January 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
19
to be common sense to take measures against such a contingency at the pre-
THE OLD AND THE NEW YEAR.
Y the time our readers see the present number of the MUSICAL CEITIC sent moment, and not to wait until such action can no longer be avoided.
It is evident that a combination on the part of the manufacturers, even
AND TRADE REVIEW, the year will have changed its number, and a
majority of the members of the music trades will have balanced their books if only for the purpose of advancing prices to a remunerative figure, could
and found out how much money they have made during the past twelve not fail to meet with success in the face of the present and of the probable
future demand.
months.
As the situation now stands, the manufacturers are fighting one another
At the threshhold of 1881, we may properly pause to review the business
of the past year, and venture a prediction as to what the new year may bring for nothing. Every one knows that just as many pianos could be sold at
remunerative figures as at the present low prices; and although one or two
forth.
The year 1880 will be generally acknowledged by the music trades as the of the oldest and strongest houses might not see an immediate advantage in
most brilliant one they have ever had; the volume of business transacted has such a combination, it could not fail to be of advantage to them in dealing
been far in excess of any previous year, and trade has, with few exceptions, with other matters than those concerning prices ; for if a concerted
been, with both manufacturers and dealers, in an exceedingly healthy con- action for one purpose worked smoothly, it would at once become evident
to the parties concerned in it that concerted action for other purposes woiild
dition.
Our exports of musical instruments to foreign countries have steadily be feasible, and they might then look forward to the time when they could
increased, and the imports of musical merchandise have been correspondingly manage their business in their own way, without dictation from parties who
large. This, we believe, is as it should be; for if we buy no goods abroad, have no capital at risk.
We do not intend to advocate anything like a monopoly in this business.
we cannot expect to sell our own wares to foreign nations. All trade, in
order to be permanently profitable, must be mutually advantageous. Let If the manufacturers were obtaining (as a rule) profitable prices for their
each country sell to the others those articles which it has the best natural goods, we should not have a word to say on the subject; but this is not the
advantages for producing, and can therefore produce most cheaply, and its case, and we cannot, in the interest of the trade, remain silent and see the
commercial intercourse will increase and prosper. Any other course, manufacturers cutting each other's throats, when it would be easy for them
although it may for a short time show a profit, is, in the nature of things, to pursue a more rational course. There is a great deal of truth in the old
saying that " competition is the life of trade," but it does not mean the kind
one-sided, and must be of short duration.
In looking back over a prosperous year, and looking forward to one of compettiion which we see to-day among the piano and organ manufacturers.
which we hope will be still more prosperous, we must not in our enthusiasm Any friendly rivalry in the matter of new inventions and improvements, or
forget the old adage, " In time of prosperity prepare for adversity." The that which tends to a wider and legitimate circulation among the public of
history of all commercial countries shows periods of prosperity, followed at the merits of the respective makers' instruments, is right and proper; but
intervals of five, ten, or fifteen years, by periods of adversity, by panics and there is not a particle of common sense in the manufacturers underbidding
by failures ; therefore, the music trades, which, aa they deal in luxuries, are one another while there is an active market.
first to feel dull times, should take especial pains to strengthen themselves
THE GAZETTE.
n anticipation of adversity.
Seth
T.
Watson
(of
Drake
&
Watson,
musical instruments, Richmond, Ind);
There is a natural tendency in the human mind to believe that good
chattel mortgage, $195.
times will be perpetual. Yet it might easily happen that a dull period
would find dealers with a heavy stock of goods on their hands, and a still Richard H. Condon, music, Brookville, Me., conveyed realty, $500.
heaver load of indebtedness due them from their customers. In such a case, S. Small, piano key manufacturer, Northboro, Mass., sold out to George
if both manufacturers and dealers have been living up to their incomes, by
Towle.
spending the larger part of their profits, they will be in a poor condition to
Blake & Crane, organs, Pottsville, Penna., dissolved ; E. W. Blake, con-
bridge over such unfortunate times.
tinues.
A large portion of the good results obtained from last year's business
has resulted from the exceptional push and energy which has been displayed Marshall & Co., pianos, etc., Knoxville, Tenn., dissolved ; J. P. McMullen
continues.
by the music trades in putting their g#ods before the public, not only by
doing a larger amount of traveling and personal canvassing, but by persist- Warren Maltby, music, etc., Champaign, E l . ; realty mortgage, $2,600, dis-
ent and judicious advertising, which has been indulged in during the past
charged.
year to an unparalleled extent, and has borne the natural fruits—increase of
Dunckles
& Davis, books and music, Newark, N. J.; chattel mortgage by
business.
