Scan 40
Musical Courier 1895-12-11: Vol 31 Iss 823, 1895
177 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 41. See the scan on archive.org.
1TRADE AS WE FIND IT.
3Newsy Squibs, Personal, Pertinent and General, Picked Up by "The Musical Courier" Reporters.
5MR. WM. R. GRATZ, the musical merchandise importer, returned from an extended Western trip a few days ago and with no very glorious story to tell of business, though he says he did fully as well as he expected:
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8"While trade is not as bad as some try to make out, and perhaps really believe," he said, "it is certainly not as good as we would like it. I visited many of the principal cities and did a fairly good business taking it all in all. Yes, I am hoping and looking for something much better in 1896." Mr. Gratz has given up the agency for the Wollenhaupt triplex violins, and returned his samples when in Chicago. The future of these goods is somewhat problematical.
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13The trade situation may be summed up in few words. With a few houses there is a very good wholesale trade, with a larger number a quietness that is rather disquieting, with some nothing to speak of. Ditto regarding retail business.
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18A good motto with which to begin the new year: "Advertising bills will be paid when due." Hang in a conspicuous place and consider it daily. It works two ways if followed out.
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23Mr. Rufus W. Blake, president of the Sterling Company, Derby, Conn., was a visitor last week, and was receiving the congratulations of his friends here for the magnificent reception accorded him on his return from abroad. He only smiles when the discussion turns to the meaning of one of the transparencies carried in the parade and saluting "Our next mayor."
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28There are some changes contemplated to take effect early in the new year, and it is not improbable that some wareroom forces will wear strange faces. At the present there is nothing that can be said without injuring the prospects of those contemplating a change. We leave that sort of thing to our less considerate contemporaries.
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33Reports from Mr. Geo. Clay Cox, who is now on the road for Gildemeester & Kroeger, are encouraging in every respect. He has met with much greater success than he expected on his initial trip, but he is doing exactly what those who know his capabilities expected him to do.
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36He finds every Gildemeester & Kroeger agent he has visited delighted with the handsome instruments the house is putting out, and he is equally gratified that leading musicians in the principal music centres, and that part of the public that buys high grade pianos, are appreciating the qualities of the Gildemeester & Kroeger pianos to the utmost.
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41The clerks of the firm of C. H. Ditson & Co., of this city, gave a largely attended entertainment on Friday evening, December 6.
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46R. S., Lafayette, Ind.—Go to your local dealer. This is the third time you have posted such circulars to us. We have given you two polite answers advising you to buy from your local dealer, whose standing you can ascertain right at home. Why do you continue to inundate us with these pamphlets, that bear their evidence of cupidity, and you certainly distrust them yourself or you would not ask us? People like you deserve to get stuck, for they think they are so awfully smart. There are some good piano and organ firms right in your neighborhood. Buy from one of them.
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51New York has had the pleasure of having within her boundaries the past week a large number of trade visitors. They have come from the East and the West, the North and the South, and each one has a story varying slightly from those of the others regarding business and business prospects. Many of them are dealers who have come to select special stock for holiday trade. Some are travelers who do not give the most rose-colored views on the situation; others are manufacturers. All are happy that things are no worse than they are.
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56Mr. De Volney Everett, representing Ivers & Pond, was in New York for a short time last week. He left for a trip through Pennsylvania.
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61And now is the season when the enterprising houses come to the fore with more or less (generally less) handsome calendars. The prospects are that this year's crop will be of much finer quality and more attractive than last.
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66Commodore Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel & Gross, is very proud of the achievement of his son Fernando, who secured two prizes at the Seventh Regiment games on Saturday last. Fernando is a sprinter, and the action of his legs brought him in two watches, one of gold and the other a stop watch.
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71Mr. William Tonk, head of the well-known importing and manufacturing house, is expected in the city the end of this week. On his extended Western tour Mr. Tonk found everywhere admiration for the Schwander actions, and his trip has been a successful one in respect of orders for them.
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76The manufacturers of the fraud $75 boxes are finding it particularly hard work to keep factories going at all, owing to the increased competition and the decreased demand for this class of goods.
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79But few in the trade know of the frantic efforts of these fellows to get a little trade. Of course they have no hope of establishing permanent relations with the dealers, it being at best a catch-as-catch-can method—getting a customer to-day, losing him to-morrow. Prices are being cut down to the profit vanishing point. This competition is doing as much to drive the rotten $75 box from the market as its own worthlessness. Competition in articles of worth means business, in frauds means death.
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84Mr. William E. Wheelock and his family returned yesterday from his summer residence in Willimantic, Conn.
86"Trade with us has been excellent in every respect," said Mr. Ferdinand Mayer, manager of the Chickering warerooms, yesterday, "and there is every prospect that it will continue brisk until after the holidays. Every member of the wareroom force is kept very busy, and we are now contemplating some additions to the outside working staff."
