Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1894 Vol. 19 N. 23

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
crushing law of the survival of the fittest was in
merciless operation. The whole nation was in
daily expectation and In dread lest the dawn
of better times might be indefinitely delayed.
The storms have cleared away and blue sky
which is our heritage is with us. Confidence
and the ability of the country to get on ita feet
again have grown apace. The hum of trade, at
first a whisper, again pervades the land. Of
course it takes time to distend again the
shrunken arteries of trade. We could hardly
expect the country to recover from such a
depression immediately. We can now look
forward with a reasonable hope and a large
faith to a period of prosperity which will equal
if it does not excel the best record of the past.
Naturally there are some industries which have
not as yet recovered and will not for some
time to come. We must expect some variations
to the general rule in a great big country like
this. There are some of us whose pocketbooks
are not exactly bulging with shekels. Dollars
are not quite as numerous as hailstones in the
wake of a Dakota cyclone, but those men who
have a plethora of money are yanking it out
from the places where it has been so long hidden
and are placing in investments. The vast army
of unemployed is fast becoming an army of pro-
ducers, and that, after all, is the best test ot
the prosperity of a country. Big pay rolls at
the factories mean a big weekly distribution of
money, and as it sifts through the various
channels some of us catch a little of the gold
dust which wears off in transit. 'Tis true
some pessimists will emphasize the fact that
the National Treasury is not in as prosperous
condition as it might be, and Congress is back-
ing and filling and the Administration is waver-
ing and vacillating in its financial policy. They
will tell you also that the revenues are decreas-
ing, that there is a heavy deficiency in the
Treasury that promisee to grow heavier as time
advances.
constitute as a whole an accurate trade baro-
meter, have good reports to make. There
have been some cities where trade has been
dull and no logical reason can be given for the
existence of such a condition of affairs, yet,
when we make a resumd of the whole field, it is
very reassuring. We had struck commercially
on the bar at low tide but the incoming flood is
floating the old ship so that she is getting oft
with only a few bruises and strained seams.
There is now sweeping over the trade a current
which leaves in its wake a demand for cheap
pianos. The current seems just now resistless
and amounts to a veritable craze. We designate
it as the cheap piano craze. What has caused
it ? Is it the natural legacy of the hard times
period or was it evolved from other causes ?
"How cheap a piano have you got? " is a
query which greets the traveller in every city,
not "how good a piano have you at a fair
price," but how cheap. The very air seems
redolent with that cry cheap, and it amounts to
what we have stated above, '' a cheap piano
craze." This clamor has resulted in bringing
forth instruments of a type which is the boiled
down concentrated essence of cheapness. This
craze, for that is the word which best represents
the situation, will be shortlived. It must be, or
it will be contrary to all the ethics of trade.
Bat before it shall have burned itself out there
will have been dumped upon the purchasing
public an accumulation of rattle boxes horrible
to contemplate. This craze will only serve afte^
it "shall have spent its novel force " to bring
into stronger light the medium grade of instru-
ments. The lines will be strongly marked
between the cheap and medium instruments.
Again there is a leading question, do the
majority of dealers who purchase a piano for
less than a hundred dollars sell it at a fair profit ?
Do they not make the purchaser pay the
price usually asked for the medium grade in-
strument ?
They will further state that there is a number
WHERE WE ARE AT.
curtain is about to be rung down on of designing politicians who are seeking to em-
'94, and for the next ten days or there- barrass the collection of the income tax—that
abouts much time in business the world will be tax upon ambition. Furthermore, that trusts
devoted to the usual yearly stock-taking, balanc- are growing more and more defiant of public
ing of accounts and in outlining the campaign sentiment and the people's rights. All this and
lots more, but they can't successfully dispute
for the incoming year.
" How do we stand ? " will be a question oft the fact that times are better—that the possi-
propounded in business establishments from bility of free trade has been stamped out with a
ocean to ocean during the ensuing fortnight. vim.
We do not wish to enlist in the army of
Looking backward over the field for the past
eighteen months there is much to ponder over. croakers, neither do we wish to be understood
A financial depression has covered two contin- as endorsing the statement that things are all
ents. The times have been such as not to cause right. They are not, but they are a mighty
a high degree of exhileration or of satisfaction sight better than they have been, and when the
anywhere. Still, we have lived through those tide has turned it will not require so much time
troublous times, and how much better the out- eer the flood shall have been reached. With such
look for the world of trade and commerce than a resistless, restless people the accomplishments
one year ago. Then large business firms were are marvelous. Our recuperative powers have
in doubt about their solvency or if they felt been tested on more than one occasion and never
reasonably secure they dreaded the future which have been found wanting.
was surcharged with doubt and uncertainty.
