Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 16

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LVMAN BILL
Edltor 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. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Bntered at tht New York Post Office as Second- Class Mmtttr.
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7, 1896.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
••THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
NOW TO BUSINESS.
FTER all, it was not a cross of gold,
but a pencilled black cross at the
head of the ballot, which crushed Mr.
Bryan. The victory of last Tuesday
proves conclusively that the American
people can always be relied upon in times
of grave emergency. The result of the
nation's vote was more than an individual
victory—more than a party victory—it was
a victory of a patriotic people over threat-
ened repudiation. It was the most
memorable time in the history of Ameri-
can politics, because it proved to the world
that we value patriotism much higher than
we do partisanship.
A
Now that the menace of repudiation is
swept away, the industries of this country
will speedily show a great revival. The
factories and workshops will be reopened,
and the hum of industry will be heard
throughout this broad land. The money
which has been in hiding on account of the
threatened disaster to the country will
now speedily seek channels of trade.
These are simply the logical and inevit-
able results of the existing conditions.
Enterprise has stagnated during this mem-
orable camaign. Manufacturers in all
lines have refrained from pushing their
business with any sort of enterprise, pre-
ferring to wait until they ascertained as to
what coin they would be paid in.
The same uncertainty has existed in re-
tail circles, and the banks have been hold-
ing a close grip upon their discounts,
while the foreign investors have been
loath to place their money in American
securities until the country had declared in
favor of financial integrity.
That we are on the eve of good times
may be seen by the immediate rise in
stocks and securities which followed the
declaration of the result of the political
struggle.
It is, after all, confidence which stimu-
lates business, and the industrial activity
which is always the forerunner of good
times is now making itself felt. There
can be no business activity in times of dis-
aster. Whenever the public confidence is
shaken money immediately seeks a hiding
place, and reappears only after that confi-
dence has been restored.
Now that Bryanism has met its Appomat-
tox and is buried under an avalanche of
votes, let every man stop talking politics
and turn his attention towards sending the
wheel of industry spinning round at a good
round pace. The country is all right,
patriotism reigns supreme, now for busi-
ness.
In the music trade we will predict, as in
all other lines, an unusual activity. The
demand for musical instruments during
the holiday season will be unprecedentedly
large. Manufacturers will do well to at
once set things whirling round at a good
smart pace. Dealers will act wisely if they
will immediately place their orders, be-
cause in no other way can they be sure of
having them filled with anything approxi-
mating promptitude. The dealer who has
a good stock from which to make selections
will be the one who will get the lion's share
of the trade this season, and the manufac-
turer who has planned for a good holiday
trade will be the one who will reap the
reward of his confidence in the business
future of the country.
Personally, we have seen in our travels
innumerable instances where people who
have refrained from purchasing pianos un-
til after the election. Those to whom we
especially refer, have had the money on
deposit and were qualified to pay cash for
their purchase, but preferred to wait until
the election decided the prosperity of the
country.
It is from this class, who number thous-
ands, all over America, that the immediate
demand for pianos will come. Then, as
the factories begin to run on full time and
the distribution of wages becomes more
and more universal, the demand will be
largely augmented from the class who have
been working on reduced time and wages.
There is another important thing to con-
sider in the matter of a business revival.
The dealers of this country can paste it
where they can see it well, and that is that
prices for pianos reached rock bottom in
October, 1896, and never again in this gen-
eration will they be sold for as little
money. The various metals and woods
which enter into the manufacture of a piano
are steadily advancing in price. It will
cost considerably more to build a piano
three months from to-day than it did during
October. The very cheap piano will
rapidly become only a memory as times
continue to grow better; the scale of price
as well as quality will steadily advance.
Good times and general prosperity are
the elements which will reduce the promi-
nence of the cheap piano in our own indus-
trial field. All the talk of the papers, all
the agitation of the subject of cheap pianos
count as nothing as compared with the
prosperity of the times. General Prosper-
ity is the commanding officer who will
cause the cheap piano to march to the rear,
while he orders on the solid columns of
higher grade pianos to the front.
#
#
The announcement elsewhere that the
trustees of the Emerson Piano Co. have
been relieved of their responsibilities, and
that the firm is once more operating under
the competent management of Messrs.
Powers, Kimball and Gramer, will be re-
ceived with considerable pleasure and grati-
fication by a legion of friends.
The Emerson Piano Co. have always been
financially healthy, the contracted condi-
tion of the money market simply compelled
an indisposition which has been of short
duration. They fling out the old Emerson
banner once more, unsullied and unstained,
at a time when the people have declared
themselves in favor of maintaining the
honor of the country and placing in power
a party in whom the business world has
absolute confidence.
With the renewed activity which is now
certain to occur, the Emerson pianos should
be prominent factors in making trade for
the dealer. There are many reasons why
they merit consideration, and the reasons
are at once obvious after an examination
of the artistic designs, finish and tonal
quality of these instruments.
We congratulate the members of the
Emerson Piano Co. on the speedy settle-
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ment of their affairs, and bespeak for them
the hearty support of the trade in their
future movements.
#
#
The music trade has already felt the in-
spiring effects of the recent election. Trade
has materially brightened on all sides.
Perhaps the surest barometer of trade con-
ditions is the press. The enlargement of
advertising space shows that business men
are going in for trade with a vim. In the
trade press it is the same. Wide awake
manufacturers realize that now is the time
to make themselves known, in an emphatic
way, in the columns of representative
journals.
