Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN 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, $+.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts n special dis«
count in allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
to made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 30, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745.--EIQHTEENTH STREET.
OUR EXPORT TRADE.
The enlargement of our foreign trade on
reciprocal lines is a matter which is certain
to be seriously considered by Major McKin-
ley and his cabinet after March 4th next.
Reciprocity was one of the important
planks in the platform on which the incoming
Republican administration was elected. It is a
policy, the practicability of which is no longer
questioned. During Harrison's administra-
tion it proved to be an unequivocal success
and shed lustre alike on the national execu-
tive and its author, James G. Blaine.
As far as the music trade is concerned, it
may be contended that even with reciprocity
treaties an enlarged market with the South
American countries would not be of immedi-
ate benefit to the industry. Perhaps not, di-
rectly; but indirectly it will be of incalculable
benefit.
Anything and everything that will give the
citizens of these countries a better knowledge
of our capabilities as a nation of manufact-
urers, and an acquaintance with our products,
will tend to give American manufactures in
general a standing where they are now actu-
ally unknown. Thus our time will come.
The activity of the German Government,
and latterly of England and France, in the
matter of foreign trade has placed this country
in a position where it is absolutely necessary
to bestir ourselves. These countries to-day
practically control the trade of the great
South American continent in the matter of
musical instruments.
Up to within a recent period Mexico was
supplied almost exclusively from England
and Germany; now, however, through pub-
licity and enterprise, American manufactur-
ers have opened a growing market for pianos
and organs. What has been accomplished
there can easily be accomplished elsewhere.
It is anomalous that with our boasted en-
terprise the South American countries should
be practically unknown to us commercially,
while they are supplied almost exclusively
from Europe.
Our piano and organ manufacturers have
never properly " worked " the South Amer-
ican markets. It is not possible to run down
there in a week and secure trade. The cus-
toms and habits of the people must be stud-
ied; they must be supplied with just what they
want, descriptive catalogues of our products
should be printed in their language, and, if
possible, representatives speaking their native
tongue should be sent among them—in fact,
many initiatory steps are necessary before
progress can be made.
It may be said that this is unusual trouble;
small pay for big work; nevertheless it is
business. The European manufacturers have
had to take such a course and they have suc-
ceeded.
American manufacturers have many advan-
tages over their German competitors in the
Southern market. Freights are lower; there
can be no question as to the superiority of
our products, and musical instruments of do-
mestic manufacture can better withstand the
trying climatic conditions prevalent in the
South.
There is one disadvantage which American
manufacturers labor under, and that is the
absence of a bank of exchange in this city.
At the present time, in dealing with Southern
countries, letters of exchange are made pay-
able in Europe. Steps to remedy this condi-
tion of affairs are now under consideration,
and, if successful, payments can be made di-
rect to New York.
The extension of our foreign trade is a
timely topic; it is in line with the progress of
the times. No matter how large and unde-
veloped the home market, our manufacturing
facilities are such that we can easily supply all
the local demands and cater to a much larger
foreign trade than we have at the present time.
European merchants are no doubt aided
immeasurably in extending their foreign
trade by the activity and support of their con-
suls. The valuable reports sent them anent
the needs and requirements of the Southern
countries afford such valuable information
that they understand the market to which
they are about to cater.
Unfortunately, our consuls are, in the main,
politicians, and the mercantile interests of
the country are only of secondary interest to
them. We have seen this same spirit also
manifested in our legislative halls time and
time again. The matter of notoriety is often-
times more pleasing to a majority of our pub-
lic men than the commercial interests of the
nation. Hence, whatever is accomplished in
the augmentation of our foreign trade will
come through the re-enactment of reciprocity
treaties and concerted action to that end by
manufacturers.
:+—*
The members of the firm of J. & C. Fischer
are prolific contributors to the Patent Office
in the way of new inventions relating to piano
making. It has been our pleasure to chron-
icle at various times the many important pat-
ents granted to Mr. T. Tasso Fischer.
An account of his most recent contribution
•—a simplified grand piano action—appears in
another part of this paper. It is noteworthy
that every improvement relating to pianos ob-
tained by Mr. Fischer is invariably meritori-
ous.
The members of the J. & C. Fischer house
take a lively interest in the technical depart-
ment of their business. This is natural, as
the members of the firm have all been trained
in the " practical" school. Indeed, the suc-
cess which the Fischer piano has achieved is
entirely due to the tireless efforts of the mem-
bers of the firm to improve their wares and
make them more perfect acoustically and
more attractive architecturally.
1-
+
William Carpenter Camp has certainly the
knack of keeping his name before the trade.
For several months Estey & Camp changes
have been in the air, and rumors have been
many as to Mr. Camp's " next move." The
latest Estey & Camp developments, particu-
lars of which appear in our Western letter, in-
dicate that the business of Estey & Camp will
be liquidated unless some move at present not
known is contemplated. Meanwhile, should
Mr. Camp adhere to his present plans, one of
the old landmarks, musically, of Chicago, will
be relegated to the past in a very few months.
The name of Estey & Camp has a national
reputation, and we venture to question really
whether it will permanently disappear. The
reputation of a house, and the standing of a
name cannot be built in a day, and, although
this is an iconoclastic age, a firm name is al-
ways a valuable property in the mercantile
world.
*
+
The formation of a great music trade as-
sociation, on national lines, has been advo-
cated and discussed in detail by The Review
from time to time. The many advantage?
which would accrue from such an organiza-
tion are obvious; we see them illustrated in
associations of a similar character in other
industries. We are pleased to note that some
of our trade editors who have been inclined
to stand aloof and metaphorically throw cold
water on the national association idea, are
now disposed to think favorably of the sug-
gestions made by The Review.