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January 20th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
188
This incomparable improvement is virtually
It is impossible to calculate with accuracy the indispensable in the construction of the modern
number of organs that are sold, but it may be pianoforte; hence this activity on the part of the
safely stated that it is twice the number of pianos. syndicate. Mr. George W. Lyon, the famous
accoustician, whose chief improvements—'includ-
ing the patent resonator and the adjustable non-
It is in these that our trade has made its greatest vibrating music-desk attachment—are used exclu-
advance, and a yearly increase may be traced in sively in the well-known piano manufactured by
this direction for a number of years past.
Messrs. Lyon & Healy, of Chicago, is looked on
as one of the greatest musical inventors of the
OUB NEEDS.
CAPITAL IN BUSINESS.
Should capital seek this city to engage in music age.
Although he intends to fight single-handed
In a careful estimate of the capital invested in business, there are two lines that are but poorly against
this great monopoly, the battle will be a
the music trade in Chicago, I find the amount to filled. We have no very important manufactory bitter
However, the sympathies of the peo-
be about $1,336,000, distributed among some of pianos or organs. Perhaps it would be impossi- ple as one.
as of their representatives will be in
thirty firms, both small and large. The largest ble to compete with the East in this respect for favor of well
individual right as against an unprinci-
proportion of the capital, as well as the business some time yet, but in the general order of things it pled monopoly.
done, is, however, divided among a few large must come.
houses. While the capital may not be large A good manufacturer of pianos, if he would
PIANO TUNING.
enough, in some individual cases, to do the busi- make instruments for the trade, and particularly
ness that the firms might wish to do, in the aggre- those pianos that are to bear the agent's name,
NEVER-CEASING complaint, constantly
gate it is sufficient to control all the trade that at might build up a fine business here.
carried to piano manufacturers, piano deal-
present seeks this city.
The relative cost of doing business here and in ers, and piano agents, is made by purchasers in
the East would have to be wisely considered, how- regard to the tune of the piano they own. When
AMOUNT OF BUSINESS.
ever, for competition would have to govern the the piano is purchased, it seems to be a foregone
By the extreme kindness of a number of our price.
conclusion that that piano must remain in tune
leading merchants, I am able to produce a close We have no large music publishing house in like a cast-iron bell. Persons owning pianos never
estimate of the amount of business done in this this city, and there is a need in that direction that devote any time or investigation to this problem.
city. In giving the figures, I wish to say that I will be felt before long. Nearly all of our West- In the first place, let it be stated that a piano
have taken no bombastic statements; but, on the ern business has to go East for publication in this must necessarily get out of tune. If the piano is
other hand, I assure you I am dealing with honest regard.
very common, it may remain in tune a long timej
reports, which are as nearly accurate as it is pos- In bringing this letter to its close, I beg to state for the simple reason that the delicate intervals
sible to give without revealing private matters t« that what I have written is in the interest of the are not noticed. But if an instrument of solid,
the public. The amount is estimated at $3,- music business as a whole, and not to give any good, and substantial manufacture will get out of
726,000. Of this large sum, I may say that two- undue importance to this city as a trade centre. tune, it is due to effects that were not discovered
thirds of it represent the business of the few My statements are simply the facts in the case.
in time, but that can be remedied in time. It
representative houses, the remaining amount being
must be understood that the strings are subject to
C. H. BRITTAN.
divided among the larger number of firms.
expansion and contraction, and are influenced by
the condition of the atmosphere. A piano gets
PIANO WAE IN CONGRESS.
THE TEAK'S PROFITS.
out of tune when not played upon, just the same
In my calculation of the net profits of the busi- n p H E following despatches from Washington, as an instrument in constant use.
_L
D.
C.,
to
the
Chicago
Tribune,
seem
to
indi-
ness done, I have made an allowance for the dif-
pianos must be tuned very frequently until
ferent departments represented in the trade, and cate that our present Congress is getting musical. the New
scale
becomes perfectly normal; then, after
We
can
imagine
the
Eastern
and
Western
fac-
have determined that about eight per cent, of the
tions puzzling their distinguished brains over the that point is reached, the instrument should be
amount of sales will represent the net profits.
tuned at regular intervals, and not only when it
This amount is $298,080, or something over respective merits of pianoforte patents.
Think of the grave members of Congress trying happens to be out of tune.
twenty-one per cent, upon the capital invested.
here we might as well state that many mis-
From this statement, it will be observed that to determine the merits of the ' 'Lyon patent reso- Just are
made in regard to the preservation of a
the larger firms command good profits on the nator," or to grasp the mysteries of the Chick- takes
piano for want of judgment in regard to the time
ering "metallic action."
amount of capital invested.
We subjoin the despatches, and leave the reader and manner of tuning the instrument.
OTHEB TRADES.
to arrive at a probable conclusion of the new and In order to preserve the tone of the piano it
While the music business in prosperous times trying question with which the nation seems about should be tuned at regular intervals, say four, five,
or even six times p. year. This is a rule that
commands a good interest on the money invested, to be agitated :
should be strictly adhered to.
yet in other and more necessary branches of trade,
[Chicago Tribune, December 18,1881.]
Another rule applies to tuners. Owners of
a greater amount of business can be done with the
THE CHICKERING PIANO PATENTS.
pianos should secure a competent tuner, and this
same amount of capital.
