Scan 47
Musical Courier 1896-12-23: Vol 33 Iss 877, 1896
68 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 38. See the scan on archive.org.
1CHICAGO OFFICE THE MUSICAL COURIER.
2226 Wabash Avenue, December 19, 1896.
4THERE is some Christmas trade, though not as much as was anticipated. Some of the stores have been keeping open evenings, and by mutual agreement all will remain open evenings the coming week. Some attractive new styles of cases are being exhibited by many of the dealers, the most pronounced changes in cases being the rolling fallboard and the full swing front, with the half circle, and carved designs, some manufacturers carrying the style so far as to make the bottom board correspond with the top, except as to the carving. It would not do to discriminate between so many makers, but without mentioning names there are one or two makers in Chicago of moderate priced pianos who are keeping pace with the latest demands, and there is one maker of high grade instruments who must feel the effects of the determination to produce only the very best in design, workmanship, material, tone and action. There is still room at the top, and there are still buyers who will have only such an instrument as has just been described, and who are willing to pay for it.
6There has been no determination of the question as to where the Estey & Camp house will be located in the future. It has been stated by one irresponsible person that the old armory on Jackson street had been secured, but up to the present time such a statement is not true, and from the present outlook it is not likely to be. There are several stores available, not the least suitable being the Shoninger Building, at 267 and 269 Wabash avenue. It is a very desirable location, and with a revival of trade will be still more desirable. It has also the necessary floor space and shipping facilities.
8There is a good story going the rounds in relation to a certain large manufacturing concern on the North Side that recently opened a retail wareroom. One of the outside salesmen got information that a certain church was in the market for a piano, and in the course of events was brought in contract with the committee, which it seems consisted of thirteen Chicago business men, not one of whom had ever heard of the piano in question, which is a good commentary on the lack of advertising methods of the house. It is just possible that some of the profits made in former years would have been well expended in a judicious course of advertising, if there is any desire to continue in business.
10Mr. H. D. Cable has been in the South for a week or more, and returned to-day.
12Steger & Co. is one Western concern that means to take a commanding position in the future, if it has made no pretense of doing so in the past. Right on the heels of having placed itself in the most favorable condition for producing goods, it also, in place of retrenching, as the situation would seem to warrant, puts on more men to sell its product in both branches of the trade, two good men from the Shoninger establishment, Mr. Broderick for wholesale, and Mr. Horner for retail work, and now we have to announce the securing of the valuable services of Mr. J. O. Nelson, who has been for so many years connected with the Mason & Hamlin Company's branch in this city. All these changes have been made without disturbing any of the old employees. To contemplate these changes would lead one to suppose that Mr. Steger was not aware that times were not auspicious, but this does not follow at all. Mr. Steger knows what he is about, as his former success proves, and he is ably assisted by his oldest son, Mr. Chris. Steger, and one would have to go a long way to find this young man's equal for business aptitude or for a clear conception as to the business outlook; indeed, there are many older members of the trade who could learn from him, young as he is.
14There are but two business failures to recount this week, though one should not be called a failure. Mr. Ike Cohen, of Paducah, Ky., is reported to have made an assignment, and Mr. J. C. Tarvestad, of Decorah, Ia., has given a chattel mortgage for $1,100 to a bank. Mr. Tarvestad is continuing business.
16Mr. Frank King was in town recently, cocked and primed as usual with all kinds of information, both as to business and professional topics connected with music.
18Mr. Adam Schaaf has signed contracts for a building to be constructed on the property he recently acquired at the corner of Union street and West Madison street. It will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000.
20Mr. George P. Bent is on a trip South, in which he proposes to combine rest and business, but mostly rest.
22C. B. Clemmons & Co., the West Side people, are now producing a small grand, something between a baby and parlor size. As their uprights are good, we may expect the same merit in the new grand. This house only does a retail trade.
