Morning journal and courier., 1889-07-16
WONDERFUL PROGRESS.

In Piano Manufacturing in New
| Haven-The Concern OF h. ShO ninger
| and Company Again EnIarging Its
Facilities.
Among the large New Haven manufactor-
les which add SO materially to the prosperity
and growth of the city, is that of b. Shon-
niger & Co. This prosperous and enter
prising house noted all over the Union is
still further enlarging it's facilities owing to
its increasing business, which in extent and
Importance already ranks it among the
noted piano manufactures of this country.
1t is concern creditable to our city and its
pay roll amounts well on to half a million
dollars year. The following from the New
York Music Trade Review of recent date
gives further interesting particulars.
The ranks of the piano trade of America
are adorned by thousands of distinguished
firms whose eminence is but the natural and
fitting sequel to honorable and determined
struggles in obscurity. Probably no better
or brighter example of the reward that al
most inevitably follows upon honest enter
prise, allied with great ability, can be in
stanced than that supplied by the b. Shon-
niger company, of New Haven, Conn, a
house who have remained unaffected. in any
unfavorable sense, by the changes to which
| the piano and organ trades of this country
have been subjected during past years.
The b. Schoninger company have manu-
featured organs during upwards of thirty
nine years, and in this line alone have
achieved q reputation not exceeded by that
of any other firm of organ-makers in the
world. Their characteristic integrity, as we'll
as their keen foresight, were strongly evil
denced when, perceiving the downward ten
denotes of the business In the East, they
III.
their fame for many decade. Refusing to
be competitors in q race in which quality and
quality alone, was not the deciding factor,
they desisted from the manufacture of all the
cheaper kinds of organs and confined their
efforts to those fine grades which have
brought them profit and renown.
After due deliberation the firm came to
the conclusion, in 1876, that an opening ex-
listed for them in the piano field. The re-.
suit has proved the soundness of this con-
viction. But as they we'll knew the differ
ence between being quick and being in a
hurry, they did not make very pretentious
beginning. Their first object was TO make
piano whose merits should attract attention
without the aid of drummers. Rome was
company were perfectly content to wait until
their reputation in the new sphere should be
grounded upon deliberately formed public
opinion.
In 1876 they made about two pianos per
week. Though they advertised to some ex-
tent, they did not 60 down on their knees
and supplicate the patronage of dealers.
sentative It's soundness is sufficiently demon
strated by the fact that in 1889 they made
eleven hundred pianos, and in 1888 sixteen
hundred. A great increase on last years OUT
put is already anticipated for the present
year, and with good reason, for between JAM
uary 1st and May LIST, 1880, the B. Shoninger
Co. made and sold two hundred and seventy
one more pianos than were turned out by
them in the corresponding period of 1888.
They are hard at work all the time, trying
their best to fill orders and succeeding as
we'll as their immense business will permit.
The personnel of the firm is q remarkable
one. Bernard Shoninger, the honored head
of the concern, Is an amiable and kindly
gentleman of the Give and let live" type.
and is held in the most affectionate esteem
| by all with whom he comes In contact.
Particularly is he venerated by his employ
ees. His main business methods are soon
/ summed up. Never having attempted to
overtrade, his losses have been few and tri-
| fling. Further, he always paid cash down
| to his supply men, never sold at q sacrifice,
| and never had occasion to deal disadvan-
paper. Simple and straight
| forward in all things, his ship has calamity
| and successfully encountered the CONNER
| cial elements, and is never likely to be steer
ed out of peaceful latitudes. His two sons,
Simon and Joseph, are worthy counterparts
of their sire, able, unassuming and progress
sive. The former devotes his time and ener-
gies to the management of the factory, while
the latter has conducted the Chicago branch
of the concern to high level of prosperity.
Returns from the recently established
eastern branch at No. SO Fifth avenue New
York city, are of q very encouraging kind,
but this is only what was expected. No
man can ever quote against any member of
the B. Shoninger firm the words of scripture:
"This man began to build, but was not able
to finish" On the contrary, the Shoninger
structure, erected on the firm foundation of
high principle, wondrous energy, intelligence
and skill, promises to defy for an indefinite
period the storms of trade and the buffet
ings of time.-New York Music Trade Re-
view May 20, 1889.