Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1904 Vol. 39 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe Musical Merchandise Domain
SALES AHEAD OF LAST YEAR.
At
Least With Progressive and Aggressive
Merchandise Houses Whose Names and
Wares are Known—Business Promising all
Along the Line.
TO ELIMINATE BAND CONTEST
At World's Fair—Failed to Arouse Expected
Enthusiasm—The
Scheme an Excellent
One.
HOHNER LEADS THE WORLD.
The fact that the Hohner accordeons and har-
monicas are handled successfully year in and
year out by all leading jobbers of musical mer-
Geo. W. Stewart, manager of the Bureau or chandise throughout the world is a strong testi-
monial of Hohner merit. It shows, first of all,
Notwithstanding the conceded quiet condition Music, has issued the following statement: "A that a healthy demand has been created by the
careful
investigation
of
the
subject
of
the
band
of business with the small goods trade in gen-
Hohner firm; it also shows that this demand has
eral, the progressive and aggressive houses main- contest which it was proposed to hold at the Ex- been sustained in the only way in which a de-
position
the
week
of
September
11-17,
makes
it
tain that their sales are ahead of last year for
mand for any product can be sustained, viz.:
the same period. It is accepted as an axiom that plain that a contest on so large a scale as had by substantial merit and reliability. The boy
goods given publicity on the plan of everlastingly been planned fails to arouse the enthusiasm who purchases a Hohner accordeon or harmon-
keeping at it are the winners, and the houses which it was hoped would be created throughout ica, after a thorough test, recommends it to his
pursuing this policy are in close touch with the the country.
companions as "the best ever," the word is passed
"The Bureau of Music had expected that by along and when in due course they need ac-
trade from the fact that they are being con-
stantly reminded of their lines in ways that can- debarring all of the bands engaged at the Expo- cordeons or harmonicas, the call, naturally
not be overlooked. This means orders, and the sition, thus leaving the contest field practically enough, is for "Hohners."
movement is reciprocal and compensating to all clear to the amateur band, a great number of en-
concerned. When a house ceases to grow it is tries in each separate class would be made.
"Frankly, our expectations have not been real-
LATEST CUSTOMS RULINGS.
bound to reach the fogy class sooner or later.
ized
and the number that has signified a desire to Ruling on Musical Chairs—Mandolin Picks
Methods and ideas all advance, and the goods
which sell generally get in the hands of the men compete is so small that the officials of the Ex-
Declared Musical Instruments.
who know the market and the firms that are position have decided to eliminate the band con-
test
entirely."
first hands on desirable lines at attractive prices,
In the protest by R. F. Downing & Co., of New
quality considered.
York, against the assessment of duty on musical
ERNEST KOCH RETURNS.
Such is the opinion of wholesalers and import-
chairs, so-called musical instruments, by the Col-
Last week Ernest Koch, American representa- lector of Customs at the Port of New York, which
ers when names are blazoned in conspicuous
places, and where every announcement is read tive of Andrew Koch, harmonica manufacturer, came up before the Board of General Appraisers,
and discussed by the trade at large. It is this got back to New York from his visit to Tros- July 18, 1904, the following decision was handed
class of establishment which report the current singen, Germany, and other small goods cities. down by Mr. Sharretts:
situation very satisfactory, with prospects of nor- He has been away since the latter part of May.
"A chair with a musical attachment was classi-
mal business ahead. Collections are fair, with It is likely Mr. Koch will give more attention to fied as a musical instrument under paragraph
his line of accordeons, of which complete sam- 453 of the tariff act of 1897, and was claimed by
a tendency to improve.
A conservative estimate of how matters and ples have arrived, during the approaching sea- the importers to be dutiable as manufactures of
wood. The board found metal to be the compon-
things appear in the small goods branch was
ent material of chief value, and overruled the
described thus to The Review on Tuesday:
T0 MAKE MELOPHONES.
claim made without passing on the correctness
"Business is promising and the fall buying from
stock has about set in. Orders are of satisfac-
The American Melophone Co., of Minneapolis, of the classification."
tary volume, and presage a brisk, not a rush last week filed their articles of incorporation.
