Music Trade Review

Issue: 1901 Vol. 33 N. 15

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWENTY-THIRD
YEAR.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J . B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR
Executive Staff;
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER
THUS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
WALDO E. LADD
GEO, W. QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLIN
Pnblished Every Saturday at 3 East 14th Street, New Yorfc.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico
and Canada, $2.00 per year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEnENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount
is allowed. Advertising Pages $ 0.00, opposite reading matter,
$75.00.
REfUTTANCES, in other than currency form, should be
made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter
NEW YORK,
OCTT1271I90K
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 7745-EIQHTeENTH STREET.
THE
On the first Saturday of each
ARTISTS'
month The Review contains in its
DEPARTMENT " Artists' Department" all the cur-
rent musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or ser-
vice of the trade section of the paper. It has a
special circulation, and therefore augments mater-
ially the value of The Review to advertisers.
DIRECTORY OF
The directory of piano manu-
PIANO
facturing firms and corporations
MANUFACTURERS f o u n d o n p a g e 2 g w U 1 b e Q f g r e a t
value as a reference for dealers and others.
ish leaders in the direction contrary to which
their best interests lie.
The history of this industry is rich in in-
ventive minds, and some of the greatest en-
terprises were established by humble work-
men whose ambition led them steadily up the
pathway of human progress to fame and
wealth. It was only a few years ago that the
ranks of piano makers were filled with men
who were not only practical mechanics, but
inventors, scale drawers. To-day, notwith-
standing the fact that piano making, as an
industry, is vastly more important than ever,
there are probably fewer mechanics skilled
in every department of the business than ever
before.
What will the effect of this be upon the fu-
ture of piano-making in America? Surely
we haven't reached a stage in acoustical de-
velopment beyond which it is impossible to
go. We can hardly believe that we have ar-
rived at the point reached by Herreshoff
in the yachting world, beyond which devel-
opment is impossible.
that certain friends of the dealer had found
in him a good thing. They had been draw-
ing rich profits from his business, and had
helped prop it up as long as there was a pos-
sibility of fat pickings remaining. When the
final crash came they were protected, but
the merchandise creditors were left, some
of them to the extent of many thousand dol-
lars.
It was reported two days after the fail-
ure that some other manufacturer proposed
to back him in a new business venture, be-
cause he had an excellent reputation as a
salesman and could get out the pianos in
great numbers.
It pays to keep the closest watch upon
credits, for sometimes those who are report-
ed to be all right locally are, perhaps, in
league with others to work the over-confiding
piano man.
PUMPING LIFE IN THE TRUST.
T H E p i a n o trust
Will the piano trust
scheme be revived ?—
New life promised—
Trusts should be com-
pelled to make reports
concerning their finan-
ces.
scheme, which has
b e e n incubating for
THE NECESSITY OF INVESTIGATION.
some weeks past, will
"T
HE
recent
collapse
now be brought forth,
Failure of a western
EDITORIAL,
dealer shows a gross
of a n old-time and a further attempt will be made to arouse
betrayal of confidence
—Piano manufactur-
Western dealer shows fresh interest in the project.
WHAT OF THE FUTURE?
ers not to press crim-
the
necessity of making
Where will our music ' T HE student of the
i n a I charges—T h e
It is too hopeless a case, however, to take
t r a d e inventors be
need of investigation.
evolutionary pro-
the most complete and seriously to-day, and by no vitalizing system
found ? —The unions
are levelers—Individu-
cess which is gradually thorough investigation before the granting controlled by its originators can it be pumped
ality not encouraged
—F e w e r mechanics changing the status of
of extended credits. The necessity, too, is into a semblance of life. New theories and
skilled in all branches
than ever.
apparent
of a careful study of State laws schemes may be evolved, but there must be
labor in all civilized
countries, finds a subject for thought in the before extensive shipments are made to men men behind the inceptive move in whom the
effect of trade unions, in the future, upon the who are believed to be a trifle lax in their trade can repose a certain amount of confi-
business methods.
inventhre department of industry.
dence. It will be a long time before the piano
This case in point: The dealer was an old trust stock is listed on the Exchange. Trusts
Is it not a fact that the unions are great
levelers? Do they not discourage individ- soldier, a man who had been in business for as a whole, have ceased to be a matter of
ual thought or ambitious work on the part of many, very many years in one locality. He dominating interest, but, of course, great
members? Will not such methods, if fol- had gained a certain following in business consolidations will go steadily on. Certain
lowed out for a term of years, have a ten- as well as musical circles. He was believed States will probably pass stringent laws reg-
to be strictly honest, and manufacturers, ulating trusts. One of the favorite remedies
dency to discourage future inventions?
