is only wet with clean water and can easily be pressed and be as good as ever. The books bound in boards are, however, destroyed, so far as the binding is concerned.
35A New Agency for the Brambach.
37Mr. Chas. Becht, who has just returned from a short trip, informs us that a deal has been made with the Thiebes & Stierlin Music Company, of St. Louis, Mo., which will result in the house handling large numbers of the Brambach pianos.
39The concern is said to be one of the best in that city, financially and otherwise. Both members are young, with plenty of energy, and have had sufficient experience. The location of the store is also one of the best in the city.
41Will Have a New Factory.
43The Russell Piano Company has acquired a very valuable leasehold, situated at 249 and 251 South Jefferson street, near Van Buren street. Plans have been drawn for an eight story building, which will be 50×93 feet. The location is an exceedingly desirable one and very handy to get to. The company is now averaging fifteen pianos a week and is doing well.
45Were Robbed.
47The firm of Adler & Hornsteiner were recently the victims of a robbery. Someone, yet unknown, forced an entrance to their studio and carried off a valuable Sanctus Seraphin violin and several other chattels of lesser value. The violin was valued at about $400 and belonged to Mr. Hesselbach, the oboe player of the Chicago Orchestra.
49Once More.
51Story & Clark are getting up a new catalogue. We may expect something quite as handsome as anything which has heretofore preceded it. The Story & Clark Organ Company are as particular about their printed matter as they are about making elegant styles of cases and first-class instruments.
53Slightly Changed.
55The Freyer & Bradley Company, of Atlanta, Ga., held their annual meeting in that city on the 21st inst., and Mr. Thomas F. Scanlan was re-elected president. The concern is now entirely controlled by the Chicago Cottage Organ Company and the New England Piano Company. The goods which will be exclusively handled by the concern are the Conover, New England and Schubert pianos and the Chicago Cottage organs.
57Married.
59Miss Gertrude Grosscup and Mr. Walton Perkins, our musical correspondent of this city, two prominent musicians of Chicago, were married Wednesday evening at the home of the bride's parents. The wedding was quiet; only members of the family and a few intimate friends were present. The Rev. Walter Delafield, D. D., officiated. There were present Judge and Mrs. P. S. Grosscup, Miss Mamie Grosscup, Mrs. Whitney and Miss Bintliffe, of Minneapolis; Miss Fanny Perkins, Miss Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. King, Masters William and Theodore Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. Hepburn Johns and Mr. W. E. Dennis.
61A New Chicago Piano.
63What to say about a new piano concern, soon to be started in this city, without betraying any confidences, is somewhat troublesome. We would like to give a number of facts in connection with the project but feel bound not to.
65It will not be a small concern and it means business from the beginning, and it has begun, so far as the initial details are concerned.
67Reed's Last Manifesto.
69TAKE NOTICE.
71First.—That in the Official Report to the German Government upon musical instruments at the World's Columbian Exposition the Reed & Sons was the only American Piano receiving the honor of a special mention. Report was made by Herr Max Schiedmayer, one of the most celebrated piano manufacturers in Germany.
73Second.—That the World's Columbian Exposition award upon the Reed & Sons Piano contains more points of excellence and progression than any other World's Fair Piano award ever given, either in Europe or America.
75Third.—That the improvement in the Reed system of construction was considered of such value that the World's Columbian Exposition conferred upon the inventor, J. W. Reed, a Grand Diploma of Honorable Mention. Circulars and catalogue on application.
77A. REED & SONS, Manufacturers,
783 and 5 Adams street, Chicago.
80The trade can rest assured that Messrs. A. Reed & Sons are alive and very much in evidence in this city at least, and sooner or later will be in the country at large.
82They have recently produced another scale upright, made on the plan which is sufficiently expressed in the words "Reed system." The new piano is just the right size, neither too large nor too small, and for purity and power of tone is remarkable.
84While many concerns are engaged solely in the endeavor to see how cheaply they can produce an instrument, Messrs. Reed & Sons are only satisfied to make as good an instrument as they can, and are, therefore, an honor to Chicago. It has been a struggle, no doubt, but recent success in excess of their hopes is their reward.
86Kimball Hall Is Sold.
