Music Trade Review

Issue: 1901 Vol. 33 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THEnri/irii?
^ixLYlLYT
VOL. XXXIII.
No. 18
F n H M Every Sat ft Eflwarfl Lyman Bill at 3 East Fonrteenth Street, Sew Tort Nov. 2.1901.
REVISING BANKRUPTCY LAW.
Chairman Ray Receives Suggestions From 15,000
Business Men.
[Special to The Review.]
Binghamton, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1901.
Congressman Geo. \V. Ray, who is chair-
man of the House Judiciary Committee, hav-
ing charge of the revision of the Bankruptcy
law, and Royal A. Gnnnison, of this city,
Secretary of the National Association of
Referees in Bankruptcy, are hard at work
drafting a revision of the law to be presented
at the next session of Congress. A circular
letter, with the bill revising the Bankruptcy
law which was introduced by Congressman
Ray at the last session of Congress, has been
mailed to the principal business men through-
put the Union, with a request that they offer
suggestions or modifications. As a result
15,000 answers have been received, and many
of the letters include important practical sug-
gestions which will be incorporated in the
bill. One of .the important questions being
considered is:
Should partial payments on account with-
in four months of a bankruptcy, but without
intention on the part of the debtor to prefer
or acknowledge on the part of the creditor
that the debtor is either insolvent or intended
to prefer, be preferences which must be sur-
rendered before the creditor can prove up
the unpaid portion of his claim, as is now
held by the courts, or should the law be so
amended that such payments may be retained,
unless received with, on the part of the cred-
itor, reasonable cause to believe that the pref-
erence was intended?
The answers to these questions will be
tabulated, and from the tabulation a report
will be made and submitted to the Judiciary
Committee. Without a doubt this report will
in a large measure influence future legisla-
tion on the subject of bankruptcy.
CLEMENS JOINS MERRILL CO.
[Special to The Review.]
Sedalia, Mo., Oct. 28, 1901.
J. H. Clemens, who for several years has
been representing the John N. Taylor Piano
Co.'s interests in this city, has accepted a
position with the Merrill Piano Co., of Law-
rence, Mass., whereby he will have charge
of all territory west of the Mississippi, mak-
ing his headquarters at Kansas City. Mr.
Clemens has a wide following and is a
splendidly equipped piano man, who will
doubtless make a good record for the house
with which he has become connected. F.
M. Reed will succeed Mr. Clemens in look-
ing after the Taylor interests in this city.
PHILADELPHIA PIANO MEN DINE.
[Special to The Review.]
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 28, 1901.
The members of the local Piano Trade As-
sociation had a social meeting and dinner at
the Hotel Bellevue Saturday evening.
Speeches were made by several members on
topics of interest to the trade. President
Miller called attention to the recent formation
of the National Piano Dealers' Association
of America and advised that the members of
the Philadelphia trade should co-operate by
joining the new organization.
Among those present were: James C. Mil-
ler, representing the Miller Piano Co.; C. J.
Heppe and F. J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe &
Son; Oscar Blasius, of Blasius & Son; A.
Von Bernu-th, of N. Stetson & Co.; Leopold
Bellak, of James Bellak & Son; G. R. Flem-
ing, George Miller, of F. A. North & Co.;
J. J. Ryan, representing the Ludwig Piano
Co.; James G. Ramsdell, Gustave Herzberg,
Charles H. Fischer, L. K. Ewing, of Painter
& Ewing; P. J. Cunningham, of Cunning-
ham Piano Co., and D. E. Woolley, repre-
senting the Estey Co.
la.oo PBR TBAR.
SINGLE COPIES r« CENTS
SOME CHICAGO LEGAL DECISIONS
Excite Much Comment in Business and Labor Circles.
Chicago is furnishing some surprises these
days in the matter of legal decisions. The
ruling, reported in last week's Review, of
the Supreme Court of Illinois against the
corporations of that state, compelling them
to pay taxes on capital stock, is certainly a
most radical decision, while Judge Kohlsaat,
of Chicago, has gained equal prominence by
his ruling in the matter of "picketing," in
which he defines in a straightforward way,
the rights of manufacturers and union men
alike. He defines the unreasonable attitude
of many pickets in the course of strikes as
tyranny of the most despotic character.
In connection with this ruling it is inter-
esting to note that Business Agent Arthur
Ireland and other officials of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists, now under
an injunction of the Federal Court against
picketing the plant of the Allis-Chalmers
Co., were served on Monday with notices
of a suit for $10,000 filed by the Robert Tar-
rant Co., of Chicago.
