Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 31 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
transactions in every other city in the
land. If Mr. Blake has been monkeying
with the wind of piano misrepresentation
he will reap the whirlwind of trade con-
demnation.
We are gradually working out into a
purer trade atmosphere, and it is only
a question of a comparatively brief time
before the matter of fake sales as well
as commissions and all kindred trade
evils will have reached a point of innoccu-
ousness.
In New York there has been placed upon
the statutes recently a law which declares
guilty of a misdemeanor any person or per-
sons who shall do business under any as-
sumed name or under any designation,
name or style, corporate or otherwise,
other than his own real name without fil-
ing a certificate prescribed by law with
the county clerk.
No one can question but that this law
is a step in the right direction. It re-
moves fake concerns from competition with
regularly organized business institutions,
and the piano merchants of New York
State should recollect that such a law now
exists, and that when they meet any com-
petition which is legally "fake " they can
immediately suppress the offenders. The
penalty provided in such a case is a fine not
exceeding $500 or imprisonment for not
more than one year, or both.
The legitimate trade of the entire coun-
try manifests an interest to drive all dis-
honest competition out of business.
KINDS OF CREDIT.
/CONFIDENCE, after all, is the basis of
^ ^ credit, and without credit the vol-
ume of business can be reduced to a pitiful
figure in this and in all other trades.
But how different the terms between
bank credit and mercantile credit. Does
it occur to the merchant when buying his
goods on credit, that the transaction is es-
sentially the same as borrowing money
from a bank?
Goods represent money. Money was
paid for them by the manufacturer, and
for the time the manufacturer's capital is
in the goods. Lending his capital, that is
his merchandise, out on credit, is the same
as lending the actual dollars of the bank;
for the specified time given the merchant
has borrowed the capital of the manufac-
turer, and yet how different the transaction
is condu, "ed in the separate cases.
In the case of the bank, to obtain a loan
of capital the borrower must show his abil-
ity to meet the debt, he must oftentimes
furnish security in the shape of an en-
dorser or collateral, and he must meet the
note on the very day it falls due. In the
case of the merchant; he sometimes resents
enquiries regarding himself. Goods are
furnished without any security, and too
frequently the manufacturer does not get
his money on the date that the notes fall
due. In many cases the notes become
long drawn out and there is considerable
expense in their final collection.
Some may say that the manufacturer
has a profit on his wares that justifies the
additional risk of his capital. The truth is
the manufacturing profits have steadily
been reduced on all lines of goods, and to-
day the profit of the manufacturer is re-
duced to a very small point, a slight re-
ward for the labor and talent in conduct-
ing business enterprises and as interest on
his capital.
The banker has absolute security and in-
terest counting up all the time. Still
there are some who are eternally howling
about the huge profits of manufacturing
enterprises. They have been tremendous-
ly reduced in all lines of trade. The piano
industry, in common with others, has suf-
fered in a reduction of profits, and too
often in this industry what appears on the
face to be a fair profit is cut down by sub-
sequent demands from dealers in the shape
of rebates, and sometimes ridiculous claims
are allowed simply to keep on good terms
with the dealer and retain him. There is
an awful lot of tommyrot which has crept
into business dealings which can only be
removed by using a little more common
sense. The nearer we approach true busi-
ness lines, the better it will be for every
one concerned.
The honest dealer will be benefited as
well as the manufacturer.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
A N interesting legal decision appears in
another portion of The Review—page
27—where a superior court judge of Mass-
achusetts has placed an injunction per-
petually restraining a zither concern from
making or selling any zither like that of
the plaintiff, which was the Flagg Manu-
facturing Co.
This is an interesting decision for it
goes farther than any before on record,
and gives the manufacturer who first puts
an article of distinctive appearance on the
market the right to get an injunction
against other manufacturers who imitate
such articles with the intention to profit
by the enterprise of others.
If the legal decision of Judge Bradley
were adopted universally, it would practi-
cally prohibit the operations of what we
may term piano case imitators, for it is an
obvious fact that there are a number of
manufacturers who place upon the market
cases which are nothing more nor less than
reproductions of styles which the originate
ors have devoted considerable time, money
and skill to originate. This is an inter-
esting decision and it might not be in very
bad form for some of our manufacturers
whose preserves have been poached upon
to a large extent by imitators to make a
test case of some of them in other courts.
The decision of Judge Bradley would cer-
tainly stand as a precedent.
IT IS NOT LUCK.
INTERESTING figures regarding the
foreign commerce of America are pre-
sented in another portion of The Review.
