Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 26

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
in the advertising columns of the daily
papers, would-be purchasers are lured to
certain establishments to inspect "slightly
used" pianos "by reputable makers" which
"must be sold on account of party break-
ing up house," or "going to Europe," or
"pressed for money," etc., but which are
in reality the poorest kind of stencilled
trash worth less than one-half the price
usually asked for them.
A recent important case in this "house
sale" connection has come up in Boston
where the wife of C. D. Blake, a piano
dealer of that city has been held to answer
a charge of larceny brought against her by
parties to whom she sold a piano, under
what we may term a private house adver-
tisement sale.
The advertisement which th» plaintiff
answered announced that the piano was
"a $500 instrument," but owing to the fact
that the lady "desired to attend the Paris
Exposition she would sell it for $165."
Without entering into the preliminary
court details, this case is apparently one of
the old-time house sale schemes which have
been worked for so many years in many
cities, only now the wife of a proninent
dealer in Boston has to face the charge of
larceny through her connection with a
transaction which appears on its face fraud-
ulent and deceitful. The case is one which
will interest the entire trade, and it is well
that it should have all the publicity that it
is possible to bring to bear upon it.
Illustrations of this kind cannot be too
heartily condemn 3d, or too much notoriety
given to them. How presumably reput-
able dealers can become parties to this sort
of business is really surprising. There
are so many ways of obtaining a fair liveli-
hood in the piano world without recourse
to trickery and deceit, it is astonishing
that such methods obtain even to a limited
extent.
It is necessary that all influences be
brought to bear to preserve the purity of
the trade; and why should not the National
Association take a decided action against
any music dealer whose connection with a
fraudulent transaction of this kind is once
proven in a court of law? Publicity and
action on the part of the Association would
do more than aught else to stamp out this
obvious evil. It is necessary that the ac-
cused be given a fair trial, and we do not
believe in this or any other case of estab-
lishing a newspaper jury to try an accused
party, but in the event of the case being
proven against the Blakes, would it not be
the correct procedure to take definite action
regarding this and other cases which may
occur in the future?
We have frequently urged that proper
action be taken by local legislatures re-
garding the house or fake sale methods,
but if the progressive element of trade
does not take some decided move to stamp
out the "house sales" evil, why, it will al-
ways exist. Trade sentiment should be
so strong in condemning this sort of frau-
dulent deals that they would be remov«d
entirely from the industry.
An example should be made of a case
clearly established, where a regular dealer
has so far deviated from legitimate trade
channels and has adopted methods in dis-
posing of his wares which are plainly
branded fraudulent. The members of the
industry themselves hold the key to the
situation.
Will they close permanently the door
through which fraud and deceit have en-
tered? Or wilf the desire to dispose of pi-
anos sweep over the barriers of mercantile
discretion as to the moral worth of those
to whom they sell them?
I T is marvelous how the manufacturing
department of the business has kept up
during the summer. Even though we are
on the threshold of July, we know of plen-
ty of factories that are driving ahead at a
rattling holiday pace.
THE SUBSTANCE.
IN the special government report to The
Review, which appears in another por-
tion of this paper, are stated facts which
must appeal strongly to the practical side
of American character. Forty million dol-
lars worth of manufactures were exported
from this country in the month of May,
the highest record ever reached, assuring
a total exportation of manufactures in the
fiscal year, 1900, of at least four-hundred
and twenty five millions. Prior to 1893
imports of manufactures always exceeded
exports.
Such reassuring figures of American
prosperity constitute the strongest kind of
political argument for the continuance of
the present administration for another
four years. McKinleyism means plenty-
ism, and we are of the opinion that the
American republic will not take a retro-
grade step to the soup kitchen era of
1894 and 1895. As the prosperity of the
business institution is judged by practical
results, so should a political administration
of a great party be judged according to
the prosperity which reaches the masses
under its guidance. We have the sub-
stance to-day, and we are of the opinion
that the people would be rather loath to
relinquish that for the shadow.
QOMETIMES an advertisement seems as
innocent as the dew of Heaven, but
there are ads. like those of Blake, of Boston,
which have a tremendous kicking power.
DOLD ORGANIZING.
F AST week we made reference to the
movement on the part of Chas. Dold,
business agent of the Piano & Organ
Workers' Union of Chicago, to organize
unions in different cities. Mr. Dold has
now visited Cincinnati, Cleveland and
Buffalo, where he has sought to extend his
organization in every possible way.
We understand that he has been fairly
successful in increasing membership in the
local unions. To-day he will address the
piano workers of New York and later will
proceed to Boston.
There is no mistaking the fact that Dold
is a live, active force in the ranks of labor
and that he is working energetically to
promote the interest and increase the
membership in the Piano Makers' Union.