Tarrant charges the officials with having
A BROADWOOD DEPARTURE.
conspired to ruin his business because his
John Broadwood & Sons, London, Eng., company filled orders for the Allis-Chalmers
the oldest firm devoted to pianoforte manu- Co. when its plant was shut down by reason
facturing in the world, having been founded of the machinists' strike. The suit was
in 1728, have been merged into a private threatened some time ago, but lay dormant
limited liability company, thus keeping in until the twelve blacksmiths and helpers of
touch with the trend now "so evident in the the Tarrant Co. struck rather than do work
business world in England, as in this coun- for the Allis Chalmers Co. The suit will
try. The. official board consists of gentle- be heard in the Superior Court Nov. 4th.
men of considerable influence and business
"Picketing" apparently is also a live issue
ability, consisting of W. H. P. Leslie (son in England. Over there, as far as present
of the late Henry Leslie), who acts as chair-
decisions go, picketing is illegal, except for
man of the new company; Cuthbert Heath,
the purpose of giving information that a
of Lloyd's; W. Hugh Spottiswoode, of
Messrs. Eyre & Spottiswoode, King's Print- strike is in progress, but any sort of intim-
ers ; John E. Talbot and Leonard F. Bevan. idation, even moral persuasion, is against the
Of the former members of the firm, Messrs. law. The workmen, however, dispute this
J. H. T. Broadwood, H. J. T. Broadwood and reading of the statutes, and it is understood
Geo. D. Rose are directors, while Frederick that an appeal is to be made to the House
Rose retains his interest in the business, of Lords in order to get a proper interpre-
though unable, on account of ill health, to tation.
take an active part in the management.
A. B. CHASE WITH WURLITZER.
George Rose undertakes the management of
During a visit to Cincinnati, Calvin Whit-
the factory, and Leonard F. Bevan will di-
rect at the showrooms in Great Pulteney ney, president of the A. B. Chase Co., con-
street, where A. J. Hipkins will also remain summated arrangements whereby the Ru-
at his post. S. Henry Walrond has been dolph Wurlitzer Co., of that city, will handle
appointed secretary to the new company.
the A. B. Chase piano in their territory. The
In connection with the foregoing our Lon- initial order was a large one, and the ar-
don namesake states it is of interest to note
that the Broadwood firm have supplied the rangements call for an aggressive presenta-
Royal family with their instruments ever tion of the unquestioned merits of the A. B.
Chase pianos to the general public.
since the year 1732.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
7VYVSIC TRRDE
REVIEW
Even slow accounts may be brightened up
Hold quality above price. Of course, sell
with some success during the months which cheap pianos, but sell them in their class.
are before us, for people at such times are Sell them for cash as nearly as possible and
fairly well supplied with money.
don't get tied up too much in long-winded,
One thing is positive—these are flourish- slow and unreliable installment accounts.
ing
times compared with a few years ago,
Some mighty good business men have
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
and if the piano merchant is not prosperous gone into this long-winded installment busi-
EBITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J . B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR.
to-day, if his business is not right up to the ness and they have learned, when it was too
( THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
\ EMILIE FRANCES BAUER
mark in every particular during such peri- late, that there was no end to it.
Executive Staff: J. WALDO E. I.ADD
j GEO. W. QUERIPEL
ods, then indeed he is in a critical and dan-
V A. J. NICKLIN
PLANNING AND REALIZATION.
gerous
condition.
If
he
cannot
close
up
A S we stated a couple
Pnfflflrt EYCTT Satnrflay at 3 East Mtt Street, New YoE
The trust promoter
castles in air
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico
long-winded outstandings, both for and building
of weeks ago, the
—Frothy mouthings
and Canada, $2.00 per year; another countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
on
combinations —
against,
in
such
times
as
these,
the
proba-
trust project has been
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount
Dealers' combinations
is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite reading matter,
on embryo—P r a i s e
bility is that he will be continually slipping
$75.00.
revived,
though in some-
REniTTANCES, in other than currency form, should be
from an e x p e r t —
made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
behind in the race rather than forging ahead.
Change of front.
what of a modified form.
Enttrtd at the New York Post Office as Second dais Matter
We are glad to note some of the newer 1 he facts in the case are, the piano trust pro-
~~
NEW YORK, NOV. 2, 1901.
piano merchants have started in with a qual- moter has gone mad on the subject of trusts,
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745-EIOHTEENTH STREET.
ity price standard nailed to the mast together though on all other matters where there is
THE
O n t h e first S a t u r d a y of each
ARTISTS'
month T h e Review contains in i t s with the one-price system.
a dollar to be squeezed he exhibits remark-
D E P A R T M E N T " A r t i s t s ' D e p a r t m e n t " all t h e cur-
r e n t musical news. T h i s is effected
It is an excellent point. Quality should able sanity. For years he has fed on this
without in a n y w a y trespassing ©n t h e size or ser-
trust pabulum until it has dominated his en-
vice of t h e t r a d e section of t h e paper. I t h a s a always be held above price, and if the aver-
special circulation, a n d therefore a u g m e n t s mater-
age piano merchant would talk quality in- tire mind. The whirling phantasmagoria of
ially t h e value of T h e Review to advertisers.