According to our special report, the total
foreign commerce of the United States
during the fiscal year 1900 is three hun-
dred and twenty million dollars greater
than that of 1899, and the foreign com-
merce of this country for the first time in
the fiscal year record crossed the two bil-
lion dollar line. With such amazing figures
to show, woiild it not be a national calam-
ity to substitute in place of the present
wise administration one laden with theories
and isms, none of which are practical. It
is not " Republican luck," as some allege,
which has sustained the present party in
power. It is that same kind of luck which
builds a successful business institution.
For, after all, the United States Govern-
ment is nothing more nor less than a gigan-
tic business institution, the largest of its
kind in the world, and when it is ruled by
correct governing principles, all have con-
fidence in it and business is good.
ANOTHER TRUST DISAPPEARS.
/^\N Tuesday by a practically unanimous
vote, the stockholders of the National
Wall Paper Co., capitalized at $38,000,000,
and popularly known as the Wall Paper
Trust, decided to dissolve the corporation.
Outside competition and the demands of
the trade for goods identified with indi-
vidual manufacturers forced the abandon-
ment of the combination. In no industry
is there the demand for wares identified
with individual manufacturers that there
is in the piano industry, and when such a
combination as The Wall Paper Trust dis-
solves on account of that reason it proves
the utter impracticability of the existence
of a piano trust.
T H E man who stated that the truest test
of a man's friendship was his willing-
ness to lend money, was contradicted the
other day by the perennial borrower who
stated the real test occurs when you strike
a man for the second loan.
T H E old-time summer festivals of manu-
facturers and men seem to have de-
parted. There are some who still religi-
ously adhere to the ancient traditions, but
as a whole, the interest has materially
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Francis Connor's Views
ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS BUSINESS—
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
25 PER CENT. INCREASE.
The Review had a pleasant talk with
Francis Connor on Tuesday concerning the
Connor piano and its history up to date.
Mr. Connor's remarks were brought about
by sundry questions as to the marked
growth in demand, especially during the
present season and those immediately pre-
ceding it, for the Connor products.
" Piano purchasers and piano dealers,"
said Mr. Connor, "more, perhaps, to-day
than ever before, appreciate those, who try
to live up to their representations and con-
tracts. That has always been my aim.
The instruments sent from my factory are
made under my own supervision. I make
it my business to see that, before a Connor
piano is shipped, it is as perfect in tone,
construction and finish as I know how to
make it.
"Practical knowledge of the business in
every department, including scale making
—the Connor scale is my own—enables me
to understand exactly what is necessary.
This is, of course, a grea 1 : advantage. The
result of this care, based on experience, is
that the Connor piano has a standard value
of which I have every reason to be proud.
" It has never been my ambition to have
a very large output. My own preference
is rather in the other direction. In fact, so
long as personal supervision is given to
each piano the output is bound to be lim-
ited. But I am better satisfied in many
ways, and intend to continue the present
policy of conservatism. This does not
mean that I cannot take care of all the or-
ders likely to come my way. Orders are
always welcome, and I will guarantee to
see that they are properly filled."
Speaking of the success of current styles,
Mr. Connor said: "Styles 7 and 8 in the
latest catalogue are being widely appre-
ciated. They are large, full-toned, well-
made pianos and the dealers who are hand-
ling them find them to be ready sellers.
Here, at the retail warerooms, they sell
freely. Only yesterday, with the ther-
mometer away up in the 9o's, when, one
would have thought, piano - purchasers
would stay indoors, we sold one of the
latest styles, for cash, and with very little
trouble.
" The buyer was recommended to us by
an old customer, who has had a Connor
piano for years. These old customers,
from whom we have never had a complaint,
send us much business. Taken as a whole,
trade is quite satisfactory at present. The
output of Connor pianos during the first
six months of 1900 was 25 per cent, ahead
of any preceding six months since 1894. I
have facilities, as you know, for a much
greater increase, and, withal, can give my
personal attention to every instrument. If
you say anything about the Connor Piano
in The Review, you might mention that I
shall be glad to get into touch with a few
progressive dealers who are in a position
to push an instrument that will do them
credit—even if I do say it myself,"
I
Uacat notes.
Uacation
f
Geo. H. Champlin, of G. H. Champliu
& Co., is scheduled to leave on a European
trip, Aug. 4, sailing from Boston by the
"Ivernia," of the Cunard Line, for a trip
through Germany, Holland and France.
Mrs. Champlin will accompany her hus-
band.