24Mr. Henry Lowell Mason was in the city the fore part of the week. There was no other significance to the visit other than to arrange the annual meetings of the St. Louis and Chicago houses to occur at the same time.
26The Manufacturers Piano Company is again a de facto concern, having this week procured the discharge of the receiver. Mr. Louis Dederick will undoubtedly be the manager, at least, if not the president, and he deserves either position. He is still in the East, and therefore no details can be secured as to the future movements of the Manufacturers Piano Company.
28Mr. J. O. Astenius, one of our oldest and best tuners, who makes a specialty of tuning pipe organs, has just invented, or rather discovered, a method of improving and softening the tone of the reed, and this applies to both reed and pipe organs. It is a very simple thing, and will be patented in other countries besides this. We hear that he has already been offered $100,000 for the control of the patent, but whether this is so or not it appeals to one's common sense at once as a very happy discovery.
30Mr. A. H. Rintelman has taken rooms in the Hallet & Davis Building, and will represent the Malcolm Love piano. He has already a stock of pianos on hand. Mr. Rintelman ought now to have had enough experience to make at least a qualified success of this new effort of his, and it is to be hoped he will.
32A new piano case just introduced by the Smith & Barnes Piano Company is certainly all that can be asked for by their customers. It has a rolling fall, a full swing front of modern design, and every bit of carving is hand work. Some of our Chicago makers have been using stucco molding, and have been badly left on it. Smith & Barnes know too much to permit themselves to be fooled with such trash, and it is a great pity any Chicago manufacturer should.
34Lyon & Healy have taken one of their large show windows to illustrate an ideal music room. Almost every instrument is represented. It is most happily conceived and carried out.
36The Hallet & Davis Company has already paid its first instalment, anticipating it by nearly two months. This included interest up to the day the check was received by the creditor.
38Mr. A. A. Fisher has been in town from Detroit, Mich. Mr. E. S. Conway is not expected home from his Pacific Coast trip until about Christmas. Mr. C. B. Detrick, representing the Mason & Hamlin Company, has just returned from California, and reports fair success at the various points visited.
40Not many visitors have been here this week. It is too close to the holidays, and we hope right here that every dealer will profit by it. This is the easiest way to wish them all the compliments of the season, and as we cannot send them each a check for a thousand it is also the cheapest.
42"Nit."
43MONTREAL, December 15, 1896.
44Editors The Musical Courier:
45Will you tell me, please, by your paper or by postal card if there is a piano firm at New York under the name of "Stanburg (or Stauburg) & Co., New York," and oblige,
46Yours truly, P. A. BÉGIN.
48FOR fear that the popular colloquialism that appears in answer to this question at the top has not yet become sufficiently acclimatized in Her Majesty's domain on the other side of the St. Lawrence it may be necessary to inform Mr. Bégin that its equivalent in Queen's English is Nay.
50Clarence Wulsin, of D. H. Baldwin & Co., Indianapolis, Ind., is now in Italy resting.
52DeVolney Everett, the Ivers & Pond traveler, has returned from his Western trip and is in Boston, Mass.
54The sale at auction of the John F. Stratton stock was continued on Monday this week from Friday. No statement of the amount realized was ready when this issue went to press.
56"Eufohia" Zither
57has a fuller, softer and more melodious tone than all other concert Zithers in consequence of its peculiar construction. The "Eufohia" Zither has for that reason grown to be the favorite Zither in all Zither playing circles. Sole Mgr., JOSEF SIEBENHÜNER, Schonbach (372) BOHEMIA.
59Orchestra Attachment.
61HARP, VIOLIN, 'CELLO, FLUTE, MANDOLIN.
63The individual musical effect of each of these instruments can be had from the Orchestra Attachment now used in our Pianos. A sample instrument will convince any dealer of the advantage of the attachment in closing a sale.
64We will furnish all information upon application.
66WESER BROTHERS,
67524, 526, 528 West 43d St., New York City.
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