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THE
6
MUSIC TRADE
KEVEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Edifor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportortal Staff:
OHO. B. KELLER.
W. N. TYLER.
F. II. THOMPSON.
EMILIE PRANCES BADEB.
L. B. BOWERS. B. BRITTAIN WILSON, \YM. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBKRLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
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Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
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REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Directory ol Piano The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
~
~ '
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Manufacturers
f o r dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Metfaf.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. .St. Louia Exposition, 1904
Gold MedaZ.LewIs Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
NEW
YORK,
JULY 7,
l 906
EDITORIAL
W
ITH this issue The Review enters upon its twenty-eighth
year of existence. What a long vista stretches back
from the days when the first number was published. What a little
industry it was in those days, and how much it has broadened and
expanded.
To have told the readers of the first issue of The Review that
by 1906 single firms would be turning out over one thousand pianos
a month would have been considered a wild declaration. If the
Editor of The Review had then stated that the total output from
the factories in, 1906 would reach pretty nearly a quarter of a
million instruments, he would have been laughed at, and still we
who have seen the industry grow in such a gradual way are not
amazed at its continuous expansion.
It is only by comparison that we judge of conditions, and when
we compare the factories in 1879—few in number and small in
output—with the magnificent establishments to-day which number
hundreds and which are located East as well as West, we realize
that the piano industry is a large one, and constantly growing.
T
HE REVIEW of those early days consisted of but sixteen
pages, published then once and often twice a month, while
to-day its average is over fifty pages weekly, so that it must be
conceded trade journalism has advanced in harmony with the de-
velopment of the piano industry.
When we look back over the long years we cannot help think-
ing what a number of bright spirits, clever men and generally good
fellows have passed away, who played their part in the develop-
ment of the industry. And when we think of the many who have
fallen out of the ranks in the twenty-seven years we cannot help
feeling that they have left a splendid heritage behind them, for
some of the enterprises founded in this industry have been indelibly
impressed with the wisdom and judgment of the early founders who
have gone across the Great Divide. The artist may die, but art is
eternal, and we have to-day with us a crowd of as bright men as
can be claimed by any industry. Their field is enlarged and in like
proportion has the number of talented business men increased. Proof
of this is seen in the progress of The Review, which makes this
publication year by year of more and more influence in its special
REVIEW
sphere of work. And it shall be our aim to make the twenty-eighth
year of The Review a year of advance—to make it a better paper
than ever before and one which shall be more useful and helpful in
everv wav to the music trade interests everywhere.
A
MANUFACTURER, while discussing the convention held in
Washington recently, remarked that while the pianomakers,
like wine, have mellowed with age, and that it was only a few
years ago that most of the leading men did not knaw one another
by sight, yet he added, the warmth of the greeting between piano
men in 1906 exhibited a splendid fraternal feeling.
There is no mistaking the fact that the annual gatherings
which have taken place in this industry have had a tendency to re-
move the rough edges which were noticeable years ago. In the
encouragement of good feeling trade paper work has played no unim-
portant part. Men have read continually about certain people, and
have seen their photographs, and felt positively acquainted with
the gentlemen even before they met them face to face, and as a
result the whole industry has been brought closer together, and
the position of every man is perhaps more respected than in the
days agone. In this way the associations have helped to knit the
industry together and the outcome of all the meetings has been
an increased interest in having business relations pleasant and
sociable, and further accentuating the good feelings which should
exist between business men.
T
HE bringing together of manufacturers and dealers by hold-
ing annual meetings has resulted in incalculable good. The
fact that the organizations have met in different cities has stimu-
lated a national pride and has given a strength to the piano trade in
the various towns, and further the press reports over the country
have brought before the public in a more or less impressive way
the importance of the better influence of the trade.
In truth the way in which trade problems have been fre-
quently discussed has helped in a way to reduce some of the long
standing abuses. The question of price, of territory, of advertis-
ing, all have brought about better conditions in each department of
trade, and the fact that the trade journals have given great promi-
nence to these meetings has also helped the good work along.
T
HERP2 is a tremendous business being done abroad by this
country in merchandise which is being shipped in small pack-
ages. Few Americans seem to be aware of the arrangements which
exist between the United States and most of the countries of the
Western World for the carriage through the mails of parcels up to
a maximum weight of eleven pounds at the rate of 12 cents a pound.
Of course the originators of the parcels post did not expect that the
convenience would ever be utilized as a means of establishing an
export trade in merchandise, but shrewd American business men
have not failed to realize its facilities for this purpose, and an ex-
tensive export trade in small articles is now being conducted
through the agency of the parcels mail. The idea of export busi-
ness by the use of the mails is steadily growing in practice and
there are thousands of merchants or individual traders in the
United States who are now doing an extensive and a profitable busi-
ness, depending entirely on postal facilities for the carriage of their
goods to points outside the United States. Of course all goods so
sent are subject to the tariff duties of the nation which receives
them, and this calls for the employment in foreign post offices of in-
spectors, who examine the contents of packages and levy the duty
which the law demands on foreign goods. The business of export
by mail is increasing largely, and the indications are that it will soon
become a recognized branch of trade in the United States.
A
WELL KNOWN advertising specialist, in giving advice to
business men, says among other things: The wise merchant
who seeks to secure trade which he may hold—who desires to have
a customer come again, will aim in his advertisements not so much
to persuade people to buy what they do not want, as to purchase
what they really need. Those who buy in haste repent of it at
leisure. Those who are prevailed upon to buy what is of no service
to them, or which, at best, they could have got along without, are
likely to feel a measure of resentment against those who led them
into the extravagance. This may be illogical, but it accords with
the experience and practice of men and women.