Music Trade Review

Issue: 1903 Vol. 37 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
V O L . X X X V I I . No. 25. pnblisM Every Sat, liy Eflwara Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Aye., New York,
MILLER CO.'S REORGANIZATION.
SPECIAL RATES FOR DEALERS.
The Merchants' Association Getting All the Rail-
roads in Line For the Spring Buying Sea-
son.
This Old Time House Will Make Pianos as Well as
Organs—Capitalized at $100,000.
The Merchants' Association of New
York has announced that the Trunk Line
and Central Passenger Association have
granted its applications for reduced rates
for the spring buying season. The special
fares will be in effect from the territory of
the Central Passenger Association on Feb-
ruary 27 to March ist, inclusive, and March
19-22, inclusive, with a return limit of 15
days. The reduced rate will, as usual, be
one and one-third for the round trip, tickets
to be sold on the certificate plan.
The" Trunk Line Association territory ex-
tends from the New York, New England
border west to Buffalo, N. Y., Pittsburgh
and Erie, Pa., Wheeling and Parkersburg,
W. Va., south to the Potomac river and the
line of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad.
The Central Passenger Association has
jurisdiction over the railroads in the terri-
tory west from the points named to the
Mississippi river, including the cities of
Chicago, St. Louis and Louisville, south to
the Ohio river.
The request for concessions from the
Southwestern Excursion Bureau, roughly
described as the State of Texas, Indian and
Oklahoma Territories and the State of Mis-
souri south of the Missouri river, is still
pending, the organization named not hav-
ing been able to take action thereon until
the Eastern and Western roads had agreed
to concur in rates to New York. Efforts
are now being made to have the General
Passenger Agents of the Southwestern
Bureau take an early vote on the proposi-
tion.
Lebanon, Pa., Dec. 14, 1903.
The new corporation which has pur-
chasd the Miller Organ Co.'s interests will
be known as the Miller Piano & Organ Co.
The members are A. H. Miller, his sons G.
L. and Ray Miller and J. C. Borgner, his
son-in-law. The corporation is a close
one, and the capital stock consists of $100,-
000. It is intended to enlarge the factories
and modernize the equipment in every re-,
spect so as to cater in a thoroughly up-to-
date way to the demands of the trade for
pianos as well as organs. The Miller or-
gans which have been on the market for
the past thirty years have won an excellent
reputation. With the introduction in this
institution of new blood, there is no reason
why both the Miller organs and pianos
should not win a much larger appreciation
than ever before.
[Special to The Review.]
HADDORF CO. SUE THOMPSON PIANO CO.
[Special to The Review.]
Arkansas City, Ark., Dec. 14, 1903.
A suit has been filed in the District
Court here by the Haddorf Piano Co.
against C. G., G. W., F. L. and S. H.
Thompson, who recently conducted a store
in this city under the name of the Thomp-
son Piano Co. to recover the sum of $11,-
140.43 claimed to be money due on account.
This is the third suit filed by the Haddorf
Co. against the Thompsons, the previous
ones being for $3,500 and $1,000. It is
some six months since the Thompson Co.
relinquished their store here after which
they opened up in Oklahoma City, which
establishment was also recently closed.
OFFERS PRIZE OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.
Andrew J. Spiech & Co., of Syracuse,
N. Y., is offering a cash prize of $25 to the
employe selling the largest number of
pianos during the month of December. An
extra $25 will be given the salesman or
salesmen who sell fifteen or more new
pianos during this period.
BRINGS SUIT FOR $25,000.
Suit has been entered by Chas. F. Dick-
inson against the Metropolitan Music Co.
of Minneapolis, Minn. $25,000 damages is
demanded for alleged libelous statements
made concerning him.
NEW BUILDING FOR CHASE & BAKER.
Dec. 19,1903.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
AN APPEAL TO DEALERS.
Philip Werlein Asks Co-Operation and Financial
Support For Freight Committee in Order to
Bring About Desired Reforms.
Philip Werlein, chairman of the freight
buieau of the National Association of
Piano Dealers has sent out a letter to the
trade setting forth the work which has
been accomplished by the freight commit-
tee. He points out that whatever was
achieved in the past was due largely to the
various members of the committee, who
worked without recompense of any kind,
and who paid their own traveling expenses
in every instance where they attended the
various committee meetings. He says,
further:
"While this was the very necessary and
proper thing for the members of this com-
mittee to do in order to get the thing
started, it is asking too much to ask them
to continue that course, therefore, the ser-
vice of Thomas C. Moore was secured, the
manufacturers paying him a fixed compen-
sation, while the dealers pay about what
they choose.
"The freight bureau has asked for sub-
scriptions of $5 from each of the members
of the Association. That is a very small
amount to be requested, and we think that
in the case of houses that can afford to pay
more than that, they should do so. The
large house naturally has profited a great
deal more than the small one in the bene-
fits that this committee has secured.
"Never before has there been any agita-
tion in the matter of reducing the classi-
fication on pianos and other musical instru-
ments, and the result of this agitation, if
nothing else has been secured, has been to
prevent the rates from being raised, which
has been done in most industries.
"Your freight bureau must have your
financial co-operation, as the cost of these
trips to various committee meetings, the
cost of putting out literature, etc., is too
heavy for the individuals that compose it
to outlay themselves.
"We ask you to take this matter up, and
forward us subscription at your earliest
opportunity, and we hope to be able not
only to show results in the Western terri-
tory, but in every other territory, before
next convention time. Please send sub-
scriptions to Geo. E. Bradnack, Middle-
town, N. Y."
The Chase & Baker Co., of Buffalo, have
acquired ground adjoining their present
factory which will give them a space avail-
able for the erection of a building 163x341
feet. Building operations will be com-
menced early in the spring. For some
HAWLEY SUES RAILROAD.
time the Chase & Baker Co. have felt the
need of more room. The demand for their
W. G. Hawley, a salesman with the
players has steadily grown and has now Sanders & Stayman Co., of Washington,
assumed such large proportions that the D. C, had brought suit for damages
resources of their factory have been taxed against the local railroad companies for
to the utmost both day and night to sat- $50,000. He was injured several months
isfy demands.
ago by one of the company's cars.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
6
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
The one price system to all has become a principle which has
been adopted by mercantile organizations throughout the land. The
greater the house, the more unalterably fixed the sound principle of
one price.
The lesser men have gradually fallen into line with
methods adopted by the greater and more prominent houses.
The one price system is not only business honesty, but it is busi-
EDWARD LYMAN DILL,
Editor and Proprietor.
J. D. SPILLANE, Managing Editor.
system to adopt for the regular piano dealer.
EXECVT1VE STAFF:
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPKLAND,
A. EDMUND HANSON,
GEO. B. KELLER,
A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON OFFICE :
W.. MURDOCH LIND, 694 Tremont St.
GEO.
ness common sense, and from a purely selfish standpoint is the best
EMILIE FRANCKS BAUER
W. QUERIPKL.
CHICAOO OFFICE:
E. P . VAN HARLINGEN, 36 La Salle St,
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE : R. W. KAUFFMAN.
A
PTANO salesman who belonged to an organization wherein
no rigidity of price existed became a convert of the one price
system.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the Nezv York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. $2.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00; opposite reading
matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
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.
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found o n
age:
« wU1 b e o f g r e a t v a l u e a s a r e f e r e n <* f o r
MTMIISTTHJI-JV
MANUFACTURERS
dealers and P others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER I745-EIGHTEENTH STREET.
The manager who was reared in a different atmosphere
one day called him severely to task for permitting a customer to go
out when he could have closed the deal had he offered the instrument
at a reduced price. The salesman's honesty, however, impressed the
customer, and two hours later he came back and told him that he
had visited the various piano houses on the street, and while he could
secure an instrument which seemed to him a bargain, because it was
offered at much less than the original asking price, yet he had no
confidence in the instrument or in the concern that offered to slash
its prices so readily.
NEW YORR, DECEMBER 19, 19O3.
ALESMEN should hold to one price, and the house bv which
they are employed should have the power to withstand the
temptation to cut the price when the customer walks away.
EDITORIAL
It may be truthfully stated that the concerns which have adopted
one price, and are steadily adhering to it, conduct their business on
I T was some years ago when The Review began the first systematic
more satisfactory lines than is possible under the old system of elastic

