Music Trade Review

Issue: 1903 Vol. 37 N. 17

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL.
Editor and Proprietor.
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor.
EXECVTIVE STAFF:
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND,
A. EDMUND HANSON,
GEO.
B. KELLER,
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER
W. QUERIPEL.
out of town. The Schumann Piano Co. have recently removed to
Rockford, Til. The Cable Co., one of the most important institu-
tions in the musico-industrial field, have a huge factory at St.
Charles, 111. The Schaff Bros. Co. have removed to Huntington,
Ind. Adam Schaaf would have erected an enormous factory in
Chicago, but for the interference of organized labor with his plans.
The Schaeffer Piano Co. have a new plant at Kankakee, Ind., and
now the Hobart M. Cable Co., that virile, energetic concern, are
about to erect a large manufacturing plant at LaPorte, Ind.
XT OW all of these moves are of recent origin, and if conditions
•*•
had been satisfactory within the great city of Chicago it is
W. MURDOCH LIND, 694 Tremont St.
not probable that there would have been the steady trend of manu-
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: R. W. KAUFFMAN.
facturing interests towards outside points.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
We may say that there are a number of other important Chi-
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
cago music trade institutions who arc carrying on quiet investiga-
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per, inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
tions as to the advantage of certain points, and within the near
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00; opposite reading
matter, $75.00.
.
,
future the public will be advised that other leading piano manu-
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lynian Hill.
facturing institutions have joined the steady disintegrating industry
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
in their move from Chicago.
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aug-
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
Without doubt, if the local labor conditions were satisfactory,
DIRECTORY of PIANO
The directory of piano manufacturing- firms and corporations
uiuiirtrTiiDric
found on page 27 will be of great value as a reference for
every one of these corporations would have preferred to have re-
MANUFACTURERS
dealers and others.
mained in the Western metropolis. They all maintain general
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NVMBER I745-EIGHTEENTH STREET.
offices in the city, and direct their business enterprises from
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 24. 19O3.
Chicago.
\ \ J ITH this lesson before them, will the labor leaders absorb
* * some wisdom before it is too late?
EDITORIAL
The manufacturers who have located in smaller towns express
pleasure with their present environments. They find that the men
INCE the last great labor troubles in Chicago, there has been
take an interest in local affairs and steadily advance their own
a steady withdrawal of piano manufacturing enterprises from
financial condition.
that city. The labor organizations should learn a lesson from
They become property owners and they realize that the closing
the records of manufacturing disintegration which lie before them,
down of industrial enterprises means a depreciation in real estate
and if they pursue their present antagonism to the interests of
values for them. Now, when their interests are at stake they are
manufacturers, and by their arbitrary rules, seek to take from them
less liable to listen to the enticing voice of the labor agitator than
all freedom of action, the withdrawals without doubt will be when they were located in a great city and had no personal inter-
steadily continued until Chicago as a manufacturing point for
ests at stake which would suffer.
pianos and organs will steadily decline.
U J HILE recently walking along the streets of St. Louis with
v
* a prominent local dealer, our attention was called by him
How can we expect that it will be otherwise? Manufacturers
to a card in the window of a large dry goods store, on which was
will not remain where their business is at the mercy of irrespons-
ible and firebrand leaders, and where they are afforded inadequate
inscribed the words: "None but union salesmen employed here."
property protection by the city authorities.
Our friend the piano merchant remarked that he figured it
No city in the world, no matter how lusty and strong, can fail
was only a question of time before cards bearing similar inscrip-
to feel the effects of millions of industrial capital being withdrawn
tions would be used in the display windows of piano stores.
from vast enterprises within its limits.
We disagreed with the gentleman on the ground that the piano
salesmen are much more intelligent, are men of keener business
ROBABLY the same percentage of withdrawal exists in other
perception, than the average clerk in almost any other line. They
trades. In fact it has been announced that some of the most
appreciate the value of individuality; they realize that a man who
important concerns in various industries have sought outside lo-
possesses ability backed by honesty of purpose, will succeed, if not
calities. But in our own line large and growing institutions have
removed their manufacturing interests from the Western metrop- in one piano store then another would be glad to purchase his
olis where they were originally planted, and without doubt they
talent.
were influenced in this move by the unfair attitude of the labor
He can sell what he possesses to excellent advantage, and the
leaders towards their enterprises.
piano salesmen as a class would never consent to merge their in-
Story & Clark, a prosperous, vigorous concern, have erected
terests into a form of socialism so that the brighter and more tal-
a magnificent factory at Grand Haven, Mich. The Smith & Barnes
ented men in the profession would be forced down by organization
Piano Co., that great institution, have a large branch establishment
rules to the standard of men much lower intellectually and morally;
at Milwaukee, where they will be free to operate without labor
perhaps not down tQ the lowest standard, but often, taking an inter-
interference, Steger & Sons have an enormous plant a few miles
mediate standard*
BOSTON OFFICE :
P
A. J. NlCKLIN,