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91Interviews with leading manufacturers of small goods develop the fact that the mandolin is steadily increasing in popularity and is now selling better than guitars. The banjo is barely holding its own in popularity.
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94Trade generally in these lines was somewhat dull, but since December 1 orders have been brisk, and it appears as if the small goods men would round out the year in splendid shape.
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97New Enterprises and Changes. one of two readings
99J. A. Jarvis has opened a music store in Pierce City, Mo. one of two readings
101E. G. Robinson succeeds Jacob Scheffel in the Los Angeles, Cal., firm of Salzer & Scheffel. New warerooms have been secured at 905 South Broadway, where the Hallet & Davis pianos will be pushed. one of two readings
103David Scheele, manufacturer of piano legs in this city, will soon retire from business. one of two readings
105James Rogers, Jr., of Highview, N. Y., manufacturer of drum heads, will retire from business because of ill health. one of two readings
107The Detroit agency of the Starr piano has been transferred from the Detroit Music Company to the new firm of Vaughan & Tanner. one of two readings
109The Philadelphia agency of the C. F. Martin guitars and mandolins has been given to Charles F. Albert. one of two readings
111AN ATTRACTIVE XMAS ADVT.
113AMONG the pioneer advertisers in the field of magazine work was the Ivers & Pond Piano Company. No one has followed this line more persistently than they, and in the course of the last few years they have turned out some of the most cleverly contrived and artistic advertisements that adorn the back portions of the modern magazine. Beneath is appended a reprint of their December effort—an effort which is sure to attract attention in the leading monthlies, no matter how filled with other display they may be.
115A Piano for Xmas.
117What a Beautiful Gift! How to Get one.
119By mail? Why not? If no dealer in your vicinity sells IVERS & POND PIANOS we can sell you one direct from the Factory. Write immediately and let us tell you how simple a thing this is to do.
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122We make such perfect Pianos that we gladly send them anywhere in the United States, subject to approval. More than this, we sell them on easy payments.
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125A small amount in cash and the balance $10 monthly (or more if you like), till paid in full. A postal card will secure you valuable information.
127Ivers & Pond Piano Co.,
128114 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass.
130F. H. Griffith, of Philadelphia, have sold out their band and orchestral department to J. E. Ditson & Co., and will hereafter confine their efforts to their manufacturing business.
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133Souter & Duerk is a new piano manufacturing firm located at 8 Fifth avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
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136The McCammon agency has been transferred from Russell & Son to Bierhardt & Miles, Delhi, N. Y.
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139Adams & Morflark have begun manufacturing small goods at Dwight, Ill.
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142M. P. Moller has taken possession of his recently constructed organ factory in Hagerstown, Md.
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145Hass & Son is the name of a new Philadelphia piano making concern.
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148Fire at Flatonia, Tex., recently destroyed a considerable portion of the business district. Among those burned was N. Foster, music dealer. No insurance.
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151Fire destroyed the musical goods store of J. A. Mackenzie, Burgettstown, Pa., recently. Loss small.
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154John G. Short and James Dunlap, trading under the name of the Thomas Organ Company, Woodstock, Ont., manufacturers of pianos and organs, have made an assignment.
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157Mr. A. Blake, of Olean, N. Y., the piano dealer, who has been ill for some time, has sold his business to E. G. Smith & Co. Mr. Smith has been manager for Mr. Blake for a number of years, and has associated with him a wealthy Buffalo man outside of the trade who is furnishing capital.
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160Mr. J. R. Hartpence, who has been for some time in the employ of the Emerson Piano Company's New York branch at 92 Fifth avenue, has resigned to accept a position as retail salesman with the New York branch of Chickering & Sons.
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163The Jackson Pipe Organ Company, of Washington, Ia., is said to be arranging to enter the piano manufacturing business.
165New Enterprises and Changes. one of two readings
166J. A. Jarvis has opened a music store in Pierce City, Mo. one of two readings
167E. G. Robinson succeeds Jacob Scheffel in the Los Angeles, Cal., firm of Salyer & Scheffel. New warerooms have been secured at 905 South Broadway, where the Hallet & Davis pianos will be pushed. one of two readings
168David Scheele, manufacturer of piano legs in this city, will soon retire from business. one of two readings
169James Rogers, Jr., of Highview, N. Y., manufacturer of drum heads, will retire from business because of ill health. one of two readings
170The Detroit agency of the Starr piano has been transferred from the Detroit Music Company to the new firm of Vaughan & Tanner. one of two readings
171The Philadelphia agency of the C. F. Martin guitars and mandolins has been given to Charles F. Albert. one of two readings
172P. M. A. N. Y. and V. one of two readings
174P. M. A. N. Y. and V. one of two readings
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176An informal meeting of the Piano Manufacturers' Association of New York and Vicinity was to be held last night at the Union Square Hotel. Of course the meeting was too late for reporting in this issue of THE MUSICAL COURIER.
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