Scan 33
Musical Courier 1895-11-06: Vol 31 Iss 818, 1895
110 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 34. See the scan on archive.org.
1BOSTON TRADE DINNER.
3THE first dinner of the piano and organ manufacturers and dealers of Boston was held on Saturday evening at the Parker House. The rooms used were up one flight of stairs in the back of the house and consisted of a large, long room where the tables were laid, with a smaller room opening out of it which was used as the reception room. This room contained the usual tables, chairs, &c., and a New England upright piano. The table was laid for fifty people, but there were only about forty-two of the seats occupied. The table was decorated with small potted plants, with dishes of fruit interspersed and cut flowers strewn on the cloth—roses, pinks, small chrysanthemums and other flowers in season. The table service was pink and white china. Three wines were served—sherry, sauterne and champagne.
5About half the gentlemen present wore dress suits.
7MENU.
9Cotuit Oysters.
10Soup.
11Green Turtle. Consommé à la Royale.
12Fish.
13Fried Smelts, Sauce Tartare.
14Removes.
15Filet of Beef aux Champignons. Roast Young Turkey.
16Entrées.
17Bouchées of Lobster, Newburg.
18Chicken Croquettes, Jardinière.
19Timbales of Spaghetti, Italienne.
20Apple Fritters Glacé, Cognac.
21Relevé.
22Roman Punch.
23Game.
24Black Duck. Larded Grouse.
25Sweets.
26Salted Pecans. Fruits. Coffee. Olives.
28Among those seated at the tables were George H. Chickering, J. N. Merrill, P. H. Powers, C. C. Harvey, Alex. Steinert, Edward P. Mason, Handel Pond, J. Harry Estey, Edward W. Davis, S. A. Gould, E. N. Kimball, Henry F. Miller, E. Miller, H. L. Mason, E. N. Kimball, Jr., E. W. Tyler, J. W. Cheney, W. A. Harvey, Mr. Norris, Chas. R. Putnam, F. L. Young, W. H. Ivers, J. B. Cook, C. D. Blake, C. D. Blake, Jr., G. A. Gibson, C. W. Smith, F. D. Irish, Mr. Seabury, William Steinert, B. F. Owens, Mr. Dunbar, Geo. Hutchings, G. H. Cummings, M. A. Marks, Mr. Wilton, Mr. Hume, A. G. Mason, F. Wentworth, Geo. B. Kelly, Mr. Dayfoot.
30Dinner was served promptly at 6:30 and coffee and cigars were served at 8:10. Then the next twenty minutes were devoted to conversation.
32At half-past 8 o'clock the meeting was called to order by Mr. Chickering. None of the speeches were prepared beforehand.
34In his opening address Mr. Chickering congratulated them upon the satisfactory number in attendance, hoped it portended permanent organization, deprecated his own inability as a chairman and speaker, and ended by proposing the following toast: "To good fellowship, general prosperity and better acquaintance."
36J. N. Merrill was called upon to speak, but said that he had supposed that his duties ended when he had assigned the gentlemen to their positions at the table. He felt that he was so small a manufacturer he had better be seen and not heard.
38Mr. P. H. Powers, who was called upon as the best story teller in the trade, said he had never told a story in his life, but always the truth. He advocated congeniality and good fellowship, and he compared the New York and Chicago trade associations with the tardy efforts toward organization in Boston.
40Mr. Harry Mason then advocated an association, and made a motion that a permanent one be formed, which was seconded by Mr. Alexander Steinert. Question being put, it was a unanimous vote.
42Mr. Harry Mason then moved that "Mr. Chickering and the dinner committee be permanent officers for one year, that they have charge of all the matters appertaining to the forming of the association, and that another dinner be given shortly at which the committee should report."
44Mr. E. N. Kimball then asked that those present should be given a chance to state the object of such an association.
46Mr. P. H. Powers thought also that it would be wise to canvass the subject, but presumed that it was to the production of good fellowship and the correction of abuses, and hoped an association would be formed.
48Motion being called for, Mr. Alexander Steinert suggested that Mr. George H. Chickering be elected president, but that the balance of the dinner committee be voted for singly. Motion seconded, and Mr. Chickering was unanimously elected and three hearty cheers were given.
50Edward F. Davis, Edward P. Mason, John N. Merrill, Handel Pond, Willard A. Vose, Henry F. Miller and Alexander Steinert were all elected unanimously, excepting Mr. Vose.
52Mr. Miller suggested that the committee should constitute nine, adding the names of Mr. W. A. Vose and Mr. Chandler W. Smith in a spirit of harmony. This was not received with approval, so the suggestion was dropped.
54Mr. Chandler W. Smith followed with a few remarks.
56Mr. Norris told a couple of pleasant stories which enlivened the meeting.
58Mr. Henry F. Miller's speech was the chef d'œuvre of the evening. After thanking the president for calling upon him to speak, he said he thought that it was very gratifying that the trade was so thoroughly represented and that a trade representing so much wealth and importance should have a permanent organization, that they might have a voice in the Board of Trade in Boston and receive the recognition they merited. He congratulated the Boston trade that through the dull and perilous times of the last few years there had been no flinching in the ranks of the trade and that they had all weathered the storm in excellent condition. He hoped that as soon as the organization had been perfected they would have an opportunity to return the courtesies extended by the members of the trade associations of New York and Chicago.