stead of price, he would be building his busi- trusts appear in his midnight dreams, and the
DIRECTORY O F
T h e directory of piano m a n u -
al 1 A N O _..__
facturing firms a n d corporations
ness future, and not sacrificing it for a very phenomena of trusts, temporary and other-
MANUFACTURERS f o u n d o n p a g e ^ w i U b e o f g r e a t
common and ordinarily cheap present.
wise, are always before his vision.
value as a reference for dealers and others.
Some of the advertisements which have
There has been in his entire pleading
recently been reproduced in The Review nothing but a mass of illogical, mouthfilling,
EDITORIAL
show that there is an evident desire on the meaningless phrases, an incoherent lot of
part of some piano men to degrade the busi- stuff alleged to be arguments in favor of the
A TALK WITHOUT FRILLS.
SHORT conversa- ness, to reduce it to the level of a junk shop formation of a trust. There has been no con-
The time to put the
tinuity of thought which has established in
tion with you, if trade.
piano business on a
business basis—With
We
do
not
hesitate
to
state,
and
we
have
the minds of listeners or readers anything
excellent
conditions you please, Mr. Piano
the piano man should
Merchant! Prosperous mentioned names in reproducing advertise- more than the dominating idea that concealed
reap big returns.
times like the present ments, that these men are working to cre- somewhere behind the trust meal bag was
ate a very strong suspicion in the minds of money, and that the desire to secure a large
should enable you to get your business on a
the public that there is really no basis to fat slice of that money has been glaringly
sound basis.
piano price, and that piano men do not run apparent in his moves. To-day he wishes
There is always one really good business
their business on correct business lines.
to assume the role of protector of the music
season for any merchant who has fairly well
These criticisms apply in their entirety to trade press; to-morrow he plans to annihi-
provided for same, and that is the spring, ear-
some piano merchants. They will be very late them, and so on. Mad, mad, as a March
ly winter and holiday period. Then, any busi-
sick piano men, too, ere long, if they continue hare on the trust question, the association
ness ship, however hampered by bad rigging,
this manner of exploiting their wares, and question, the trade paper question.
poor sails, leaky hold and inadequate crew,
it is the sick piano men who need tonics,
He sees in the Krell-French and Heppe
can, with the favoring winds of good pat-
and if they don't take medicine shortly, they deals a colossal aggregation which is going
ronage and brisk buying, make some head-
will soon be beyond recovery. Whether you to sweep on until it crushes everything in its
way towards the port of healthful condition.
are well and hearty, or slightly ailing, from a path, destroying manufacturers as well as
Any captain, though he may not make such
business standpoint, now is the time to put trade papers. Horrible to contemplate. Fire!
speed as his rivals, can reel off several knots
yourself in trim. To-day conditions are such Fire! Help! In his fertile and imaginative
an hour and come in sight of smoother waters
that we should not suffer even a temporary mind already there are scores of dealers'
and more favorable surroundings.
disability. If the piano man determines that trusts, and manufacturers have become more
The season which is before us gives the
he will clean up his affairs, and get as close and more cramped in their distribution, find-
piano merchant a great opportunity to throw
as possible to a quality and cash basis, he ing annihilation facing them when confronted
off all incumbrances, and to get rid of a
will find that his affairs will be on a pretty by these dealers' organizations !
certain part of his business, which he has
solid and satisfactory foundation.
Rot! tommyrot! the Simon pure tommy-
found to be unprofitable.
It is a fitting time to get on a good business rot!
Then, too, while he may not find it wise
hustle,
sell only reliable goods, purchase from
Take this gigantic corporation known
to change his course to any great ex-
tent, he can tone up his business, infuse his live manufacturers, and sell pianos, too, at as the Krell-French concern in Springfield,
staff with new ideas and ambition, and by the right price. That means, of course, that O. This whole scheme is still in embryo, and
careful watching and study put an inefficient they must be sold in their class. A cheap has yet to demonstrate its power as a co-
piano is all right if sold in its class, but un- operative as well as competitive organization.
organization into trim business-like shape.
It is easy to figure out an elaborate plan
The collection department may be thor- fortunately there are a number of dealers who
oughly overhauled with good results when will insist upon placing the cheap piano even on paper, but it is decidedly more difficult to
there is "something doing" in the money above the "just as good" class, and ask much carry this on to an acknowledged victory.
more for it than it is actually worth.
As the Krell-French organization stands to-
TWENTY-THIRD
A
YEAR.

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