Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
LYMAN
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
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ertion. Un
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Entered at the Sew York Post Office as Second Cta ,s Matter.
NEW YORK, flARCH 28, 1896
'•THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER.".
T was Carlyle, we believe, who said that
the majority of people were fools. It
sometimes seems as if he were right. This
is instanced in a small way by the number
of persons who are "taken in" by those "in-
nocent" advertisements which appear in
the columns of the daily papers Sunday
after Sunday, wherein first-class pianos by
eminent makers are offered for sale "at a
sacrifice" because of "giving up house-
keeping," "going to Europe," "death in
the family'* and other reasons which are
quite familiar. In this way a number of
cheap stencilled pianos are palmed off at
double their actual value if bought in the
regular way. And, strange to say, retail
piano dealers, through their apathy, ap-
parently encourage this form of imposture.
Some time ago a party who was desirous
of getting a good second-hand piano had oc-
casion to look up some of these advertise-
ments, and out of the entire lot he did not
find one as represented. Although adver-
tised as reputable makes, they were invaii-
ably stencil pianos-of the worst possible
I
kind; instead of being second-hand, they
were perfectly new.
A piano advertised to be worth $850,
"only four months in use, and by an old
standard maker," bore the name on its fall
board of some maker who never has or never
will exist. The piano was perfectly new.
Later in the day when he visUed another
place where they were "selling oiit furni-
ture owing to a death," he found another
of the very same instruments, which the
owner informed him "cost $500, but could
be had for $250." The instrument was
not worth houseroom.
In another place where they were "dis-
posing of the furniture for the family that
had moved out," he again found a sten-
cilled piano, perfectly new, under a differ-
ent name, which "cost $475 last May;
would let it go for $200."
After being thus enlightened in the mys-
teries of piano making and selling, he was
cured of his desire to buy a second-hand,
and invested in a high-grade reputable
piano at a legitimate piano warerooms.
His experience demonstrates meanwhile
that unsophisticated people can, and no
doubt have been, seduced by clever trick-
sters into buying the cheapest kind of trash
under the name of pianos, at double their
actual value.
In many cases the stencils used are very
much like the standard names, and owing
to the non-acquaintance of the average pur-
chaser with the names of piano manufac-
turers, the trick invariably succeeds.
It is not improbable that the manufactur-
ers of stencil pianos are aiding and abetting
this scheme, and the so-called piano pur-
chased through the advertisement is never
sent from the house, but from the factory.
This imposture has worked successfully
for many years in the city, largely through
the indifference of legitimate manufactur-
ers and retailers.
They can put an end to it if they will.
#
#
Manufacturers in the different industries,
as well as the leading commercial bodies in
all parts of the country, are at present dis-
playing a lively interest in the re-enact-
ment of reciprocity laws. During the past
two weeks the sub-committee of the Ways
and Means Committee have been receiving
letters from all over the country which de-
monstrate that the principle of reciprocity
is supported and advocated by men of wide-
ly differing political views, who look upon
this matter from a purely business stand-
point.
The communication from the National
Association of Manufacturers, signed by its
president, Theodore C. Search, of Philadel-
phia, is considered one of the most impor-
tant of the many received. Mr. Search
presents arguments bearing upon the ad-
vantages of reciprocity as a general princi-
ple in international trade, and says: " I t
commends itself as a sound and judicious
business principle; that it should be con-
sidered upon a strictly non-partisan political
basis; that practical application demon-
strates the ability of reciprocity treaties to
extend and enlarge our foreign trade under
exceedingly favorable conditions; that they
rendered valuable service in effecting more
cordial relations between the United States
and other nations; that reciprocity treaties,
particularly with Latin-American countries,
are necessary as a matter of self-protection,
for treaties of this character are being or
have been negotiated between European
governments and the South American
countries.
" In behalf of the enormous industrial
interests represented by this association,"
the letter concludes, " I desire to urge with
all possible emphasis the necessity for such
treaty relations with foreign nations as shall
insure the utmost possible favor to Ameri-
can products in the markets of the world."
#
#
The matter of artistic case designs is
now a question of moment to every manu-
facturer of high-grade pianos. Public taste
in this respect is progressing. The wealthy
classes look for an exterior finish and design
in pianos—which will be a radical depart-
ure from the ordinary—as well as a special
quality of tone. Hence manufacturers who
cater to wealthy and artistic connoisseurs
are keeping pace with this demand.
Among the leaders in this class of work
are Steinwa)^ & Sons. During the past
year they have turned out a number of
special order instruments which are works
of art in the truest sense of the word. In
this connection they have recently published
an announcement in\vhich they call atten-
tion to the very extensive and efficient im-
provements which they have made in their
special order department for artistic piano
cases.
They say: "Ever since the advent of the
custom of treating a piano case precisely as
any other article of decorative furniture, we
have realized that the fashion was not an
ephemeral one, but permanent, and conse-
quently made suitable preparation to meet
this new demand. We are now prepared to
say that both in designing and execution
we are successfully competing with the best
known European houses. Not only have
we our own designers, who are persons of
ability and experience, but we are in touch
with most of the well-known artists both