Dunckles, $1,242, renewed.
Although we have pointed out as we felt bound to do, the dangers of
the future, yet, we confidently believe that the evil day is far off, and that Bernhard Dufner, orchestrion builder, Buffalo, N.Y. Judgment, $188.
the wave of commercial prosperity, which rolled in upon us with the resump- W. S. Parshall, music, Titusville, Penna. Protested.
tion of specie payments in 1879, will carry us forward on its crest for at
least another decade, and that the music trades of this country in the year to W. L. Young, pianos, New York city; judgment, $612.
come will reach proportions that may astonish the world.
THE COUNTRY'S PROSPERITY.—The prosperity of the country is unpre-
We have lately had occasion once or twice to allude to our own progress, cedented. The surplus of revenue over expenditure in the national budget
which, we think, even our worse enemies will admit, has been remarkable. is $65,883,653.20 and $73,968,087.41 has been transferred to the sinking fund.
Under the circumstances we should not speak again of ourselves, if the The estimated surplus for the present fiscal year without payments to the
opening of the new year did not offer an appropriate occasion.
sinking fund is about $90,000,000. Over one-third of the National debt has
We are now making the most earnest, conscientious efforts to present been paid since 1865. The excess of exports over imports is $167,683,912, and
the general public with the best musical paper in the world, and we flatter our- the aggregate trade is $1,503,593,404. Nothing has occurred to interrupt the
selves that we have not fallen far short of our aim. While other papers resumption of specie payments, the balance of coin in the Treasury on
that aspire to talk upon musical subjects are unscrupulously loading their November 1 being $141,597,013.61. Immigrants are coming in so rapidly
columns with articles cut from their exchanges, we are paying cash for the that a policy of restriction becomes a serious question. The population of
best original articles that can be obtained. All our articles are the work of the country by the census of last June is estimated at 50,000,000. I t has been
thoroughly competent persons, who are experts in musical matters. This a most fortunate year for the most prosperous nation on the face of the earth.
is the reason why we are quoted as an authority on musical matters by the
WAITE'S BANK.—The Controller of the Currency has declared a fourth
press of this country, and also by the French, German, English, and Italian
dividend of 10 per cent, and interest in favor of the creditors of the First
papers.
Our staff correspondence is already four or five times as large as that of Bank of National Battleboro', Vt., of which the defaulter, Silas M. Waite, was
any alleged musical paper and comprises the best talent that can be President, and which failed June 19, 1880, making in all a dividend of 100
found in the large musical centers. In our trade department we are sparing per cent, and interest.
EXCESS OF EXPORTS.—According to the report of the chief of the
neither pains nor expense in our efforts for the benefit of the music trades.
We are using the same enterprise in this as in the musical department, and Bureau of Statistics, the excess of exports of merchandise of all kinds over
our advertisers will testify that they have received more direct benefit imports has been for the year ending November 30th, 1880, $59,342,990.
B
through the MUSICAL CKITIC AND TKADE REVIEW than through any other
medium.
We are now increasing all our facilities in order to meet the growing
demand that is made upon us, and we shall earnestly strive during the
present year, as we have during the past, to make this paper truly the organ
of the musicians and the music trades in America.
We shall have an increased corps of critical writers and correspondents,
and we shall push the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW into every hole
and corner of the civilized world where music is appreciated, and where
musical instruments are sold.
UNITED ACTION IN THE MUSIC TRADE.
HE beginning of a new year is a fitting time to urge upon the piano and
organ manufacturers the necessity for united action, in order that they
may not only obtain remunerative prices for their goods, but also that many
other important matters may be regulated, which in their present chaotic
condition are detrimental to the business interests of the great majority.
It has long been evident to the intelligent members of the music trades
that united action, however long it may be deferred by a period of pros-
perity, must in {he nature of things be inevitable at some future time ; for,
with the present great producing capacity of the country in pianos and
organs, and the large number of men employed in making them, it can be
clearly seen that so soon as a dull period sets in, serious trouble will occur
between the manufacturers and their men, owing to the absolute necessity
which the employers will then be under of cutting down wages and diminish-
ing the number of their workmen.
The manufacturers have not been making enough money during the
period of prosperity to fortify themselves against the contingency which
must occur, when instruments may have to be sold for cost or less and
when the situation may be complicated by labor troubles. I t would seem
T
STAR PARLOR ORGAN CO.,
ESTABLISHED 1859.
WASHINGTON, N. J . , U. S. A.
MANUFACTURERS OF
High Grade Parlor and Chapel Organs.
NEW CATALOGUE JUST OUT, NEW STYLES, &c. SEND FOR IT.