Scan 29
Musical Courier 1896-07-01: Vol 33 Iss 852, 1896
104 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 30. See the scan on archive.org.
1HIGHEST GRADE PIANOS.
3No subject that the changing conditions of the trade present, and certainly none since the beginning of the present year, is more widely discussed or receives deeper thought, especially with those whom it affects the most, than the prospects for the highest grade pianos. The failure of the Weber concern, the withdrawal of the Decker, the moribund condition of the Knabe, and the failure of Gildemeester & Kroeger have given substantial grounds for speculation. The musical world as well as the trade is interested in and taking part in this speculation. Every leading musician and cultivated amateur is interested, and as all musicians of standing are steady readers of THE MUSICAL COURIER they are coming to form an independent and valuable opinion on this subject. That opinion will have weight in the development of the field for the highest grade pianos.
5And right here it may be said that all the progressive houses in the trade are coming to realize that the musical people, the readers of this paper, are rapidly acquiring a more thorough knowledge of and giving greater attention to the movements of the piano makers who claim an artistic place for their instrument.
7The failure of Gildemeester & Kroeger brings the subject again before the musicians and the trade. The Gildemeester & Kroeger was a high grade piano, an artistic instrument, so admitted by experts and so indorsed by musicians. It was, as has been stated in this paper again and again, an art product in every respect.
9The cases of Weber, Decker and Knabe, each differing from the others, are all different from this last one, and yet the result from the musician's standpoint is the same. The Weber, beaten down by its associations, scarcely had a fair show; the Decker, withdrawn from the market for private reasons and also because the makers could see no future for it; the Knabe, trading on an old-time and in part undeserved reputation, not admitted to the first rank of pianos save by a sentiment that has attached itself to the old-time leaders, and the Gildemeester & Kroeger, carried down for lack of sufficient capital, mark the most important changes in the ranks of the highest grade pianos and lead to the query, "What is there in the future for the high grade pianos?"
11Save in the case of the Knabe, which has not been withdrawn from the market, but holds no place in the trade beside the Steinway and the Chickering, the commercial side of the business has played the important part. The Weber decline dates from the association of commercial pianos with it; Gildemeester & Kroeger, with all the energy and ability of Mr. Gildemeester and the remarkable qualities of the piano, went to the wall for lack of sufficient capital. The field of the Decker was restricted, though there was abundant capital to open up new avenues of distribution had the owners of the business been able to take advantage of the situation.
13They are gone, however, and what is there for these that are left?
15This, a population of 70,000,000 of people, among whom musical culture is increasing, and who are today the most prosperous people in the world. The United States offers up a great cry for the best in everything. As musical culture spreads so will the demand for the best that the piano manufacturer can offer. The purely commercial piano can play no important part in this situation, for the commercial piano, not cheap trash, goes to a different constituency, though it may be, as its makers assert, the forerunner for better than it. Looking, then, from a certain standpoint, the future of the artistic piano appears to depend upon the musical development of the country. If the vogue of the poor instrument is to continue, if there is arrested development of general musical culture, then the outlook from that point is not bright. Such a condition cannot be maintained or even exist, for the thirst for musical knowledge is increasing rapidly, the understanding of music is broadening, our facilities for securing the best that will assist in that development are equal to our desires. Decidedly the coming generation is to exhibit a new love for and acquaintance with music, and with that broader knowledge come the more artistic means of attaining the artistic end.
17The depressed condition of business has had its effect in unexpected quarters. Economy has become a fad, and from the commercial view all artistic products have suffered. That condition will not be maintained, for it is unnatural to the American people. It will pass as the hard times are passing, and there will again be a demand for the best, pianos not excepted.
19The day of the artistic piano is not over; on the contrary, a new day appears to be dawning.
21There is to be, however, a readjustment. The changing conditions of the past few years have proved the opportunity for some. The East no longer furnishes all the artistic pianos, for the West presents products that are marvels of artistic ensemble. How great a part the old-time makers will play against these newcomers is one of the problems the future will solve. From a purely mercantile standpoint the Eastern products will probably not prevail; from an artistic standpoint they will lead for some time to come. The musical world may not be slow to recognize the claims of these Western instruments, in which case the battle for supremacy will be fought on new lines.
23We believe the country to-day is, as well as it can, showing its appreciation for the best products of the piano makers. A fuller and more substantial appreciation time and improved business conditions will bring.
25Flechter Gets a Stay.
27VICTOR FLECHTER, the violin dealer under sentence of one year in the penitentiary for having in his possession the violin of the late Professor Bott, was granted on Monday last by Judge Beach, of the Supreme Court, a stay of execution of sentence, pending a decision by the Appellate Division of the court.
29Judge Beach's decision follows:
31People, &c., v. Flechter.—The only definite ideas the court has been able to glean from the voluminous record submitted have been suggested by the clear and cogent brief of the learned assistant to the district attorney; the list of numberless objections and exceptions, with excerpts from the evidence, handed up on behalf of the respondent, without specification or argument, has proved confusing and comparatively useless. It will serve no desirable purpose to here specify the untenable and doubtful exceptions. The question whether the instrument produced on the trial was or was not identical with the one taken from the prisoner when arrested, and present before the police magistrate, seems to have been of supreme importance. If it was, the prosecution was weakened; if it was not, the defense met a like fate. The learned court selected and allowed in evidence over objection and exception by the defense portions of a letter dated March 28, 1896, written from Chicago by the witness Etler to his attorney. A part which went before the jury for consideration is in these words: "I have assisted Mr. Palmer, his able lawyer, with the best of my ability and have covered Mr. Flechter's shortcomings of faking the violin to a Strad." This declaration should not bind nor affect the prisoner in any way. If from the evidence the jury were inclined to believe the instrument in the police court was the one stolen, what could be more potent to induce a conclusion adverse to the prisoner than the declaration strongly tending to show that he was using a simulated instrument for his trial and defense, and not the one which was before the magistrate? The learned court found that such action would be indicative of guilt. It is impossible to say whether the jury was or was not influenced by the statement, and it may not have direct bearing upon the issues, but it was most unfavorable to the defendant, and I think erroneously admitted. In addition, the exceptions to the exclusion of questions asked on cross-examination of the experts on handwriting seem well taken. It was proper for the defense to make apparent to the jury, if possible, the fallibility of expert opinion. Motion for certificate is granted.
