Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1896 Vol. 23 N. 23

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LVMAN 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. On quarterly or yearly contracts o special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency fora:, should
to* made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Bnttred at the New York Post Office as Second- Class Mt
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 26, 1896.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
- T H E BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
THE PUBLICATION DAY OF THE
REVIEW IS CHANGED THIS WEEK
FROM SATURDAY TO THURSDAY,
OWING TO THE FACT OF CHRIST-
MAS INTERVENING.
RETROSPECTIVE.
OW that the last copper leaf has fallen
from the mossy twig and the land-
scape has taken on an ashen, chilly air, we
scent the fragrant cheer of Christmas.
The stores are thronged with shoppers,
and all about us is life and brightness.
1986 draweth near to its close, and, in a
business sense, is practically completed.
From this time on sales will be compara-
tively few, until the great "slaughter sales"
of January begin.
Men are already beginning to figure up
just what the year has meant to them in a
pecuniary sense. The commercial sky, on
the whole, has been darkened, and after
N
two or three years of unparalleled depres-
sion, we cannot expect a great change to
be wrought in a month or two, and, on the
whole, many of us will not regret that 1896
is near its end.
The year has been a notable one in the
annals of the piano trade in that there have
been more and greater failures than in any
previous year in the entire history of
American music trade affairs. Crash after
crash followed until it seemed at one time
as if hardly a firm was free from the per-
nicious and insidious rumors which floated
up and down the streets, originating no one
knows where, but scattered, and in many
instances believed. It looked as if the fu-
ture of many houses in the trade was indeed
critical. However, we have sailed through
stormy seas and at last see less tempestuous
waters ahead.
One fact must impress itself upon the
student of trade history and that is the
wonderful vitality of the piano manufactur-
ing concerns. It seems as if a name once
started and fairly launched in a business
sense in this trade never dies. Of all the
concerns that grounded on bankruptcy's
shoals this year, there is not one of any
note but that has arranged, or has matters
practically settled for the continuance of
their business. Take in dry goods, cloth-
ing, jewelry, leather trades, and the value
of a trade mark is not so great as in this
self-same music trade. It proves one thing,
that there must be a great deal of confi-
dence reposed in the men who stand at the
head of our great trade institutions.
The number of pianos manufactured dur-
ing the present year will show that there
has been a tremendous shrinkage from the
total of 1895 and former years. There has
been a large increase in the cheaper lines,
while there has existed a great stagnancy
among the producers of medium grade in-
struments. In our opinion, the total out-
put for 1896 for pianos for the United
States will not vary materially from fifty-
seven thousand. A large percentage of
these may be reckoned as classed in the
cheaper grades.
It is true it is not a flattering statement
for a trade in which there is a capital in-
vested approximating $50,000,000 to state
that we have only turned out fifty-seven
thousand instruments. Yet facts are facts,
although at times they are unpleasant to
face.
There seems to be a vitality existing in
the trade press which corresponds with that
exhibited by piano manufacturers. The
same number of papers exist which have
for a number of years past. It may be
said to their credit, that there has been a
good deal of improvement in the music
trade papers regarding their literary and
news features; more really good matter and
of a greater variety has appeared in the
music trade press during the present year
than in any preceding. And it is a relief
to turn from the large newspapers of to-day
with their sensational matter and other rot
to the columns of the ordinarily clean trade
press.
For the next thirty days business con-
cerns all over America will be scanning
over the gains and losses of the present
year and planning their campaign for 1897.
The new year seems full of promise, but
there is no telling what the jingo Congress
may do before the incoming administra-
tion assumes control of our national affairs.
Our national legislators who are drawing
snug salaries, and many of them rich per-
quisites as well, have no consideration for
the business affairs of this country. Not-
withstanding that we have gone through
three years of business depression, they
seem to think that war scares are more
needed to equalize matters, than attending
strictly to our own affairs as a nation.
The politicians can't have all the innings
in the battle of life, the business men must
surely have a turn at the bat and score a
home run occasionally, or the industrial
affairs of this country will continue to lan-
guish.
1896 has not only been remarkable for its
crashes in the industrial world, but it has
also marked the exit from life's stage of
many notable personalities in this trade.
In the West, Isaac N. Camp; in New Eng-
land, Levi K. Fuller; in New York,
William Steinway, three great figures who
have joined the great majority within a
comparatively short time. These and many
men less notable in our trade life have de-
parted.
1896 is also noted for some peculiar
changes which have been going on in the
trade, the gravitation of the trade towards
the cheap piano, and the consequent depres-
sion among the ranks of the medium grade
instruments. In the opinion of many, the
cheap piano is simply an emergency piano,
and will disappear as a prominent trade fac-
tor when good times are once more with us.
Two great names in the music trade his-
tory also have been retired from the ranks
of active workers during the present year.
We refer to the Weber Piano Co. and
Decker Bros. The reorganization of the
former, under the name of the Weber-
Wheelock Co., is an assured fact, and the
Weber name will still be before the trade.
As to the future of Decker Bros., there is
nothing new to add to that which has al-
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ready been published.
Wm. F. Decker has
been engaged in settling tip the estate of
lar, periodical trips of THE REVIEW, we
been much talk regarding this sale, but.the
make no special account of it.
result certainly must be gratifying to the
his father, the late John Jacob Decker, and
#
members of the piano trade, not only in
#
it is understood that the Decker trade mark
"Trade," said Nahum Stetson Tuesday
is his personal property, and whether he
morning, "is far better than during the
will receive, through the columns of the
will engage in the near future in piano
holidays last year.
trade press, reports of this widely adver-
making on his own account, is not as yet
need now is extra drays and teams to de-
officially announced.
liver instruments."