Gustav Candidus, of Steinway & Sons,
will spend his vacation in Europe. He
will sail by the steamer Kaiser Frederick
on August 2d. He will remain abroad
about six or eight weeks. Mr. Candidus
is a nephew of William Steinway and is
connected with the sales department at
Steinway Hall.
F. E. McArthur, the enterprising piano
dealer of Knoxville, Tenn., is due in New
York this week. It is his intention to
spend some time at one of the Long Island
summer resorts with his family, who ac-
companies him.
Horace F. Brown, the genial traveling
representative of Behr Bros. & Co., is
spending his vacation at Cleverack, N. Y.
John G. W. Kuhl, of the sales depart-
ment of Steinway & Sons, left on his vaca-
tion Saturday. He is journeying to the
Maritime Provinces by way of Portland.
A. H. Young, who is associated with Mr.
Woodford in caring for the Chickering in-
terests at the Wanamaker establishment in
this city, left on the 19th inst. for a two-
weeks vacation in the mountains. He will
probably visit the Delaware Water Gap.
Otto F. Mehlin, of the manufacturing
department of the firm of Paul G. Mehlin
& Sons, is spending a short vacation in
Mobile, Ala.
Alois Brambach, of the Brambach Piano
Co., Dolgeville, N. Y., accompanied by his
wife and daughter, are visiting friends in
Milwaukee.
Geo. N. Grass, the Steck Ambassador,
will spend his vacation in Canada, and the
Maritime Provinces, where good fishing
can be enjoyed.
(Specially compiled for The Review.)
Washington, D. C., July 18, 1900.
Self-playing Attachment for Musical In-
struments. Harry M. Salyer, assignor to
Ludwig & Co., New York. Patent No.
The object of this invention is to pro-
vide a new and improved self-playing at-
tachment for key instruments—such as pi-
anos, organs, and the like—which attach-
ment is simple in construction, strong and
durable, can easily be applied on any key
instrument, and plays any desired melody,
according to the tune-sheet inserted, and
produces all the various effects m music,
such as forte and piano, works the pedals,
varies the speed at which the music is to
be produced, and which attachment can
easily be adjusted to repeat the same mel-
ody any number of times automatically or
can be adjusted to stop at the end of a
tune, and which attachment also rapidly
rewinds the music-sheet upon its original
roller to permit removing it from the at-
tachment, so that another music-roller can
be inserted.
Encasement or Housing for Mechanical
Musical Instrument. Franz J. Hertel, of
Leipsic-Gohlis, Germany. Assignor to
Emile Fiedler, of same place. Patent No.
653>448.
The following claim is made for this in-
vettion: "In a mechanical musical works
having a note-disk and a central disk-sup-
porting spindle and means for rotating the
same, the combination of a spherical hous-
ing having jtwo halves hinged together, a
square end to the said works-spindle and a
cross-bar in the said housing having a
square socket to fit onto the said spindle
end when the two halves are closed."
Organ. Melville Clark, Chicago, 111.
Patent No. 653,214.
This invention relates to improvements
Houck in Parade.
in mechanism for operating appliances
In the great trade parade which occurred pertaining to a musical instrument which
on July 4 at Little Rock, Ark., O. C. require a sustained movement independent
Houck & Co., the well-known piano deal- of the bellows tension and under the con-
ers, had one of their handsome vans in line trol of the operator. Such appliances, for
containing a piano which was played by example, are the motor which operates the
some Paderewski in disguise. The van perforated music-sheet in an automatic in-
was enclosed in canvas on which were ap- strument and a mechanical tremolo device.
propriate inscriptions informing the public
Stringed Musical Instrument. Ernst
that they deal in "everything known in Eulert and Adolf Wallenstein, New York.
music."
Patent No. 653,550.
The invention relates to citherns and
The Sohmer in Hawaii.
like instruments and its object is to pro-
Byron Mauzy, of San Francisco, has been vide a new and improved stringed musical
making several shipments of Sohmer pi- instrument arranged to enable the per-
anos to Honolulu. The Sohmer has been former to conveniently and accurately play
a great favorite in Hawaii for a number of the desired accompaniment to the melody
years. A prominent New Yorker, who was and to allow of playing the melody on
visiting the islands recently, remarked that either the usual leading cithern-strings or
in the houses of almost every prominent on an open scale of strings.
Hawaiian he visited he found Sohmer pi-
The rumor that the Brambach piano fac-
anos in the parlors. He naturally felt
proud that New York was so well repre- tory would be removed from Dolgeville to
Syracuse, N. Y., is denied,
sented,

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