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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
T
HAT statement without elaboration turnisiies an idea of tre-
mendous activity here locally, and if we look over the country
we will see that the railroads have planned improvements which will
tax the steel and iron plants to their utmost. That means that busi-
ness in those great vital industries will be more than good, and it
insures the distribution of large sums of money to wage earners
weekly.
It is not probable that with the enormous demand for staples,
and with no accumulation of stock in sight, that there will be any
slowing up in business during the present year. We are marching
up the hill and not down, and w T hile there may be an occasional
drawback here and there, the general business of the country is
not likely to be seriously affected by these temporary annoyances.
'"T^HE meetings of important business organizations have given
A impressive demonstration of the present business activity, and
thus far February has strengthened the belief which was created at
the beginning of the month in that it would record a steady increase
in the volume of business.
Communications received at this office during the past weeK
indicate an active demand for pianos in nearly all important trade
centers in the country. The manufacturers, too, are receiving a
large number of orders, and it is evident that we are entering on
the Spring trade with retail stocks in good condition. And many
dealers have taken the opportunity to work off a lot of ware-
room stock carried over from last-year, and will enter the Spring
with bright, new lines of instruments in their warerooms. Cer-
tainly the year thus far does not contradict the promise with which
it opened.
EW of the dealers have advanced their retail prices. There
seems to be considerable hesitancy about making a move
in this direction. They are exhibiting as much conservatism in
this particular as was shown by manufacturers who were unwilling
to advance their prices when every article which enters into the
construction of instruments had been raised in price. It seems
to be a good business plan to raise prices in accordance with the
upward trend in everything. Every man who conducts a commer-
cial enterprise to-day must know that it costs him more to do busi-
ness. Rents, salaries, expenses, materials, have all gone up, and
what is more they haven't stopped climbing yet, therefore it is only
right that higher prices should be asked for instruments. There
is no telling where this whole thing is going to end, because as
long as good times continue everything seems destined to advance.
We are all getting our share, printing has climbed up a few points,
likewise paper, and the publishers' lot is just as unhappy as the rest.
To-day it is a question how to establish fixed commercial condi-
tions which will insure a just basis of reward for services rendered.
The conditions won't stay fixed very long, that is where the trouble
comes in, and the indications are that the crest of the wave is still
far distant.
T
l 1E "get together" habit is growing in this trade, and it is
becoming more and more in vogue for either the proprietor
<>r the departmental head to have a meeting with his employes at
certain regular intervals. At such times various matters are dis-
cussed, and one well-known dealer proposes to take up for discus-
sion the best inducement to use in "landing" a prospect.
It is a mighty good subject, and we know of a few people whos<
advice would amount to something along these lines. They are
adepts in the art of landing.
a number of our manufacturers have issued booklets
Q UITE
and folders, advertising their various productions, which are
well calculated to help the dealer, as they are distributed in large
quantities among the.ni for use among their present and prospective
customers.
There is no question but that this sort of literature, if displayed
properly, is beneficial, but there are some kinds that we have seen
recently that certainly do not reflect credit upon the institutions put-
ting it forth. It is a poor business policy to attempt to save on
illustrations of pianos. Some brochures to which our attention has
lately been called, indicate ignorance in sending out literature with
indistinct and imperfect illustrations. The engraver's art is capable
of producing the most pleasing results, and every detail in pianos,
particularly when they are high grade instruments, should be brought
out in the clearest possible manner.
It is a great mistake to send out literature presenting such
costly articles of home accessories as pianos without calling into use
the highest engraving and typographical skill.
F
O
T
T
HE piano manufacturers of Canada are enjoying lively times
as well as ourselves, and in all parts of the Dominion one
hears good reports of present business and of the future outlook.
Canada is an agricultural nation, and the crops last year have been
large and sold at high prices. All farm products from the dairy
and from the garden have found a ready sale and good prices.
During the past eighteen months there has been an unusual
activity in mining, and many new and well paying prospects have
been opened. The manufacturing community are rapidly coming
to the front, and all of these causes are working together to make
good business and prosperous times in Canada. Labor is better
employed to-day and at higher wages than at any time before in the
history of the Dominion. The piano manufacturers and retailers
there are feeling the good effect of this great business activity, and
a communication received from a leading manufacturer in Toronto
this week stated that the increase of pianos manufactured in that
country this year would be very large.
Of course the tariff barrier prevents the American piano manu-
facturers procuring a large slice of that growing and thriving trade.
A few of our leading makers, however, have sold for some years
past quite a .number of pianos in the Dominion. The cheaper instru-
ments sold are manufactured across the border, and our manufac-
turers of commercial instruments find it difficult to compete with
the factories in Toronto and elsewhere with the additional duty
imposed upon pianos. Some of our supply makers have been mak-
ing good shipments across the border.
REIVIEW
NE of the prominent lumber merchants of the country re-
marked this week, while discussing the constant increase in
the cost of lumber, that it would only be a short time comparatively
before we must be forced to find a substitute for timber in many
ways. He said that shortly wooden structures would be out of date,
that we must follow the plan adopted in Europe of erecting stone
and cement houses, and that he could figure out no possible reason
why timber should not continue to increase in cost.
Piano manufacturers are well aware that even the commonest
lumber for piano boxes has gone up at a surprising rate, while
some of the finest woods are out of sight metaphorically.
Perhaps it may be necessary at some time to enact forestry laws
here similar to those of Europe, which for the common weal, pro-
hibit the cutting of trees in private grounds without the permission
of the Government forester, but it is more likely that the movement
already started by some of the owners of lumber lands to cut trees
with discrimination, leaving standing wherever possible everything
which is not required, and to plant seedlings in the place of mature
trees as the latter are removed, will solve the great problem.
HIS agitation has been going on for years, and it is backed by
the Forest Service and the Agricultural Department at Wash-
ington, and already the results produced are encouraging. But the
Government cannot do it all. By far the greater area of forest
lands must be utilized for commercial purposes. The timber must
be cut off to supply the lumber trade and to furnish the pulp which
enters into the manufacture of paper. So the trees that are planted
to-day will hardly help to solve the problem which is going to be
more and more marked.
This is a matter, of course, of vital interest to every piano manu-
facturer, for the increased cost of lumber comes home to him with
telling effect all the time, and according to the opinion of some of
the best lumber experts in this country piano men will be forced to
pay more for lumber as time rolls on.
The question naturally comes up with this steadily increasing
cost, how will this increased cost affect the status of the cheap
piano ?
S
OME time next Spring the first Italian World's Fair will be
opened at Milan in honor of the completion of the great Sim-
plon tunnel through the Alps. British manufacturers are being urged
by the commercial experts of that country to send exhibits to the
Exposition. Our own consular reports point out a promising con-
dition of economics and industrial affairs in Italy. On all sides it
is said that the trade field is distinctly worth cultivating in every
possible way. The United States will be represented at the Exposi-
tion.