GEO.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 36 La Salle St ,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
\ | O , we shall never see those signs in piano stores> because the
* '
TF they, as a class, desire a closer acquaintance with that instru-
young men who are at work in the retail establishments
ment that acquaintance usually is fostered on the basis of com-
throughout America are ambitious and they do not wish to be mercialism.
chained to any standard which might be set up by men who hold
REVIEW
If it were not so, tell us why the most distinguished
houses in this industry have cut off wholly from their lists the
official positions in the organization.
names of professionals to whom pianos in former years were loaned
If by working overtime, by following up prospects in the ad lib.?
: •(; . | ^ |
evening they can advance their interests they will do so and not
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in pianos were scattered
watch the clock.
in studios and used by professionals and these professionals, when
A good many men who are not in sympathy with unions have
they performed a favor for a manufacturer, when their opinion was
joined them because they considered it was the easiest way to re-
used in making a sale, did not hesitate to demand the fullest com-
main on terms of harmony with certain of their fellow men and
mission possible.
factory associates. They are not, however, in sympathy with many
of the union acts, and piano salesmen who are a talented lot, who
are good readers and good students of human nature, would never
consent to sign away their individual birthright for a mess of union
pottage.
.
The leading manufacturers decided if one side was to be placed
upon purely a commercial basis, then the other might as well cor-
respond, and they called in hundreds and hundreds of instruments
which had been placed out for years, and kept in condition at vast
expense to the makers.
of the most successful traveling men remarked the other
day, "I have been successful and of course a large measure
n n H E Y also found that these same professionals would visit a
*
of my success is due to hard and faithful work, but I also attribute
much of my success to the publicity which I have received through
the columns of the representative trade journals of this country.
number of piano houses in order that their influence might
be sold to the highest bidder.
men whose instruments they used free in their studios.
The professional myth was exploded, and it was decided by
They have made my personality known, and in connection with it,
the wares which I represent.
I lose no opportunity in impressing
upon my house the advantage of publicity.
If it is good for an
individual, it is good for a house, and good for a piano.
We are
They were not always loyal to the
leading makers that when professionals performed a service they
should be paid for it, but the air should be clarified as far as any
of their alleged influence was concerned.
It was to be a straight business proposition.
all working for common ends, and to advance our business inter-
Now in the new
ests, and I feel that publicity through the trade papers has been
order of things, how in the name of common sense is the opinion
greatly beneficial to me and to the instruments which I represent."
of a venal musical publication to influence in favor of any particular
Straight to the point—hits a bull's-eye, does he not?
piano?
.L^i.iJi^J
I F the manufacturers are brought into contact with professionals
\ \ J ITH extreme and becoming modesty the editor of a purely
* "
musical publication announces that an opinion published
about a piano in his publication is worth more to a piano manufac-
turer than all the opinions published in all the music trade papers.
*
they rind immediately that it is a question of money. The value,
however, of a class paper which circulates among professional peo-
ple is indeed small to piano manufacturers.
On the other hand, the value of a paper which circulates widely
Now this same individual has done much to cultivate such an
impression, and at the same time has been lining his pocket as well.
among the dealers—that is the men who purchase and sell all pianos
But let us analyze the conditions upon which such a theory is sup-
—is very great.
ported. In the first place a purely musical paper is read in the main
as a rule to ally themselves with progressive up-to-date manufac-
by professional people.
turers.
It is the trade paper of the profession and
the people outside, that is the musical public, are small readers of
a class publication.
They rely upon the critical columns of the
daily papers for their musical information.
They are influenced by what they read and desire
Professional musical paper of value to manufacturers!
That is the veriest rot!
O
UR attention is called to a circular issued by a piano manu-
facturing company in the West, who advertise:
"Get your pianos direct from factory.
F what particular advantage is it to piano manufacturers to
and dealers' profit."
have their wares exploited in a publication which reaches
purely professional people whose interests in their behalf are usually
dependent upon the favors extended to them by manufacturers?
In other words, the professional class get pay for everything they
do to forward the interests of piano men. There is no evil in this,
provided the contracts are agreeable to both parties.
The profes-
sionals have a right to expect remuneration, and demand it for their
personal services given in the exploitation of any particular wares.
But what percentage of them devote any time without exacting
You will save agents'
Now this concern has a large number of agents in all parts
of America, and we fear that if these men saw the argument which
was being used by the manufacturing house, they might become a
trifle lukewarm in their efforts to promote the interests of this piano
in any particular section.
Dealers are not fond of seeing manu-
facturers use that argument in their public announcements.
T
H E R E is certainly a more confident tone, in regard to business,
to be found in many circles where up to a short time ago there
a fair reward for their services ? They are not unselfish in their
was a question as to the character of the trade during the remainder
motives, and they are not influenced in the slightest by what they
of the year.
read in a professional publication concerning a certain piano.
next few months will be of good volume.
The impression is very general that business for the

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