To-day the unions not only dictate as to trusting largely to his local reputation, con- proposed for the evils which are supposed to
hours, but as to particulars regarding assign- tinued to supply him with instruments until cling to modern consolidations is publicity
ment of work, and by their stipulations am- an indebtedness of nearly forty thousand dol- concerning their affairs. We believe that
bitious young men are held back upon the lars was created. The critical point was this is urged particularly by those who would
same plane as the drone. The unions are not reached and an investigation of his affairs like to have the interest of innocent purchas-
stimulative to individual effort. They have revealed the fact that, while this man had ers of trust stock properly guarded. Legis-
a tendency to crush individuality and merge been, we may say, superficially honest, he lation is, of course, proposed as it always is,
everything into one colossal organization. had allowed and had given sanction to mat- but it has seemed that self-interest would
If the unions' rules remain unchanged in this ters which placed hinr'across the border line prove far more efficacious.
particular, from what source will the invent- of honesty.
In the financial columns of the daily news-
ors of the future spring?
1 Ie not only had made false representations papers, the methods of the management of
The patent records of Great Britain do not concerning his finances, but had sold consigned our railroad companies, and of the directors
show that labor unions, which dominate that stock, for which he gave no accounting. of our iron and steel stocks, have been con-
country, have been conducive to inventive One of the representatives of a concern which trasted to a disadvantage of the latter. The
ideas. In fact, the unions have compelled had suffered a heavy loss, investigated the demand is being reiterated, that those in con-
manufacturers to remove certain machinery causes which led up to his failure, became trol of iron enterprises, whose stocks are reg-
on the ground that its maintenance was an convinced of his rascality, and proposed to ularly listed, shall do more than submit an
injury to the workingman.
push a criminal charge against him. He was annual report. It is urged that a monthly
While no one will for one moment deny the dissuaded by his attorneys, who told him that statement of gross and net earnings be issued
right of labor to organize, yet it would be no jury could be found in that city who would to stockholders, so that they may be better
well for the men themselves to consider if convict him of irregularities.
informed as to the progress of the enterprise
they are not being blindly led by many self-
A further investigation revealed the fact in which they have placed their money. This
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
is not done by a single industrial in the iron
or metal trades, and, as a result, these secur-
ities are more and more under suspicion.
The listing of stock on the exchanges gives
the stockholders thereof a market at all times,
whose fluctuations they may watch from day
to day if they desire. While a few men may
buy securities on mysterious tips, the great
majority of investors purchase because they
possess information satisfactory to them as
to the condition and prospects of the con-
cern, or as to the industry in general in which
they are engaged.
The idea of furnishing monthly statements
regarding the affairs of the concern whose
stock is offered to the general public will
probably be the outcome of anti-trust leg-
islation. If the roads are compelled to make
itemized showing of their affairs, why should
not industrial organizations?
wish to make and that the information con-
veyed weekly in trade journals must be of
considerable advantage in assisting them to
advance their interests. W r e have received
during the past year many letters from deal-
ers and from salesmen requesting copies of
The Review to be mailed to their home ad-
dress. It only shows that they are begin-
ning to recognize the indispensable qualities
of trade papers. A paper which is read by
thousands of people in all parts of America
must, to a certain extent, be a moulder of
trade opinion, and therefore wields a vast
v influence upon the future of the industry.
THE AGE~OF HUSTLE.
I ARGELY upon the
Must be up and do-
ing to succeed—Idle-
young salesmen of
ness, mother of crime
—The contrast be-
America, some of whom
tween the lives of the
are members of firms,
president and the as-
sassin.
depends the future of
the
industry,
and
it
is
well to encourage not
VALUE OF TRADE JOURNALS.
importance of only stick-to-it-iveness, but a desire to work
Successful salesmen
are close readers of
the salesmen being and win something in the battle of life which
trade publications —
They realize their val-
posted upon all things was not willed by a fortunate ancestor. This
ue as aids to their pro-
in connection with mu- is an age of activity, or, in the vernacular,
gress—Letter from a
salesman.
sic trade affairs has been '"hustle," and the young man who becomes
emphasized at various times in the columns thoroughly impregnated with the view of
of this paper. It is a fact which cannot be getting on in the world by his own efforts,
denied that most successful salesmen are will succeed; but the one who watches the
close readers of music trade journals. The clock, and who is counting how many min-
bright minds of the industry have seen the utes will elapse before quitting time comes,
necessity of close communion with the re- is the one who misses the great chances in
ports of specialists which necessarily must life. This is an age of work—of hustle—of
be embodied in the issues of the leading trade ceaseless energy—and there is no room for
idlers.
publications of America.