The newly incorporated Weber-Wheelock
#
Co. preferred to bid in the pianos above
The members of the supply trade have
been frequently accused by some of giving
credit which, in many cases, was not justi-
fied, and that the recipients were unworthy
of extensive credit.
The reports of all the
failures this year will not justify the main-
tenance of that belief.
The affairs of the
concerns who have failed show that the
members of the supply trade
great judgment in their
exercised
assignment of
credits, and to the honor and glory of the
supply trade it must be said, notwithstand-
ing the many failures which have occurred
in the music trade there has been only one
break in the solid ranks of the supply men,
and that O. J. Faxon & Co., of Boston,
plate manufacturers, whose business and
reputation has always been purely a local
one.
The "small goods" trade has not been
entirely free from failures.
In New York,
John F. Stratton and Herman
struck
on the breakers
last
Sonntag
fall.
In
looking over the country, it is true that the
failures have not been confined
special locality.
to any
They have occurred in all
of the principal trade centers.
N
The only thing we
#
with surprising regularity into THE REVIEW
lap during the year, yet the share re-
manufacturers' prices rather than to have
EVER before in the history of auction
them auctioned in New York at cut rates.
sales in this trade has there been one
Therefore, it occurs to us that such action
which has received the prominence given
on their part not only dignifies the trade,
the Weber auction, which occurred in this
but it proves conclusively that there is more
city this week.
backbone to the piano business than some
Commencing last Saturday,
the receiver placed large advertisements
the city.
This was followed up by exten-
sive advertising Monday and Tuesday.
Naturally, the result of this extensive
advertising, and the effect that a slaughter
sale would have on the retail business, was
looked upon with much interest
trade.
by the
Those, however, who believed that
In the local press of Cincinnati has ap-
their fears.
concerning Smith & Nixon.
Weber pianos were not slaughtered in
price and the bargain hunters were sore.
The people who were most disappointed
dollars for quarters invested.
The slaugh-
Wm. E. Wheelock, representing
he considered
above
Mr. Wheelock's position in this matter,
They have
of course, did not meet with the approval
learned that whether an advertising con-
of those present who were looking for tre-
tract is given for a hundred or a thousand
mendously cut figures but, nevertheless,
dollars, that they get great big value for
the trade of the city should appreciate his
the
action.
Instead of hurling on the market
They know that THE REVIEW is the only
one hundred and sixty-four pianos at cut
music trade paper in America which has
rates, Mr. Wheelock saved the trade in this
sent its personal representative to every
respect from this blow, and further, it will
city of prominence on the North American
have a permanent result upon the piano
Continent.
purchasing public of New York and vicin-
REVIEW has visited the dealers, in fact
made it a special point to visit every nook
and cranny in America.
They know that
the hard, earnest work which we have done
in behalf of our constituency has been pro-
ductive of good results for them.
ity.
Many people who have the idea that
there are abnormal profits in the piano
business—-that a piano
usually retailing
for $600 can be sold at $100 at a profit—
will now change their belief.
Shortly after Jan. ist, the editor of this
The Weber sale proved one thing con-
paper will start out on one of his extended
clusively and that is that pianos of that
trips, covering a large portion of the coun-
grade are not going to be offered at ridicu-
try.
lously low prices.
As this has become one of the regu-
highly
its
present
Strange things, indeed, the whirlgig of
time brings forth.
A. B.
Fletcher, chairman of the Reorganization
the cost of manufacture.
They know that for years THE
complimenting
who were attracted by the advertisements.
anchor fast to THE REVIEW, but, as time
in THE REVIEW.
the reorganization of the Smith & Nixon
members.
at a figure which
expended
headed "Owe a Million," and a day or two
Co.,
ter prices did not prevail, and there were
One, a notice
later a very flattering notice referring to
were the ones who came hoping to get gold
usually started the price of the instruments
money
No trade=paper bulldozing.
No advertising payments in
advance.
No monetary loans to support
newspaper mendicancy.
#—#
peared recently some interesting notices
patrons is appreciated, and they not only
tising appropriations with us.
#
retail trade in the city can well lay aside
Committee of the Weber-Wheelock Co.,
rolls on, they usually increase their adver-
#
it would have any serious effect upon the
tory.
we give our
people have given it credit for possessing.
with the daily papers and on Sunday quar-
ter pages appeared in every publication in
ceived by us is, times considered, satisfac-
The service which
tised sale.
THE WEBER AUCTION SALE.
many disappointed ones among the people
While the plums have not been dropping
this city, but throughout the country, who
Of course, there has
FRANK C. DECKER, of Decker & Son, this
city, left on Saturday last for a brief busi-
ness trip to St. Louis.
C. B. GARRITSON, president of the Kroe-
ger Piano Co., this city, returned on
Wednesday of this week from his ex-
tended road trip.
THE music trade establishments of Wm.
Wander & Sons, L. Barker & Co., and
Gallup & Metzger were the subjects of
lengthy and well written "stories " in the
Hartford, Conn., "Courant" of last Sun-
day.
MESSRS.
CHICKF.RING
& SONS gave
an-
other of their popular matinee musicales
last Tuesday at Chickering Hall, the artists
being Miss Fannie Richter, piano; Mr.
Elliot Hubbard, tenor; Mr. Hubert Arnold,
violin, and Mrs. Morgan, accompanist.
There was, as usual, a large and fashionable
attendance.
C. H. EDDY, general representative for
Chickering & Sons, Boston, arrived in New
York from the West on Tuesday of this
week; he left for Boston the following day.
RUFUS W. BLAKE and J. R. Mason, presi-
dent and treasurer respectively of the Ster-
ling Co., Derby, Conn., were in towia.on
Wednesday.
• . • . . . ,, .••;-,

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