Matters have materially brightened in the
Investments were made with hesitation for musico-industrial world. While the Christmas
every sign in the zodiac was an omen of im- trade has been disappointing in individual
pending evil.
The laboring classes had cases, yet, as a whole, it has made a fair
neither work nor the prospect of work, and the showing. The dealers over the country, who
We propose in subsequent issues to deal with
events which led up to the cheap piano. For
the present the least said about it the better.
There is a steady trend in trade affairs for manu-
facturers to become interested in the disposition
of their wares at retail. This has resulted in
the establishment of branches at easy distribut-
ing points. There is no doubt but that this
principle is steadily growing, as looking over
the field we see the list augmented each year.
There is a constant change at all times in opera,
tion resulting in different methods of disposing
of instruments that were in vogue years ago.
Just where this will all end is difficult to
predict.
Regarding trade associations we can say the
situation has not changed materially since a
year ago. Thus far the associations, aside from
the paper limitation scheme, have confined
themselves to the dissecting of good dinners,
whether anything of a nature affecting trade in-
terests, will enter into their councils, cannot
now be stated. The New York Association will
give a dinner in March which will be extended
in scope to include outside guests. This may
result in the adoption of commercial methods
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
such as were first advocated by T H E MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW, when the first association was
formed.
It cannot be disputed but that the trade press
has improved in tone, in service, in everything
that is necessary in the make up of readable
papers. While we cannot at the present mo-
ment declare that peace exists between the
membeis of the craft, yet they all seem to be in
a fair state of prosperity, and the number of
papers, in spite of internecine struggle, has not
grown beautifully less. It demonstrates the
truth of what we have always claimed that sim-
ply abuse of a rival never removes that rival
from the field. The attack is too often inspired
by jealousy. Papers cease to exist when their
support shall have become reduced to such a
point that they cease to pay. This reduction
does not come from an antagonistic source.
Caustic truths are quite another thing.
With us, ahem. Well, while we have been in
the weekly treadmill, pressing out the wine for
others, we have now and then taken a little sip
ourselves, and while we have not accomplished
just what we hoped, in the year now closing,
our friends have been kind enough to compli-
ment us upon some of our achievements. While
our advertising patronage could have been
greater, while our service could have been bet-
ter, while our subscription list is not as large as
we hope to make it, yet on the whole we round
up fairly, and in the year now closing we say
farewell and turn to its successor. We strike
palms with every one of our readers, and in
every clime wish them a happy ntw year, with
a great, big H.
is vouchsafed to few firms so young in
years to arhieve such a high standing in
the piano trade as the Merrill Piano Company,
Boston. Their present advanced position is
made manifest in the artistic and dignified
souvenir which they have just published and
which has reached this office. No impossible
claims are made for the Merrill piano. The
introduction is a statement of facts with the
logical conclusions set forth. These personal
opinions are reinforced by the opinions of the
press, testimonials from well known judges of a
good piano and prominent dealers in different
sections of the country. The really beautiiul
cutsof styles " J , " " N , " " M , " " G , " " H , "
in uprights, and a baby grand, style " A , " are
in keeping with the "very handsome exterior of
this souvenir. The pianos shown are symmetri-
cal in architecture and handsome specimens of
up-to-date instruments. A feature of the styles
shown is a pedal piano, style " H , " with a com-
pass of thirty notes arranged according to the
scale of the London College of Organs. This
instrument should prove of value to, and worthy
the investigation of, organ pupils and organ
virtuosos. Dealers in particular, and all inter-
ested in a gocd piano, made by a progressive
house, should get one of these souvenirs.
Jewett Piano Company, Leom instep
Mass., are in the midst of a very prosper-
ous season, and are getting their full share ot
continued activity in business. They have been
turning out from twenty-five to thirty pianos
per week during the past month, and the orders
ahead justify them in looking forward to the
continuance of an active business during the
opening months of the new year. The Jewett
pianos are proving good sellers, and several new
agencies have been formed within recent date.
The Boston agency which was held by C. F.
Hanson & Co. has been transferred during the
past week to Henry F. Miller & Sons.
