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IO
GERMANY'S TRADE IN
PIANOS,
§
HE Berlin publication, Kuhlow's, says:
" The rapid development, of the manufact-
ure of pianofortes which has led to its present
prosperity began early in the seventies. The
introduction of the iron frame and the cross-
stringed set—a system which was first adopted
in the old world by German makers—completely
revolutionized the method of manufacture. The
old firms enlarged and rearranged their works ;
new factories sprang up everywhere, and the
German piano industry, aided by the most per-
fect machinery, rational division of labor and
excellently trained operatives, has now risen to
a level scarcely attained by that of any other
country in the world.
"The average annual production is now esti-
mated at 70,000 pianos, the larger part of which
is exported. In August, 1892, the number of
factories was 425. The industry has not been
centralized as in other countries; in certain
places, however — Berlin, Dresden, Leipsic,
Stuttgart, Zeitz, Liegnitz, etc.—factories have
become more numerous than elsewhere.
"Germany exports pianos to all European
states except France, and to all transmarine
countries. The most important buyer is Eng-
land, of whose total import of German musical
instruments (valued at 11,000,000 marks in 1889)
pianos have the lion's share. Of the British
colonies Australia imports most German pianos.
The number of German pianos imported by
Australia in 1887 was estimated at 7,500 ; in
1890, 2,537 arrived at the port of Sydney alone.
Of the South American states Argentine Repub-
lic imported German pianos to the value of
335.389 gold pesos ; United States of Columbia
imported German pianos weighing 39,591 kilo-
grams ; Chili imported German pianos to the
value of 117,305 pesos in 1889. For the other
states of tropical America exact figures cannot
be given, owing to the want of reliable statistics ;
however, there also the greater part of imported
pianos are of German manufacture.
In the
United States the import has hitherto been but
limited, and has consisted mainly of superior
instruments made by German firms of the first
rank.
" The share of pianos, keyboards and other
parts in Germany's above stated total export of
musical instruments, was as follows :
Kilograms.
Marks.
- 36,288,200
7,982,000
1880
1882
6,833,900 16,743,000
1884
6,990,100 16,776,000
1886
6,467,600 14,875,000
1888
7,218,000 16,601,000
1889
7,983,300 38,362 000
1890
7,986,300 18,369,000
" In close connection with the manufacture of
pianofortes is that of actions and keyboards,
which supplies the demand not only of Germany
but also of the other European countries in
which pianos are made. The making of actions,
which is mostly done in factories, has been de-
veloped and perfected to such an extent that the
German import of French actions, which for-
merly was considerable, has been reduced to
very small dimensions. In 1892 the factories
making actions numbered thirty, those making
keyboards (mostly smaller factories) forty-four.
A special branch of the industry, of smaller ex-
tent, which, however, is closely connected with
these two, and works like them for foreign
markets, is the making of heads for piano-ham-
mers. '' —Bradstreet 's.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
UYON &H£AUY.
f
•'THE HIGHEST TYPE."
STUCK
HANDS
MANUFACTURED BT
m \ PIANO CO.
HK Times of the 28th of September thus des-
cribes the triumph of Lyon & Healy:
In musical circles there has been considerable
stir this week. The restraining order entered
by Judge Seaman was dismissed in the Circuit
Court by Judge Grosscup, and immediately there-
after John Boyd Thacher posted the awards in
the Manufacturing Building before any other
legal steps stopping him could be taken.
American manufacturers fare well at the judge's
hands, but it is conceded on all sides that Lyon
& Healy, of Chicago, have won the greatest
victory of any house in this line.
They march off with no less than twelve
diplomas of awards, listed as follows : The
Lyon & Healy harp, the Peloubet church organ,
the Peloubet self-playing organ, the Washburn
guitar, the Washburn mandolin and mandolia,
the Washburn banjo, the Washburn zither,
the Washburn bandurria, the New Departure
drum, the Monarch drum, the Peloubet blowing
apparatus for church organs, and a special
award granted no other exhibitor in this group
for the excellence of their general display. It
is particularly gratifying to Chicagoans to know
that the famous Lyon & Healy harp is success-
ful over all competitors, as they believe the fight
made against it was a personal and not an ar-
tistic one.
171 AND 173 SO. CANAL STREET,
KNIGHTS OF TH£ GRIP.
CHICAGO.
5l?ey /T\eai} to Build a Travelers'
Stat
THE
Sterling Company
MANUFACTURERS OF
Pianos and Organs,
DERBY, CONN.
It is admitted by all that no piano ever put upon the
market has met with such success as THE STEKLING
and thousands will testify to their superiority of work-
manship and durabiliiy. Why ? Because they are made
just as perfect as a piano can be made.
, T H E STERLING ORGAN has always taken the lead, and
the improvements made this year puts it far ahead of
allolheis. WTSend for Catalogue.
Hallet £ Davis Pianos
\jjRpHE move inaugurated by the Commercial
-eJ Travelers' Home Association of America
to build and maintain a creditable "home " in
this State has reached an interesting stage. The
home, to cost $150000, can be located in Buffalo
if a little energy on the part of local representa-
tives is put forth. The site will be determined
upon at the National Convention at Syracuse
on October 10th.
A few facts about the commercial travelers ot
the United States will be of interest. There are
480,000 of them, and last year they sold 600,
000,000 tons of goods—and the reader should
remember that the selling year is only about
eight months. This army of travelers spent on
railway fares $172,000,000, and one legislative
measure which they hope to get through the
next Congress is a bill allowing them to carry
550 pounds of baggage without extra charge,
and to travel on 5,000 miles tickets issued at 1X
cents per mile and interchangeable among all
railroads.
CHAS. DENECK, pianoruaker, aged 59 years,
of 1002 West Lexington street,Baltimore, Md.,
committed suicide by shooting himself. He
was insane and until two months ago was em-
ployed by Knabe & Co., with whom he has
worked for many years.
MRS.
E. E. SEYMOUR, Louisville, Ky., has
brought suit against Smith & Nixon, piano
dealers, charging them with forcing upon her
the sale of a piano which was misrepresented,
b-ing stated as worth $250, when iu reality Mrs.
Seymour claims it was worth only $150. She
asks that the sale be set aside and declared void.
GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT.
Indorsed by Liszt, Gottschalk, Wehli, Bendel, Straus, Soro, Abt,
Paulus, Titiens, Heilbron and Germany's Greatest Masters.
Established over Half a Century.
BOSTON, MASS.