General Sharretts is also the author of another
trade. For the last two months dealers and Their capital stock is $50,000, and they will decision, declaring that mandolin picks of shell
others have held off pending the Presidential manufacture melaphones. H. P. Watson, Sum- imported by C. B. Richard & Co., New York, are
nominations, and now that they have been set- ner F. Porter and D. L. Raymond are the incor- dutiable as parts of musical instruments at 45
per cent, and not at 35 per cent, as manufacturers
tled, mercantile affairs have assumed their regu- porators.
of shell.
lar swing. I do not believe political considera-
tions will cut any appreciable figure in business
this fall, and aside from the frothings of the
YORK & SONS' POSITION
professional calamity howlers and the antics of
Defined
in Their New Catalogue—The Care
the irresponsible press, right thinking men, no
With
Which They Make Their
Band
matter what their political bias, will not be dis-
Instruments.
turbed a particle. Our correspondence with lead-
ing music houses bears out my views."
In the very handsome catalogue of band in-
It is off season with import trade, but orders
struments and supplies sent out recently by J.
placed early in the year are now coming in, the
W. York & Sons, Grand Rapids, Mich., after ex-
shipments being unusually prompt. As yet most
pressing appreciation of the liberal patronage
" H l « MASTER'S VOICE*
of the invoices are for western account. Belated
accorded them, they make the following state-
buyers are commencing to become anxious, but it
ment:
is evident that the foreign producer is losing no
"We owe our existence to the fact that we have
sleep or crowding on more steam to meet the
at all times endeavored to put forth our best
orders of the delinquents, or to relieve their fret-
efforts in the manufacture of band instruments
fulness.
and have not been content to stay in a beaten
track, but have worked incessantly upon improv-
BUSY TIMES WITH DITSON.
ing the structure of our band instruments until
we
now present what we believe to be the most
Chas. Bobzin Reports Progress—July Trade
On every order for Records we will
perfect instruments ever constructed. We have
Excellent in Small Goods.
allow the return for full credit of
been careful in selecting our workmen, engaging
1-3 as many records as you order.
i Special to The Review.)
only those who are expert in the art of band in-
Boston, Mass., July 25, 1904.
No matter how old or shopworn they
strument construction, and from the time the
It was like a fresh ocean breeze on a hot day,
sheet metal enters our factory until the finished
may be, provided they are " Victor
this week, when The Review called upon Charles
instrument, packed ready for shipment, leaves
Records" and not broken. In order-
Bobzin, manager of the Oliver Ditson Co., small
our shipping department, it is handled only by
ing under this plan, always give a
goods department. "Business with us is excep-
men who are expert in their respective offices.
second choice list r as we reserve the
tionally good," said he, "and it is almost entirely
We use only the most accurate designs where
right to substitute, if necessary, to
on the best goods. This is a very good business
overy law of science of accoustics is obeyed im-
sign. Since we moved to Tremont street, we not
plicitly, consequently the easy blowing qualities
make up the full number.
only have had more business in all lines, but our
are such that cause them at once to stand su-
The Largest and Most Complete Stock
better class trade has increased wonderfully. We
preme. Tone, tune, valve action, carrying power
in the United States.
are really doing more business this month than
and design are the other qualities we have per-
v,-e have in any previous July in the history of
fected and although it has required many years
the house. For example, since the first of the
to reach this goal our efforts have been crowned
THE VICTOR DISTRIBUTING j EXPORT CO.
year we have sold 30 Boehm flutes. Oh, yes, we
with such success that the name 'York' is synono-
77 Chambers St.. New York.
are pleased with the general trade outlook."
mous with the best in quality."
Return YourOldRecords
and Get New Ones.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IMPORTERS ARE ACTIVE.
