Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 9

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, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $3.00 per inch, single column, per
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman BilL
unttred at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 27, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH STREET.
The first week of each month, The Review
will contain a supplement embodying the liter
ary and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a trade
paper.
The Trade Directory, which is a feature of
The Review each month, is complete. In it ap-
pears the names and addresses of all firms en-
gaged in the manufacture of musical instruments
and the allied trades. The Review is sent to
the United States Consulates throughout the
world, and is on file in the reading rooms of the
principal hotels in America.
HPHE matter of credit giving seeins to be
1 one of the many "live" problems which
manufacturers are quietly trying to solve
these days. Each one has his own pana-
cea—this can readily be conceived after a
few minutes conversation—and in this
diversity of opinion is the great weakness,
for lack of united action prevents the ac-
complishment of desired reforms.
Talking with one of our leading manu-
facturers on this subject this week he said,
"It seems to me that while we have pro-
gressed during the last twenty-five years in
our methods of manufacture, sale, and
transportation, the methods of credit giv-
ing, judged by the losses from bad debts
and inadequate laws, have stood still if not
actually retrograded."
This pessimistic view is not exaggerated.
The majority of business men, and this of
course includes the majority of manufac-
turers in the music trade, have been
bound down apparently by custom and
habit in the dispensation of credit, and re-
forms of a definite or stable character have
been and will be impossible unless action
is taken through representative organiza-
tions, such as for instance the American
Piano Manufacturers' Association. One
man or several cannot put into force cer-
tain needed changes in our credit system ;
to accomplish anything in this line an un-
derstanding must exist between the par- have been engaged for the purpose, and
the exhibits will include everything in the
ties chiefly concerned.
It is well known that the credit system range of musical instruments — actions,
in this country has been very loose for the felts,machinery used in construction,music
past few years and this as much as any- publishing, studio furniture, band instru-
thing else has tended to depress business. ments, automatic musical instruments,
It was James G. Cannon, vice-president of music plates, paper and ink, newly
the Fourth National Bank of this city, we patented inventions, technical practice
believe, who, in the course of an address machines—in fact, everything used by a
last fall said, " It is not more currency that musician from a tuning fork to a grand
is needed, but a better and more compre- pipe organ.
hensive knowledge of whom to trust." In
This plan is pretentious and broad
this sentence he expressed a truism—for enough in scope; the only thing that may
trust, confidence, security make prosperity. work against its success is the not over-
In our opinion the Manufacturers' Asso- prosperous condition of the country.
On several occasions The Review has
ciation has it in its power to counteract to a
great extent the existing abuses in the suggested the holding of a music trades
credit system and thus thwart the schemes exposition in this city on some such plan
and devices of unscrupulous debtors. as above proposed, and we aie pleased to
There is also room for action in the matter see the matter now taken up in connection
of " dating "—one of the evils which have with the Music Teachers' Convention.
arisen as the natural result of our com- The majority of industries now hold an
petitive system—also in influencing the annual "show" and why not the piano
passage of a national or uniform bank- trade ? Every one held in this city this
ruptcy law, which is unanimously de- year has been a financial success, and it
manded by every progressive business body seems to us that a display of musical
throughout the country. This measure instruments would attract big crowds. We
affects the interests of debtor and creditoi hope the undertaking will be a success.
alike. It benefits the honest debtor who
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pays a hundred cents on the dollar, and
It is announced that President-elect Mc-
effectively interferes with the plans of the
Kinley will at once after his inauguration
man whose trade it is to invite credit with
call a special session of Congress for the
the object of paying twenty-five cents or
purpose of having the tariff readjusted,
less on the dollar.
and a new law passed. In fact he has gone
These vital questions shoi^ld receive the so far as to announce that office seekers
unstinted support and consideration of and politicians in general will have to stand
business organizations such as the Ameri- aloof until the new tariff measure becomes
can Piano Manufacturers' Association. In a law. Mr. McKinley's views are entirely
this way the Association's influence in the in line with the general demands of the
commercial world would be unquestionably business men of this country. We want
augmented. It would have a new useful- the tariff question out of the way at once.
