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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Frank A, Lee Talks upon Business
and Association Topics.
WHAT THE EMINENT HEAD OF THE JOHN CHURCH CO. SAYS REGARDING THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
MR LEE ALSO EXPRESSES SOME VERY CLEAR VIEWS UPON THE POSSIBILITIES OF
ASSOCIATION WORK
(Interview IV.)
The utterances of recognized leaders in quality. In our industry, each firm has
any industry upon the important topics of its own standard, and I doubt if an
the day are always of interest because those association could bring about anything
men speak from the vantage ground of like unanimity under that heading. Still,
success, therefore their opinions are sought it is worth trying, perhaps. Some firms,
for.
like our own, will refrain from participat-
This week we were fortunate in obtain- ing in the movement at this time, for good
ing an interview with Mr. Frank A. Lee, reasons of their own—not reasons born of
headof the John Church Co.
prejudice, but consistent with a well-estab-
When we consider the varied interests lished business policy.
and extensive ramifications of the great
"The John Church Co. has hitherto pre-
industrial institution of which Mr. Lee is ferred to act alone, a policy not without its
head, it must be understood that his opinions advantages where business interests are
count for something, as under his director- large and diversified. Plans of action are
ship the interests of his enterprises reach determined within the firm. Upon its
every city and hamlet in the land. Mr. members rests the responsibility. Accord-
Lee had just returned from a trip down ing to our view, we are the best judges of
east. The Review asked:
our own affairs and how they should be con-
"Mr. Lee, concerning the business out- ducted."
look in the piano industry, do you not con-
"There are several subjects outside of
sider it brighter to-day than at any time standard uniformity that, it is thought by
within the past few years?"
some, can be handled more effectively by
" I t is certainly more promising than at amalgamation of forces. One is trade
any time within three or four years, at credits; another, guarantees. Do you
least. There are evidences everywhere of deem it important that trade credits should
an approaching revival of trade in this be reformed? "
branch of manufactures."
"Yes. If some really useful and practical
"On the strength of this encouraging plans along this line can be carried into ef-
outlook, are special efforts being made by fect by the association, it will encourage
the John Church Co. to meet the probable membership. It will be a very good test
demand?"
of association possibilities."
"The best answer to that question is the
"In the matter of guarantees, do you
condition of affairs at our piano factory. think itprobable that an arrangement can
When I left they had two thousand instru- be reached whereby, as advocated in The
ments under way. These are in every Review, a check is effectually placed on
stage of construction and in every style." purchasers who fall back upon the wording
"Of course you know of the forthcoming of their guarantees to secure exchange or
Piano Manufacturers' Association meeting. over-hauling of instruments after three or
Do you intend to be present? "
four years' use or neglect?"
"I regret to say that I shall be unable to
"I doubt it, because the considerations
meet the members on this occasion, much influencing action in such cases are
as I would like to do so. Many of them varied and complex. There are times
are personal friends, and nothing would when the indulgence of a customer's whim
give me greater pleasure than to be with or wish leads to extension of patronage by
them in a social way when they meet. recommendation. Dealers and their pecu-
But before leaving Cincinnati I had to ar- liar relations to customers have also to be
range a business program for some time kept in mind. An uniform guarantee
ahead. To connect I must leave New would be a first-rate thing provided it were
York to-day and cannot return in time for possible to insist on uniformity of treat-
the event."
ment for retail customers. So long as dis-
"Do you believe in the feasibility of crimination is used in dealing with them—
forming a national association—would it be based on their probable future attitude in
a benefit, do you think, to piano manu- cases when their demands might reasonably
be refused—an uniform guarantee will be
facturers as a whole?"
"It would, of course, be the means of of no avail."
making them better acquainted one with
"Trade credits and guarantees we have
another. There are difficulties, however, discussed. Have you in mind any other
in the way of securing the accomplish- changes of method or reforms likely, if car-
ment of many practical business benefits. ried out, to result in permanent benefits to
Piano-making is so unlike hundreds of the industry?"
other industries. In the manufacture of
"Yes, there is one. It is the question of
plate glass or wire nails, for example, fifty installment business among retail dealers.
firms may have a similar standard of To secure customers, in these days of keen
and often merciless competition, some
dealers are tempted to offer and accept al-
most any terms. They are compelled to
carry an unreasonable amount of paper,
which is discounted in various ways, and
causes infinite trouble and worry. If some
plan to remedy the evil can be devised and
carried out, limiting the installment period
and otherwise making it possible for deal-
ers with limited capital to carry on their
business under healthy and comfortable
conditions, great good will result."
"As president of the Manufacturers' As-
sociation of Cincinnati, what are your
views as to the probable commercial con-
ditions in all branches of commerce during
the next twelve months—are we likely to
be disappointed in our expectation of a
long run of prosperity? "
"Speaking unofficially, I can say from
observation concerning trade in general, as
I said in effect with regard to the piano
industry, that the outlook favors a wide-
spread and lasting revival. I agree with
the editorial views of conservative dailies—
in this city, the Sun gives a fair statement
—as to the present and future of American
manufactures."
"A word about trade journals. Do you
care to express brief!} 7 your views as to
their efficacy for the purposes they are in-
tended to serve?"
" In their earlier history, trade journals
in all industries failed at first to grasp fully
the nature of their duties toward the indus-
try they aimed to represent. Of late years
they have improved wonderfully, and real-
ize that the latest news and the brightest
pertinent editorial matter pertaining to
their particular branch is essential to suc-
cess.
"There is no doubt as to their usefulness.
Since their introduction trades, both whole-
sale and retail, have become broader in
their views. They have learned to realize
the magnitude and importance of their
several branches, and have gained much
by constant news of progress and improve-
ments. By reading good trade editorials
they have been led out of a narrow rut of
thought into a wide field. By reason large-
ly of trade paper influences they have
broken away from the old-time sing-song
methods of doing business, and are now
doing their best, with a few exceptions, to
keep up with the procession, which, in
1897, is moving at a somewhat rapid gait."
Pleads Guilty.
Charles Gabbler, Jr., of 318 West Forty-
fourth street, pleaded guilty to a charge of
grand larceny in the second degree yester-
day afternoon, before Judge Fitzgerald in
Part I. of general sessions. The com-
plainant was H. Grant Stuart, of the Ameri-
can Autoharp Co. He said that Gabbler had
received two harps from the company, on
memorandum, to sell, and that he had
pawned them.
When Gabbler was arrested he had sev-
enty-eight pawn tickets for property worth
$2,750, most all of which, undoubtedly, had
been stolen.