It is his intention to form the whole into a
national union, with local branches in
every point where there are piano workers
so that a strike in one locality would be
sure to tie up the entire industry. The
only way to meet organization is with or-
ganization, and if the manufacturers them-
selves occupy an isolated position they
will be wholly unprepared to meet the de-
mands of labor which are sure to come.
We do not for one moment question the
right of labor to organize. In truth, we
believe in organization, whether in work-
ingmen or manufacturers; but labor should
not be permitted to arrogantly dictate to
manufacturers how they shall run their
business or whom they shall employ. The
interests of the workmen can be promoted
intelligently through organization, pro-
vided there are honest, patriotic and con-
scientious officials at its head. On the
other hand, it can cause vast loss and
great suffering by its insolent, arrogant
demands upon manufacturers, which, if
acceded to, would practically mean the an-
nihilation of industry.
While these preparations for organiza-
tion are going steadily on, what are the
manufacturers going to say or do about it?
Are they going to sit quietly by until fac-
tory after factory becomes unionized and
then have their business crippled later on
by men of the character of Dold? Or will
they sniff the battle from afar and knit
themselves into a compact organization for
trade weal?
A DETAILED account of the musical
exhibit in the French section of the
Paris Exposition will be found in the re-
port of our spec'al correspondent which ap-
pears in another part of this paper.
I S it not about time that official cogniz-
ance was taken by the trade coroner of
the condition of the stencil?
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
8
Incorporates Music Writer Co.
Discuss Freight Rates.
Stultz & Bauer Success.
Among the incorporations registered
with the Secretary of State of New Jersey
on Tuesday last, June 26, was the Music
Writer Co. of Jersey City, for the purpose
of dealing in music writers. Capital,
$100,000. Incorporators: F. H. Beals, W.
Needham, both of Worcester, Mass. ; O.
Congelton, of New York City. This con-
cern is to exploit the invention of Mr.
Beals, a Worcester, Mass., man. His mu-
sic writer is highly spoken of.
The presidents of the western railroads
have again met, this time in Chicago, and
were this week endeavoring to form a plan
by which irregularities and cutting of rates
may be minimized. The recent meeting in
New York is believed to have been produc-
tive of a certain amount of good, but, as
was pointed out in these columns a week
ago, the tendency among the railroads of
the West seems to be to revert to an unfa-
vorable state of affairs in connection with
rates, especially where there has been any
diminution of traffic. Fortunately for the
roads, the business has thus far continued
fairly good, and neither the slackening of
activity in certain lines of trade and industry
nor the unfavorable crop prospects in some
sections have interfered to any great extent
with current railroad traffic and the earn-
ings which result therefrorM. In fact, in
some instances, weekly railroad earnings for
the month of June have shown fair increases,
which would tend to show that the induce-
ments to cut rates are not very great at
present. Railroad managers, however, are
evidently impressed with the necessity of
coming to a more definite understanding
and placing their competitive relations upon
an amicable basis before the amount of ton-
nage offered falls off, and thus leads to the
usual bidding for business through conces-
sions in rates. The exact details of the
plan by which it is proposed to regulate
passenger and freight business in the terri-
tory of the Western Association has not
been made public. In fact, as Bradstreets
says there is a good deal of reticence among
railroad men in regard to such matters,
which is easily understood, in view of the
fact that it is difficult to formulate any
mode of procedure for the purpose in ques-
tion which may not -be contrary to the
spirit of the anti-trust law or the recent
decisions of the Supreme Court.
TRAVELING AMBASSADOR GOLDEN S VIEWS
ON THIS SUBJECT—SOME REASONS FOR
THE APPRECIATION SHOWN THESE
PRODUCTS.
South African Trade.
Jno. F. Winter, United States Consul at
Annaberg, South Africa, writing to the
State Department at Washington, regard-
ing German commerce with that country,
which during the past ten years has been
steadily on the increase, says:
"Our manufacturers should keep a wide-
awake eye on this part of the world. No
nation is so well equipped as we are to
supply South Africa with the very best
weapons with which to work out her indus-
trial and commercial destiny. All we have
to do is to adapt ourselves to the require-
ments of the people, and a very large share
of the foreign trade will fall into our
hands."
The figures given by Consul Winter, re-
garding the growth of German trade in
South Africa, are interesting. He says:
"In 1891, Germany exported to the Trans-
vaal products amounting in value to $295,-
080; in 1894, to $1,318,520; in 1896, to
$3,258,220; in 1898, to $2,177,320. The
exports to British South Africa and the
Orange Free State amounted in 1891 to
$1,283,780; in 1894, they were $2,801,260;
in 1896, $3,724,700; in 1898, $3,546,200, or
almost three times those of 1891. German
imports from South Africa amounted in
1891 to $4,119,780; in 1898, to $4,858,060.
