Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Injunction Secured by Knabe & Co.
Supreme Court Justice Beekman granted
an injunction Thursday last on the applica-
tion of Wm. Knabe & Co., piano manufact-
urers, restraining Rudolph Aronson from dis-
posing of or parting with a contract made by
him with Mme. Teresa Carrefio for a concert
tour in the United States and Canada during
the season of 1897.
James E. Healy, of Knabe & Co., when
seen by a representative of the press on Thurs-
day stated that the injunction obtained was
to prevent the conclusion of an arrangement
between Rudolph Aronson and a certain New
York piano concern, whereby, in defiance of
their contract with Aronson, the piano of that
concern was to be introduced in the Carreno
concerts.
" Mme. Carreno," said Mr. Healy, " flatly
declined to be a party to this arrangement,
but, of course, was in the hands of her man-
ager. Mme. Carreno left to-night for Pitts-
burg to fill an engagement with the Pittsburg
Symphony Orchestra, and will use our piano
as usual."
A Dangerous Fire.
LUCKHARDT & BELDER BURNED OUT.
Half a dozen persons fled for their lives from
a fire which, without warning, broke out in the
music store of Luckhardt & Belder, at 10 East
Seventeenth Street, at 10 o'clock last Thurs-
day morning.
The fire started in the cellar and suddenly
broke through the basement floor next to Mr.
Luckhardt's desk. There were about a dozen
people in the store at the time.
Mr. Luckhardt slammed the door of the
safe and attempted to run to the street. He
was half-suffocated before he had gone a few
feet, and so, throwing himself to the floor, he
crept on all fours toward the street.
His bookkeeper and others who were in the
rear of the store got out safely, too, in the
same way. The employees in the front of the
store had less difficulty in reaching a place
of safety.
Of course the firemen worked under un-
usual difficulties owing to the snow-storm, and
several of them were injured.
The building was leased by George W. Her-
bert, piano dealer, who occupied the first floor
and who sublet it to other firms.
Luckhardt & Belder's loss in music and
small goods is estimated at between $3,000
and $4,000. Mr. Herbert suffered but slight
damage.
President Braumuller Goes West.
Otto L. Braumuller, president of the Brau-
muller Co., this city, left the first of the week
for an extended road trip. Mr. Braumuller
is on the war path for new business, and hopes
to visit the numerous Braumuller agencies in
the West and Northwest. He is in St. Paul
at the time of writing, and will locate in Chi-
cago a portion of next week. Mr. Braumuller
expects to get back to New York about the
third week in February.
' Herman A. Braumuller is in charge of the
home interests and reports excellent business.
der that uncertainty be removed, confidence
restored, and business permitted to revive.
The committee also recommended that duties
should be made such as shall be consistent
with the adequate protection of American
manufacturers and the labor employed, and
that Congress be invited to establish and ex-
tend reciprocity.
A special committee was also appointed to
prepare a memorial to the President and Con-
gress, asking for such action as will lead to
the United States Consuls forwarding reports
relating to the commercial interests of the
country,
and urging the creation of the bu-
I had a pleasant call on Tuesday last from
reau
in
Washington
to publish them.
Byron Mauzy, the popular and progressive
The
session
of
the
manufacturers has at-
San Francisco dealer. He spoke quite hope-
tracted
considerable
publicity
in all the daily
fully of trade prospects on the Coast.
papers.
" We have not struck a 'boom/ " said Mr.
*
*
*
Mauzy, " but there is a steady betterment,
A
correspondent
informs
me that the
which will become accentuated after March
Boards
of
Trade
of
Pittsfield
and adjacent,
4th. As far as my business is concerned, 1896
towns
in
Massachusetts
have
been
approached
was better than the previous year; in fact, we
by
certain
parties
for
the
purpose
of
establish-
did an excellent all-round trade; in common
ing
a
piano
factory
wherein
will
be
manufact-
with others, we expect to do a much larger
business during 1897. Our renting trade is ured an instrument bearing a name similar or
especially good, while the demand for the nearly similar to that of an old established and
reliable Sohmer piano among the best classes reputable concern in this city, provided, of
in San Francisco and locality is constantly in- course, sufficient capital is forthcoming from
creasing. We are great admirers of the Soh- local parties. I think it would be well for the
mer. It is one of those safe, reliable, and Boards of trade and other parties approached
satisfying instruments which it is a pleasure in this matter to correspond with some of the
to handle. We are also doing an excellent supply houses in this city relative to the career
trade with the Newby & Evans and ' Opera ' of the principal party interested before enter-
ing into a venture of this kind. They will then
pianos."
Mr. Mauzy spoke quite appreciatively of be better able to avoid being caught in what
the splendid news service from the coast the sporting fraternity would entitle a " gold
which is appearing in The Review, and paid brick " deal. An endeavor to trade on the
the paper some compliments which modesty name and reputation of an honest and reput-
able concern should be heartily discounte-
forbids repeating.
While Mr. Mauzy's visit to the East was nanced, hence our friends in Pittsfield and
not for the purpose of placing orders exactly locality should be on their guard.
*
*
*
—'being merely a customary annual visit with
The annual reunion of the employees of Al-
the object of keeping " in touch " with the
trade—yet no doubt the houses he represents fred Dolge will occur this evening at Turn
on the Coast will soon be following him up Hall, in Dolgeville. The programme is, as
with some good shipments of their latest usual, an interesting one. Mr. Dolge will de-
liver his annual address, and Mr. Edward
styles.
Mr. Mauzy left for Boston Wednesday, Dedicke will also speak. The Hon. Edward
from which place he will journey for home, A. Brown being the " master of ceremonies "
making one or two stops en route. As he insures the entire affair being a brilliant suc-
reached New York during our coldest spell cess.
this winter, he will no doubt have some good
stories to tell about our frigid climate when
" To keep in touch with the trade " is a
he reaches the " land of sunshine and flow- mighty good text for dealers to live up to.
These words were uttered by Mr. Byron
ers.
Mauzy when asked a few days ago, by The
The National Association of Manufacturers Review, about the object of his Eastern visit.
How many dealers " keep in touch with the
held their annual session in Philadelphia this
week. The attendance was large and the busi- trade"? How many have a thorough knowl-
ness transacted was of the most important edge of the mechanism of the instruments
they handle? How many visit New York,
character.
The reports presented by the special com- Chicago, or elsewhere to inspect the factories,
mittees were of intense interest to the com- to " keep in touch " with the firms and the
mercial world, and it is evident that the efforts products they represent?
Somehow progress and success are united
of the association will be of the greatest
utility in favorably influencing public opin- in the dealer who follows the course of such
ion and legislation on the many important men as Mr. Mauzy; for "keeping in touch
questions which concern the interests of man- with the trade" is absolutely important in
these days.
ufacturers all over the country.
To be fair to the dealer, it is just as neces-
Prompt action was taken on two important
sary
that the manufacturer should " keep in
subjects. The first was the report of the spe-jii
touch
" with him. He should visit the dealer
cial committee on the tariff policy, favoring its
personally,
for there is much of mutual ad-
revision at the earliest possible moment in or-

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