Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
here Spanish speaking representatives. In
the City of Mexico even an English speak-
ing traveler would be at a disadvantage in
obtaining trade, and outside, in the other
cities, with the sole exception of Monterey,
it would be an impossibility to succeed.
The music trade of Mexico, it is true, is
largely in the hands of Germans, but in the
event of not securing trade with them, the
traveler must then look to the native Mex-
ican houses. The Germans here speak the
Spanish language like natives, also their
salesmen. It is indispensable that they
should. I have in mind a notable instance
where an American has gone to work in a
correct manner to develop trade in this Re-
public. I refer to George P. Bent, the only
American "Crown" maker. He secured the
services of Frederic W. Primer, who has an
intimate knowledge of the conditions in
Mexico, social and commercial. He speaks
At present Europe holds a pretty strong the language of the Dons with a fluency un-
grip upon the trade here, but all this will surpassed by the natives. Result: Mr.
soon change. There is also a mistaken idea Primer has done very effective work for
prevalent in our country that the Mexican the "Crown" goods in this country. Messrs.
tariff favors Europe. This is erroneous- E. Heuer & Co., Mexico City, have been
The duties are precisely the same on ship- appointed general agents for the Republic.
ments made from either country. On pianos The sub-agents which Mr. Primer has ap-
and all other musical instruments the tariff pointed thus far, are, for the state of Du-
is fifty cents per kilo. This would make rango, Mr. Ernest Fuchs, in Lerdo; state
the custom charges on pianos vary from of Zacatecas, Mr. Gustave Neubert, in the
$165 to $200, Mexican money, but the cus- capital of same name; for the state of Jal-
tomer, like Jones of Binghamton, he "pays isco, Messrs. Behn & Co., whose headquar-
the freight," or, in other words, the instru- ters are at Guadalazra, the capital.
ments are sold at good round figures. The
In considering the seemingly large cus-
installment plan has become prevalent here toms duties on pianos, it must be understood
and the proportion of cash sales is exceed- that the rate of exchange favors the United
ingly small. Mexico City is to the whole States at a ratio of two for one. One dollar
Republic what New York is to the East and in our money is worth two in Mexican
Chicago to the West in the States. It is the money. To-day it is worth 102 premium.
centre, industrially, commercially and in
Next week, after having visited a few
every other sense.
It is the " H u b " of
more important points, I shall leave for the
Mexico, and around it everything else re- North.
volves. Here is the National Conservatory
It should not be understood that it is easy
of Music of Mexico. This is a musical insti- to rush down here and get business. It is
ttition, founded and supported by the gov- not. To be successful requires a knowl-
ernment. In the different States similar in- edge of the country, language and condi-
stitutions are supported by the States. tions.
There is'also a singular condition of affairs
existing regarding the inter-state duties.
The fliller Grand.
It seems that every state in the Republic
may impose additional duties on any goods
ENRY F. MILLER & SONS have on
which are sent from any other portion of
exhibition in their handsome new
the Republic to them. The same also ap- warerooms in Boston, their latest style par-
plies to cities. This, as may be readily pre- lor grand piano. It is called the "Ideal."
sumed, militates seriously against a local The case is of mahogany and the quality of
exchange of commodities, and seriously in- tone is rich and powerful in all registers.
terferes with the inter-commercial affairs of
Miller & Sons are displaying a very hand-
the country. This must shortly give way some line of uprights in their warerooms.
to more liberal recognition of the right to There is a pleasing variety in case archi-
trade without hindrance among themselves. tecture—sufficient to please the most fastid-
These tribal conditions must soon be dis- ious.
pelled, even in Mexico. The light of the
latter days of the nineteenth century will
THE GEORGE WHITNEY PIANO FACTORY,
soon dissipate them.
St. Johnsville, N. Y. (Amsterdam), half
Englishmen. There are no piano factories,
but the manufacture of smaller instruments
is carried on in many localities, but invari-
ably on a limited scale. I have talked with
a well known Mexican who has ample capi-
tal, and is now considering the advisability
of commencing the manufacture of pianos.
My individual opinion is that a piano fac-
tory will not pay in Mexico, for the present
at least. My reasons for this belief are that
none of the parts of the instruments are at
present made within the limits of the Re-
public. The duties on these parts are just
as high as on the finished instruments, and
there must necessarily be some waste or
shrinkage. Again, the native Mexicans are
unskilled and w 7 ill not work steadily. I am
convinced that the merchants will prefer to
purchase the finished instruments direct
from the States or Europe for some time to
come.
H
Americans have now an excellent oppor-
tunity to develop commercial relations with
this country. They should, however, send
THE
interest of Frank Belding, sold to Edgerton
Hough. This factory has resumed opera-
tions with an increased force.
CELEBRATED
STEGER
ii
T
HIS department is edited by Bishop &
Imirie, Patent Attorneys, 605 and 607
Seventh street, Washington, D. C. All re-
quests for information should be addressed
to them and will be answered through these
columns free of charge.
PATENTS GRANTED FEB. 26, 1895.
534,766. Valve for Musical Instruments.
O. Spaethe, Gera, Germany. Intended for
accordions and similar instruments. The
valve is constructed in two parts connected
by a flat spring, the construction insuring a
tight closing of the case.
534,900. Sounding Board. V. H. Ma-
thushek, New York, N. Y.
A thin
metallic sounding board rigidly secured at
one edge by screws, and movably secured
at its other edge by pins passed through
slots in the board.
MASON & HAMLIN CO. have opened new
store at No. 5 South Division street,
Grand Rapids, Mich., with Mrs. M. D.
Weedon as resident manager.
One half
of the store will be occupied by Will Rad-
cliffe, a new dealer in small musical mer-
chandise.
WILLIAM KNAHK & Co., at 817 Pennsyl-
vania avenue, Washington, D. C., will
remove to larger quarters at 1422 Pennsyl-
vania avenue, on March 15th.
JAMES CAMPION, piano case manufacturer,
Newburgh, N. Y., is contemplating exten-
sive improvements in addition to those
already under way.
J. PETERSON, music trade dealer, Mount
Pleasant, Pa., will move to larger quarters
on East Main street. He is at present in
the Rupert block.
THE CRANE MUSIC HOUSE, 515 Kirk Build-
ing, Syracuse, N. Y., will move into new
store at 308 South Salina street.
M PIANOS
PATENTED 1892.
ate noicd for their fine singing q u a i r / i >
tone and great
durability.
The mest
profitable Piano for dealers to handle
STEGER & CO., Manufacturers,
Factory, Columbia Heights.
235 » ABASH AVENUE, CHICAGO.