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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Skipped the Town.
JAMES
N.
SCHWARTZ,.
DEPARTED
[Special to The Review.]
Washington, I). C, vSept. 15, 1898.
The monthly summary of the imports
and exports of the commerce of the
United States for the month of July, '98,
the last period for which it has been com-
piled, has just been issued by the Treas-
ury Department. The following figures
relating to the music trade industry will
be found of interest:
The dutiable imports of musical instru-
ments during July amounted to $85,553 as
compared with $90,710 worth of instru-
ments which were imported the same
month of '97. The seven months' total,
ending July 31, shows importations valued
at'$527,037 as against $626,717 worth of
musical instruments imported during the
same period of '9/. This gives a decrease
in imports for the seven months of
$99,680.
. The total domestic exports of musical
instruments for July, '98, amounted to
$106,330, as compared with $81,621, which
was the value of the instruments export-
ed the same month of the previous year.
The seven months' total exportation of
musical'instruments amounted to $821,576
as against $696,910 for the same period
in'97. This shows an increase in exports
for the seven months of $124,666.
Of the aggregate exportations in July,
'98, there were 1,068 organs valued at
$58,661, as compared with 8r6 exported in
'97, and valued at $44,961. The seven
months'total shows that we exported 7,294
organs valued at $410,514 as against 7,175
valued at $4;;6,92o for the same period of
'97-
In July, '98, we exported fifty-eight
pianos valued at $13,054 against fifty-nine
pianos valued at $13,391 in July, '97. The
seven months' total exports show 572
pianos valued at $128,593 as compared with
443 pianos valued at $115,636 exported in
the same period in '97.
The value of " all other musical instru-
ments and parts thereof " sent abroad dur-
ing July, '98, amounted to $34,615; in
the same month of '97, their value was
estimated at $23,269. The total exports
for the seven months under this heading
foots up $282,468 as against $154,354 ex-
ported during the same.period of '97. This
shows an increase of $128,114.
Behr Bros & Co.
There is a steady call for the Behr prod-
ucts in all the 1893 styles. This is es-
pecially true of the Behr Colonial. Ed-
ward Behr, who returned last week from
an extended trip, started out again on
Monday for a tour through Pennsylvania
and several of the- Western States. .
OF
FOR PARTS
PARIS,
The Sohmer Outlook.
ILL.,
HAS
UNKNOWN.
James N. Schwartz, the piano dealer of
Paris, 111., has skipped out leaving many
creditors to mourn his'departure. Chattel
mortgages are held against him, which
cover nearly the entire stock of goods.
Several instruments of the Starr Piano Co.
of Richmond, Ind., are also missing and
cannot be accounted for. Besides this he
has many debts unaccounted for in the
city.
Helped by a Talking flachine.
The soldiers at Bellevue hospital have
been entertained during their convalescence
with Graphophone concerts. Miss Bell
Reed has written a letter to the Columbia
Phonograph Company in which she says:
" 1 want to thank you in behalf of the sol-
diers in Bellevue for your very generous
donation of cylinders. You can readily
realize what it has been to them. They
tell me that from six o'clock in the morn-
ing until nine in the evening they listen to
the music and hardly realize the hoiirs;
whereas before this diversion came to
them, the days dragged most heavily. One
young soldier too depressed and homesick
to speak when I first saw him, is cheerful
and improving in health now and credits his
first treat to the graphophone with the turn
for the better in his condition. There are so
many cases of its exhilarating effect to cite
that I will mention but one in closing.
The army bugle calls were put within
hearing of a very wan, listless regular;
suddenly his eyes brightened, his breath
came fast and with a radiant face he raised
himself in bed and cried, ' Oh, splendid, I
am the bugler of the 8th, and that is per-
fect!' So while your donation was most
generous and spontaneous, I would like
you to know that the good it has already
brought to our sick heroes is beyond calcu-
lation."
The B. Shoninger Co.
JOSEPH SHONINGER REPORTS A STEADY AUG-
MENTATION OF BUSINESS.
Joseph Shoninger, replying to a question
by The Review during a call on Thursday,
said that the latest news from out-of-town
representatives of the Shoninger products
is highly satisfactory. Wholesale business
is excellent, orders coming in briskly.
Retail business is also active. A num-
ber of good sales have been made during
the week. Mr. Shoninger reports that the
demand, both wholesale and retail, is
greater for the larger and more expensive
styles than for those of smaller size and
price.
The Shoninger products for the present
season possess extraordinary merit. To
note the effects advantageously, the instru-
ments should be seen and examined.
The Shoninger is gaining strength each
year. The number of Shoninger adher-
ents have increased each year. To-day
they can be counted by thousands,
HUGO SOHMER TALKS WITH THE REVIEW ON
THE SUHJKCT -STRONG I5ELIEVER IN
A SINGLE STANDARD AND
THAT THE HEST.
The Review had a brief interview on
Thursday with Hugo Sohmer concerning
trade conditions and the outlook. In
answer to a question as to the present de-
mand for Sohmer products, Mr. Sohmer
reported a marked increase in the call for
small grands.
"Our grands, styles 9 and 9 B, are mov-
ing out at a lively pace," he said. "The
sizes seem to suit people who are willing
to pay the difference between a large up-
right and a small grand in order to secure
more artistic effects in their own homes.
Our representatives tell us in their letters
that there is a tendency to purchase our 9
or 9 B among those who can afford to con-
sider which they should choose.
" In uprights, the leaders at present are
our styles 5 B and 7. Style 5 B we are
making, just as rapidly as they can be
constructed, in ebonized, rosewood, ma-
hogany and walnut. One of our special-
tics is style 7, Lincrusta.
"We are glad to note that this season
brings with it welcome evidences of a de-
sire on the part of purchasers to secure
high grade instruments. Our standard is
a growing favorite and we are using every
endeavor to deserve still better of the music
lovers. Our equipment for the work is in
our favor. Men and material, being spe-
cially selected, bring forth good results.
"Our well-known policy of a single
standard we find to be the only true and
advisable one. Our workmen know that
we insist on the very best in every
detail. They are not called upon to work
to-day on a high-grade and to-morrow on
a low-grade instrument. If we cannot see
our way to place our own name on a piano
we prefer not to make it.
" To the policy of producing two grades
in one factory, under two names, we have
never been able to agree. In our view it
is all wrong. However, this is merely a
matter of opinion. Our policy of a single
standard, and that the highest, has been
an important factor in our constantly
growing success and we shall never deviate
from it.
" The outlook for the fall continues to
be bright—I might say very bright. There
will be no ' boom ' in my opinion, but we
are far better without booms. A healthy,
normal trade condition is the best for all
branches of commerce."
The /Eolian Co.
E. R. Perkins, of the iEolian Co.,
started on a brief vacation early in the
week,but active business at the warerooms
necessitated his return. Orders are com-
ing in steadily from agents, and retail
sales are numerous. As an example, it
may be noted that four of the most expen-
sive iEolian products were sold for cash
during business hours on Tuesday.