Since music was so much a part of the life of the earlier days it may
not be amiss to mention the names of a few great specialists of that
time. There were the Zechs, Jacob and Fred, manufacturers and
repairers. Many examples of the former's work still exist. Jacob was
encouraged by the late Wm. C. Ralston and built many grand pianos for
the old Palace Hotel and other places. Both the Zechs have passed away
but their descendants are in the front rank as musical artists,
teachers and composers. A celebrated artist in his line was Urban, the
violin repairer. Phaff, the flute and clarinet man was another. Others
were Senor Nojica, maker of guitars, harps in the Italian quarter of
Kearny street, Charles Morrill, of banjos, Tall Dan Delaney, drummer
at Maguire's Theater (who wouldn't learn a note of music and played as
he pleased) who repaired drums, and C.C. Keene, maker of accordeons,
in former days much played, Professor Wm. T. Ferrer, the guitarist,
lately deceased, came here in early days from Mexico with his family
and made a place for himself as a guitar and mandolin teacher. His
family were all talented, Annita Ferrer was a beautiful soprano singer
and sang in concert and church. She occupied the place as soloist in
Calvary Church for a while when the choir was composed of Harry Gates,
tenor, Fred Borneman, bass, M.R. Blake, contralto, G.A. Scott,
organist. Prof. Ferrer was not a commonplace performer, but played
operatic selections of his own arrangement for the guitar that no one
else attempted as far as I can recollect. He had a severe time in the
beginning as prices for lessons were so low, and he had all he could
do to keep the wolf from the door. We gave him several benefits which
were greatly appreciated. One night we crowded the old Mercantile Hall
with his admirers. The singers and players were Mrs. Hall McAllister,
Mrs. Marriner-Campbell, Clara Tippits, Amphion Quartette, Mrs. M.R.
Blake, Sig. Mancusie, Wunderlich, J. Stadfeldt, Harry Hunt,
accompanist. I shall always remember that night. The dear professor
thanked us with broken speech, tears filling his eyes. He said the
excellent program was a surprise and one of the greatest pleasures he
had in California. He was made doubly glad by a well-filled purse of a
thousand dollars, the receipts of the concert. This act on our part
made him our perpetual friend until he died. He lived long enough to
see his prices increased fourfold, which enabled him in his later
years to live in apparent comfort. We were glad of it for everybody
liked Prof. M.W. Ferrer. He passed to his rest several years ago.
Among the earlier piano dealers were Badger & Lindenberger, who
handled the Chickering pianos and also did a wholesale clothing
business (a strange combination) at Battery and Merchant streets.
After several years they were succeeded by the surviving partner, Wm.
G. Badger, who continued the business until his death, after which it
was disposed of by his heirs. Mr. Badger was a faithful worker in the
Sabbath schools and took a deep interest to promote good music among
the young. Some time in 1874 he produced the cantata of Esther, with
Madam Anna Bishop, queen, W.C. Campbell, king, Vernon Lincoln, Hamen,
Mrs. M.R. Blake, Hamen's wife. The old Platt's hall was packed to its
fullest capacity. The cantata was given to the unbounded delight of
Mr. Badger, and the audience cheered us all to the utmost. Enthusiasm
was at the highest pitch and encomiums of praise were showered upon
us. Those were halcyon days for fine singers. We had no lack of voices
to call upon at all times.
Among the earliest music stores was that of an aged Italian named
Salvator Rosa. He occupied half of a store on Montgomery street, near
Market, and was a genial, quiet old gentleman, who spoke very little
English. His stock was principally selections from Italian operas, of
which he knew every note. Both American and Italian artists loved to
visit the old fellow and sun themselves in his doorway. Rosa moved
later to Sacramento street and continued in the field and was followed
by Rasche Bros., in turn by J.T. Bowers, a brother-in-law of the
Rasche brothers. After Bowers, the business was conducted by Chas. S.
Eaton, and then after some years faded from sight. Also established in
the music literature business at one time in Clay street, was Schubert
& Co.'s branch New York house, succeeded by the Ruppell Bros., their
managers, who later gave up the business. Blackman & Davis,
Southerners, tried the business for a while, being among the first to
occupy a store in the original Phelan Building. Another off-shoot of
Gray's was John Broder, who commenced work as a little boy. He is now
in ripe manhood conducting a similar business in the Byron Mauzy
building on Post street where he is still successfully conducting the
work he chose when a boy.