Stradivarius, which belonged to a street musi-
cian who played on it for years. A violinisi
gave him $125 for it and sold it for $400. It is
Association Fully Launched and Planning an
likely to fetch $4,000. There are no more than
Aggressive Campaign.
sixty genuine "Strads" known to be in existence,
The National Importers' Association may now yet we hear of discoveries of these instruments
Ln said to be fully organized and ready for an daily. If they were all authentic as claimed the
aggressive campaign in the interests of its mem- number of "Strads" in existence would exceed
bers. It is now established in offices at 350 Broad- 200,000.
way, and last week its board of directors formally
approved its constitution and by-laws.
The declared purpose of the organization is ro
promote, foster, and aid in protecting the lawful Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. Has Actually Be-
rights and commercial interests of its members,
come Generous and Will Provide Instru-
and to secure the prompt, just, uniform, and non-
ments as Well as Instructor.
partisan administration of the customs laws. The
preamble to the constitution goes on to say that
The officials of the big Brooklyn Rapid Transit
its object is to prevent undervaluations, to en- system have signed a contract with bandmaster,
deavor to ascertain and establish correct market W. S. Mygrant, for the organization and instruc-
values, and to aid in securing equitable tariff
tion of a full band and orchestra, to be composed
legislation and to promote the commerce of the exclusively of employes of the company, most of
United States with all ports of the world, and to whom will come from the ranks of the motor-
promote the enactment and enforcement of a men and conductors distributed over the various
fair and just customs administrative law and tt> lines of that system.
investigate and seek to remedy any abuses there-
Prof. Mygrant, the celebrated cornetist and
of.
conductor, and the organizer and leader of the
At the meeting of the directors last week a
enlisted band of the Thirteenth Regiment, has
committee was appointed to consider the first
been selected to develop the latent talents of the
active steps to be taken by the association. What
much-abused railroad men, and to cultivate in
they are is a secret yet, but the committee will
them a soul for music. Bandmaster Mygrant has
formulate plans and present them to a meeting
been given carte blanche in the matter, and has
this week, when they will be made public. The
arranged for an instrumentation of sixty-threo
committee consists of R. Kenneth Maclea, of R.
pieces. He has been promised a man for every
B. Maclea & Co.; Lee Kohns, of L. Straus & Sons,
instrument, and already has a score or more at
and Frank M. Prindle, of Frank M. Prindle & Co.
work trying to master the mouthpieces and keys
of the instruments which go to make up a prop-
DEVERY AS A MUSIC LOVER.
erly organized and well-regulated band.
The band is to be confined to members of the
An Example of His Entnusiasm Caught on the
B. R. T. Employes' Mutual Benefit Association,
Fly by a Sun Reporter.
of which George W. Edwards is secretary, and
Ex-Chief Devery has a love for music which under whose auspices it will be organized and
no absorption in politics can abate. On Wednes- maintained. It has the full sanction, encourage-
day night, as is his custom, he dropped a cent in ment and support of all the B. R. T. officers, and
the slot of the singing machine in the Hunter's bids fair to be a big success socially, if not mu-
Point ferry house. He has nightly caused this sically.
Practise has already begun in a small way, but
machine to give forth tuneful sounds up to and
regular
rehearsals will not begin till next Sep-
until the 12.12 train for Arverne for the last six
tember or until there is a sufficient number in the
months.
Wednesday night the machine turned loose band to make a good start.
A band room will be fitted up at the East New
"Every morn I bring thee violets."
York
Club house, and there behind closed doors
"Gee," said Bill, "that's a fine song. Say you,
"Snyder," turning to the young man who was for a while at least, the amateur musicians may
make all the noise they please.
with him—"go buy a dollar's worth of pennies;
One need not be surprised now, says the Brook-
I want to hear some more violets."
The 12.12 boat came and went and big Bill and lyn Times, to see a motorman or conductor while
his friend Snyder stood entranced in front of the his car is on the stand at either terminus of the
horn of the phonograph. It was with great diffi- road or during a long block take from his pocket
culty and the active assistance of the station or from beneath a seat of the car almost any
kind of an instrument or music book and run
porter that they caught the 3.37 train.
over
the chromatic scale or attempt in subdued
"I don't care, Snyder," Big Bill was heard to
say, as he waddled perspiringly toward the early tones a simple selection by way of practise.
