Scan 68
Musical Courier 1895-12-25: Vol 31 Iss 825, 1895
81 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 69. See the scan on archive.org.
1strated, their popularity is unquestioned. These are plain facts that no one acquainted with the pianos will attempt to controvert.
3As to the business of the house. The Pease factory has been busy when others have been comparatively idle. Business has been pushed East and West. A number of new and important connections have been made. The older representatives have been infused with a new energy and good business has been the result.
5Now the Pease piano enters upon a new year with new strength, increased popularity and, through the merits of the new grand, increased prestige. The prospects for the coming year are very flattering.
7The Aeolian and the Year.
9A CAREFUL study of Aeolian movements during the past year is particularly interesting as showing the successful working out of well defined plans, a careful and systematic exploitation of merit, well directed advertising, and the stimulating of the enthusiasm and energy of the dealers. The course of the Aeolian Company the past year is well worth the careful consideration of piano makers making pretensions to artistic excellence for their products. The work that has been done shows what energy, merit and brains can do when all are working harmoniously and systematically.
11To the casual observer the past year would not have appeared an exceptionally favorable time for the expenditure of an immense amount of money in advertising, no matter how well that advertising might have been placed. Men usually classed as extensive advertisers have held back. There has not been any extraordinary energy displayed in the piano business in this direction. The Aeolian Company, not dismayed by what was considered a forbidding outlook, went ahead to attract the attention of the great public to the merits of the Aeolian. In all of this advertising in magazines, circulars, booklets and the like, the artistic quality of the instrument, its importance as a factor in developing and raising musical taste, has been kept to the front. These facts have been so strongly enunciated that they have carried conviction into the ranks of the doubters, who have been led to investigate. That is exactly what the Aeolian Company desires.
13Another method of interesting the public in the merits of the Aeolian is by the recitals that have become an artistic feature in this city and elsewhere.
15The possibilities of the Aeolian have been shown in these recitals. The people who attend them have seen and heard that all claims made in the advertisements are substantiated by the instruments themselves. They are led to investigate further, and investigation leads to purchase.
17The Aeolian Company has done a great work for its goods. Not less important has been the assistance given the Aeolian representatives. These have the aid of men trained to display the Aeolian. They have been shown how to take advantage of the advertising done by the company. They have been encouraged to give recitals, and to secure the attention of the best class of the purchasing public.
19The result is that the Aeolian has become one of the most valuable instruments (from an artistic and commercial point of view) that a high-class dealer can handle.
21This is shown by the business done in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and other points where there is a constituency that can appreciate and pay for the highest class musical instruments.
231895 was an excellent year for the Aeolian Company. In it they broadened their business and increased their prestige, thereby strengthening the foundations for the upbuilding of an imposing name and business.
25To Weser Brothers.
27THE following testimonial was received by Weser Brothers last week, and afforded them much satisfaction:
29Messrs. Weser Brothers,
30224 to 238 West Forty-third street, New York.
32GENTLEMEN—The pianos you sent us last week we have just sold under circumstances of sharp competition. You may ship us two of the same (style B), one in walnut and the other in mahogany, with the mandolin attachment. We are very much pleased with your pianos, and especially with your mandolin attachment. We have never heard one before where the imitation of the mandolin was so perfect. Kindly send as soon as possible and oblige,
34Very truly yours,
36The above is one of the many letters received daily by Weser Brothers indorsing their new mandolin attachment. The success of this unique invention has been assured almost from the first. The old customers find in it a strong additional talking point and of valuable assistance in making a sale. The Weser Brothers never turned out more desirable pianos in all respects than at the present time, and they are appreciated by the dealers, as is evinced by the numerous orders which compel working until 9 o'clock each night to fill them.
38G. O'Conor.
40A PERSON would never imagine in walking through West Thirty-fifth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, and glancing down a lonesome alleyway over which hangs the sign 'G. O'Conor,' Wood Carver, that the unpretentious factory building there was an important factor in the piano manufacturing business. But such is the case. That little factory building is just teeming with activity and business, and some of the most artistically carved and handsomest patterns in trusses and pilasters which can be found in any piano come from the workshop of G. O'Conor.
42During the past year Mr. O'Conor has increased his facilities by adding modern turning machinery and other appliances for perfecting his work, and no man in his line is better qualified to furnish satisfactory work.
44Mme. Besson a Mother.
46LONDON, December 19.
48MME. FONTANE BESSON, the wife of a manufacturer of musical instruments in London, New York, Paris and St. Petersburg, who in October last was arrested in Seville, Spain, whither she had fled with a Spaniard, and extradited to England on the charge of having robbed her husband of £100,000 worth of securities, gave birth to a child this morning. Further hearing of her case has consequently been adjourned for a month. In the meantime Mme. Besson is under £5,000 bail, furnished by herself.—Evening Telegram.
50TRADE AS WE FIND IT.
52Newsy Squibs, Personal, Pertinent and General, Picked Up by "The Musical Courier" Reporters.
54THIS Christmas will not bring all the joy that some piano makers and dealers in New York would wish; for neither wholesale nor retail trade has generally been up to the mark of anticipation, and there is mourning where they hoped for rejoicing. So they say. The fact remains that while business has not been as good as hoped for, certain factories have been and are pressed to fill their orders, and some of the retail warerooms in New York are showing marked activity. This is the case with those making and selling a fine quality of goods.
56Mr. William Tonk, of William Tonk & Brother, American representatives of Herrburger-Schwander actions and the Chevrel marqueteries and manufacturers of small musical goods, returned last week from an extended trip through the West and South. He has no enthusiastic report to make on business or the prospects, but he succeeded in securing some good orders for all the lines handled by his house.
58Their small goods business, he says, is excellent, the holiday demand being fully up to their expectations.
60The Shoninger warerooms have been remarkably active. An excellent trade has been worked up.
62The retail trade of Sohmer & Co. has been very good, and the handsome stock has been depleted, replenished and depleted again.
64Mr. W. E. Hall, traveling representative of the Pease Piano Company, returned to New York last week after a four weeks' trip through New York, Pennsylvania and a part of Ohio.
66The rumors of war are exciting the colonels and other military folk in the music trades. The brave young members of the National Guard, having come victorious through riots and other disturbances, are eager to try their hands and arms against an organized foe. Col. Dan Tracy has assumed a belligerent aspect; Col. Karl Fink carries himself with a more martial air, while from the West comes the word that Colonel Fox is about to equip and command a regiment composed entirely of members of the music trade.
68There are excellent possibilities for the Braumuller piano. It is making a record on its quality. It is being rushed conservatively but energetically. Many of the best dealers in the country are handling it, and all speak in praise of it. Such good work has been done for it the past year that it will be very strange if the coming year does not witness a remarkable development of the business.
70—Who is in need of a thoroughly equipped, experienced, intelligent sheet music clerk or a head of a sheet music department in any of the large cities? We know of just such a man who could be made most valuable to any large sheet music concern. Address this paper directly.
72THE TRIAL BALANCE
74Will show a PROFIT on the
76JEWETT PIANOS
78And the Trial of Time will prove them the best instruments for the money now on the market.
80JEWETT PIANO CO., LEOMINSTER, MASS.
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