33Adolph Meyer Fails.
35REFERENCE is made in our Chicago letter this week to complications affecting Mr. Adolph Meyer, of Omaha. It will be remembered that Mr. Meyer, who was formerly of the firm of Max Meyer & Brother, started business on his own account but a comparatively short time ago, at which time he was given the agency for the Steinway piano.
37The particulars of his difficulties, so far as they have yet reached us, consist in the statement that on June 23 he gave chattel mortgages, aggregating $8,590—one in favor of Rose T. Meyer for $1,000, one to the Ivers & Pond Piano Company for $570, one to William Wallace for $190, one to the Hamilton Organ Company for $915, and one to the First National Bank for $1,615; and on June 24 he gave an additional mortgage for an amount which is not clearly defined in the report received by us just before going to press.
39According to Mr. Meyer's letter heading, he was at the time of his failure representing Steinway, Knabe, Ivers & Pond, Vose, Briggs and Sterling, as well as the Aeolian, Story & Clark, Sterling and Hamilton organs. No one in the East is able to advance any theory that will account for this sudden and unexpected collapse, and the full particulars will not be obtainable for some time to come.
41Receiver Davenport's Statement.
43MR. JOHN I. DAVENPORT, receiver for Keller Brothers & Blight, made the following report to the court last week showing the condition of the firm:
45LIABILITIES.
46Accounts payable …………………………………………….. $6,897.60
47Dividends declared, credited to sundry individuals, as per ledger …………………………………………….. 516.00
48Bills payable …………………………………………….. 22,603.65
49Mortgage on factory property …………………………………………….. 4,900.00
51CONTINGENT LIABILITIES.
52Endorsement of notes …………………………………………….. $24,528.18
54Total …………………………………………….. $59,445.88
56ASSETS.
57Inventory at factory—Pianos and parts in process, supplies, &c. …………………………………………….. $10,738.15
58Machinery, fixtures, engine, boiler and tools …………………………………………….. 1,843.10
59Factory property and buildings …………………………………………….. 6,000.00
60Pianos shipped from factory from May 1 to 23, not charged on the books …………………………………………….. 2,761.00
61Accounts receivable as per ledger …………………………………………….. 1,1244.62
63Total …………………………………………….. $35,586.87
65This shows a deficit now of $23,858.51. This, of course, is bound to shrink at least 50 per cent., and shows now that there is a possible settlement in the future of about 20 cents on the dollar.
67Different Court Proceedings.
69AT the hour of going to press Judge Beach of the Supreme Court was hearing a motion for the appointment of a temporary receiver of the Muehlfeld & Haynes Piano Company. At the meeting of the creditors last Tuesday the legality of the holding of the meeting came up and the matter was referred to the court. No decision has been rendered as yet.
71The Stuyvesant Piano Company went into court yesterday on motion to allow the payment of certain bills, by the receiver. Case still on.
73In Town.
75AMONG the trade visitors who have been in New York the past week and among those who called at the office of THE MUSICAL COURIER were:
76E. W. Furbush, Vose & Sons Piano Company, Boston, Mass.
77A. M. Wright, Manufacturers Piano Company, Chicago, Ill.
78A. O. Mueller, Julius Bauer & Co., Chicago, Ill.
79E. R. Riley, White Plains, N. Y.
80J. E. Hunt, Pawling, N. Y.
81W. O. Hoyt, Danbury, Conn.
82J. H. Leonard, J. H. Leonard & Son, Albany, N. Y.
83Frank W. Thomas, Albany, N. Y.
84I. N. Camp, Estey & Camp, Chicago, Ill.
85A. B. Clinton, New Haven, Conn.
86H. C. Gilbert, Gardner & Zellner, Los Angeles, Cal.
87F. A. Pelton, Boston, Mass.
88L. Leiter, Leiter Brothers, Syracuse, N. Y.
89L. Kurtzmann, C. Kurtzmann & Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
90Mr. Rachofsky, Rachofsky, Davis & Co., Durango, Cal.
91Mr. Dayforth, Ivers & Pond Piano Company, Boston, Mass.
92A. H. Hammond, Worcester, Mass.
93E. S. Votey, Farrand & Votey Organ Company, Detroit, Mich.
94R. S. Howard, J. & C. Fischer, New York.
95G. P. Bent, Chicago, Ill.
96J. White, Wilcox & White Organ Company, Meriden, Conn.
97Chas. H. Becht, Brambach Piano Company, Dolgeville, N. Y.
99Weser Brothers.
101IT can be reiterated that for recent desirable improvements in pedal mechanism Weser Brothers, whose factory is at 522 to 528 West Forty-third street, stand at the head. And their ideas are valuable. The Weser pianos are full of modern inventions which make them easy sellers. So many talking points are advantageous in an argument.
103THE meeting of Chase & Smith, Syracuse, was held on Friday last, June 26, at the office of the company, at which time an offer of 50 cents on the dollar was made to the creditors. As this settlement was not accepted by the majority, the meeting was adjourned until July 1, pending a further investigation of their affairs, at which time it is expected a satisfactory arrangement will be made whereby the firm will continue as a stock organization, as predicted in THE MUSICAL COURIER of June 17.
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