Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 19

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
|BE¥1EI
L\MAN
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
q
or yearly contracts..- special dis-
count is allowec
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at ths New York Post Office as Second- &a\s Mmtter.
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 28, 1896.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREKT.
"THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
;.
t
For IU ni r . ^ . a ! s?6«3 rcsista:
For t k fctLr* 15 "v
Slid UtB good ftal « e caif TOO MANY TRADE PAPERS.
OO many trade papers.
Possibly, from the vantage ground
of some there are.
Likewise too many pianoforte builders
to make the business one of unalloyed hap-
piness for all engaged in manufacturing
musical wares. The fact is, in this busy
work-a-day world of ours, there is all sorts
of competition, good, bad, but not always
indifferent, which harasses and annoys, and
some fail to understand just why things
are not nearer to their own particular lik-
ing. Naturally they think that this and
that man brings to bear, in the furtherance
of his own plans for commercial success,
methods which they do not approve or en-
dorse.
During the past few years we have wit-
nessed radical changes in this trade. Un-
known firms have forged to the front,
while old concerns which years ago occu-
pied high niches in the trade temple, have
gone to ruin, so to speak. Their efforts
T
have been enfeebled and they have grad-
ually become less distinct in the trade
horizon, until their location is hardly dis-
cernible by reason of the haze which sur-
rounds them.
They sit and occasionally you can hear
half intelligible phrases from their lips
which interpreted mean—''too many piano
makers—such competition can't, be met—
surely their instruments can't have the
merits of ours—they are not piano makers
—the pianos that they make will not stand
—our trade will come back."
But does the trade "come back?"
They forget also that the recent phenome-
nal development of our musico-industrial
affairs has demonstrated one fact beyond
peradventure, and that, that the manufac-
ture of pianos is not confined to any par-
ticular geographical location, or to any par-
ticular set of individuals. There is no
longer any mystery surrounding the manu-
facture of pianos. Time was when it
was believed that the art of making pianos
was hidden in the brain of the few—that
the maker of pianos held a secret as great
as did Stradivarius, the violin maker.
Time and a cold commercial age has dissi-
pated all that, and among intelligent men
to-day there are two necessary requisites
to build pianos and market them.
What are those requisites?
First money—second brains. With those
in generous proportions, the occultism
which surrounded early piano making dis-
appears. There isn't even a wreath of
mist remaining to mark the location
where it existed.
And still we have dreamers in this trade
who fondly hug the hope that the good old
days will return again—and they go totter-
ing on. Preposterous—we may as well
return to the days of the stage coach and
flint lock musket. Those days are gone,
and with them the days when merchants
came to market and clambered over each
other in their haste to get certain products.
The men who sit and wait for them are the
ones over whose doors the moss and the
lichen is taking a firm rooting.
The great minds in this trade saw the
trend of affairs and sought to entrench
themselves so in the hearts of the trade and
the public that their position would be al-
most impregnable.
In line with the progress in manufacture,
came the progress in journalism. The
people, as a whole, became omnivorous
readers. It became necessary that each
trade should have its exponents. While
the daily press gave columns descriptive oi
prize fights, and publicly washed all the
soiled linen of the divorce courts in view of
its readers, it gave a meagre two lines to
some advance in science, art, or mechanics
whereby thousands were benefited, and
the world moved ahead a pace or two
towards a higher civilization. ,,;,; '•'.7~£ l
Arts, sciences, mechanics were neglected
while sensationalism and vulgarism were
paraded in the public print. There was a
necessity for trade journalism and to the
honor of the trade press as whole be it said
that it has disseminated not alone valuable
information, but it has kept its skirts free
and clear from the demoralizing influ-
ences so openly flaunted in the daily press.
It is true too, that trade journalism has
across its escutcheon the bar sinister.
But that is not the fault of trade journal-
ism. Because its fair fame has been black-
ened by men who have been alike devoid
of honor and conscience, trade journalism
should not be blamed.
