Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-20
Spfrial ZlafirFa
IMPROVEMENTS AT LUDDEN Il
BATES MUSIC HOUSE.
Now the HandsOmest Store in Savan-
nah.


accommodating fortunes, but who spend money
freely in improving and adjoining their places
of business, and thus benefting the business
interests Of a city, are fairly entitled to pub
lie notice and commentator, and it is will
pleasure that we now speak of the business
enterprise and public spirit shown by the
wide-awake and reliable Music House of Lud-
den & Bates, which has now the reputation
both at home and abroad of being the Invest
house IN the South in any line of business
Thirteen years ago these gentlemen opened
here in comparatively small way, and now
they rank among the few leading Music
Houses of America. Their trade from $4,000
a wear has crept up towards a hall
million. and extends through every
Southern State. With nine large Branch
Houses, located at such important points as
Augusta, Macon, Rome ana COLUMBUS ga
Charlotte and GoldsbOro, Y. c.; Jacksonville
Fla; Meridian, Miss, and Knoxville, Tenn,
and over One Hundred Important Local
Agencies, they practically control the Music
Trade of the South, and have brought 1t Ia
Savannahs gates. They are also, at theiI
Branch House in New York City, manufac-
turing Pianos, which are attracting the at
tention of Musicians by their excellence and
Exquisite Tone quality.
World have sought this House to represent
and introduce their instruments South, and
establish with them their Grand Southern
Distributing Depot. from MncuCG tnC lEduC
could be supplied at Lowest Factory rates.
With these unequaled advantages and
strong backing, the house has built up an en-
ormous trade in pianos and organs, and are
now shipping over 1000 instruments annually
Wecannot particularize as to their extensive
business, but will briefly say that they com
pletely cover every branch OF the music trade
and their sales OF sheet music, music books, band
instruments. organinas, orgunettes, vlOlins,
guitars, accordeons and all Kinds of small mu-
steal instruments and musical merchandise
is on the same extensive scale as their piano
and organ trade.
Musical Emporium. from which every musical
want can be supplied at the lowest rates
known, and, furthermore, the purchaser will
be dealt with on fair and liberal business
basis olive and Let Live" lone Equal
Price to All, ''l6 OF. to the Lib, 80 TT. to the
Yard, " mo Misrepresentation" ''N0 Trick
ery," ''No Over Charging" are business
notices of this house that have been lived up
to since its foundation, and have gained it the
high reputation which is more valuable to
any house than gold and silver.
But we must speak more particularly OF the
recent improvements to their
HANDSOME TEMPLE OF MUSIC.
Before they occupied their present double
store, on Congress and Whitaker streets, the
buildings were dilapidated and generally run
down, bringing but small rental, and regarded
as undesirable business stands. In 1880 ex-
tensive changes and repairs were made, which
brought the block back into favor among
business men. The two stores were thrown
into one, and some $4,000 was spent in restor-
ing and fitting up. The cyclones, sun and
dust of the past three years partially impaired
the work done. and now Messrs. Ludden &
Bates have at their own cost placed the two
large buildings in complete repair inside and
out, and made it an ornament to the city.
The entire brick front of both stores has
been painted and pencied, and the rich iron
front beautifully decorated in black and gold.
The St. Julian street front has also been re-
faFrr
gold are displayed upon the Congress street
front, and in combination with the four large
show windows, with curtains handsomely
lettered and filed with Musical instruments,
the building now presents an imposing appear
ance. These four show windows are indeed
a sight to one who has music in his make up.
In one stands. magnificent Mason u Hamlin
Parlor Organ, richly carved, and flanked with
smaller Organs. The next is filled with Ac-
cOrdeons. Guitars, BanjOs, Violins, Organinas.
and such small goods. In the third are dis
played monster Double Bases God Riddles,
as the profane call them), Violoncellos, and
Drums Of all kinds and sizes. In the fourth
repose on couches of black silk velvet a
superb set of Nickel-Plated Silver-tone Band
Instruments Of twenty-four pieces, and val
ued at $500.
Inside the store the changes made are mar
Vicious. The floor is laid with noiseless and
pretty LinOleum and the ceilings and walls
decorated with beautiful gilt paper LAID in
panels. The wood work, columns and beams
mOuldings and cornices trimmed With blue
and maroon, producing an artistic and charm
ing effect. The staircase, carpeted with Brus-
sells, leads to the spacious Piano and Organ
Rooms, which are also richly papered and
painted. The contractors for the painting of
the building outside and inside, including the
iron front and signs, were Messrs. Bennett Il
Moore, who deserve credit for the taste dis
played and the fine work.
Perhaps the most pleasing improvement
made is, however, in the office, which has
been enlarged and extended 80 as to fill the
entire end of one store. One-haf the space is
neatly carpeted and fitted up as general
reception office, with sofas, easy chairs,
pictures and singing birds.
Mr. j. A. Bates, the General Manager,
has his private desk here, (the one
with a million pigeon holes for which
he advertised), and here are also
the desks of the Manager of the Piano and
Organ Department, and OF the General Cor
respondent. Adjoining, and occupying the
remaining space, which is also carpeted, are
the desks of the Cashier and the four Book
keepers. all within speaking distance of the
Manager. Order and convenience reign here,
and the amount of work daily turned of must
be seen to be appreciated. Cali bells, speak
ing tubes. and Dumb Walters connect with
the Shipping Room, Wholesale Department,
Piano and Organ Rooms, Tuning and Repairing
Rooms, and the Printing Othce on third floor.
In fact the office and entire store as well is a
model of neatness and convenience.
Handsome gas fixtures are yet to be placed
in the show windows, and the new lncandes-
cent electric light introduced throughout the
building.
Mr.. Bates is always as busy as bee, and
generally has to talk on the fly; but neverthe-
less, he will be glad to receive pop-calls from
anv friends and citizens who desire to inspect
his COSY surroundings. And while there, the
friends and public generally should not forget
to look through the elegant line Of holiday
presents now in stock. Musical people with
money in their pockets will go out penniless
ms sure as they 90 in there, but their loss will
be Ludden & Bates gain, and so it will be all
right, for what they gain benefits us all to
some extent. Success to them and all liberal
minded merchants of their stamp and pluck.
No+;oo 70 CtookboIdars