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36
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe Musical Merchandise Domain
CAMPAIGN WILL HELP BUSINESS.
At
Least in the Small Goods Field—Looks
Like a Strenuous Time All Along the Line.
The near approach of the Presidential cam-
paign is having a stimulating influence on the
musical merchandise trade in all parts of the
country. It now looks like a strenuous campaign
on both Democratic and Republican sides and this
means plenty of music in order to stimulate the
enthusiasm so necessary in the making of a
President.
Leading band manufacturers, as well as whole-
sale houses, report an immense demand for all
kinds of band instruments, notably fifes and
drums. Dealers even in small towns report a
steady call for these instruments. Other special-
ties in demand by dealers for campaign purposes
are small instruments such as harmonicas, zobos,
kazoos—in fact anything that will make noise
musically and otherwise.
Broadly speaking, the outlook for business in
the small goods field is excellent, and members
of both wholesale and retail trades are quite op-
timistic altogether apart from the extra demand
which may come through the Presidential cam-
paign. Through the West and Northwest talking
machines and music boxes are finding a largely
increasing market. All things considered, job-
bers and dealers have reason to look forward to
the business for the balance of this year with
a great deal of confidence.
DECISION ON VIOLIN WOODS.
A Protest by Carl Fischer Sustained in Part—
What the General Appraiser Ruled in This
Case Is of Interest.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, July 19, 1904.
The protest of Carl Fischer against the assess-
ment of duty by Collector of Customs at the port
of New York came up this week for hearing be-
fore General Appraisers Lunt and McClelland. In
this case certain blocks and strips of wood were
involved which were classified as manufactures
of wood under paragraph 208, tariff act of 1897.
They were claimed by the importer to be dutiable
as wood unmanufactured under paragraph 198.
The decision by General Appraiser McClelland
was as follows:
"An examination of Exhibit 1 shows the blocks
to. be about 16 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 2
inches thick on one side, tapering to 1 inch in
thickness on the other side. It is roughly planed
on one side and both edges, and is intended for
use in making violins. In G. A. 4416 (T. D.
21028) it was held that blocks similar to these,
except that they were not planed, were dutiable
as "blocks
* * * rough hewn (or) sawed"
under paragraph 200 of said act; but as the evi-
dence shows that these blocks have been rough
planed, it is clear that they cannot be classified
under that pai"agraph. We are satisfied that they
are properly subject to duty as "wood, unmanu-
factured," under paragraph 198, as claimed, for
the reason that the blocks have not been fash-
ioned into any different article by reason of such
rough planing. See G. A. 5332 (T. D. 24394), Ab-
stract 1998 (T. D. 25411), and T. D. 23009.
"The merchandise represented by Exhibit 2
consists of long narrow strips, about one-six-
teenth of an inch wide, and of about the same
thickness. The strips are in three layers of about
equal thickness, the two outside layers being
black, hard wood, and the inside layer being
white wood. The testimony shows that these
strips are used for inlaying violins or tables.
There is no doubt that these are manufactures
of wood and were properly assessed for duty.
"We sustain the claim in the protest for the
classification of said blocks or slabs, represented
by Exhibit 1, at 20 per cent, under paragraph 198,
and in all other respects the protest is overruled.
The decision of the collector is modified accord-
ingly."
TONK'S NEW CATALOGUE.
A Magnificent Production of Over Three Hun-
dred Pages—Everything in Music Repre-
sented in This Grent Work.
William Tonk & Bro., 452-456 Tenth avenue,
have this week issued their new biennial cata-
logue, 1904-1906, 310 pages, profusely illustrated.
An Ingenious Device Perfected by Giovanni
A conspicuous feature is the illustration showing
Verrecchio.
the new Tonk factory establishment and offices
Giovanni Verrecchio, of Newark, N. J., has in- in this city, occupying three full city lots. This
vented a keyboard by means of which, it is factory has already been described in The Re-
claimed, guitar playing is simplified. The device view. There are also pictures of the various fac-
has keys like those of a typewriter, and the tory branches in the musical merchandise depart-
keys can be marked with the names on the notes
for more rapid learning. As they are closely
banked, there is no necessity to acquire the long
reach of the fingers required when playing on
the strings themselves. The mechanism of this
keyboard consists of a series of dampers, which
depress the strings over the frets at the proper
point, just in advance of the striking of the note
by an auxiliary finger, and the player soon learns
to play the air and chord at the same time.
KEYBOARD FOR GUITAR.
MACHINERY GOES CHEAP.
When the plant and machinery of the defunct
Symphonium Mfg. Co., late of Asbury, N. J.
were disposed of at auction a few weeks back,
two music cutting machines, that originally cost
$14,000 to build, were sold as scrap, bringing
$30. The costly outfit, mostly special machinery,
is reported as having realized a very small sum.
MR. MacLEAN CAMPING.
Fred C. MacLean, of the Victor Distributing
& Export headquarters, leaves this week for
Pelham Bay, where he will form one of a "camp-
ing out" party. Later, he will join a camp in
the Adirondacks.
" H I S MASTER'S VOICE •
ReturnYourOldRecords
and Get New Ones.
On every order for Records we will
allow the return for full credit of
1-3 as many records as you order.
No matter how old or shopworn they
may be, provided they are " Victor
Records" and not broken. In order-
ing under this plan, always give a
second choice list, as we reserve the
right to substitute, if necessary, to
make up the full number.
The Largest and Most Complete Stock
in the United States.
THE VICTOR DISTRIBUTING i EXPORT GO.
77 Chambers St.. New York.
ment here and of the big Chicago warerooms at
29 Wabash avenue.
The index to the new Tonk catalogue is un-
usually complete. I t is printed in large type,
well spaced, and embraces everything in musical
products and merchandise from accordeons to
zobos. The list of articles in stock and available
under any heading represents a complete exhibit.
It is very evident that the Tonk firm are splen-
didly equipped, in their wide field, to meet
promptly every call from dealers who expect
quick, reliable, effective service. The enterprise
shown in the preparation of such a catalogue as
the one now being sent out is highly creditable.
> There are catalogues and catalogues. Some,
unfortunately, are prepared in a perfunctory way,
showing at every turn of a page a lack of inter-
est and good taste that is fatal to the book's use-
fulness as a business-getter. The new Tonk cata-
logue belongs to the other class—the class pre-
pared by men who are enthusiastic in their busi-
ness and careful, in every detail of it, to consider
the real wants of customers. Every live dealer
who does not receive a Tonk catalogue ought to
secure one. It is safe to say, judging from quali-
ties and prices shown, that it will bear close in-
vestigation.
NOVEL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.
A Kansas man has invented a musical instru-
ment which has some of the features of the
guitar and banjo. It is mounted on a frame, has
a seat for the player, and, in addition to the
playing of the instrument with the fingers, as the
old stringed instruments are played, there are
pedals for changing the tone and introducing
variations, which the banjo, mandolin and guitar
are incapable of producing individually. Ed-
ward S. Stevenson, of Eldorado, Kan., is the de-
signer of this instrument.