It is not expected, of course, that the B. R. T.
morning ferryboat, "I never could help loving
Company will furnish musical entertainment for
music."
its patrons during the long waits which they are
compelled at times to suffer on the various lines,
GENUINE STRAD. TO BE SOLD.
but there is no limit to the possibilities of the
We learn that among the violins to be sold ai new musical aggregation and the patrons of the
auction in London this summer is a genuine system may at, least have an opportunity ere long
TROLLEY MEN ORGANIZE BAND.
=
The C. G. CONN
WONDER BAND, ORCHESTRA
are unrivaled for
AND SOLO
INSTRUMENTS,
of listening to a concert by the new band In some
public hall or park.
The band in any event will bo a source of pleas-
ure and pastime for its members and something
to occupy their time and attention during their
leisure hours.
BUEGELEISEN & JACOBSON
Have a Special Accordeon Sheet in Press—Will
Interest the Trade.
A special sheet, now in press, and to be ready
for distribution early next month, will exploit
the strong line of accordeons carried by Burge-
leisen & Jacobson, 113-115 University place, New
York. Referring to these goods, the other day,
Mr. Burgeleisen said: "We claim to have the
largest line of double-row accordeons of all styles
ot any house in the country. These include
Italian, German and Vienna instruments and
made specially for professional use. They have
steel reeds tuned by experts, with brass keys,
and have as fine a tone as any oi'gan. The case
work would do credit to a piano. We are run-
ning about forty styles, and are having an enor-
mous success with the line, especially the Italian
and Vienna accordeons, of which we cannot get
enough. Having bought a lot right, we are mak-
ing a special drive on them in this new illus-
trated sheet, which fully describes the various
styles in every detail.
"Mr. Jacobson was along the Texas frontier
this week, and is due here about the middle of
August. His sales of goods have never been
equalled and he has placed them in the best
houses of the far West and Southwest. It is his
record trip by a large majority, and his health
has been greatly improved by the journey."
REGINA CO.'S FALL PLANS.
An
Active Campaign to Be Inaugurated—
Movements of Regina Men.
The Regina Co., Rahway, N. J., are now hard
at work formulating and developing their cam-
paign for fall and winter. They have many sur-
prises "up their sleeve"—if a corporation can be
so humanized as to wear such sartorial equip-
ment—and the trade can expect them \o main-
tain, during the season now opening, that lead-
ing place as creators of novel and meritorious
creations in the domain of music boxes, ranging
in size to suit all tastes and all pockets, which
has been theirs in the past.
P. A. Leland, who has been dividing his time
between New York and Rahway headquarters and
the road, expects to go to Philadelphia this week
for a few days' call on Regina customers. Lou
C. Wilber is busy on a trip through Michigan;
A. C. Edwards is at present in Minnesota and the
Northwest, and J. Blumberg, manager of the Re-
gina Co.'s Chicago office, is just starting on a six
weeks' trip to the Pacific coast, and his place is
being taken temporarily by L. T. Gibson, of Rah-
way, while Mr. Leland is holding down Mr. Gib-
son's chair. On top of it all, Mr. Furber, the
general manager of the Regina Co., is, to drop
into the vernacular, directing the "whole push."
R. C. Bollinger, of Fort Smith, Ark., was in
Chicago recently looking for vocal and instru-
mental teachers for the conservatory of music he
conducts in addition to his piano business.
YORft
TONE,
TUNE,
ACTION,
MODELS,
MECHANISM,
Band Instruments
and have the ENDORSEMENTS of the great
BANDMASTERS and MUSICAL ARTISTS of
the World. No better instrument made for either
Professional or Amateur Playeis.
For Large Illustrated Catalogue giving descrip-
tion of instruments with prices and terms of pay-
ment, Address,
C. G. CONN,
37
SEND FOR MEW
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE
J. W. YORK Elkhart Ind.
Makers of the highest grade
Be^nd Instruments
GRAND RAPIDS
MICH

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