Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
LYMAN
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 a special dis-
count ta allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
to* made payable to Edward Lyman BilL
Entered atthe New York Post Office as Second-Oa^s Matter.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 12, 1896.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
••THE BUSINESS MAN'S PAPER."
HIS week we enter upon what is termed
"the fall season." The tide of sum-
mer travel which has been flowing away to
mountains and sea shore is flowing back
again steadily and swiftly. In ordinary
years we would expect unmistakable evi-
dences of business activity around this time.
This, however, is an extraordinary year.
While the prospects for healthy activity in
trade and industry is encouraging, and
many manufacturers report a distinct im-
provement for the past week, yet factor-
ies that should be running full or over-time
preparing for fall trade are afraid to ac-
cumulate a large amount of, if any, manu-
factured stock.
It is our opinion that notwithstanding the
depressing conditions which have existed
and to some extent exist, there will be a
fall trade. It will be experienced a little
later than usual, but let us emphasize, be
it great or small in quantity, it can only
T
be secured by the adoption of progressive
business methods. Orders for pianos can-
not be filled in a day, and ample prepara-
tion must be made ahead in the way of ac-
cumulated stock.
The manufacturer who is disposed to
await the arrival of "good times" before
preparing stock or taking such action as
will win him business, may be assuming a
position that in his opinion is politic. But
is it a safe or a wise one?
It would be absurd to accumulate a large
amount of manufactured stock on the sup-
position that the public is waiting in line
to buy pianos; meanwhile there is an
intelligent activity absolutely necessary
before confidence can be restored and
trade resume its ordinary channels.
The unstable conditions which have pre-
vailed in the financial world for the past
six or nine months, resulting in a curtail-
ment of credits and want of confidence cer-
tainly unprecedented, are fast disappearing,
and it is the opinion of such authorities as
Bradstreet's and Dun's that a slight revi-
val of business has already commenced in
all lines, and an upward turn in prices of
manufactured products is being experi-
enced.
The heavy imports of gold to which we
referred last week have made money easier;
banks are disposed to be more liberal to
their customers, and a better feeling pre-
vails all around.
The gain in confidence is certain to grow
until permanently established with the elec-
tion of Major McKinley in November.
That is not more than seven weeks distant
—not too soon for manufacturers to give
close attention to the matter of fall busi-
ness.
Asa matter of course, manufacturers are
in business to do business, and those who
will get the lion's share are the ones found
ready with an ample stock of attractive de-
signs of instruments, and who have been
careful to make them known to the public
through the recognized mediums.
It is a well-known axiom that in business
a man must go forward or he will fall back,
and every effort should be made to mark
progress. The fight may be harder this
year than ever before, but the fight must
be made. At no time was it so necessary
to get up and hustle. That's just the word
—"hustle" with a big H.
It is a noteworthy fact that during the
past twelve months, which have been espe-
cially notable for an unparalleled commer-
cial stagnancy, music trade men have been
doing some "hard thinking," and the re-
sult is seen in the unusually large number
of inventions relating to musical instru-
ments recorded in the Patent Office. With-
out going into the matter in detail, if we
commence with Henry Ziegler, of Stein-
way & Sons, who made such a valuable
contribution to the perfection of the piano,
we find such names recorded during the
past six to nine months as Levi K. Fuller,
of the Estey Organ Co., organ bench; W.
B. Tremaine, of the ^Eolian Co., mechan-
ical musical instrument; T. T. Fischer, of
J. & C. Fischer, piano case and piano at-
tachment; George B. Shearer, of the Mel-
oharp Co., harp; L. M. French, assignor
to the John Church Co., piano attachment;
Stephen Brambach, of the Estey Piano
Co., open back piano case; Rudolf
Dolge, of Alfred Dolge & Son, harp; Peter
Duffy, of the Schubert Piano Co., piano at-
tachment; George P. Bent, mouse proof
piano attachment; Victor H. Mathushek, of
the Mathushek & Sons Piano Co., metallic
frame for pianofortes; Paul M. Zeidler, of
Strich & Zeidler, design for piano case;
Helmuth Kranich, of Kranich & Bach, pi-
anoforte; Adam Nickel, of Wessell, Nickel
& Gross, improved piano action; Fred. W.
Hedgeland, the W. W. KimballCo., coupler
for pneumatic actions; Morris Steinert, of
the M. Steinert & Sons Co., piano action.
This showing indicates an unusual and
gratifying activity in the inventive field.
Apart from the value of the innova-
tions recorded, it means that these mem-
bers of the trade are taking a live and
earnest interest in the technical bjanch of
their industry.
#
#
So much uncertainty prevails anent the
prospects for fall and winter trade that
THE REVIEW, with its usual desire to sup-
ply authoritative information, sent out this
week a circular letter to prominent dealers
throughout the country covering the above
and other questions important to the man-
ufacturer.
The response has been very gratifying.
By their co-operation the dealers have
done much to provide a basis on which to
estimate the season's demand, as well as to
receive a clear idea of the extent and char-
acter of the business that will be done.
The replies so far reveal many peculiar
divergencies of opinion as to the condi-
tions in various sections, and their perusal
will well repay manufacturers.
The allusions to the currency and other
political matters are extremely interesting,
and each letter is so imbued with the indi-
viduality of the writer as to give it force
and value.
There is a hopeful sentiment displaye
throughout the communications that is