Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THH MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
L\ MAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St.. New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and
Canada, $3.00 per year; Foreign Countries, I4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts»- special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
t>e made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Bnttrtdat ths New York Post Office as Second-Cla%s Matttr.
NEW YORK, MAY 16, 1896
••THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
strictly to their own means of earning
a livelihood, together with the necessary
adjuncts of bread, cakes or ale, as the
case might be.
We have also believed that there was
much to be criticised, and certainly much
to be condemned, in the methods pursued
by some journalists; but pray, let us ask,
do not the same conditions apply to the
piano trade itself?
We have in mind an instance where a
member of one of the best known firms in
New England is being sued for malicious
slander by a reputable New York firm.
With such matters occurring within its
own lines and strictly within lines which it
is possible for an association or a number
of the members of the trade to reach, it
might be well to pay a little more attention
to these matters instead of heaping every-
thing upon the poor devil of a newspaper
man.
Perhaps some one well versed in scientific
laws can explain how a stream can rise
higher than the fountain from which it
springs, and in the same breath they might
also portray clearly why trade papers are
not to a large extent a reflex of conditions
which exist in that particular trade.
#
ERTAIN of our contemporaries are
becoming greatly interested in the
matter of the alleged action of the Associa-
tion in the question of trade papers. It oc-
curs to us that all the interest manifested
and suggestions offered at this time are
premature.
It is true that if concerted action on the
part of manufacturers were taken toward
any trade paper or any number of trade
papers, such action would unquestionably
produce some peculiar results. But no one
could predict with a commensurate degree
of accuracy just where, such action would
end.
We have always held to the belief, to
paraphrase the words of the immortal Jeffer-
son, "that we have certain inalienabls
rights," among which may be reckoned the
•wavering and uncertain pleasure of publish-
ing a trade paper; yet in the pursuit of such
a path we have always held to the belief, as
long as we attended strictly to our own
affairs, treating our neighbors fairly, our
non-advertisers likewise, that they in turn
would show reciprocal feeling and attend
C
#
In days agone the Musical Courier has
indulged in frequent and hearty laudations
of "Western Methods." It has almost
caused a thrill akin to fear to penetrate to
the innermost marrow of our bones while
perusing them. The lurid exaltations of
"Western Methods," and the tremendous
encroach made upon Eastern trade, have
been truly alarming. It has given endless
warning's to Eastern manufacturers, telling
them that only a short period longer they
would be permitted to exist, or at least only
by the special privileges granted by Western
men of gigantic ideas and tremendous ex-
tensions. That already their banners were
planted east of the Alleghenies, and mov-
ing straight on to capture the cream of the
trade in the effete East.
In view of the recent developments in
Cincinnati, the collapse of some of Mr.
Crawford's gigantic ideas, together with
the piano business under his control, the
time might not be inopportune for our es-
teemed contemporary to dilate at length
upon "Western Methods."
The subject is a live one of particular in-
terest to the creditors of Smith & Nixon,
and we would suggest, respectfully, of
course, that the Musical Courier commence
with a series of lectures upon Western
Methods—particularly the methods of the
Crawford school of Cincinnati.
The "editor-in-chief" of the Courier has
been visiting Cincinnati. He wields a
graceful pen, is unquestionably well posted
upon the situation, and we urge upon him
that he give us a lot of freshly fried adjec-
tives, not too hot, because the weather is
warm, but just, right to regale those of us
who reside in the coy but perturbed East.
#
#
It is an agreeable sign of the times to
notice the strong feeling which now pre-
vails throughout the South American Re-
publics in favor of closer commercial rela-
tions with this country. The time is not
far distant when Southern merchants were
entirely wedded to products of European
factories. They did not hold a very high
opinion of American manufactures, simply
because they were not acquainted with
them.
Within a recent period, however, our
manufacturers have been bestirring them-
selves, and they have been met more than
half way by the merchants of South
America, and it seems to us that it only
requires a concerted and e*arnest effort on
the part of manufacturers to gain control
of the immense markets now almost entire-
ly supplied from Europe.
The announcement last week that the W.
W. Kim ball Co. had co-operated with other
business firms in Chicago for the purpose
of winning commercial recognition in
Venezuela, is portentous. It is a step in
the right direction, and we hope to see
other piano and organ manufacturers fall in
line. The South American Republics are
full of possibilities for the aggressive manu-
facturer, and if properly worked, there
should be a big field for American pianos
and organs.
These markets should be in the hands of
American manufacturers, and the establish-
ment of an International American bank—
a bill covering which is now before Con-
gress—will do much to make exchange be-
tween this and Southern countries easier
and in the main help our export trade
materially.
#
#
In these days, when great reputations are
being made and unmade—some fading into
oblivion, others shining like a star in the
firmament—one name maintains an equilib-
rium, a stability and reliability—standing
out boldly and clearly—and that is Hazel-
ton Brothers.
Here is an untarnished name which has
been associated with all that is honest and
meritorious in piano building. The beauty
of tone, the artistically proportioned case
designs, and the general contour of their
instrument enables it to appeal to the
music lover and connoisseur.