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VOL. XIX. No. 13.
published Every Saturday.
Important Statistics of Musical
Instruments.
WASHINGTON, D. C , Oct.
15th,
1894.
The latest corrected reports issued by the
Treasury Department contain the following con-
cerning the musical instrument trade between
this and foreign countries.
The total valuation of dutiable imports in this
line amounted in value to $58,803 for the month
of August, 1894. This falls far short of the
$90,367 for the same month of the previous year.
For a period of eight months ending August,
1894, the total valuation is placed at $313,710,
against $569,113 for the same period of 1893.
The total valuation of domestic exports of
musical instruments for August amounted to
$96,563, as compared with $89,698 for the same
month of 1893, and for the eight months period
there were $620,360, as compared with $864,140
for the same period of 1893.
Of this amount there were of organs 848, worth
$57,621, for the month of August, against 728,
worth $42,316, for the same period of 1893. For
the eight months period there were 5,395 organs,
worth $341,336, as compared with 6,542, worth
$461,560, for the same period of 1893.
Of pianofortes there were 75, worth $19,760,
for August, against 48, worth $13,267 for the
same month of 1893. For the eight months
period there were 444, worth $123,878, as com-
pared with 808, worth $273,854, for the same
period of 1893.
All other instruments and parts of the same,
domestic exports, were valued at $19,182 for
August, against $34,115 for the same month of
1893, and for the eight months period there were
$155,146, against $128,726 for the same period
of 1893.
Re-exports of musical instruments amounted
in value to $947, as compared with $526 for the
same month of 1893, and for the eight months
period there were $7,152, as compared with
$2,627 for the corresponding period of 1893.
At the end of August there were lying in the
warehouses awaiting orders from consignees,
dutiable imports, musical instruments to the
value of $135,957, a s compared with $136,850 for
the same month of 1893.
The following comparative summary state-
ment is given to show the condition of trade for
a period of eight months during the past five
years, and its condition to-day in comparison
with that period :
Dutiable imports of musical instruments for a
*
Item YorK, October 20, 1894.
$3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, lu CENTS.
period of eight months ending August 31st, 1889,
amounted in value to $1,037,116. For 1890,
$1,094,723. For 1891, $728,581. For 1892,
$ 6 53.398. For 1893, $569,113, showing an aver-
age of $816,584. For the same period of 1894
there were $313,710, showing a decrease of $502,-
874 below the foregoing average, and a continued
decrease of $255 403 below the amount for the
same period of 1893.
Domestic exports for the eight months period
ending August, 1889, amounted in value to
$665,020. For 1890, $736,558. For 1891, $761,-
232. For 1892, $825 932. For 1893, $864,140,
showing an average of $770,576. For the same
period of 1894 there were $620,360, showing a
decrease of $150,216 below the foregoing average,
and a corresponding decrease of $243,780 below
the amount for the same period of the year before.
•R. GEO. P. BENT, accompanied by Mr.
McChesney, arrived in New York last
Monday morning. Mr. Bent was called away to
Washington, but will be here the beginning of
next week, making his headquarters at the
Union Square Hotel. He informed us that just
before leaving Chicago he closed a lease extend-
ing for ninety-nine years for the northwest corner
of Sangammon and Washington Boulevard. The
corner is one hundred and twenty-five feet front
by one hundred and ninety deep. Plans are now
being drawn for the erection of a six-story build-
ing, and inside of a month work will have
begun. The building will be ready for occu"
pancy by April 1st, 1895.
Steinway Breaks the Record.
The Autoharp in the West.
^WN our last week's issue we stated that the
^
business activity at Steinway Hall during
the week had been something unprecedented in
the history of the house. We were then unable
to give exact figures, we can supply them now.
One hundred and seventeen pianos, comprising
forty-four grands and seventy-three uprights
were shipped from Steinway Hall last week. A
cablegram was received from London, stating
the business conditions of the European branch,
and the European sales added to those made on
this side brought the total up to one hundred
and sixty-two pianos, sixty-seven grands and
ninety-five uprights. Truly a record-breaking
week. But that is not all. The total number
of instruments handled from Steinway Hall, last
week, including rented stock, etc., were one
hundred and thirty-eight grands, one hundred
and sixty-nine uprights and eleven squares,
making a grand total of three hundred and
eighteen pianos in one week. This is a record
smasher. The returns are steadily coming in
and there are a few back counties yet to be heard
from.
Geo. P. Bent's New Move.
t|TVV|R. RUDOLF DOLGE'S extended visit to
-**»- the West has convinced him that the
autoharp is no longer an instrument whose
popularity is confined to class or section, it is
virtually the favorite of the country at large.
Wherever he traveled he received generous orders,
and where the Autoharp was known he heard
nothing but praise for its selling and musical
qualities. An idea of its growing appreciation
in the West can be estimated from the order
given him by Lyon & Healy, for two thousand
autoharps and this is the substantial evidence—it
demonstrates that the autoharp is not for the
day, but for all time. The popularity of the
autoharp is hardly surprising, however, for it is
the '' peer of its kind.'' The latest styles in fancy
woods are especially attractive. Some autoharps
in bird's eye maple are "things of beauty."
Has Written a Novel.
LYMAN BILL, of New York, has
written a novel with the taking title,
1
' The Last of the Danvers,'' further described as
The McCammon in Danger.
•' The Story of a Fatalist.'' It was out the first
of this month. Mr. Bill is the editor and pro-
3|f HE Oneonta Table Company's factory, which prietor of The Music Trade Review, which has
S
adjoins the immense plant of the McCam- just issued a fine special number devoted to
mon Piano Company, of Oneonta, N. Y., took Canadian interests and people.— Town Talk, San
fire last Monday evening, Oct. 15th, and in spite Francisco, Cal.
of the efforts of the local fire department was
burned to the ground. At one time it looked as
The Popular Knabe.
if the McCammon Company's factory would be
destroyed. But owing to the splendid efforts of
their trained fire department, aided by the com-
HE Knabe pianos will be used exclusively
pany's immense pumping system, the buildings
at the Metropolitan Opera House during
were saved. We congratulate the McCammon the coming season of grand opera. They are
Piano Company, as well as their dealers, upon also being used by the Melba Concert Company
their narrow escape. Considering the great de- on its present tour preliminary to the regular
mand in all quarters for these splendid instru- operatic season. At the concerts to be given by
ments, the loss both to the company and to the Ysaye, the celebrated French violinist, the
agents would have been irreparable.
Knabe pianos will also be in exclusive use.
f