the banks of the Ammonoosuc river, made. Out in Cambridge is situated in the northern part of New Hamp- the factory where is made the heavy ments which contribute to the piano. shire, there is a factory where the In the thriving village of Lisbon, on sounding-boards for these pianos are wood-work which enters into the construction of the piano. The home factory is the place where the products of the outlying establishment are brought together and finally united into a beautiful whole, the Briggs Piano. From a Boston contemporary the following facts have been collected: Among the houses which have contributed to making this city an important centre in the production of musical instruments is that of C. C. Briggs & Co. To accommodate the increased demand for their instruments, Messrs. Briggs & Co. have removed from their former location, No. 1125 Washington street, to their commodious and substantial six story factory, No. 5 Appleton street. This enterprising firm manufacture several styles of upright, grand, and square piano-fortes, with many new features and improvements in the scales and styles, and the success of their instruments and the commendation they have everywhere received from deal ers and artists attest the substantial progress of the firm in their important art. The principal aim of Messrs. Briggs & Co. is to make a first-class piano in every respect, with special attention to its lasting qualities. By constant care, experiment, and endeavor, Messrs. Briggs & Co. have brought their instruments to the highest standard of excellence, and in the opinion of those who have used them they are the nearest approach to per fection yet attained. The piano scales are drawn by Mr. C. C. Briggs, who has had practical experience in piano building for aquarter of a century, and his scales, drawn years ago for other firms, are in use today. The new style cases of this house are wholly original in design, and made of the most durable and fashionable woods. Among upright styles are their famous cottage pianos, which, by thoughtful and patient study and experiment they have brought to a wonderful degree of perfection, securing a small piano embodying the qualities of volume, fulness, and sweetness of tone of the larger sizes. Messrs. Briggs & Co.'s separable piano is one of the most ingenious inventions for facilitating the moving of the larger sizes of pianos through passages and doorways otherwise impassable. The cases are each divided into two vertical sections front and back. The style A, cottage upright piano, has three strings to a note, overstrung rosewood, plain, and serpentine mold ings on plinth, and Agraffe treble. Messrs. Briggs & Co. furnish a warranty with every piano sold, warranting for five years from date of sale. bass with repeating action, handsome panels, round corners, plain trusses, ivory keys, and improved music rack. Style G is also three strings to a note, overstrung bass and repeating action, Mr. C. C. Briggs, the senior memwith handsome panels and carved ber of the firm, is a native of Boston, trusses, ivory keys and improved brought up and educated in the city. music rack, and has an exceedingly He is a natural musician, and for fine, rich quality of tone and even many years was, choir-leader in a scale, and is the most desirable size metropolitan church. Before starting tools and work out his designs, and business and executive ability to succeed in what he should undertake. He has this advantage over the most of his rivals, that he is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business. Unlike most workmen he can build a piano from the raw material, tune it, and then sell it, which latter becomes the easiest task to perform on account of the many merits of the instruments. The Briggs piano meets a want in the community which it fills to perfection. It is at once a fine instrument, and one within the reach of all who can afford a good thing. The prices are the lowest consistent with thorough workmanship and the best materials. The stock is received in the basement, and thence carried to the upper story by a commodious freight elevator; thence its course is downward, story by story, until it reaches the warerooms on the first floor, a large and commodious room, filled with finished products of the factory. These pianos are very popular with the people, as shown by the thousands in use in every part of our country, and the Briggs pianos are as well known as any made. A SKETCH OF ONE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MOST ENTERPRISING BUSINESS CONCERNS. In 1871 Mr. Edd. F. Higgins made a beginning in a small store in Manchester, N. H., which has grown into the largest house-furnishing store in the state. Soon after starting, he perceived that the city of Manchester and the surrounding country needed an establishment at which good, honest goods could be purchased at reasonable prices, and set to work with the end in view of gradually building up and maintaining such an establishment. He soon associated with himself his brother, Mr. H. F. Higgins, under the firm name of Higgins Bros., and to their small stock of crockery, cutlery, &c., they began to add the cheaper grades of furniture, at the same time increasing the size of the store by taking additional room from time to time as needed. In February, 1878, having carefully felt their way along amid the breakers of the business depression then sweeping over the country, they decided that the generous support given by the public warranted them in still further catering to the wants of their patrons. Accordingly, after leasing the entire building of Wells block, in which they were situated, they fitted up in the basement a carpet room, the best in the state, and opened a large and varied assortment of carpetings, which venture proved an immediate success. During the summer following the floor area of the main store was nearly doubled by adding the next store north of theirs, and, the partitions being removed, they had the largest and handsomest store not only in Manchester, but in the state. Still their increasing trade, and the desire to please an appreciating public, urged them on to greater efforts. They began the manufacture of upholstered furniture; their carpet de partment was moved from the basement to the floor above, thus affording better light for the display of these goods, and making it easier of access to purchasers; their means for manufacturing and finishing cabinet furniture were increased so far as their always limited room would allow; their force of competent workmen was augmented, and every effort was made to keep abreast of the times. ported and domestic carpetings and rugs, in many grades and styles, and hard to suit is the person who cannot here find what he searches for. Passing to the next floor above, the purchaser, or visitor (for visitors are always welcome), is in the midst of a bewildering array of easy chairs, patent rockers, divans, and parlor suites, and after entering the drapery department one sees displayed upholstery goods, lace curtains, and drapery material in profusion, luxurious Turkish chairs, and the finest of parlor furniture, upholstered in plushes, spun silks, damasks, and various beautiful coverings. After resting and feasting one's eyes, the ascension of another flight of stairs brings one where lovers of fine cabinet work may see an elegant lot of chamber suites, side-boards, parlor and library tables, mirrors, bookcases, desks, and all the things which are needed to make a home perfect in its appointments. At this juncture they opened a branch establishment in Concord, N. H., and under the able management of Mr. W. C. Patten, their former head clerk, who now entered the firm of Higgins & Patten, a prosperous business was transacted for two years, when, owing to the ill health of Mr. Patten, this branch of the business passed into other hands. They now more clearly than ever saw in the near future the necessity of having still more commodious quarters and enlarged facilities for a constantly growing business. Various plans were thought of, discussed, The firm had now nearly reached and rejected; all feasible projects the goal of its ambition, that being for securing the needed accommoda- to have a perfect house-furnishing tions were eagerly scanned and then establishment; but the senior memgiven up, until just as it was almost ber, notwithstanding his success in decided to remodel the building in establishing and maintaining such a which they were situated, the City prosperous business, became desirous Hotel, one of Manchester's best of seeking "fresh laurels in pastures known landmarks, was offered for new," and on the 1st of February of sale, and seeing in its purchase the the present year he sold his interest consummation of a long coveted in the business to Messrs. W. C. scheme, they quickly seized the op- Patten and H. P. Crowell, whose portunity, and in July, 1884, the old long experience well fits them for the City Hotel passed into their hands, positions they now occupy in the and became devoted to their uses. concern. They, together with the remaining partner, Mr. H. F. Higgins, have put the business on a still firmer and more lasting basis by organizing a stock company, with the name of Higgins Brothers Company, and incorporated March 14, 1887. The new concern propose not only to maintain the high reputation of the former firm, but to add to its lustre so far as possible by giving their patrons more and better goods for their money than ever. Their wide experience enables them to purchase After several months' labor and the expenditure of a large sum of money, it was fitted for their business, and was occupied by them in October, 1884. The first floor front is devoted to crockery, china, glass, silver-ware, and kindred goods. Passing from the crockery department towards the rear, and ascending a short flight of broad steps, one enters the best lighted and most commodious carpet room in the state of New Hampshire. Here may be found im |