Sterling in Mexico.
f
HE Sterling Co. placed the agency of the
Sterling pianos with Messrs. E. Heuer &
Co., of Mexico City, Mex., a little more than
one year ago. They, to day, received a letter
from Messrs. Heuer & Co., in which they order
twelve pianos, making in all one hundred pianos
sent to this firm since it took the agency. The
following is taken from the letter above referred
to:
" I want to state to you that your pianos have
given entire satisfaction in this country. I also
can assure you that we expect a large business
for the next year with your pianos."
MAKING PROGRESS.
Messrs. E. Heuer & Co. is the largest piano
5N interesting fact is brought out by Dun
house in the Republic of Mexico, and is con-
& Co.'s review of trade. It presents nected with one of the largest and best known
figures obtained from several thousand manu- houses in Hamburg, Germany. Mr. Ritz, of the
facturers, who quote from their pay-rolls. By Hamburg house, recently visited Mexico and the
these it appears that earnings of employees for United States, spent a day at Derby, looking
November, 1894, were 15 2 per cent, over those over the plant of the Steiling Co., and consum-
mating arrangements for more extended trade
of the same month in 1893, though 18 3 per cent, with the Sterling.
below those of November, 1892. There were also
10.2 per cent, more persons engaged than in
- Jacob Doll Busy.
1893, but 8 6 per cent, less than in 1892. The
deduction to be drawn from this is clear and
ACOB DOLL is roundirjg out the old year
reassuring. There is a marked improvement
with a business that is taxing the resources
over last year, though industry and business are of his factcr)'.* He has si fficient oidtis ahead
not yet up to the level of the "good times " of to keep him prttly Lusy the fiist month in the
1892. But we are making progress in the right New Year, and he feels well satisfied with him-
self, the trade in general, and optimistic about
direction, and that is encouraging.
the future.
f
three months ago we called attention
to the new trade-marks law which went
into effect in Germany, October 1st. According
to this law American manufacturers desirous of
protecting their trade-marks and name labels,
should enter the same in the Imperial Register at
Berlin. This is necessary in order to claim the
protection of the law egainst infringements, etc.
In this connection it must also be borne in mind
that American trade-marks now recorded at
Leipsic will be of no value unless they are re-
registered in Berlin. We refer to this matter
again, at this late day, in order to impress upon
manufacturers the Importance of looking after
this matter.
H. Lehr & Co.
M ? LEHR & CO., Easton, Pa., are among
^*~
the progressive organ manufacturers
dealers should bear in mind the coming year.
Their seven octave piano cased organs are not
only attracti\ein appearance, but they are highly
spoken of by dealers who have used them for
years. The new style " L " with the giatd fall-
board is an instiument that cannot fail to appeal
to purchasers.
Changes in Chicago.
jflvf MONG the Chicago houses that will make
(2r=a a change in location early in the New
Year are the Manufacturers' Piano Company K
Lyon, Potter & Co., Ptase Piano Company,
Mason & Hamlin Co., and the B. Shoninger Co.
The new quaiters will afford not alone needed
room, but a better opportunity for showing off
the products of these houses.
a recent interview, John Burns, member
of the English Parliament, who is visiting
this country, termed Chicago " a pocket edition
of hell." This is rather hard on Chicago. Were
John acquainted with the music trade men who
Change of Agency.
frequent the Hotel Wellington he would cer-
tainly change his opinion, or else come to the 5|jj HE agency for the Hazelton piano at Phila-
delphia has been transfened from Blasius
conclusion that the "pocket edition" was ^
&
Sons
to Mr. W. H. Williamson, who origin-
peopled by a mighty nice lot of devils.
ally held it.
STEVENS ORGAN COMPANY write
us : " For the last two months our ship-
ments have been very large, and our general
business improving steadily."
This is the satisfactory news which is reach-
ing us from manufacturers in all parts of the
country, and it confirms the certain growth of
good times which will come to maturity in 1895.
MR. GEO. J. DOWNING, traveling representa-
tive for the Briggs Piano Company, honored us
with a call during the week.
THERE is such a demand for the Dolge blue
felt that the employees of the felt mills at Dolge-
ville, N. Y., are working nights.
MR, CHAS. HOIXENBECK, with Geo. Steck &
Co., will be connected with the house of Decker
Bros, after January ist.
R. C. DAWES was appointed receiver for the
Lawrence Piano Company, Marietta, Ohio, on
December 15th.
MR.
A. M. WRIGHT, of the Manufacturers'
Piano Company, Chicago, was in town during
the wtek.

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