The successful men in the world are al-
Trade journalism, as a whole, has made
ways
the busy men, not men who are build-
commendable strides and in many respects
has eclipsed the daily press, in that its reports ing improbable theories and figuring that be-
are educational, fair, and, in the main, de- cause so-and-so succeeded they should.
Take this black-hearted assassin, Czolgosz.
void of sensationalism.
He
was lazy, he preferred to be alone. All
It has been the aim of The Review to
impress upon the minds of the young men, day he was fishing and idling. He had no
upon whom the future of the industry must friends or associates, and he hated women.
rest, the importance of perusing the columns There is something abnormal abort such a
of trade journals. There is always something man. He may not always be a criminal, but
to be gained by study, and the importance he is apt to be estranged from his kind.
of trade reports and suggestions cannot be Segregation breeds mania and fanaticism, and
overlooked by those who are seeking advance idleness is the prolific mother of crime.
Our late President, on the other hand, was a
in the various industrial lines. During the
thoroughly
normal man—a worker. He loved
past month we have received perhaps two
score of letters from various salesmen in the companionship, he hated idleness and vice.
country of which the subjoined is fairly typi- He loved the woman—his wife—dearer than
all the world beside. He was born with no sil-
cal:
Kansas City, Mo., Oct. i, 1901.
ver spoon in his mouth. He hewed his way
Edward Lyman Bill,
to the exalted place which history must will-
Editor, Music Trade Review, New York.
"I am sufficiently interested in your trade ingly give him, by the exercise of great abil-
paper, which I have always considered as ity, vastly greater, admittedly, than the aver-
the reliable musical journal, to have an in-
dividual copy mailed to me as per enclosed age man possesses; but the same industry
envelope. I enclose you money order for which made McKinley an honor to his coun-
subscription, and wish you continued success try will make any man a success in his chosen
and hope that you will never deviate from
your record of straightforward journalism. walk in life.
"Very truly yours, D. H. Reeder."
There may be a sermon in stones, but there
We select this letter because it is partic- is a sermon in the contrast between the lives
ularly expressive of the very point which we of the President and his assassin, a lesson
for every man, and particularly for every
young man. The world has no place for
idlers, vagrants, woman-haters, men who are
against their kind and averse to the natural
relations of the home and society. They are
abnormal, if not degenerate or criminal, and
if the young man is starting his life along
dangerous lines, let him at once take warning
and retrace his steps to right ways.
But here—we are digressing; we were
writing about salesmanship and how quickly
one point of argument leads to another.
Good salesmanship is good citizenship, and a
good salesman is not only valuable to his
employer, but he is valuable to the community
in which he resides; for, above all other
things, a good salesman must be a good man ;
therefore, reliable, painstaking and ambitious.
He can climb up and up.
INJURY DONE THE TRADE.
HP HE letter which is presented below is
well worth the perusal of every retailer
in the country:
Manchester, N. H., Oct. 8, 1901.
Music Trade Review:
Please take notice how certain discussions
in the trade papers help those who do not
keep a store and carry a good stock of pianos.
Yours truly,
Piper & Mclnty're.
E. T. Baldwin,
Teacher of Music
and Dealer in
PIANOS.
The most reliable trade journals assert
that it costs the dealer in pianos, who
ket-ps a store, with its attendant expense?,
from fifty to seventy-five dollars to sell a
piano, (i. e.) that much must be added to the
first cost to meet running expenses.
~ l l y haying piano-rooms at our home, we
avoid this expense and can save purchasers
from forty to sixty dollars. Does not this
statement seem reasonable ?
STUDIO AND PIANO ROOMS,
6OO
Beech St.
Messrs. Piper & Mclntire emphasize an
excellent point, and one which should be
realized by every manufacturer in the coun-
try. The music trade editor who sent broad-
cast through his press agent false informa-
tion concerning pianos, which was calculated
to interest the public mind to the detriment of
the business, by creating the idea that there
were abnormal profits in the business, has
injured indirectly every dealer in the coun-
tiy.
We have, on more occasions than one, re-
ferred to the injury done the legitimate trade
by the man who partially ruled the industry
for a term of years, and who, when his down-
fall was complete, attempted to ruin it. It is a
matter of surprise in some quarters that
manufacturers themselves continue to sup-
port this sheet, owned almost wholly by the
man who attempted to nun them, and who,
under the cloak of retirement, is seeking to
regain a lost position.

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