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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Tariff or no tariff can make no particular
difference in these goods.
This is also true of pianos.
Foreign
made pianos cannot withstand the climatic
W. WARNER, of Madison, Wis., changes of the United States. Our manu-
• writes to the New York Herald facturers of pianos and reed organs will,
under any conditions which can be con-
under date of Feb. 12:
ceived, always have a market throughout
To the Editor of the Herald:—
the
entire world for their wares. Mahogany
Tariff revision as affecting the music
and
rosewood in the log, mainly for
trade—i. e., musical merchandise—has had
veneers,
is extensively imported. It is a
an extraordinary and interesting influence.
somewhat
singular fact that while we
It is unquestionably true that the effect on
manufacture
our wound strings, we are
the small goods line was markedly bene-
largely
dependent
upon Etirope for the
ficial. Immediately upon the revision tak-
higher
grade
of
unwound
steel strings. We
ing effect, jobbers in the United States
are,
however,
making
rapid
strides in this
issued circulars announcing a reduction
direction.
We
are,
too,
practically
inde-
commensurate with the decrease in duty,
pendent
in
the
matter
of
spruce
sounding-
and ranging from 10 per cent, to 40 per
cent. The striking reduction in prices boards. It is pretty generally conceded
stimulated a demand for small goods, and that we produce the finest felts in the
the trade in this line is generally much world, and we are large exporters in that
better than before revision.
It is rela- line.
From the above it will be seen that the
tively better than the piano business.
direct
effect of tariff revision has, upon the
The United States have until recently
whole,
not been detrimental. Tariff agita-
manufactured comparatively few small in-
tion
and
dilatoriness, uncertainty and the
struments, but the tendency is in the direc-
endless
laboring
of the mountain to bring-
tion of a much larger production, especially
forth
a
mouse,
were lamentably and un-
in mandolins and guitars of the better
deniably
bad.
To
what extent this and
grades, and latterly in musical boxes, gen-
sentiment
are
responsible
for the apparently
erally differing from the Swiss pattern.
resultant,
unsatisfactory
state
of business,
Other instruments, such as accordeons,
which
I
believe
would
have
inevitably
harmonicas, flutes, violins, excepting a
come,
but
was
perhaps
thereby
hastened,
limited number of the latter instruments of
a high grade; gut and silk strings, trim-
mings, etc., this country has never been a
heavy producer of, and is unlikely to be,
THE
under existing conditions, as they appear
to belong to those items, like laces, in the
production of which we do not care to com-
pete.
In these goods, especially, the reduction
has been most grateful. A natural barrier
exists against importation of foreign made
guitars, mandolins and kindred instru-
ments, as climatic differences render it rea-
sonably certain that instruments made
abroad will "go to pieces" in this country.
Has it Helped the Music
Trade?
W
it is impossible to even conjecture. Doubt-
less they are among the facts to be held
accountable, although in a lesser degree,
than a suicidal monetary system and over-
production—that is to say, over-production
as compared with the buying capacity, at
present wages, of the consumer.
E. V. CORNET, formerly of the Cornet
Piano Co., and now a resident of Congers,
Rockland county, N. Y., is thinking of en-
gaging in the piano business once more.
MASON & HAMLIN received a large order
recently for their instruments from the
Standard and Diggers New r s Co., Johannis-
berg, South Africa.
CHAS.
BECHT, traveling representative
for the Brambach Piano Co., Dolgeville,
N. Y., is doing some good work for that
concern on the road. Several important
announcements can be expected in connec-
tion with this concern later in the year.
EDWARD BEHR is slated to leave in a few
days for a Spring trip in the interest of the
Behr piano.
A RECENT addition to the music trade of
Buffalo is Fred S. Bloomfield, who has es-
tablished himself at 22 West Swan street.
F. W. TKEPLES left recently for London
by the "Paris," in the interest of the Chi-
cago Cottage Organ Co. He will be absent
about six weeks.
;
"The Highest Type."
Sterling Company,
Imitation is
Sincerest
Praise
Scarce a month passes
that our attention is not
called to the reappearance
of the ESTEY designs in the
product of some competitor. . .
*
*
*
•
RUSSELL
(Successors to STARK & STRACK.)
PIANOS
MANUFACTURERS OF
Pianos and Organs,
MANUFACTURED BY
FACTORY I
Dealers would better
come to headquarters and thus
secure the first use of the ESTEY ideas.
NEW CATALOGUES OUT
ESTEY
ORGAN CO.
Brattleboro, Vt.
DERBY, CONN.
It is admitted by all that no piano ever put upon the
market has met with such success as THK STERLING,
and thou ands will testify to their superiority of work-
manship and durability. Why ? Because they are made
just as perfect as a piano can be made.
THE STERLING ORGAN has always taken the lead, and
Hos. 171 and 173 South Canal Street,
CHICAGO.
the improvements made this year puts it far ahead of
all others. |£^"*Send for Catalogue.
Halloti Davis Pianos
GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT.
Indorsed by Liszt, Gottschalk, Wehli, Bendel, Straus, Soro, Abt,
Paulus, Titiens, lleilbrou and Germany's Greatest Masters.
Established over Half a Century.
BOSTON, MASS.