ness, a worthy mission—it would be a safe- We want no further cause for uncertainty,
guard not only to the manufacturers, but to and Mr. McKinley is quite right in placing
the honest and progressive dealer, and an the tariff right in front of the procession.
enemy to the unprincipled dealer and In this move he has the unanimous sup-
sharper.
port of every business man irrespective of
That something is wrong with our credit political belief.
system is obvious, for failures are not con-
#
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fined to periods of depression; they appar-
The bill for the incorporation of the
ently continue with only a slight decrease International American Bank—which was
in ratio during - periods of the greatest favorably reported by the House Com-
prosperity.
mittee on Banking and Currency this
#
#
In connection with the annual conven-
tion of the National Music Teachers' Asso-
ciation to be held at the Grand Central
Palace, this city, from the 24th to the
28th of June, it is proposed to hold a
music trades exposition. H. W. Greene,
who has this matter in charge, states that
three floors of the Grand Central Palace,
embracing 155,000 square feet of space,
week—is of the utmost importance to all
manufacturers interested in the enlarge-
ment of our export trade. As is well known
the absence of such an institution has
compelled merchants in Southern countries
to make letters of exchange payable in
Europe. With the establishment of the
new bank this will be obviated.
The International American Bank, the
capital of which will be $5,000,000, proposes
to maintain eight branches in the United
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
vStates and others in Central and South
America and the West Indies.
With the re-establishment of reciprocity
treaties and the founding of an interna-
tional bank, the enlargement of our trade
with the great continent south of us is
destined to be augmented to an extent
that will prove amazing.
The gift enterprise scheme has at last
made its appearance in trade journalism. It
is startling to contemplate the "most potent,
grave " and dignified " Courier " sinking to
the level of the " Journal of the Ball of the
Silver Dollar Smith Association," which, as
a matter of fact, appeals for advertising
support precisely on the lines laid down by
our contemporary with the " trade extra "
appendage. And this, God save the mark!
is the " new " trade journalism. Alas, what
changes the whirligig of time brings forth!
-i
h
It is the opinion of such authorities as
Bradstreet's and Dun's this week that there
is a marked progress toward improved con-
ditions in the majority of industries of the
country. In some respects the past week
has made a better showing in a business
way than any since November. This is
cheering news indeed. While the "boom"
has not struck the piano trade to any alarm-
ing extent, yet no doubt there are good
times coming.
The /Eolian in flilwaukee.
THE GREAT HOUSE OF ROHLF1NG SECURES THE
AGENCY FOR THIS POPULAR INSTRUMENT.
I met W. B. Tremaine to-day in the
warerooms of Wm. Rohlfing & Sons, and
learned from him that he had just con-
cluded arrangements with that firm to
handle the vEolians in Milwaukee.
Mr. Tremaine said that Rohlfing & Sons
proposed to push the sale of these instru-
ments energetically. "They will give re-
citals frequently in Rohlfing Hall," said
Mr. Tremaine in referring to his deal.
"I never have, in all the course of my ex-
perience, seen a man pick up the skillful
manipulation of the ^olian as successfully
as George Rohlfing. He takes to it natu-
rally and after a slight acquaintance shows
off the instrument as effectively as a veter-
an. I am confident in the hands of such a
house as Rohlfing, the /Eolian will be
brought before the people of Milwaukee in
a fitting manner."
Milwaukee, Feb. 22, 1897.
Calvin Whitney, of the A. B. Chase Co.,
and E. W. Furbush, of Vose & Sons, were
in town this week. Mr. Furbush is on his
way West.
Among other visitors to town were Paul
Healy of Lyon & Healy, Chicago; Geo. R.
Fleming, Philadelphia; F. F. Kramer, Al-
lentown, Pa.; W. T. Morrison of Morrison
& Sisson, Amsterdam, N. Y. ; and R. K.
•Maynard, who left for home on Wednesday.
During his connection as manager of the
New York house of Chickering & Sons,
Theo. Pfafflin has by his many charming
traits of character become immensely pop-
rilar. Every member of the house from
J. Burns Brown down, keenly regrets his
departure. If Mr. Pfafflin could hear the
man) r kind things said of him which come
to the ears of The Review he would feel
assured that he has the unqualified good
wishes of his confreres for his prosperity,
success and future honors.
