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REVIEW
THE
{1UJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLIII. N o . 1 3 . Published Every Saturday by Edward LymanBill at I Madison Ave., New York, September 29,1906. S1NGL $|.OO 0 PES S VEA£ ENTS "
B. B. CREW ON SOUTHERN CONDITIONS
Business Good and Outlook All That Could be
Desired—Rioting in Atlanta Strongly Con-
demned—-An Interesting Chat.
Among the distinguished visitors to our city
this week was B. B. Crew, of Phillips & Crew,
Atlanta, Ga., who has just returned from a very
enjoyable vacation spent with Mrs. Crew at At-
lantic City. In the course of a chat in The Re-
view sanctum Tuesday, Mr. Crew spoke very op-
timistically about the trade outlook in his ter-
ritory, the demand being very large for the bet-
ter class of instruments. "In fact," said Mr.
Crew, "the reports from headquarters since I
left home are most encouraging. There have
been some very large sales of Steinway grands
and uprights, and the same may be said of the
Knabe, Weber and other leading instruments
which we handle. For instance, last week our
people sold a Knabe grand to be shipped to a
customer of ours in Paris, Prance. We are
quite encouraged over general conditions, and
look forward to a very satisfactory business this
fall and winter. One feature of our trade whin
has been steadily developing is that devoted to
talking machines. This year our business in
talking machines alone will amount to over
1100,000."
Mr. Crew spoke very feelingly of the recent
race troubles in Atlanta, which, he said, re-
flected so much on his city. He was most em-
pnatic in his views that the law should be up
held and respected, and strongly condemned the
riotous conduct of certain elements whose ac-
tions disgraced a law-abiding and cultured com-
munity. He commended the action of the Gov
ernor in taking steps to suppress disorder, which
he said was largely due to a sensational paper
on one side, and on the other to the dangerous
exhortations of certain colored ministers who
have lately taken particular pains to engender
and stimulate race feeling.
Mr. Crew intended leaving for home the early
days of the week, but waited in New York a
few days for his daughters, who were in Maino,
when the entire family left for home.
from experience. The same company have placed
a large number of Vough pianos in Texas, all of
which are giving the same perfect satisfaction:
Dallas, Texas, August 29, 1906.
Will A. Watkin Music Co., Dallas, Texas:
Gentlemen—The Vough piano used in our
Dallas Opera House is the most satisfactory
opera house piano ever brought to our notice.
We formerly had a world of trouble having to
tune our pianos, first at concert pitch, then at
international. The annoyance and expense inci-
dent thereto was great. The Vough piano is
ready in a moment, either for international or
concert pitch, and the various companies playing
here can please their singers or their orchestra
members alike with whichever pitch may be de-
sired. We wish you success in placing the Vough
pianos in opera houses throughout the State.
Respectfully,
GEORGE ANZV,
Manager Dallas Opera House.
CROSS THREE BILLION LINE.
Highest Record Yet for Our Foreign Commerce
—A Remarkable Showing.
Foreign commerce of the United States has
crossed the three billion dollar line. In the
twelve months ending with August the imports
were $1,254,399,735 and the exports $1,759,417,-
898, a total for the twelve months of $3,013,817,-
G33. The total for the fiscal year 1906 exceeded
three billion dollars if the trade with the non-
contiguous territory were included, but in this
case the three billion dollar line is passed with-
out including the trade with the noncontiguous
territory, which is no longer considered by the
Bureau of Statistics as foreign trade.
It. was not until 1900 that the foreign com-
merce of the United States passed the two billion
dollar line, having thus increased 50 per cent,
since 1899. It was not until 1880 that it first
crossed the one and one-half billion dollar line,
having thus doubled since 1879. It was not un-
til 1872 that the foreign trade reached one bil-
lion dollars, having thus trebled since 1871. It
was not until 1856 that the total crossed the five
hundred million dollar line and only in 1835
that it. first reached $250,000,000.