Engaged in the earlier years of the music business was Woodworth,
Allover & Co. Here the founder of the present firm of Benj. Curtaz &
Son was employed. Woodworth, Allover & Co. dealt mostly in imported
French pianos and harmoniums. They were succeeded by Woodworth, Schell
& Co. and with them was connected Mr. Curtaz, who later was in the
firm of Hemme & Long. Woodworth, Schell & Co. after several years
discontinued. A.L. Bancroft & Co. for a few years also engaged in the
music business on Market street but later retired. A. Waldteufel was a
late comer from San Jose and sold Blethner pianos. His chief clerk was
the late well known Julius Oettl, a fine teacher of the piano and an
encyclopedia of musical knowledge. Later he was in the music
department of the branch house in Oakland of Kohler, Chase & Co. with
whom he was connected until sickness prevented his continuing in the
business any longer. He died several years ago, mourned by many
friends he had made in his long career of music in the state. S.H.
Long, a music teacher from Marysville, after handling the Chickering
piano for a while at the corner of Montgomery and Post streets was
joined by August Hemme and for several years they manufactured the
Hemme & Long pianos. They are both deceased and the business was
continued for a while by Mr. E. Caswell and Mr. Curtaz but finally was
wound up.
The well known firm of the Zeno Mauvais Music Co. was established in
1877 at 420 Twelfth street, Oakland, under the name of its founder,
Zeno Mauvais. In 1882 it was deemed best to locate in San Francisco
and at 749 Market street the stock and sign was first shown to the
people on that side of the bay. Two years later the business had so
increased as to make a removal to more commodious quarters an absolute
necessity. 769 Market street was secured and with the increased
facilities for carrying stock and attending to the wants of patrons
the business was soon in a fair way to eclipse in volume its oldest
competitors. Mr. Mauvais saw early in his musical career that the
public demanded more "up-to-date methods" in the way of "bargains"
"right prices" and "square dealing" than had been offered before, and
he began to put into operation the policy of "quick sales and small
profits" which was characteristic of the house during its entire
existence and brought to it an ever increasing trade. One of the
special features was the handling of enormous quantities of the
50-cent folios and the 10-cent editions of popular issues. These were
bought in carload lots and sent out to nearly every quarter of the
globe. Pianos and musical goods of all descriptions were included in
the lines carried by the firm, whose well known policy of discounting
its bills enabled it to secure very desirable agencies and lowest
prices on all purchases. In June, 1890, the house sustained an
irreparable loss by the death of its founder, Zeno Mauvais, who passed
away after a very brief illness. Devotion to business and a never
ceasing expenditure of energy and vital force was the cause of this
man's withdrawal from the activity of an hitherto busy life, during
which he made and kept many friends. The incorporation of the firm
under the name of the Zeno Mauvais Co. was the next change made in the
affairs of this house. Mrs. Mae Mauvais was elected president and
during the next five years her brother, R.L. Eames, occupied the
position of manager. At this time a change being deemed expedient, Mr.
H.S. Stedman, who had been connected with the house since 1883, was
elected as manager and secretary, continuing as such until the
conflagration of 1906 destroyed the entire stock together with all the
books of the concern.
Under the new management the firm renewed its effort to expand and
took the two upper floors of the building in addition to the one
previously occupied. A very successful feature was the division of the
lower floor into rooms for the display and sale of different kinds of
small goods, each having a room of its own. This was a new thing on
the coast and was fully appreciated by the large number of patrons who
took advantage of the opportunity to try instruments in comparative
seclusion. In 1904 the largest holder of stock, Mr. Roy Mauvais, who
was actively engaged in looking after the interests of the firm
desired to concentrate his energies in furthering other lines of
business in which he had engaged, and found more congenial. At this
time an offer from the Wiley B. Allen Co. to purchase the entire stock
of pianos, organs and piano players was accepted, and in accordance
with the conditions of the sale the stock of small goods, sheet music
and books was moved to 933 Market street, in the room adjoining the
piano warerooms of the Allen Company and there handled under the name
of the Zeno Mauvais Music Co. until the fire of April, 1906,
obliterated all traces of it. It was not considered advisable by the
stockholders to re-establish the business after this unfortunate
occurrence and so one of the best and most favorably known music
houses of the Pacific Coast ceased to exist.
[Illustration:
C.C. Clay
Leander S. Sherman