88Wabash avenue property, known in musical circles as Kimball Hall, has passed into the ownership of W. W. Kimball, head of the great piano and organ factory named after him. The transaction involves between $400,000 and $500,000, though exact details of the deal are withheld for the present. The property is numbered 243 to 253 Wabash avenue, having a front of 80 feet. Of this the north 40 feet is owned by James W. Paxton, of Wheeling, W. Va., and the south 40 feet is owned by Henry J. Willing, of this city. In 1890 R. E. Ismond, of Van Vlissingen & Ismond, succeeded in getting the owners' interests of all four lots together, and both made a 99 year lease to the Chicago Music Hall Company. The latter was organized June, 1891, with an authorized capital of $200,000, of which only $100,000 was issued. It also has issued $100,000 10-20 first mortgage bonds, dated June 20, 1891, bearing 7 per cent. interest, payable in gold on the first days of March, June, September and December, at the American Trust and Savings Bank, trustees for the bondholders. The directors were Russell Whitman, Hulburd Dunlevy, Colin C. H. Fyffe, Benjamin B. Lamb and Nadine Lorimer Dunlevy.
90This company agreed to pay to the owners of the ground an annual rental of $26,000, which at 5 per cent. would mean a valuation of $6,500 a front foot. This valuation is undoubtedly much higher at present, so much the more because the property is very eligible. The building on the ground cost about $140,000, is seven stories high, in the form of an L, covering 160 of the south 171 feet and 100 feet of the north 120 feet depth, except on the ground floor, where a 20 foot light court extends to the rear of the lot. As has been said, the exact figures of the transfer, by which W. W. Kimball acquires the leasehold of the Chicago Music Hall Company and the ownership of the building, are being withheld for the present, but the fact that nearly half a million dollars is involved makes the transaction one of the most important since the beginning of the year.
92The above account, which was published in the Herald of this city, is, according to the statement of Mr. W. W. Kimball, substantially correct. Although the deal has just come to light, it virtually occurred last July. In this transaction Mr. Kimball becomes possessed of a very valuable piece of property. To realize this fact it is only necessary to state that the frontage of 80 feet on Wabash avenue is, for the purpose, one of the most valuable locations on the street.
94A New Corporation.
96WHITNEY PIANO AND SUPPLY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Chicago; capital stock, $25,000; incorporators, Alvin Whitney, Arthur E. Whitney and Frank H. Whitney.
98We believe the above named incorporation is simply another of Mr. W. W. Kimball's projects. The object, so far as can be ascertained, is to manufacture pianos, actions and parts of pianos. In fact, the corporation is made sufficiently broad for almost anything in the line of pianos and supply materials.
100Mr. Alvin Whitney is the superintendent of the action department of the Kimball factory. The other incorporators are members of the Whitney concern at Quincy, Ill. This latter concern will handle the Whitney piano.
102Personals.
104Mr. Woodbury, of the Jewett Piano Company, of Leominster, Mass., left this week for a roundabout trip through some of the principal Western cities, and will be at home in about ten days.
106Mr. Furbush, of the Briggs Piano Company, of Boston, and Mr. Geo. Dowling, traveling representative of the same company, were both in the city the fore part of the week. Mr. Furbush went directly home, as we understand, and Mr. Dowling was to stop at several places on his way East.
108Mr. H. Leonard, representing Messrs. Alfred Dolge & Son, of New York, is again in the city.
110Mr. A. Weber, of Omaha, Neb., was in the city this week. Mr. J. H. Wagner, of Rochester, Minn., has been in the city nearly the entire week. Mr. Wagner is an important man in his neighborhood, one of the solid citizens, and represents business as fair on the average, although just at the present time rather dull.
112We are informed that Gen. J. J. Estey has started twice to come to Chicago from Brattleboro, but that each time he was prevented by illness.
114Mr. Geo. P. Bent has gone South on an extensive trip, as we understand it. Although he has only just begun his tour the factory is already beginning to feel the effect of his work. Verily, Mr. Bent is a hustler.
116Mr. H. D. Cable has returned from the South. One of his principal objects in going was to attend the meeting of the Freyer & Bradley Company, of Atlanta, Ga. He, however, continued on as far as Florida. He says the cold weather in the South has been greatly detrimental to its interests; that the leaves are black from the frost, the ground covered with ruined oranges, and the country looking exceedingly desolate. Mr. H. M. Cable, who has been
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