A profession should not be charged with
the misdeeds of an individual—any more
than piano making should be charged with
all the crimes which have been committed
by men who have worn the trade badge.
What is sauce for the goose should like-
wise be served to the gander.
Music trade journalism has been for years
staggering along under the blight placed
upon it by the men who sought to make the
entire trade subservient to their exorbitant
demands. These men, under the conveni-
ent cloak of trade journalism, plied their
nefarious task, in which it would have been
more fitting to have brought the highway-
man's weapons. Instead of posing in the
garb of trade journalism, they should have
better arrayed themselves in cloak and
mask, then armed with a bludgeon they
would have been appropriately attired.
Music trade journalism has had to suffer
much abuse by reason of the stand and de-
liver methods inaugurated by adventurers
who stood in its protecting shadow.
But it has survived, and the healing in-
fluences of time is being cast about repen-
tant sinners who, full of years and with
empty pockets, have returned to the fold.
Too many trade papers.
Just the same number that existed six
years ago, while the ranks of piano manu-
facturers in the meanwhile has become won-
derfully augmented.
Of course, some of the papers should die
—but, Lord bless you, they refuse to do
this. They should combine, and where
there are six papers there should be but
three. Oil and water mixeth not. The
same may be fittingly said of trade editors.
Then the trade should combine and make
one great big paper, starve out the little
fellows.
Would that work with satisfactory re-
sults?
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
There is no question as to the satisfac-
tory results to the one paper, but how
about the trade?
As soon as the withdrawal of patronage
from the other papers caused them to sink
into innocuous desuetude, would not the
one remaining become dictator ? And would
not the enormous tributes laid upon the
members of the trade who had succeeded
in annihilating the other papers, become
as thick as leaves in Vallombrosa, or judg-
ments against Oscar Hammerstein in No-
vember?
Would not the trade learn, to its sorrow
and disgust, that it cost more to keep one
paper in check than it cost in honest pat-
ronage" to six ? What man among the en-
tire list of music trade editors could be en-
trusted with the important and lucrative
position of Purveyor General to the Music
Trade, or in other words, the Negus, the
" Pooh Bah." There would be as many as-
pirants to the post as for any appointment
within McKinley's gift.
This trade paper question is vexatious,
likewise competition.
Speaking as experts, we have noticed
that the men who have had little or nothing
to say against trade papers but have pat-
ronized them liberally, in the meanwhile
devoted their energy towards furthering
their own enterprises, are the men who
have been successful.
It isn't the man who pays a paper to say
a whole lot of nice things about him and
then sits back in a softly cushioned chair in
luxurious quarters and imagines himself
bigger than Steinway, who succeeds.
Some have tried that and history records
with what results.
Use trade papers, use them intelligently,
persistently, but use them in conjunction
with your own forceful efforts.
As an auxilary to your business, the le-
gitimate trade paper is an absolute neces-
sity. It aids, it assists, it stimulates inter-
est, it disseminates knowledge, it increases
the value of a name or trade mark, but be-
hind there must be good, hearty, well-
directed effort.
Too many trade papers.
If it is deemed necessary for the interests
of the trade to bring about a reduction we
would suggest that there be the following
resolutions adopted and adhered to:
First, that no advertising moneys be
paid.in advance to any publication. Second,
that there be no monetary loans made to
trade editors to keep afloat their rotten
crafts.
If these methods strictly adhered to did
not succeed in reducing the number, we
should have that infinite satisfaction that
surpasseth all understanding, that it would
be at least honorable competition that we
would be forced to meet.
Then let the devil take the hindmost.
fir. Steinway Better.
NFORMATION obtained at Steinway
Hall yesterday noon regarding the con-
dition of Mr. William Steinway was that
he was much better and it was thought that
his restoration to health would be speedy.
his new Chicago venture which will be in-
augurated Dec. i.
The new styles of the Krell this season
are very ornate and their new scales—both
upright and grand—seem destined to
achieve considerable success.