German manufacturers are preparing to
make the most of the renewed commercial
activity which is expected to follow the
war." Why should not our people do like-
wise?
Val. Schehl Extending
HIS FACTORIES HIS SPECIALTIES, SHEEPSKINS
FOR DRUMS, BANJOS, ETC., IN DEMAND.
Val. Schehl, who makes a specialty of
sheepskin
heads for drums, banjos and
The following letter received by Messrs.
tambourines,
finds his business increasing
Steinway & Sons speaks for itself:
so
rapidly
that
an addition, 75x100 feet,
Gentlemen—I should feel very much
obliged if you would during my absence has been arranged for at his Seigel street
look over the Steinway pianos which I use factory in Brooklyn. Mr. Schehl has ex-
in Tarrytown. Particularly do I care for ceptional facilities for the dressing of
the upright which I used for many years, skins. His machinery and appliances are
and which I would not as yet like to have
all of the latest and best. He knows,
replaced by a new one.
In this connection I feel impelled to say also, where to get the best skins.
a few words about your uprights, upon
"I am doing a big business now," said
which I play as frequently and with as Mr. Schehl to The Review during a recent
much delight as upon your glorious grands. talk, "but I am well able to take care of
You have also in these instruments (the
uprights) reached the highest point of per- all orders, and for this reason I would like
fection. They possess the same bewitch- to hear from firms and individuals who
ingly beautiful tone and matchless action. use sheepskin for drums, banjos, tambour-
I remain, with kindest regards,
ines, etc. I calculate to give them better
Yours very sincerely,
skins and better prices than they can get
Rafael Joseffy.
elsewhere.
Moreover, I will give them
Tarrytown, N. Y., June 1900.
prompt and otherwise satisfactory service."
Oscar Helbig's music store was among
The Weaver Organ Co., of York, Pa.,
the many buildings destroyed in the $2,000,-
continue
to make extensive shipments to
000 fire which visited Bloomington, 111.,
all parts of Europe. Included in last
last week. The loss is covered by insur- week's orders was a carload to Russia.
ance. When adjusted, Mr. Helbig will re- The Weaver organs seem to wend their
sume in another location,
way these days to all parts of the world.
Joseffy and the Steinway.
"It is not at all uncommon, in my ex-
perience as a Stultz & Bauer representa-
tive," said Mr. Golden recently to The Re-
view, in returning from a lengthy western
trip, "to learn from one or other of our
dealers that the firm's products have been
put to some extraordinary test as to tone,
durability, general construction or the like,
and that they have, in every instance,
emerged from the trial triumphantly, con-
firming every claim made in behalf of the
Stultz & Bauer instruments and greatly
strengthening public confidence in their
substantial merits.
"Cases have been brought to my notice,
time and time again, where a dealer, hav-
ing full confidence in the outcome, has
suggested to a critical customer—usually
an expert teacher of music—that the mat-
ter of tone be fully tested by 1 trial of
every make of piano of similar high stand-
ard in the warerooms, starting with the
Stultz & Bauer upright. Invariably the
person endeavoring to make a fit and pro-
per choice finished at the starting point
with a declaration to the effect that the
Stultz & Bauer alone met all requirements.
"Then, as to durability, I never make a
trip without coming across some of the
firm's earliest numbers in uprights, made
and sold years ago, but still as good as
new and fit to wear well for many years to
come. Honest construction, too, tells,
when these old pianos are examined. I
have yet to find the first Stultz & Bauer
piano with a crack or a flaw or any other
defect either in the case or in any part of
the instrument proper.
"Some pianos require tuning every
month or two. Not so with the Stultz &
Bauer. Once, or at most, twice a year is
found to be quite often enough, even when
in constant use. Dealers frequently tell
me of their experiences in this direction
and it is because they know that they will
have no trouble with this firm's products
that men with a reputation to sustain han-
dle the Stultz & Bauer cheerfully and to
good purpose.
"At big State fairs, where there is keen
competition, the Stultz & Bauer never
fails to gain strong commendation—also
many friends. The claim that it is the
best piano in the market combining a high
standard of merit with a reasonable price
is made good every time. Thus it hap-
pens that the firm is always busy."
Horace F. Brown, Behr Bros, traveling
representative, returned on Saturday from
a four-weeks western trip. He met with
marked success and secured a number of
orders for the latest styles of Behr up-
rights, including the famous "Behr Col-
onial."
M. H. Coloney, president of the Denver
Music Co., Denver, Col., recently returned
from a three months' trip abroad which
embraced all the leading countries in
Europe.

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