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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL *£§--
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NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 20, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
N our peregrinations through the trade
we have been impressed with the steady
growth in popularity of the small grand
piano. In fact there seems to be somewhat
of a contest for supremacy between the
small grand and upright just as existed in
the years agone between the square and
upright. This matter was brought to our
attention by a manufacturer this week,who
said, " I have had such a number of in-
quiries lately relative to small grands at a
medium price that I am seriously contem-
plating adding them to my regular stock."
This manufacturer, however, is one of the
few who are not making grands.
If we consider the matter, it will at once
be realized that the present output of
grands is considerably larger than the out-
put of uprights during the regime of the
square. There is a fashion in pianos as in
everything else, and the grands apparently
seem to be "quite the thing" just now.
Should this demand becomes more pro-
nounced, and it is very probable, it may re-
sult in a class of instruments being manu-
factured which musically may not be of
that high standard we would expect in a
grand. But this cannot prevail to a large
extent, for the present efforts toward the
betterment of the piano are so persistent
that there is absolutely no room for rattle-
boxes—at least in the line of grands.
At the present time the majority of man-
ufacturers are turning out remarkably fine
grands which can be purchased at a reason-
able price. This, no doubt, has favorably
influenced the ascendency of the grand.
#
#
As can be seen from the letter sent by
Strich & Zeidler to the members of the
American Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, of this city, and which appears else-
where in this paper, the causes which led
to the recent legal controversy in Provi-
dence, R. I., are likely to be discussed at
I
the next meeting of that body. The sub-
ject is an all-important one, and concerns
a vital question of trade ethics. Strich &
Zeidler have suffered a grievous wrong, but
their stand in this matter is not a personal
one—the best interests of the trade are at
stake. Hence it is undoubtedly within the
province of the Association to take some
action of a remedial nature.
Of course it is not likely that the Manu-
facturers' Association will constitute it-
self a sort of Lexow Committee to probe
and purify the trade, for, no matter how
badly needed, it would be a difficult task
in the face of certain recent developments.
That it can, however, exert an influ-
ence for good is obvious. Everybody
knows that certain practices exist in the
retail trade which are questionable—nay,
reprehensible; they are opposed to correct
business methods, and, when analyzed, will
be found to be radically wrong, and in the
end will prove injurious to those who be-
lieve in them.
#
#
This is the time of the year when
the traveling man is packing his grip
and preparing to make things "pleasant"
for the dealer. For it is especially
the province of the road man to make the
world brighter and its people happier, and
no matter how the world wags he must
continue to be essentially an optimist—"a
man of cheerful yesterdays and confident
to-morrows."
Every wide-awake merchant, be he dis-
posed to do business or not, should wel-
come the traveling man, if not exactly for
himself, for the information which he offers
about trade and products. The dealer who
has not time to listen to a road man,
who has perhaps traveled hundreds of miles
to see him, does not possess the qualifica-
tions for a successful business man.
The traveling man's lot, like the police-
man in Gilbert & Sullivan's opera, "is not
a happy one." His work is hard, often
discouraging, and frequently insufficiently
rewarded. Indeed the romance and reality
of a traveler's life are widely different, and
the manufacturers who have been "through
the mill" are among the first to recognize
this.
Some of the staidest and most enduring
friends of the traveling man will be found
among the dealers—their customers. For
after all the preference for personal trans-
actions between the buyer and seller will
obtain as long as human nature stands un-
changed.
There is, meanwhile, a class of dealers
who have little time for the traveler, and
to them we would suggest that this policy
is not a wise one. The ambassador of the
road deserves to be treated with royal con-
sideration. He is a prince of good fellows
when you know him.
#
#
Although a feeling of confidence and
"better times ahead " prevails throughout
every branch of the trade, yet business is
moving along in a very slow, conservative
manner, and any marked improvement in
the demand for products is hard to find.
We are not unduly optimistic, however,
when we say that good times and good
prices are surely on the way. Everything
is in our favor. The balance of trade is on
our side to the tune of hundredsof millions
of dollars. A final readjustment of tariff
matters, with a vigorous policy of recipro-
city, will contribute toward the new era
which will mark an advance in our already
great commercial history. The return to
desirable conditions of business will be
governed largely by a healthful, conserva-
tive spirit. As soon as other industries
feel the stimulus, the music trade will fall
in line. It is cheering to read this week
that the dry goods merchants of this city,
especially those engaged in the wholesale
trade, are going round with smiling faces.
The cause of this good feeling is the de-
cided improvement in business which be-
gan to make itself manifest a week ago.
Washington's Birthday has always been
regarded as the time of the opening of
spring trade, but this season the demand
has made itself felt a week or ten days
earlier.
On Monday night the arrivals of buyers
in this city were the largest known at this
time of the year for several years.
This is a straw which shows how the
wind blows.
Chicago Music Co.'s Affairs.
(By Telegraph.)
Chicago, Feb. jg.—PlattGibbs is exhibit-
ing staying on as well as fighting qualities.
It looks now as if he would triumph over his
misfortunes. He has secured an order from
the Court directing that all the assets be
turned over to him as receiver. He can fill
orders and sell stock for cash.
According to William C. Camp, he still
has an option on the lease of the old Estey
& Camp warerooms, other statements to
the contrary, notwithstanding. Mr. Camp
leaves for Chicago to-day by way of Cin-
cinnati.
Among the members of the trade in town
this week were R. K. Maynard of the
Hallet & Davis Co., Chicago; J. Reimers'
of the Reimers Piano Co., Poughkeepsie,
N. Y.; Mr. Mann, of Mann & Eccles, Prov-
idence, R. I. ; H. R.Eisenbrandt, of Eisen-
brandt's Sons, Baltimore.