THE REVIEW is steadily receiving orders
for increased advertising space—orders
which show the good taste and judgment
of manufacturers in selecting such a
medium, and it also shows that they mean
to make strenuous efforts for business.
Now is the time, and let it be done in no
weak and half-hearted way. Don't be
meager in your advertising expenditures
from this time on, and remember that the
trade press is a power in this country and
it can aid and assist the business of every
manufacturer. Just give evidence of your
business life.
#
#
Business men in all parts of the country
are receiving convincing evidence of the
fact that there should be a national law re-
garding bankruptcy in America. In some
States it is easy for merchants to repudiate
their indebtedness. Messrs. Sohmer &
Co. obtained on Oct. 13th judgment for an
amount approximating $1,000 against the
Hobbie Music Co., of Roanoke, Va. The
Hobbie Music Co. were succeeded by the
Hobbie Piano Co. and the assets of the old
company were transferred to the new, the
same members comprising the new com-
pany who were instrumental in contracting
the debts of the old concern. The Hobbie
Music Co. have lately been appointed
agents for Virginia for the Mason & Ham-
lin Piano Co.
What stronger argument could be brought
to bear for a national music trade associa-
tion than is evidenced in the Hobbie con-
cerns of Virginia?
Business Outlook Bright.
IN THE PIANO AND SUPPLY TRADE IMPROVE-
MENT ALREADY EVIDENT.
S expected by level-headed men in all
parts of the country, trade is al-
ready improving. New York business
men, during the last two days, report a
splendid total of orders for this time of the
year, and in the wholesale districts all
hands have been busily shipping goods or-
dered weeks ago, contingent upon Mr. Mc-
Kinley's election.
In the piano trade, business has bright-
ened up materially and several firms re-
port having received quite an increase in
mail orders on Thursday and yesterday
mornings. The restoration of confidence
has already helped retail trade, and sound
money's triumph has resulted, as expected,
in a general awakening of business.
When interviewed on Thursday, the
members of the firms referred to had the
following to say on the situation:
The Davenport & Treacy Co., piano hard-
ware—A score of orders reached us to-day
from men who have made no purchases
since July. We had almost forgotten
them. We have forwarded orders to Bos-
ton for the starting of a new factory in that
city as soon as possible. If Bryan had been
elected we would have been forced to
abandon this scheme.
William E. Uptegrove & Bro., wood-
work manufacturers—We have many con-
tracts made contingent on McKinley's elec-
tion. Our business is certain to be exceed-
ingly large now.
George Hagemeyer & Co., dealers in fine
woods—The orders held by us contingent
upon McKinley's election will now be filled,
and their total is large. Trade promises to
boom.
W. L. Marshall, veneers—There has been
a large increase in the volume of business
to-day. We feel assured of good times.
Isaac I. Cole & Son, veneers—Four large
orders reached us to-day. This is unusual
and indicates a sharp revival of business.
A
PROSPERITY S ADVANCE AGENT.
that this address is an instructive lesson in
economics from a practical standpoint.
It is peculiarly forceful, devoid of surplus
literary adornment—in brief, it is the
opinion of a good American and an honest
business man.
#
#
The banner piano sale for the week was
made at Steinway Hall. It was the sale of
a magnificent grand, the cost of which ran
into the thousands. It might properly be
termed a beautiful piano poem, inasmuch
as its sides and top bear artistic decora-
tions and paintings by Blackmore, while
on the name-board is a two-line verse of
poetry surrounded by a musical scroll. It
is not stated just the amount paid for the
instrument. It was another of those art
creations for which the house of Steinway
has become world famous.
#
#
Paul M. Zeidler, of Strich & Zeidler,
piano manufacturers, favors us this week
with a "Specialty Talk." Mr. Zeidler, al-
though a young man, has won much promi-
nence as an expert scale drawer, and a
thorough piano man of the new school,
therefore his "talk" will be of much inter-
est to our readers.
#
#
It will be a mighty hot race between
Freeborn G. Smith and Calvin Whitney as
to which piano enters the White House
during the incoming administration.
THE suit of Strich & Zeidler vs. Albert
Steinert, of Providence, R. I., which was
#
#
on the legal calendar for hearing Wednes-
The magnificentaddress made by Alfred day last in that city, has again been post-
poned until Jan. 4th, 1897.
Dolge last Wednesday night, an excerpt
WILLIAM ASHTON, dealer in pianos and
from which appears elsewhere, is well
organs at No. 375 Bleecker street, this cit) T ,
worthy of perusal. Like a statesman he
made an assignment Monday last, Nov.
handles the many questions which are ripe 3d, to Bela M. Farnham. He claimed a
for legislative action, in a manner that dis- capital of about $5,000.
plays his liberality of thought and compre-
P. J. (III.DKMEESTER is back from his
hensive study of the leading questions of Western trip, taken in the interests of
the day. Indeed it is not too much to say Steinway & Sons.
And They AH Voted for McKinley.
YMAN BILL, of THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW, deserves great credit for his
enthusiasm in the cause of sound money.
He organized three companies and deco-
rated them with feather plumes for their
hats. They looked very "nobby" as they
passed along up the avenue.—"Chicago
Musical Times."
L
The Lehr Piano.
LEHR & CO., the well-known or-
gan manufacturers of Easton, Pa.,
9
have their new Lehr piano almost ready
for the trade. The designs, which are very
attractive, are made up in all the fancy
woods; and the scale, which has been drawn
by Superintendent Hutchings, a piano
maker of ability, results in a tone that is
said to be even and brilliant.
H

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