Music Trade Review

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THE
RENEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
ESITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J.
B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR.
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPET.AN'D
EMILIE FRANCIS BAUKH
WALDO E. LADD
Executive Staff:
GEO.
W. QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLIN
_
Eyery Saturday at 3 East 14th street, New Yort
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NEW YORK, MARCH 22, J902.
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On the first Saturday of each month
THE
The Review contains in its "Artists' De-
ARTISTS
partment" all the current musical news.
DEPARTMENT This is effected without in any way tres-
passing on the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and
therefore augments materially the value of The Review
to advertisers.
DIRECTORY OF
The directory of piano manufac-
PIANO
turlng firms and corporations found
MANUFACTURERS on page 29 will be of great value as
a reference for dealers and others.
EDITORIAL
TOPICS OF THE HOUR.
C VERY winter there is a lot of crank
legislation introduced in the various
State legislatures which is aimed particu-
larly at merchants who dispose of goods
on the installment plan.
As a matter of fact nearly all mercantile
institutions to-day sell on that basis, and
this crank legislation not only affects piano
people, but all lines of merchants as well.
It is not only a matter of special lettering
on pianos, according to the proposed Penn-
sylvania plan, showing that they are sold
on the installment basis, but the recording
of installment agreements as chattel mort-
gages and the putting up of a certain
amount of cash as a guarantee of the con-
duct of a legitimate business.
No sooner are these bills introduced in the
Legislatures than there is an immediate
meeting of merchants of the various in-
dustries, a fund raised, and a delegation is
sent to the State capitols.
It is usually found that a bill was intro-
duced by someone who was willing to be
"approached" on the subject.
As a matter of fact, there are instances
when this kind of legislation amounts to
nothing more than blackmail on the mercan-
tile interests of the country, but piano men,
together with men of other lines of industry
contribute their little quota to keep the pot
of illicit legislation boiling.
D
tributing centers show trade volume up to
that of the past year.
Manufacturers in the East and West have
been busy, and the demand upon the supply
department of the industry continues un-
abated.
Some manufacturers inform us thai they
have sufficient orders on hand to carry them
for some time without an additional order,
and Spring, dear, delightful Spring is here.
We know this because the bootblacks have
their stands on the sidewalk, and the open
cars are again visible. And what are the
promises of the birds, the up-springing of
the flowers compared with sure signs like
these ? Spring means business—good busi-
ness at that.
Old Boreas has apparently relaxed his re-
lentless grip and in almost the twinkling of
an eye, the Arctic drifts of snow have been
succeeded by balmy zephyrs and bright skies,
if not in New York, at least somewhere.
HP HE strike in Boston which originated
among the freight handlers and which
for a time held up some piano shipping, pos-
sessed the same unsatisfactory features of
former strikes. The wanton manner in which
thousands of men not directly interested in
the question at issue, were deprived of their
work, either at the dictation of labor leaders,
or because the action of the original strikers
temporarily paralyzed industry, is only re-
peating the old story.
Y\7 HAT a busy life some pianos lead, and
how quickly some people are won over
by the arguments of suave salesmen that such
and such an instrument is not just exactly
what they should have, even though it has
been in their possession but a short time.
The exchange business in pianos is a large
one, and this readiness to exchange and to
be ever dissatisfied with existing conditions
is typically American.
It is indeed one of the strongest factors in
the progress of this country, and among no
class is it more apparent than among the
piano trade.
''THERE is a steady change going on—
pronounced too, for that matter—in the
fittings of piano establishments.
The South is the only part of the country
where attractive and artistically decorated
piano warerooms are not well in evidence.
Many of our merchants who are desirous
of obtaining a goodly share of what is called
the exclusive trade, have become aware of
the strong influence of surroundings in at-
tracting customers of the wealthier and
more refined class.
ESPITE continued unfavorable weather
While it is not easy for the piano man at
conditions, reports from principal dis~ all times to fit up luxurious quarters, yet
the man who can afford to be in business
can afford to run an attractive place, and
keep his stock in splendid condition—hand-
some fittings, paintings, rich carpets, and
similar accessories essential to an up-to-date
piano business.
This is a form of advertising which should
not be overlooked by the up-to-date merchant,
and we may say the man who is averse to
legitimate expenditure will not succeed in
this progressive age.
We can name certain establishments in
various cities, the proprietors of which have
been far-seeing enough to recognize the ad-
vantages which could be derived from su-
perb surroundings. They have made their
stores talked about, for they are fitted up in a
most modern and ornate way. They spend
money, and it comes back to them in good
form.
The small room idea is growing in this
trade, and there are many establishments
which have aesthetic and handsome quarters
fitted up, which make a splendid feature of
their business.
A LITTLE bird, thinking Spring had come,
stopped carolling long enough to whis-
per that Blumie had two sinking spells last
week when he learned that six department
stores were about to engage in the piano
business, and with no possibility of himself
acting as intermediary. Those fat commis-
sions were tantalizingly near, but—. He was
even willing to spare a few moments from
working the heavy siege guns of abuse on
the Fischer and Hardman fortifications to
have tried to arrange the deals.
'"THE field of credit information is covered
by two leading mercantile agencies.
Yet the truth is that their methods, taken as
a whole, are out of date. During recent years
new credit reporting organs have come in,
and they are working towards efficiency by
specializing different industries.
As a matter of fact many of the ratings
given in the agencies are wholly unreliable,
and do not form a desirable basis for credit.
Character, after all, is the best asset, and
plenty of young piano dealers have worked
up on the basis of character rather than a
long bank account.
C O M E of the trade papers have been ex-
cellent imitators of yellow journalism
in that they evince the fondest desire to try
a case before it reaches the courts.
The oldest and one of the most distin-
guished piano manufacturing concerns of
America proposes to make a test case in
the courts whether a concern of similar
name can, through their own and the
mediumship of various dealers, trade up-