August figures of both imports and exports
"THE VOUGH IS READY IN A MOMENT"
exceeded those of any preceding August in the.
For Use in Concert or International Pitch, Says
history of American commerce, as shown by the
the Manager of the Dallas Opera House—Its
record of the Bureau of Statistics of the De-
Advantages for Theatres, Halls, Lodge Rooms
partment of Commerce and Labor. August im-
Made Apparent.
ports for the first time crossed the one hundred
million dollar line. The imports have exceeded
Much has been said in these columns concern- $100,000,000 in practically every month of the
ing the advantages of changeable pitch, and the last year, but August is usually a light month
reasons why the Vough changeable pitch piano for imports, and thus the record of more than
has been so widely accepted throughout the $100,000,000 for the month of August is made
United States. These advantages apply as well for the first time in the figures of the month
for use in the home, church, clubroom, lodge- just ended, which show imports of $105,588,604.
room or public building, but because of the against $96,000,000 in August of 1905, $88,000,-
clearly apparent, two uses of the piano in a 000 in 1904, $82,000,000 in 1903 and $79,000,000
theater, in fact, the necessity of such a piano, in 1902.
the advantages stand out as clearly as does a
white mark on a black background.
Fred Auracher, who has recently started in
The following letter was written to the Will the piano business in Buffalo, was for a long
A. Watkin Music Co., of Dallas, Texas, by a time employed by G. H. Poppenberg, the promi-
person who is using the Vough pjano. He speaks nent dealer of that ('ity,
OTTO WISSNER RETURNS
From His European Trip and Declares That
American Piano' Manufacturers Are Far in
Advance of Their European Competitors.
Otto Wissner, the well-known piano manu-
facturer of Brooklyn, has just returned from
Europe on the "Kroonland" of the Red Star
Line, accompanied by Mrs. Wissner and their
daughter Marguerite. While abroad they vis-
ited many points of interest, making their head-
quarters with their daughter, who married Dr.
Stotz, of Lauterbach, Germany. While the trip
was primarily for the purpose of rest and re-
cuperation, Mr. Wissner took occasion to study
incidentally some of the industrial and economic
conditions on the other side, and he returns
with a stronger faith than ever before in Amer-
ican institutions, and particularly in American
"enterprise and progressiveness. Mr. Wissner's
attention was naturally drawn to the piano
manufacturing industry of the European cities,
and he believes that in artistic development and
general progressiveness the American manufac-
turers are far in advance of their European
competitors.
A MECHANICAL ORCHESTRA
Devised by a St. Louis Man Whereby Two Per-
sons Can Play Nine Musical Instruments-
A mechanical orchestra with which two per-
sons can play nine musical instruments, is the
curious invention of .1. L. Black, 3637 Koeln
avenue, St. Louis. Mr. Black and his son John-
nie, 14 years of age, constitute the members of
the orchestra as it is at present arranged, and
perform for their own amusement and that of
their friends.
As their mechanical aid, Mr. Black has con-
structed a device which, operated by means of
pedals, which he works with hrs feet, plays the
piano, the bass drum and the cymbals. A simi-
lar but smaller arrangement allows of Johnnie
Black playing the snare drum, the flay sticks and
the sandpaper. In addition, Johnnie plays a cor-
net and finds time to occasionally operate a bell
accompaniment which is attached to the side of
his drum.
Mr. Black plays a violin with his hands while
mechanically bringing forth music from the
piano, bass drum and other instruments.
While Mr. Black and his son have, so far, con-
fined their musical efforts to their own home, the
mechanical accessory can be carried from place
to place, and is so constructed that it may be
attached to a piano. Some years ago he built a
machine on similar lines by which he could play
two violins, two guitars and a bass viol. He
traveled over the country with this stringed or-
chestra giving entertainments. Mr. Black is an
electrician and inventor.
The Minnesota State Board of Equalization
have increased the value of pianos in Ramsey
County, that State, 50 per cent. Tho returns
on these instruments were considered loo low
by the Board.