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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
\l
The export figures for the ten months
ending April for the past three years and
which come under this heading are as
follows: 1898—$315,157; 1899—$462005,
and in 1900—$503,61 2.
Jos. Shoninger's VRWS
ON T H E DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUMMER TRADE
IN CITY A N D COUNTRY.
(Spcciallv compiled for The Review.)
Washing-ton, D. C., June 6, 1900.
The summary of imports and exports of
the commerce of the United States for the
month of April, 1900, the latest period for
which it has been compiled, has just been
issued by the Treasury Department. The
figures relating- to the music trade industry
are of interest.
The dutiable imports of musical instru-
ments during- April amounted to $71,465
as compared with $76,737 worth of instru-
ments which were imported the same month
of 1899. The ten months' total, ending
April 30, shows importations valued at
$969,392, as against $860,842 worth of
musical instruments imported during- the
same period of '99. This gives an increase
in imports for the ten months ending April
30 of $108,550.
The import figures for the ten months
period for the three years are as follows:
1898—$769,629; 1899—$860,842, and 1900
—$969,392.
The total domestic exports of rrmsical
instruments for April, 1900, amounted
to $167,194 as compared with $166,445,
which was the value of the instruments
exported the same month of the previous
year. The ten months' total exportation
of musical instruments amounted to $1,-
664,865, as against $1,477,253 for the same
period in '99. This shows an increase in
exports for the ten months ending April
30, of $187,612.
The export figures for the ten months'
period for the three years are as follows:
1898—$1,147,227; 1899 —$1,477,253, and
1900—$1,664,865.
Of the aggregate exportations in April,
1900, there were 1,049 organs valued
at $70,403 as compared with 1,342 ex-
ported in '99, and valued at $85,246. The
ten months' total shows that we ex-
ported 14,040 organs valued at $863,743 as
against 14,462 valued at $810,659 f° r the
same period of '99, and 11,452 valued at
$635,430 for the same period in '98.
In April, 1900, we exported 177 pianos
valued at $33,944, as against 155 pianos
valued at $36,457, in April '99. The ten
months' total exports show 1,470 pianos
valued at $297,510, as compared with 926
pianos valued at $204,5-89, exported in the
same period in '99 and 827 valued at $196,-
640 for the same period in '98.
The value of "all other instruments
and partst hereof sent abroad during
April, 1900, amounted to $62,847; in the
same month of '99 their value was esti-
mated at $44,742. The total exports for
the ten months under this heading foots
up $503,612, as against $462,005 ex-
ported during the same period of '99, and
$315,157 exported the same period in 1898.
This shows an increase for 1900 over the
previous year of $41,607.
Joseph Shoninger, of the B. Shoninger
Co., during a brief talk with The Review
at the Shoninger warerooms on trade topics,
reported healthy activity in both branches.
The probable falling-off of retail business
in July, as usual, owing chiefly to the
absence of many families from the city,
was referred to, and in this connection Mr.
Shoninger spoke of the difference in what
might be termed "seasonable demand" be-
tween cities of the first-class and urban
centres of smaller size.
" I t is an interesting fact," said he,
"well known, of course, in the piano busi-
ness, but not so generally realized outside
of it, that the summer retail trade in pianos
is largest in the small cities, the demand
increasing proportionately as we go down
the scale in the matter of population.
This is especially true where trace depends
to a considerable extent on the prosperity
of agriculturists. They do their purchas-
ing just as soon as crops are disposed of,
the liberality of their expenditures for lux-
uries depending on the size and value of
the crop yield.
" Outside of the agricultural districts, I
take it that the explanation for a compar-
atively large demand during the summer
season is found, to some extent, in the fi-
nancial inability of many people resident
in smaller communities to seek refuge from
the heat for any lengthy period at the sea
shore, mountain resorts and other places
of a like character. They stay at home,
and those who are without musical instru-
ments frequently secure a piano with a
view to making life in town during the
heated term more endurable.
"Hence it often happrns that an enter-
prising piano-dealer in a small town or
city will enjoy a lively summer trade,
while his less fortunate brethren, follow-
ing the same line of business in big cities
like Greater New York, are compelled to
spend much of the time between 9 A. M.
and 5 i\ M. daily in mopping their domes
of thought with handkerchiefs of large
proportions, imbibing, at frequent inter-
vals, goblets of ice water more or less
diluted—only with syrups or lemons, of
course—and studying the perpendicularly
active movements of the mercury in the
thermometer, as it soars upward toward
'blood heat,' fever heat' and other elevated
proximities of human depression and dis-
comfort."
Hay Open in Leavenworth.
[Special to The Review.!
Atchison, Kan., June 5, 1900.
John Remsburg of this city, is contem-
plating opening a general piano store in
Leavenworth. He will probably go to
Chicago some time this month to purchase a
stock of musical merchandise. He will not,
however, give up his piano agency in this
city which has been established * nearly
seven years. Business is simply booming.
Acker's Fine Music Store.
[Special to The Review. 1
Ponghkeepsie, N. V., June 5, 1900.
After extensive alterations, H. S. Acker,
the wi ll-known music de.iliT, is now set-
tk-d in his new store at 300 Main street.
The entire front has bi en remodelled, and
handsome plate glass show windows afford
opportunities for a neat display of the
wares which he handles. The prevailing
color of the interior harmonizes with the
dainty embellishments of the fiont, and the
wall decorations and electric illuminations
set off the handsome line of Mehlin, Kroe-
gev, Schubert pianos and Carpenter or-
gans which are to be found on exhibition.
Mr. Acker has an original contrivance to
raise to and lower from the upper floor
pianos and organs by means of a portable
slide on the stairs which are at the rear of
the store and a tackle arrangement which
works like a charm. He has also a spa-
cious room which is used entirely for
repairs.
Mr. Acker's eNtablishment is
equipped in a manner that would > o credit
to a metropolitan emporium. He is to bu
congratulated on his enterprise.
L. E. Thayer's Views.
L. E. Thayer, the Starr ambassador,
was a visitor to The Review sanctum on
Monday.
He reports business at head-
quarters in Richmond as eminently satis-
factory, the dullness in the East not having
been experienced to any marked extent.
In the course of a chat about business pros-
pects this summer, he stated that a slack-
ening up as compared with this time last
year may be expected, but he is quite op-
timistic regarding a fine fall trade which
he says is inevitable in view of the mag-
nificent condition of the crops throughout
the West. Mr. Thayer, who has been tour-
ing through the New England states, left
for home early in the week.
An Original form of Publicity.
The Keiselhorst Piano Co., of St. Louis,
have struck upon a clever idea of adver-
tising the Crown piano, of "many tones."
They have consummated arrangements
with the local Telephone Co. to equip the
telephones of their subscribers with a
megaphone, so that they will be enabled
to enjoy without charge an evening of
music in which the principal figures will
be the Crown piano operated by the Peer-
less Piano Player or a human performer.
The scheme is novel and should take.
The liazelton in Canada.
The Lindsay-Nordheimer Co., of Mon-
treal, Can., have secured the agency for
the celebrated Hazelton piano of this city.
The first shipment, a large one by the way,
reached Canada last week. It is the in-
tention to make the Hazelton a larger factor
than heretofore in the Canadian trade.
Gen. Estey Honored.
Gen. Julius J. Estey, president of the
Estey Organ Co., has been elected a mem-
ber of the Board of Managers of the Am-
erican Baptist Mission Union. This is a
distinguished honor vouchsafed only to few
laymen.
Gen. Estey's associate on the
Board is John D. Rockefeller, Jr.