Over two millions of business has been done in WASHINGTON, D. C, December 17.—One of the tuner should be retained for all future tuningg of
a year in the grocery trade on a capital of 8300,000 matters that will come prominently before the the instrument, if possible. There are thousands
in this city. Something quite impossible in the present Congress is the revision of the patent of incompetent tuners all over the country who
music business. In the latter it is impossible to laws. Among the other interests that will be at- have ruined a piano forever after tuning it. Be
tacked are certain patents in the construction of sure to get a competent tuner, and do not rely on
turn over the money so rapidly.
pianos secured by Messrs. Chickering & Sons, of his testimonials unless they bear the name's of
OUK IMPORTS.
Boston. A strong lobby is being organized by prominent manufacturers.
Since Chicago has been a port of entry our rival piano manufacturers, who will fight desper- Many good-natured persons will give a tuner a
leading merchants do the most of their importing ately against the reissue of a number of valuable certificate after he has finished and before he leaves
business here. In a comparison of the rank of patents which at present give the Chickering the
house, while they know nothing about the work
our different importations, I was surprised to find piano an undoubted superiority over all others he has
done. The piano sounds all right, but that is
that musical importations is the sixth on the list, made. Messrs. Chickering &• Sons have for years all.
it will sound in a week or a month, or
being outranked by drygoods, chinaware, chem- been recognized as in the lead of inventors in their what How
injury has been done, these people know not.
icals, tin-plate and barley.
line in this country, and they occupy a position The testimonials are worthless.
Tin-plate is largely imported here on account in the piano-manufacturing business similar to A tuner must have reliable recommendations
of the large meat-canning houses that do an im- Edison in the electrical world. During the past before he should be allowed to touch the interior
mense business here, while barley is brought over twenty years they have taken out over 100 differ- of
piano. After such a tuner has been secured,
ent patents in the construction of pianos, and one he the
from Canada.
should be left in charge of the tuning.
of
their
latest
is
in
the
nature
of
a
complete
revo
THE NUMBER OF CASES.
lution of the business, as it substitutes an im- If these rules are adhered to, many pianos that
In the year 1881 we imported 1673 cases of mu- proved metallic nickel action for the old, cumber- are now unsatisfactory to the owners will improve,
sical goods, representing an invoice value of $250,- some, clumsy, and defective wooden action now if no injury has been inflicted, and many new
001, with a duty of $67,696.
universally used by all other makers. Many of pianos will remain in proper condition for years to
Of this number one house, Lyon & Healy, im- their ideas have been stolen bodily by other man- come.
ported 1,060 cases. The remainder was divided ufacturers, who make the Chickering pianos their
among other music houses and a number of West- model as far as they can do so without infringing
KIND WOBDS.
ern merchants who use this city as a port of entry. on the patents. The sentiment in Congress is
MONTGOMERY,
N. Y., January 10, 1882.
Also, the toy merchants that import have some very favorable to the Chickering, and it is con-
To the Editor of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE
cases in the remaining 613.
sidered only fair that they should be given a due REVIEW:—
acknowledgment in their own country, particu- Enclosed please find check for my "ad." and
IN NEW YORK.
larly when their genius in this line has been so
In New York city, in the year 1880, the largest signally honored by prize medals and personal subscription. You will please note change in
firm and make "ad." John A. Powell & Co. I
number of cases imported by any one house was decorations abroad.
have taken my father as partner, and doubled our
658, representing a value of $70,080. This past
capital. We are doing a fine business in organs
year's business I have, as yet, been unable to learn.
[Chicago Tribune, December'25, 1881.]
and organ actions. We have met with great success,
Yet, it will be observed that in imported goods we
THE LYON PIANO PATENTS.
and THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW
are very near to New York.
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 24.—Among the deserves all the praise for it.
In the year 1880 there were 2,138 cases of mu- matters
to be brought prominently before the
Yours, truly, JOHN A. POWELL & Co.
sical goods imported by seven of your leading present Congress
the revision and codification of
merchants, representing a value of $245,855, with- the copyright and is patent
laws, which are now in
out duty. Doubtless in the year just closed a
PHILADELPHIA TBADE.
unsatisfactory condition to both authors
larger number was imported. But you are nearer a and most
G.
CLEMMER
has been very busy send-
inventors,
as
well
as
to
the
general
public.
the figures than myself.
• ing out sixty-three instruments during
The interests of a distinguished Chicago inventor
NUMBER OF PIANOS SOIiD.
are being jeopardized by the proposed action of a Christmas week in the city, besides a large num-
It has been estimated that nearly 9,000 pianos, syndicate of New England piano manufacturers, ber out of town.
of all kinds and makes, are sold by our merchants who, it has been discovered, intend to make a de- Dutton & Son are retouching and refitting their
in a single year, at wholesale and retail. Of this termined effort to prevent the reissue of the cele- warerooms, after having done a rushing holiday
business.
brated Lyon piano-resonator patent.
number a large proportion go into the country.
CHICAGO TRADE.
January 10, 1882.
T is my purpose to give a short review of the
music trade of this city for the year closing
December 31, 1881. In many respects, this year
has been a remarkable one in our commercial his-
tory, for prosperity has given a grand return for
the energy expended. Success haB marked the
labors of the trade.
CHICAGO,
I
A
A