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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IMPORTERS OBJECT TO SECRECY.
Want Publicity in All Matters Affecting Values
— T h e Present Plan Works a Decided In-
justice to Importers.
The whole question of secret appraisements by
the United States Board of General Appraisers
is being tested, and importers in the trade are
watching the outcome with interest. Briefly
summed up, in all matters affecting the classifi-
cation of goods under the tariff law, the proceed-
ings of the board are open to the public at large
if it is interested, but in matters affecting values
the hearings are held behind closed doors. This
is held as not part of the law. It is simply done
in accordance with a regulation of the Treasury
Department, it is averred, on the theory that if
the importer whose goods might be under con-
sideration knew who was testifying against him
it would be impossible in most cases for the gov-
ernment to get the evidence it needs from the
trade.
The result of the system in practice is that a
trade rival of the man whose goods are under
consideration may be called as a witness to tes-
tify to the market value of his competitor's goods
and may give any testimony that he pleases,
knowing that the owner of the goods will never
know who testified against him. The system also
makes it difficult and often impossible for the
importer to rebut testimony, gfven in perfect good
faith, but which may be incomplete or otherwise
misleading, because he is not allowed to know
what the evidence against his invoice values is.
The purpose of the above movement is to set
aside this practice, which would be equivalent to
the public's untrammeled examination of the
minutes of a grand jury.
BIG DEMAND FOR REINWARTH STRINGS.
Rudolph C. Koch, 386-388 Second avenue,
maker of the Reinwarth strings, so long and
favorably known for their superior tone quality,
durability, tensile strength and finish, reports
trade conditions as satisfactory, with a most en-
37
couraging outlook. In a recent talk with The
Review, Mr. Koch pointed out with evident pride
the significant fact that the output of Reinwarth
strings year by year, for many years past, has
steadily grown in volume. This advance has
been particularly noticeable during Mr. Koch's
administration. He is at his post early and late,
ever in the alert to meet the wishes of his cus-
tomers on the supply of a perfect product. Exact
compliance with the desires of patrons, proper
workmanship and prompt service to meet all
emergencies have brought the Koch business to
its present thriving condition.
better supply, and no one would welcome its
employment more than myself, but it will not
answer, and that is all there is to it."
KILN DRIED SOUNDING BOARDS
FRAUDULENT TRADE-MARKS.
AMBASSADOR ALLEN RETURNS.
A. A. Allen, the traveler for C. F. Goepel & Co.,
137 East 13th street, New York, who has been
visiting the eastern trade as far as Rochester,
N. Y., has returned to his regular stunt in the
West, making Chicago his headquarters, where he
resides. Like his chief, Mr. Allen is a veteran
in the business and is very careful how he talks
with the newspaper fraternity.
The report of the British Customs Commission-
ers for last year has just been issued, and it ap-
pears there has been a great increase in the num-
ber of detentions under the Merchandise Marks
Act. Of immediate interest is the growth in the
Talking the other day with a practical piano number of American offences. Germany, Hol-
man upon piano construction and the essentials land and Belgium are the principal offenders, ac-
to insure fine quality in tone, he said: "Some cording to the customs classification, but it is
manufacturers make a grave mistake using kiln probable that the majority of the infringements
dried lumber for boards. This is no doubt due to set against the last two countries originate in
the hurry of filling orders, but it is fatal to its Germany, large quantities of whose exports come
resonance. Lumber should be air or wind dried through Belgium and Holland. Here is an analy-
for a certain period, and if the process is expe- sis of the detentions of the last four years (ex-
dited by means of the kiln the wood loses its cluding goods detained in parcel post), showing
'life,' and with this vital property gone or even the principal countries from which the goods
diminished, of what earthly use can it be when were imported:
1901.
1902. 1903.
1904.
worked up into piano sounding boards? Perhaps
Germany
358
364
481
52! >
the piano maker may at times wonder why his Holland
24S
173
288
40ii
198
19(5
246
30! i
product lacks resonance, purity of tone. It is Belgium
United t S a t e s
64
77
122 2 0 9
F
r
a
n
c
e
133
100
132
130
due to the kiln dried lumber from which the
Other countries
95
79
62
6t>
board is made.
British Possessions
22
23
19
4(1
"The back, I hold, also has a great deal to do
Totals
1,118 1,012 1,350 1,05)5
with the proper tone quality of a piano. There
It will be seen from this that America seems to
is more in the making of backs than the aver- be making a high bid for the unenviable first
age wood worker imagines, but that certain pe- place in the table and that the Colonial trade
culiarities of construction count as a sound fac- gives the least trouble. But it is clear that the
tor will not be disputed by veteran piano manu- Teuton is far and away the worst offender.
facturers. Spruce is the best lumber to use, and
often chestnut is substituted, but it is the wrong
Stephen S. Mapes, 511-513 East 137th street,
material. As a fact chestnut is cheaper and in reports active business and excellent prospects.
Are Not as Effective in Giving Tone Results as
Those Which Are Air or Wind Dried—A
Chat With the Manufacturer on This Sub-
ject.
WHY NOT
ffi BEST ?
You may as well have the
best auction, and if this
b e a r s t h e b r a n d of
STAIB-ABENDSCHEIN
you have the assurance of the best procurable in material
and workmanship.
The STAIB-ABENDSCHEIN LOST MOTION ATTACH-
MENT is conceded by experts to be the best manufactured.
STAIB-ABENDSCHEIN CO
756 E. 134TH STREET, NEW YORK.