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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In the Musical Merchandise Domain
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in excess of former years, and Mr. Mock, the States. This young house is making a splendid
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS
secretary of the company, says the business for
record for their snoods and the personnel.
Among Small Goods Men—October Made a 1905 in all of their lines of musical imports will
The stock of the August Pollmann Co., alleged
Splendid Record and the Present Month be greatly in excess of any preceding year, and
bankrupts, New York, still remains intact. No
Has Opened Up Satisfactorily—Better Grades from the present outlook the orders will continue
to be fully as heavy as at present far into the sale has been ordered by the court, and Mr. Poll-
of Goods in Demand—Prices Are Firm.
mann may again resume business with the con-
coming year.
sent of the creditors.
Trade with small goods men is of the same
tenor, but the past ten days the market was a
A spurt in mandolins and guitars is spoken of
PASSING OF THE DRUM CORPS.
trifle soft. Possibly the swing so pronounced for
by dealers in places where the so-calied schools
a month or more was expected to rise to a still Harmonica Bands Now the Vogue in England have been started, run their course, and the field
higher level, and doubtless it will during the
abandoned, to repeat the game elsewhere. Manu-
—A Boom for the Hohner.
remainder of November. As a whole, however,
facturers' sales in towns have also had the same
October has been exceptionally brisk, and the
"The old order changeth and gives way to the effect, though prices have been unmercifully
records have in several instances been reached new," and in the future we may read of the blood- slashed. However, a demand for strings followed,
and passed. Importing wholesalers dealing with stained heroes charging the enemy to the inspir- eventually resulting in a call for better instru-
the trade at large regard their fall trade as up ing strains of a national anthem played on the ments, which fell to the local dealer. It is an ill
to the mark in every respect, and when the harmonica instead of the fife and drum. An ex- wind, etc.
lines handled are exceptionally salable the re- change says: "There is a wholly unique military
ports are yet more optimistic. Direct import band attached to a Surrey regiment of the British
RARE VIOLINS EXHIBITED.
houses speak of their business in the same strain, Army, which other British regiments are prepar-
though here and there an exceptional run is ing to copy. The novelty may in time cross to the The Joseph Morris Celebrated Collection on
Exhibition in Philadelphia.
heard of on special goods.
United States, where it is certain to excite ad-
In common with merchants in other fields the miration in the heart of every small boy. The
(Special to The Review.)
handlers of musical merchandise based their esti- Savoy regiment's band, which was formed only re-
Philadelphia, Pa., N°v. 4, 1905.
mates on the sound and prosperous conditions cently, is composed entirely of performers on the
The collection of rare violins owned by the late
everywhere prevalent. Their buying, both in Hohner harmonica. All these musicians are mem- Joseph C. Morris is to be placed on public exhibi-
the home and foreign markets, has been along bers of the First East Surrey Regiment, and their tion this week. This collection of valuable instru-
those lines, and this judgment was not amiss. As function consists of relieving the regular regi- ments gained much more than a local celebrity,
previously remarked, no little surprise was oc- mental band while on the march. The effect of and after the death of Mr. Morris, who had spent
casioned, and a great deal of gratification ex- their playing seems to be a good deal more stimu- years in bringing his treasures together, uni-
pressed over the continuing demand for the lating than that produced by a drum corps, and versal interest was felt as to their ultimate dispo-
better grades of goods. This manifestation of
the new idea appears likely to be extensively imi- sition. In order that Pittsburgers interested in
trade tendencies is so pronounced that salesmen, tated throughout the British Army."
violins may have an opportunity to see this rare
either on the road or the floor, give little atten-
The Britishers evidently know a good thing collection. Messrs. Kaye and Francois will have
tion to the cheap line, as it seems a waste of
them on exhibition at the Kunits School of Music,
when they hear it.
time and energy. Quality is figuring this fall as
The demand for the harmonicas and accordeons 501 Highland avenue, for one week, beginning to-
never before, and price is a secondary considera- which has made the house of M. Hohner, of 354 morrow, October 23.
tion.
