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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
store in the commonly accepted definition
One thing is certain, John Wanamaker
of the term—department store. His is will allow no commissions. That fungous
rather a segregation of many complete growth will never find a shelter within his
stores under one management. It is the establishment; therefore to meet his prices,
grouping of a hundred stores under one which will be based undoubtedly upon
roof.
sound mercantile judgment, other men
EDWARD LYiWAN
Now,
that
he
has
added
a
piano
store
to
must
remove all such unnecessary and
Editor and Proprietor
his great aggregation it is but fair to pre- expensive attachments from their business
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
sume that he will advertise the Chickering dealings.
3 East 14th St., New York
~
piano extensively, for, up-to-date mer-
The commission evil has crept into this
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage). United States,
chant that he is, he would not add a new trade, so that a certain element of the
Mexico and Canada, $a«o per year ; all other countries,
store to his business without aiding its public to-day, will gravitate to department
ApVERTISEHENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
promotion
by the use of the extensive ad- stores for pianos rather than to exclusive
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
vertising machinery which is always at his stores, owing to the belief they entertain
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
command.
that possibly the one who recommends
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
The papers and periodicals bearing his them is to receive a commission. The
NEW YORK, JANUARY 21, 1899.
business announcement will reach all parts commission evil should be treated in the
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745--EIQHTEENTH STREET.
of the country. The price at which he same way that Dewey treated Montojo's
offers Chickering pianos, must, to a large fleet.
THE KEYNOTE.
degree, regulate the prices asked by
When we come to think of it seriously,
The first week of each month, The Review wil)
contain a supplement embodying the literary
Chickering
agents
everywhere.
They
if
a man recommends a friend to his tailor,
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
cannot ask a materially increased price over does he expect a commission, or does he
will be effected without in any way trespassing
Wanamaker, and it is not our opinion that expect a percentage on any other article
on our regular news service. The Review wil!
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
they will sell for less. Thus, at one stroke that he honestly suggests in a purely
trade paper.
Wanamaker regulates the price of Chicker- friendly way to any of his acqaintances?
ing
pianos, and those prices must have an
That is one thing that the dealers of
THE CHICKERING-WANAMAKER
appreciable effect upon the prices of other America can figure on straight, that John
DEAL.
Wanamaker will pay no commissions.
T H E announcement of the Chickering- high-grade pianos.
It
is
absurd
to
think
that
John
Wana-
Wanamaker deal in last Saturday's
Review, was the signal which set the trade maker will enter into a cut-rate war. There T T will be interesting to note the effect of
the Wanamaker deal upon Chickering
tongue wagging with surprising alacrity. will be no competitive knives sharpened
agents
in other parts of the country. How
We question if any mention of trade hap- between Wanamaker in Philadelphia and
penings for years has created such wide- the Chickering branches in New York, this new move will be received by them is
full of interest. As far as competition
Boston and Chicago.
spread and varied comment.
We may expect that Wanamaker will goes, it may be said that Chickering &
Looking over the froth and ferment
occasioned by this move, the matter re- advertise the Chickering product in a novel Sons have placed a powerful argument in
solves itself into a concise proposition. and up-to-date manner, all of which is the hands of their competitors by placing
Chickering & Sons have made a play, destined to help New York, Boston, their instruments on sale in a department
which, measured by trade traditions is Chicago, and why not Chickering agents store.
It may be urged that dealers will use
revolutionary in character. It is among everywhere?
And so it is possible that there will be a the antipathy which prevails, to a large
the possibilities that this iconoclastic stroke
from the Chickering hand may be destined standard established which this trade has degree, particularly in the West, against
to play an important and far-reaching part needed for many years. The move to our department stores in turning the tide of
minds is full of interest, as it is one of public opinion against the Chickering
in the future retailing of pianos.
Let us discuss the matter from a broad those weighty strokes which, as we stated at product. The weight of this argument in
the beginning, may be calculated to affect a deterring sense is problematical. The
standpoint:
Suppose one of the resultant effects the trade to a larger degree, than some fact remains that competitors in this trade
should be to establish a fixed standard of would at first imagine. One thing is certain, have never hesitated to use any kind of an
. value in the musical instrument trade, competitors will find that John Wanamaker argument to kill competition. Some have
will indeed be a power that will be felt not hesitated at a substantial elongation of
such as it has never experienced ?
If this can be brought about by the in- outside of the restricted Pennsylvania the truth to gain a point on competing
wares. A business institution does not
troduction of strictly business methods in territory which he will directly control.
live because its competitors are pleased
the retailing of pianos, then the Chicker-
ing-Wanamaker deal will have been instru- T H E Wanamaker move may be instru- with its existence. It exists because it
mental in accomplishing much for trade
mental in bringing about certain produces something for which there is a
betterment.
reforms of -which this trade stands greatly demand.
Now the directing forces of the Chicker-
in need. The keen scalpel of common-
How can this be done ?
ing
corporation evidently believe that all
John Wanamaker is the greatest living sense may remove certain excrescences
merchant—the only worthy successor that which have grown and fattened upon trade of the agitation following this new move
will result in augmentation of Chickering
A. T. Stewart ever had. His name is a susceptibility and weakness.
We refer particularly to the matter of interests and they rely, to a large extent,
synonym for business probity. No mer-
chant in America is better known, and he professional and other commissions which upon the discriminating intelligence of the
is a national advertiser of colossal propor- are paid in so many music trade establish- public in appreciating the values which
they are producing in pianos.
tions. He does not run a department ments in this land.