prices.
advocacy of a one price system at retail for pianos. We sup-
plemented our editorial work by offering a cash prize for the best
"One price and one price to all" is the business slogan in
the piano world which will win.
argumentative article on the one price system and by this plan
brought out a number of excellent compositions.
Our work along
these lines was further supported by obtaining expressions of opin-
'"T~ S HE banquet given by the Chicago Music Trade Association
*
last Tuesday night in the Auditorium Hotel in that city was
ion from hundreds of dealers throughout the country whose views
perhaps as exclusive a trade affair as any previous banquet ever
were presented in the columns of this publication.
given under the auspices of piano men. The music trade has plenty
This was the beginning of the campaign in favor of the adop-
tion of one price.
For a while the matter did not meet with the hearty approval
of the trade, although some prominent houses had previously
of good talkers—men who have practical ideas on topics which in-
terest all who are engaged in manufacturing or retailing musical
wares.
With the talent which we have in our own industry, it is
hardly necessary to go outside to secure good speakers.
adopted the one price system with satisfactory results.
HP* HEN later the manufacturers' and dealers' associations in joint
*
convention recommended the adoption of the one price sys-
'"T~ S HERE is everywhere a tendency to concentration.
^
It is ap-
parent in almost every line of trade, and the small merchant
tem. So the work has steadily progressed until within the past year
naturally feels more seriously as time rolls on the effect of this
there has been a remarkable change of opinion regarding the ben-
steady centralization.
efits which may accrue to the dealer who stands firmly to his post
said that there is a greater percentage of piano merchants added
as far as price is concerned.
yearly to the number in this country than there is in any other
Undoubtedly the publicity which this subject has received and
the arguments which have been made in favor of its adoption have
had material effect in bringing about a change of opinion regarding
the adoption of this important business essential.
UT a trade paper, a mercantile organization, or an individual
cannot justly claim credit for bringing about this change of
Notwithstanding this condition it may be
mercantile line.
This fact alone supports the statement that the small piano man
has a better chance against the larger concerns in his own line than
has the small dry goods merchant compared with his great com-
petitors. People do not ordinarily go to shop for pianos in the same
way that they do for the alluring bargains which are so cleverly
presented in the columns of the daily papers.
They usually make
opinion. While each one may have been helpful yet the entire busi-
inquiries and investigate the piano subject more thoroughly than
ness world is gravitating towards the adoption of correct methods
any other, before making purchases.
in commercial transactions. We cannot stay the march of progress
opportunity to do outside work, and bring personal influence to bear
if we would.
upon various intending piano purchasers.
This gives the small man an
So, while many say the

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