Edmund V. Church, of the John Church
Co., Chicago, was a visitor to town this
week. In the course of an informal but
very pleasant chat at the Everett ware-
rooms, 141 Fifth avenue, on Thursday, he
In the last issue of The Review there ap-
stated that business in the West was rather peared an item announcing the placing of
quiet, but that everyone was hopeful of the Decker & Son agency with the Hallet
better times. Mr. Church is one of those & Davis Co., of Chicago, the caption of
amiable and courteous gentlemen whom it which read "The 'Decker' in Chicago."
is a pleasure to meet ; through his en- My attention has been called to the same by
ergetic business methods he has added Messrs. Decker Bros , of this city, who state
considerably to the prestige of the John that the name "Decker" has in this case
Church Co. in Chicago. He is delighted been improperly applied. As can be seen
with the new Everett warerooms in this from the substance of the article referred
city.
to, the word "Decker" was merely used in
It is evident from Mr. Church's conversa- an abbreviated sense; hence to those
tion that stringent steps will be taken to readers who confine themselves merely to
prosecute all infringersof the plectraphone reading titles of articles (and I think there
attachment. His views in this connection are none) the caption referred to stands
are fully set forth in Mr. Bill's letter else- amended so as to read "The Decker &
where. Mr. Church left for home on Thurs- Son in Chicago."
day night.
Printing the substance of hurtful rumors
affecting the financial standing of a house
It is amusing to read of the "bold" stand
is not, in our opinion, a commendable
taken by some of our contemporaries anent
plan of "quieting" them, particularly
the recent arrest of a small piano manufact-
when advised in advance that such publi-
urer in this city who was charged with re-
cation would work an injury.
ceiving money for pianos which were never
delivered. Amusing, because these very
The Mason & Hamlin concert grand
papers have up to a recent date carried seems to be steadily growing in the es-
this man's advertisement, thereby "closing teem of musicians in all parts of the coun-
their eyes" to certain questionable trans- try. '97 will witness a big, popular boom
actions which have been known to exist for for this excellent instrument, which cer-
the past six months. Principle is evident- tainly merits all the good things said of it.
ly not considered an essential of "modern"
trade journalism.
In a chat a few days ago with Mr. W.
F. Tway, of the Tway Piano Co., 88 Fifth
When The Review called at Steinway avenue, local representative for the Hallet
Hall yesterday he was surprised to find a & Davis piano, he stated that business
wareroom almost depleted of stock and in was steadily improving, but that he did
due course learned that it was attributable not look for a great trade just at present.
to the splendid condition of business. An " The piano business is in a transitory con-
idea of how trade is running with Stein- dition,"said Mr. Tway, ''and it is very hard
way & Sons can be gleaned from the fact to tell of the future. We, however, have no
that yesterday morning before nine o'clock reason to complain."
they sold a $2500 grand, and sales of this
Among the traveling men of the younger
character seem to be so frequent with this
firm as to cause no remark. It is no won- school who are steadily winning an endur-
ing reputation may be numbered Fred. J.
der that the stock is running low.
Mabon, the Mehlin representative. Modest
and unassuming, he is nevertheless a stead-
The absurd rot which has recently been fast and energetic worker who knows his
appearing in an esteemed contemporary, business thoroughly. With the steady
about the prices of piano plates, supplies, growth in popularity of the "Mehlin," Mr.
etc., as well as cheap pianos, is bearing Mabon's field of operations is certain to be
It is a piano he can feel proud
such fruit that nowadays there are dealers extended.
of recommending to any dealer, and he
who actually believe that a piano can be knows it. Never aggressive, but always
turned out of the mamifacturers' hands for earnest and convincing, Mr. Mabon is con-
$50 or $60. It is hardly surprising they stantly adding to his friends among the
should come to this conclusion when a trade, and he has a bright future before
trade paper will willfully publish prices him.
Robert A. Widenmann, of Strich &
which, were they correct, should rightfully
Zeidler,
is again on the road, this time in
be considered "trade secrets." A trade
Eastern
territory. He is sending in
paper has obligations, but it should not good reports.
In his letters he remarks on
conflict with the interests of the very in- the evident fact that the products of the
dustry it is supposed to represent.
firm are steadily growing in favor.

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