Authorities on musical instruments and violins
Broadway, New York, famous, has been steadily
in
particular are unstinting in their praise of this
Prices have been firm, and with the approach of
increasing since the holiday trade has set in, and
the holidays will doubtless harden. Stocks on their jobbers report steadily increasing sales of collection, and it is said that it is without doubt
staples are already more or less broken, with these goods to the dealers, who cannot seem to the most important display made anywhere since
every effort being made to hurry shipments. Con- keep their stocks filled. The fame of these in- the famous display of violins in London, held in
sidering conditions and prospects, The Review struments has become so widespread that the 1867. After this short exhibit it is probable that
was favored with the following: "Business must name of Mr. Hohner is as familiar in the small- the violins will be taken to Europe. It is said
be good with the active houses, judging from est hamlet as in the largest city. The Hohner that Mr. Morris' famous red Stradivarius, for
the advices we receive. To be sure, we are assortments continue to have great popularity, which the collector paid $7,000, has already been
never absolutely satisfied, and could do more, and have proven to be one of the most effective sold to a London musician for $8,000. Another^
but it would require the employment of addi- advertisements of their goods which they have "Strad" will be on display, along with fine exam-
ples of work by Guarneri, Lupet, Bersonzi, Mag-
tional force. You may size the immediate situa- put out.
gini and Peter Guarneri. There will also be a
tion up from this remark. We continue to hear
number of other fine violins on exhibition, includ-
from the trade on catalogue prices, and the trend
ing a beautiful Stradivarius, a Gaspard de Sala
HERE AND THERE IN TRADE.
of opinion is for an open price, or such an ar-
which Mr. Francois saw in Dalmatia, Austria,
rangement whereby the information given is for
Violins coming in at Boston for George Borg- twelve years ago, and tried unsuccessfully to get,
the dealer's guidance exclusively. The fake
teacher or professional have imposed on the deal- feldt & Co., New York, were assessed for duty by but which was later strangely discovered to be
er altogether too frequently, and it is time this the collector at that port as musical instruments. in Pittsburg, and bought by Kaye and Francois;
• •,.• t
The Board of General Appraisers in every in- a Guerneri and a Villome.
parasitical practice ceased."
stance reversed this classification, and ordered the
goods entered as toys, a reduction of ten per
JACOT WANAMAKER DEAL.
W. R. GRATZ IMPORT CO.
cent.
The Great Department Store Will Handle the
The unprecedented demand for the Empress
Mira Music Boxes and the Specialties of the
Frederick J. Bauer & Co., scarfs, covers and
harmonicas and accordeons sold by the W. R.
Jacot
Co Chat With Traveler Sambalino,
stools,
New
York,
have
augmented
their
travel-
Gratz Import Co., of 11 East 22d street, New
York, has caused them to make several extra im- ing staff. Jerome Gurska, of the firm, looks af-
The Jacot Music Box Co., of 39 Union Square,
portations in order to keep their trade fully sup- ter trade in the West, with a city salesman and
plied. The import orders being received are far another traveling New England and the Middle have just completed a deal with the Wanamaker
store in this city, whereby that establishment
will handle their goods in the future, making a
leader of their well-known "Mira" music box.
W. A. Sambalino, the traveling representative
of this house, said to The Review: "The success
attained by our music boxes has been phenom-
enal, and the dealers who have taken our agency
have found it a veritable gold mine. Our music
boxes fill a niche into which no other instru-
ment can be placed, and as installment sellers,
A display of the famous "Perfected they cannot be approached by any other kind of
Conn-queror" Cornets and the musical merchandise. I have found all dealers
"Wonder" and American Model who handle them very enthusiastic over the way
Band and Orchestra Instruments. in which they sell, particularly the jobbers. The
Mira box has become one of our best sellers, if/oi
JAS. F. BOYER, Mgr. our business is far ahead of preceding years."*
C. G. CONN CO.'S
New York Branch Office,
No.
46 West 28th Street.