Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC RADE 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, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion.
ertion. "
On quarterly or yearly contracts *• special dis-
' al
allowed.
count is
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman BilL
Bntered at the New York Post Office as Second- Class Matter.
NEW YORK, JULY 18, 1896
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745- — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
"THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
T
HE day for small men and small meth-
ods in the piano trade has gone by.
In order to succeed in these progressive
days it is necessary that a man should be
a student of existing conditions, and pos-
sess ability enough to steer his business
free of shoals and hidden rocks. In order
to do this, he must—figuratively speak-
ing—possess a knowledge of every rope
and every sail, as well as the chart. By
this means can he keep in the deep water
of prosperity.
#
#
The authorities in-Washington are feel-
ing quite elated, and naturally so, at the
marked growth of our general export trade
for the eleven months ending May 31st,
1896. The increase for that period being
nearly $40,000,000 over the corresponding
eleven months of 1895. At this rate the
exports for the fiscal year of 1896 will ex-
ceed by nearly twenty-five per cent, the re-
cord of any preceding fiscal year.
Among the articles listed showing an in-
crease are musical instruments, the exports
for the eleven months ending May 31, 1896,
as reported in our last issue, being $1,-
184,887, as against $1,038,672 for the
same period of 1895. This is an increase
in exports of $146,215.
This showing would undoubtedly be a
favorable one were it not offset by the fact
that during the same period we imported
musical instruments to the value of $1,210,-
549, as against $815,780 during the same
period of 1895, an increase in our import
trade of $394,769.
It is significant that in the press report
of exports which was sent out from Wash-
ington last week, and which appears in all
the leading financial and dai)y papers, this
increase of imports was ignored— it could
not have been overlooked.
It is no doubt satisfactory and cheering
to learn that our foreign trade is increasing
—a compliment truly to the excellence of
American manufactures. But it must not
be forgotten that the ratio of increase in
our import trade is much more consider-
able. We are buying considerably more
than we are selling.
In former years the balance used to be
entirely in favor of the export trade in
musical instruments. This year, as can
be seen from the figures above, the show-
ing is just the other way. We have paid
to foreign manufacturers of musical instru-
ments during the past eleven months al-
most $400,000, and we must confess that
we would much prefer to see this sum of
money, or the better portion of it, in the
pockets of American
manufacturers.
It would be the means of keeping
busy many an idle factory and working
man."
At the same time we feel a certain
sense of satisfaction that the general ex-
ports of the country promise to attain a
figure never before recorded in the history
of American export trade. It means that
American manufacturers are awakening to
the fact that if they are to dispose of the
rapidly increasing production of man-
ufactures they must extend their mar-
kets abroad. There is little satisfaction in
conquering 1 foreign markets, however, and
leaving our own at the mercy of foreign
manufacturers.
The home markets can
be preserved for American manufacturers
by the perpetuation of the policy inaugur-
ated by the Republican nominee for Pres-
ident, and our surplus production can find
suitable outlet in the proper extension and
development of reciprocity treaties.
#
#
Our "Specialty Talk" this week is with
Mr. Edward S. Cragin of C. H. Ditson &
Co., who speaks from the standpoint of the
music publisher. Mr. Cragin, although still
a young man, has made a remarkable suc-
cess in his profession. Entering the Dit-
son publishing house over thirty years ago
in the capacity of errand boy, he has ad-
vanced step by step until reaching his pres-
ent position of general manager of the
house, also being one of the stockholders
of the corporation. Mr. Cragin's views on
the matter of music publishing will there-
fore be read with much interest.
This new department of THE REVIEW con-
tinues to grow in popularity. As announced
previously, it is not our intention to confine
the talks to any one branch of trade, but to
extend it, covering all the various subdi-
visions of music trade interests.
#
In another portion of this paper will be
found the circular letter issued by the
Schimmel & Nelson Piano Co. to their cre-
ditors announcing that they have decided
to go into liquidation and discontinue the
manufacture of pianos. The company state
that their resources are ample to pay every
dollar of their indebtedness in full, therefore
they will close up the business without pre-
ferences to any creditor.
The reasons which the company give for
this move is that the depression of the
times has made it almost impossible for the
manufacture of a high grade piano on
limited capital.
„•:
It seems to us also that the company had
other obstacles to overcome. In the first
place, Faribault, Minn., the town where the
factory is located, is not easy of access. It
is far removed from the center of popu-
lation, and practically unknown to the trade
or musical world.
Again it occurs to us that the name upon
their instruments also had a detrimental ef-
fect upon the success of the business.
Schimmel & Nelson is not a euphonious
name, and it was at the very inception of
the business during a conversation with Mr.
H. C. Theopold that we suggested the
advisability of designating his piano as the
Nelson. This suggestion was also made to
him by some of the largest dealers in the
West, among whom, if our memory serves
us correctly, was Mr. P. J. Healy.
If we take into consideration, capital, lo-
cation,name, general depression of business,
they have had some strong obstacles to
overcome.
#
#
In the death of Isaac N. Camp, the music
trade of America loses one of its most promi-
nent members.
As we cast a retrospective glance back
over the death list of the past year or two
we find that the grim reaper has been active
in our ranks and many of the prominent