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TH
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
33
In The Musical Merchandise Domain
DEPARTMENT STORE A BUGABOO
As Far as Injury to the Dealer in the Small Goods
Line is Concerned.
Quite a little is heard, from time to time,
about the department stores being a last-
ing injury to the regular dealer in the line
of small goods. With few exceptions, it
is conceded that the buyers of musical
merchandise for the big emporiums are
seldom well posted, not to say up-to-date
in the line; and in not a few instances
women not only look after the stock, but
are practically at the head of the depart-
ment, as well as several others having no
connection with musical instruments or
specialties even in the remotest degree.
Naturally their interest and knowledge is
purely perfunctory, their stock indifferent
and the sales of that grade in no manner
affecting the legitimate dealer in the way
of serious competition.
At least such was the opinion of a vet-
eran wholesaler, who has sold goods on
the road for many years and knows the
trade like a book. The other day a re-
mark was made in his presence that the de-
partment stores had "killed" the regular
dealer in small goods, and he quickly took
up the cudgel by saying: "That's where
you and a few others who have that idea
are mistaken. It is true, to be sure in iso-
lated instances, in the largest cities, but
not elsewhere. For instance, outside of
two big stores in New York, one in Chi-
cago, another in St. Louis and Kansas
City, not any of these establishments carry
a stock hardly worth looking at from a
music trade point of view. In fact, the de-
partment stores carrv comparatively little,
and this not very creditable as compared
with what may be found on the shelves of
the average legitimate dealer. Briefly,
they have no regular line like the recog-
nized music store.
"As an example and proof of this state-
ment," continued the wholesaler, warming
up to his subject, "I had a buyer come into
my place—and he is only one of a lot by
the way—who wanted to get a price on a
few gross of harmonicas, assorted. I told
him to apply to his jobber, as I only sold in
quantities on import. But he said: 'Our
house runs a business of several million
dollars a year and we are certainly en-
titled to the inside price.' Then I told
him, in reply, that cut no figure; that in
order to get the price he was after, his
buying must be on a jobbing scale. This,
of course, he would not do; all he wanted
was an assorted lot so he would have a
small line to show. As I said, this occurs
WM.
frequently, and generally he don't care
what he buys.
"The legitimate jobber, and through him
the dealer, is bound to carry standard, up-
to-date goods, and the novelties of merit
as they are produced, because his trade de-
mands it, and no one who wants a reliable
instrument will buy from any but a recog-
nized dealer in musical goods. Then
again, you hear of the great orders from
the notion houses; it is bosh, excepting for
certain lines that the dealer seldom, if ever,
carries—the fancy and eccentric shapes and
odd designs that have a sale, to be sure,
but nothing like what the staple and meri-
torious novelties have over the counters of
the legitimate music trade. I have watched
and been in the game too long not to know
what I am talking about."
Claims the Old Italian Violins Are Deteriorating
Through Use.
The startling information comes from
Berlin that Joachim's famous Stradivarius
is "played out"—that is, that it has been
played so much that it has deteriorated in
tone. According to an expert, Harold
Gorst, all the old Italian violins will some
dav share the fate of Joachim's, unless
some millionaire gets up a violin trust and
keeps the old instruments locked up; and
even that would only retard the process of
disintegration. Joachim has for some
years been advising those who could not
afford to buy a "Strad" to get a Guarner-
ius (eighteenth century) ; and the price of
these has accordingly doubled and quad-
rupled. Paganini owned a superb Stradi-
varius, but usually played on a Guarner-
ius. His taste is shared by Ysaye; and
Vieuxtemps also preferred the Guarnerius,
which has a stronger, more manly tone.
Ultimately, perhaps, the sweet-toned
"Strads" will be reserved for women play-
ers, while Guarnerius will appeal to their
male colleagues.
TO HANDLE SMALL GOODS.
Reports have it that the Holtzman-Martin
Co., New York, dealers in piano stools,
scarfs, etc., are preparing to add a full line
of musical merchandise. Mr. Martin pro-
poses to carry only up-to-date goods, and
has been busy for some time making the
proper connections both here and abroad.
With his usual energy as a basis his success
in this venture may be viewed as a foregone
conclusion.
Another local violin maker says he has dis-
covered the secret of the varnish which ex-
perts say gives the famous Cremona instru-.
ments their tone and value.
CO • ,
1
East 22d Street,
New York City.
Sole Agents for the United States for the famous
Genuine
COURTOI3
BAND
INSTRUMENTS
and SAXOPHONES.
BOLE AGENTS for th« WORLD RBMOWMED L B F K T B B
BOLB AGENTS for th« FAMOUS A. LKOOMTB k 0 0 .
80LB AGENTS for U» STANDARD M 1 S 0 1 D I I I 0 L 1 B
»OLM AOIWTB for tb« WOELD-KIKOWHKD H O U I I <*
0L1EI0IITI,
OLARIONBTS
I0N1TI.
OH. k J. D L L I I I I
The Hohner harmonica assortments, 12 in
a box, have been the means of selling hun-
dreds of thousands of these instruments.
There are four assortments, retailing at 25,
35, 50 and 75 cents. They include all leading
styles, notably the "Up-to-date Surprise,"
"Second to None," "Marine Band" and
"Grand Symphony." For dealers they are
just the thing for window and counter dis-
play. The boxes are artistically made with
appropriate colored pictures on the inside of
the covers. The Hohner line was never more
complete—never more interesting to live deal-
ers than to-day. It has many money makers
in its list and of the quality, it isn't necessary
to speak—the name of Hohner is enough.
MANNELLO MANDOLINS
A STARTLING THEORY
R. GRATZ
HOHNER OF WORLD FAME.
In Great Demand—Big Force Employed—General
Prospects Excellent.
With an additional story to his factory
and a force of over seventy workmen, A.
Mannello, manufacturer of mandolins and
guitars, New York, is doing an excellent
business, greatly in excess of the same period
a year ago. The trade is not only ordering
more liberally, but the demand is for the
better grades, and in this respect the Man-
nello plant is not only taking care of its reg-
u'iar trade, but constantly taking on new ac-
counts. Frank V. Romaglio looks after the
city and outside trade, and his orders are of
the most satisfactory kind.
THE DURRO VIOLIN LIKED.
Dealers Like It, and Buegeleisen & Jacobson Are
Reaping the Reward.
The Holmes Music Co., Port Jervis, N.
Y., sole agents for the Durro violin in their
section, have recently made a number of
sales of these instruments. In one instance
a customer who is spoken of as a "fine judge
of a violin," had investigated thoroughly the
merits of the different makes of high grade
violins, and decided the Durro possessed the
most desirable qualities.
Buegeleisen & Jacobson, importers of the
Durro goods, mention the above as only one
of many examples where dealers are making
a reputation as handlers of this exceptionally
fine line. S|am. Buegeleisen is now on the
road, is doing a land office business and
will be back in New York to participate
in the festivities of Roshonnah.
Mandolins
Guitars Banjeaux
Mandolas Mandocellos
Harp-Guitars
Banjeaulins
Banjeaurines
Piccolo Banjeaux Bass Banjeaux
ALSO ALL STYLE* OF INSTRUMENTS
MANUFACTURBV FOR THE
JOU1N0 TRADE
Waldo Mfg. Co
teflnaw. Michigan
r/. »18
h u t t l Ike l o i , WWfc-