60He cited among the good results effected by the New York association the establishing of the international pitch, which he considered one of the grandest things that had transpired in the trade. He believed that in the forming of an association many vital points of universal interest could be discussed and eventually accomplished, purifying the ethics of the trade and dissolving the petty differences that now exist.
62Mr. Norris, again rising, thought it was a lamentable fact that the Boston piano trade had been in existence for seventy-two years without an organization, but he hoped that this initial meeting would be the forerunner of a prosperous association.
64Mr. Handel Pond was called upon, and in behalf of the committee thanked the gentlemen present for responding so fully to the invitation to the dinner.
66Mr. H. L. Mason then made a motion thanking the committee for bringing about the meeting and for their services, which was heartily indorsed.
68Mr. E. N. Kimball thought that good results might be attained by concerted movement, and that in organization they would be largely able to overcome the evils existing in the trade.
70Mr. E. P. Mason followed in the same vein, and added that, although the committee might have made some mistakes, it had done its best and hoped that the gratifying results evinced at the meeting would indorse its actions.
72Mr. Alexander Steinert, being called upon, said that he was not a manufacturer, but a dealer, but he believed that the association would bring about many reforms in selling, such as the regulating of the commissions to teachers, the consignment of goods and the transportation of instruments, in which Boston suffered more than any other large city, citing that the large dealer or manufacturer who had 1,000 or 1,500 instruments shipped over the railroads coming into Boston had to pay as much per instrument as the dealer who only had one a month. He complimented the association for having as its president a man of such high character and sterling integrity as Mr. Chickering.
74Mr. Chickering thanked Mr. Steinert for the compliment and expressed his gratification that the trade had always thought so highly of his father, Jonas Chickering, and believed that to the reflected honor was largely due the courtesy he had been shown.
76Mr. Henry F. Miller, after a little visionary sketch of the possibilities of the piano trade in the West, asked: "Are we to go on putting up our money year after year to support the trade journals that expose to the world the cost of construction of our different instruments, giving to the public that which should be our own private property!"
78At the conclusion of Mr. Miller's speech, Mr. E. W. Tyler started to leave the room, but there were cries of "Stop him, stop him?"
80Mr. Hutchings, the only representative of the pipe organ industry present, made a short speech and further agitated the subject of transportation, and hoped this question would receive the early attention of the association.
82After a few remarks by Mr. Seavey, of the Steinert firm, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50, all present expressing themselves as highly gratified at the success of this first dinner.
84A Decker Testimonial.
86MESSRS. FRANK MECKEL & CO., of 342 Superior street, Cleveland, Ohio, have this to say regarding the Decker Brothers pianos:
88We are sometimes asked by purchasers why we recommend them to buy a Decker Brothers piano in preference to any other, and we herewith submit the reasons which we believe to be sufficient for always placing the Decker first and foremost.
90Through a long term of years Messrs. Decker Brothers have consistently carried out their policy of making only the best pianos, believing that every good piano sold will sell others of the same make, and that the best advertisement of a piano is one that has been sold and is giving satisfaction to the purchaser. By faithfully acting on this belief during the entire history of their house, Decker Brothers have placed themselves in the front rank of reputable manufacturers and have given their pianos a reputation that is the envy of all competitors.
92Words of Praise for the Liszt Organ.
93To Mason & Hamlin.
95GENTLEMEN—The Liszt organ that you sent to the Yarmouth Camp Meeting Association at my request was the best instrument ever used on that platform. For solo work, as well as chorus work, I know of nothing to equal the Liszt organ. It seemed like an orchestra in its effect. Very truly yours, GEO. E. DUNBAR, Chorister Y. M. C. A. STOUGHTON, Mass.
97A Strich & Zeidler Grand.
99SINCE the beginning of last March a parlor grand piano has been in process of construction in the Strich & Zeidler piano factory in Harlem.
101Mr. Strich and Mr. Zeidler have both been very reticent regarding this matter, preferring to wait until the instrument was completed and ready for inspection before making any public comment on it. This completion was realized on Saturday last, and their most sanguine anticipations have been realized in the really good piano which is entirely the result of the firm's skill and ambition.
103The case is 6 feet long and symmetrical, and is on the line of the most modern model. The mechanical parts are handsomely finished and of thoroughly approved material. Of course perfection in the tonal quality is what has been worked for, and many weeks of labor have been given to what has resulted in the developing of an unusually well draughted scale. The tone through the middle register is mellow and sympathetic, the treble is clear and brilliant, and both middle register and treble are well sustained by a round string bass. All parts seem to have been carefully regulated to harmonize, and it cannot be said that one portion of the scale is better than the other.
105The breaks have been skillfully concealed, and from the highest note down to the lowest the tone is even and smooth.
107Strich & Zeidler are both expert workmen in tone and action regulating, and this piano has been the object of their most careful attention from its inception, and they are naturally proud and happy at the success of their efforts. They certainly have a beautiful instrument, and the prediction is ventured that their grands will occupy a position in the musical instrument world which will satisfy their highest ambition.
109The first grand was shipped on Monday to Atlanta, Ga., Exposition, to be placed in the building with their upright pianos. Several more grands in fancy veneers are in course of construction.
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