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THE
40
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe Musical MercKandise Domain
TRADE REVIVAL UNDER WAY
While Trade Is Uneven, Manufacturers Are
Doing a Good Share of Business—Election
Campaign Now Being Felt Somewhat Al-
though Result Is Discounted.
With small goods merchants and importers
business varies with the particular view point of
the parties concerned. That is to say, trade is
not as uniform as it should be, all things consid-
ered; nevertheless few are dissatisfied and more
are satisfied. There is no mistake in stating that
as the crucial day of the presidential election ap-
proaches the feeling intensifies, and few men in
active business ignore its significance. As a mat-
ter of truth, so far as the national contest is con-
cerned, the result is already discounted, and
justifiably so, according to the views of men who
do not fail to remember the catastrophe that be-
fell industrial enterprises in the never-to-be-for-
gotten campaign, still within the memory of the
most conservative jobbers and dealers.
A revival is now under way, the ultimate re-
sult of which cannot be otherwise than beneficial
to the trade. As it is, sales are in fair volume,
and such negative reports as may be current are
of a restricted nature. With this awakening, or
renewed interest, the East is the last to acknowl-
edge its efforts. In a speculative sense the east-
ern part of the country were the chief losers
and therefore that keen sense of enterprise will
be felt last in that section of the country. West
and South, further removed from the financial
gambling center, legitimate business has been
halted only in a limited sense, and therefore deal-
ers there were disinclined to be discouraged. Re-
cent facts prove this statement, and in discussing
the situation, a wholesaler of consequence, on
Tuesday, remarked to The Review:
"I am free to say that as the election ap-
proaches business falls off. Not in a damaging
way, to be sure, but strong enough to make itself
felt. I believe everybody in the trade has been
prepared for this in a measure, and therefore no
one is hurt. To be sure our contract deliveries
are being steadily placed at satisfactory prices,
but nothing of a boom nature is apparent. I firm-
ly believe, however, that in a few v.eeks business
will be all anyone can reasonably look for."
and has included in his correspondence orders
which verify to a highly satisfactory degree this
Exhibit
in German Section Excites Much
statement. The demand now seems to be for
Praise from Visitors.
violins, accordeons and guitars, and as these are
lines in w*uch the Stern department is very
The Hohner exhibit at the World's Fair con- strong, all orders are being filled with dispatch
tinues to interest all who visit the German sec- and doubtless to the especial taste of the buyers.
tion, which is both large and representative.
The new "Warp-Proof" neck, which Stern & Co.
The showing of Hohner accordeous is one of the are introducing in their two styles of Stewart
leading features of the Hohner exhibit and many Son's professional banjos, Nos. 355 and 356, are
are the exclamations of surprise heard as vis- now made of two solid pieces of biru's-eye maple,
itors scrutinize the shape and general appear- with a strip of the best quality ebony carefully
ance of these products. The big array of Hohner glued between. This strip acts is a brace, and
harmonicas, large and small, plain and ornamen- is an absolute preventive of warping, which has
tal, also creates much favorable comment. At the heretofore, it is said, been unfortunately a char-
Hohner headquarters many inquiries as to styles, acteristic of even the finest banjos. This is
prices, etc., are made by letter as a direct sequel claimed to be entirely obviated by the three-piece
to the visit of interested people to the St. Louis neck.
Hohner exhibit. The letters come from every
clime; every point of the compass.
HOHNER AT WORLD'S FAIR
VICTOR RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER.
QRETSCH MFG. CO. EXPAND.
To Erect a Six-Story Building for Manufactur-
ing Purposes—Fred Gretsch on Western
Trip.
For purposes of investment and to secure
needed room the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co., Brook-
lyn, N. Y., have acquired the property in the rear
of their present factory running through to S.
5th street, and facing the approach to the new
Williamsburg Bridge. On this a new six-story
building will be erected, plans for which are now
being prepared.
Fred Gretsch, president of the company, is now
making a western trip, taking the place of his
brother, Willard, the regular traveler, who has
had a severe seige of sickness, from which he is
now about fully recovered. While away Fred will
take in the World's Fair at St. Louis, where he
was joined this week by his wife and mother.
STERN LINE LIKED
David Behrend Securing Good Results on the
Road—The New "Warp-Proof" Neck.
David Behrend, the associate manager of Jos.
W. Stern & Co.'s musical merchandise depart-
ment, is on the road, making his usual fall trip.
He writes in that business is surprisingly brisk,
JOS. W. STERN CEL CO., INSTRUMENT SPECIALTIES
S. S. STEWART'S SONS " 4'S " BANJOS
MAYFLOWER. MANDOLINS
MARKSTERN MANDOLINS AND GUITARS
CLARK'S NEVERWET STRINGS
MARKSTERN STRINGS
HAWKES BAND INSTRUMENTS
"MARTI" BAND INSTRUMENTS
MARKSTERN STAR ACCORDEONS
MAJESTIC VIOLINS
BOOMERANG HARMONICAS
And everything else in the Musical Merchandise
line. Send for Illustrated Catalogue "M" to
JOS. W. STERN
34 East 21st Street
NEW YORK CITY
DISCRIMINATING MUSICIANS
The latest Victor list of new records, for No-
vember, 1904, includes some remarkable vocal
and instrumental triumphs, such as the Mexican
national hymn, "Down the Pike," "My Gasoline
Automobile," selections by the Haydn Quar-
tette; the "Dance of the Weasels," by Pryor, the
anvil polka, a realistic descriptive record en-
titled, "Round the Camp Fire," by Spencer, and
Verdi's Miserere, from II Trovatore, as sung
MADAME MELBA
The distinguished prima donna, whose fame is
world-wide has chosen theVICTOR TALK-
ING M A C H I N E for the purpose of handing
her voice down to posterity, and has consented
to the publication of her records. This an-
nouncement is by far the most important
which it has ever been our good fortune to
make, and we have been widely congratulated
on the achievement. In this connection Mme.
Melba writes as follows:
"30 Great Cumberland Place, W.
"I have tried the records and find them really won-
derful reproductions of my singing. I feel that in
them all the care and trouble to which your experts
went last month has found great reward. My friends
who have heard them are simply delighted with
them. Yours faithfully,
NELLIE MELBA."
The records made by Mme. Melba include
all the most famous numbers from the leading
operas as well as ballads. They are all twelve
inch de-luxe records, and are put up in hand-
some envelopes bearing the photograph of the
great prima donna with a fac-simile of her au-
tograph.
The numbers and titles of the records will
appear in this paper next week. Watch for
them.
The Victor Distributing and Export Co.
77 Chambers Street, New York.
C. G. CONN
Wonder Band, Orchestra and Solo Instruments
YORK
BECAUSE
Band Instruments
They represent in Superlative degree all essential requirements—namely:
The Only Perfect
Instrument m&de
for Professiona.1
or A m a t e u r
Players.
TONE, TUNE, ACTION, MODELS, MECHANISM
Send for Illustrated Catalogue with cuts and descriptions of Instruments
with prices and terms of payment.
Address,
C. G. CONN,
ElKHart, Ind.
SEND FOR MEW
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE
J.W.YORK® SONS
Malearsofth* highestgratlm
Ba.nd Instruments
GRAND
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MICH.