I
The Commercial Travelers' Fair.
T
HE Commercial Travelers' P'air which
will open next month in Madison
Square Garden, promises to be a big suc-
cess. Col. A. B. De Frece is director
general, and the Colonel is a past master
in manipulating matters of large scope.
Albert G. Wigand, who has hosts of friends
all over America in the music trade line, is
chairman of the music committee.
Chickering Specials.
N the warerooms at Chickering Hall is a
handsome upright piano in English
oak specially designed for Company D,
Ninth Regiment, S. N. Y. N. G. The
company's regimental badge is handsome-
ly carved on the center panel and is sur-
rounded by appropriate lettering. Another
special sale for the week was a Chickering
grand to Mrs. A. B. Kellogg. This was
specially designed in white and gold, and
handsomely carved and gilded, finished in
Grecian design. The price obtained was
I
$1,500.
Jack Spies.
Hardma » Deals.
I.YON & HEALY WILT. HANDLE THE HARDMAN.
OHN HENRY SPIES, or, as he is
popularly called among his intimates,
"Jack," who is the son of Henry Spies,
president of the piano manufacturing con-
cern which bears his name, has recently
become a member of the Twelfth Regiment.
Jack Spies has already become popular
with his military associates and the proba-
bility is before long he will assume official
rank in that military organization.
J
EGOTIATIONS which for some time
past have been pending between
Messrs. Lyon & Healy, of Chicago, and
Hardman, Peck & Co. have been concluded,
and the result will be that the great Chicago
firm will become Western distributors of
the Hardman piano on a large scale. A
large shipment has already been made to
Lyon & Healy, and there is no doubt but
Junge Injured.
that they will make large sales with the
Hardman piano. It is an instrument
ENRY JUNGE, secretary 10 Nahum
which has a strong foothold in the West,
Stetson, was thrown from his horse
and with such a representation as the great
house of Lyon & Healy can give it will be while riding Thanksgiving Day, and the
further augmented. They also handle the result of his fall was a fractured collar
bone. It is not considered that the injury
Harrington piano as well.
Another important deal made by the he received is serious, but it is exceeding-
Hardman firm is thatS. D. Lauter& Co., of ly painful and will necessitate Mr. Junge's
Newark, will push the Hardman piano as remaining in the hospital for some time.
a leader. These two deals presage well
for the future of the Hardman interests.
N
H
Prolific in Original Ideas.
George Crane Talks.
RHARD & HAGEN, 245-7 West
Twenty-eighth street, this city, have
EO. C. CRANE, Eastern representa-
in stock a handsome and complete assort-
tive for the Krell Piano Co., Cincin-
ment of piano mouldings, plain, finished
nati, O., reports brisk business at the Krell
and carved, which are well worthy the in-
factory and good business indications
vestigation of manufacturers. Their line
generally. In an informal chat with THK
is of special interest just now owing to the
REVIEW yesterday morning, Mr. Crane
growth of taste in the matter of case elabo-
stated: "My father used to say that the
ration. Erhard & Hagen are prolific in
pulse of commerce was much like the pulse
original ideas in connection with their
of the human system; after sickness, when
business and their facilities enable them to
recovery is assured, it takes time to resume
turn out special order work without delay
one's normal condition ; business is improv-
and with satisfactory results. Their assort-
ing, it will, however, be slow but neverthe-
ment of patterns is interesting and in
less sure. "
many respects unique.
Mr. Crane is much elated over the big sue.
cess of the "Royal;" he has for considerable
PHEI.PS & LVDDON Co., of Rochester,
time advocated the manufacture of a second
instrument, and the large outstanding or- N. Y., were incorporated on Wednesday
ders for the Royal is the strongest testi- last, to manufacture piano cases and piano
mony to his alert judgment.
backs. Capital, $15,000; directors: Charles
Mr. Crane prophecies that William Car- Goetzmann, William B. Farnham and A.
penter Camp will make a good success of Masters MacDonell, of Rochester.
G
E

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