Music Trade Review

Issue: 1906 Vol. 43 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
REVIEW
THE
flUJIC T^ADE
VOL. XLIII. No. 1 8 . Published Every Saturday by Edward LymanBill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, November 3, 1906.
HUGE FREIGHT CONGESTION.
Western and Central Lines Cannot Move the
Business Offered.
(Special to The Review.)
Review Office, 195 Wabash Avenue,
Chicago, 111., Oct. 29, 1906.
Orders have been issued by the traffic depart-
ment of the New York Central lines west of
Buffalo instructing ail agents and solicitors to
cease soliciting business, as the roads are un-
able to handle what comes to them naturally.
These employes have been directed to hunt for
freight cars. Accordingly, between 150 and 200
men are now devoting all of their time to trac-
ing freight cars belonging to the Central.
The work is being done systematically and is
resulting in the use of several hundred addi-
tional cars daily. The agents follow the cars
to foreign lines, and then go to headquarters
with a demand for the immediate return of the
empties.
Never in the history of western roads was
the freight congestion so great as now. It was
reported yesterday that the Northern Pacific has
at least 10,000 car loads which it is unable to
move. Other roads in the northwest also are
in bad shape, one of the main reasons for con-
gestion being the abnormal movement of lum-
ber.
POPE PIUS X. PLAYS THE PIANO.
Greatly Admires Perosi, Whom He Is Aiding In
Every Possible Manner.
In view of the fact that American pianos and
players are now to be found within the walls
of the Vatican, the following cablegram from
Rome, which was published in last Sunday's
World, will be of interest: "Perosi, the young
director of the Sistine Chapel, has finished nine
symphony poems. And the Pope has examined
the scores to pass musical judgment on them,
for he is a good musician. One of his favorite
after-dinner amusements is to play the piano
in the papal dining-room. Pius X. admires Pe-
rosi and will cause the symphonies to be given
in some church here. Perosi does not wish to
have his new works performed in Rome or even
in Italy, because he thinks he is not appreciated
in his own country."
REPUTATION IS CAPITAL.
The Wise Salesman Is He Who Avoids Mis-
representation and Builds on Confidence for
a Foundation.
The best and most economical way of selling
that which builds reputation on which future
sales may be made, is selling which is largely
to the advantage of the buyer.
To sell goods which prove a disappointment
to the purchaser 1 is selling at an ultimate loss,
no matter how large the immediate profit may
be.
The real salesman, the man who is in busi-
ness to stay and who will pile up more and
more money capital, through the accumulation
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2 no PKR YEAR
of confidence capital, will not only avoid actual
misrepresentation, but will be equally careful
that the customer does not deceive himself as
to the merits of the goods.
The confidence that has taken years to build
can be torn down and destroyed in a minute,
never to be restored, as Selling Magazine says.
The whole commercial structure has confidence
for its foundation. No lasting business can be
built or maintained without it.
Review this concern is the outgrowth of the
Connorized Music Co., 144th street and Austin
place, New York, manufacturers of perforated
music rolls. The new company will manufac-
ture pianos and piano players under the superin-
tendency of Anders Holmstrom.
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON DINING.
THE LESTER REPRESENTATIVE.
Peter F. Campbell, secretary of the Lauter
Piano Co., was interviewed the other day on the
subject of what becomes of all the new pianos
manufactured, and where do all the old ones go?
"What becomes of the pianos?" repeated Mr.
Campbell. "Well, that's a somewhat curious
question, but it admits an answer that appears
to cover the case. In the first plate, there are
the old style square pianos, which, owing to mod-
ern conditions and prevailing fashions, are re-
turned to manufacturers and destroyed. We
alone had 115 square pianos returned to us dur-
ing the last year and they were deft-oved, scarce-
ly any of the parts having been retained except
the ivory of the keys where that has been of
value. We sold only two 'squares' in years, and
they are to be had almost for nothing at present.
"Another cause of destruction," continued the
official, "is fire and flood. In the great Paterson
flood for instance, seven pianos made by this
house were destroyed, while the element of fire
is one that is a constant factor in the making up
of the list of the lost.
"A good piano, of course, is supposed to last
a life time, but the great majority of them are
actually 'consumed' by the population. By that
I mean to say that the pianos are 'used up' by
the buyers like other articles of furniture and
gradually make their way to the lumber room or
attic with their once expressive chords forever
stilled. Others again find their way from the
family to the auction room, go from there to
another family, perhaps, or to a dance hall,
gradually break up like a dissipated man and
disappear forever."
N. B. Pratt Starts on an Extended Western
Trip.
C. H. BETTS OPENS IN SALEM.
Certain Tunes Bring About a Desire for Certain
Foods and Drinks, and Herein Lies the Op-
portunity for Composers—Big Chance for
Richard Strauss to Display His Skill.
One of these wise men whose business is con-
stant observation and from whom restaurants
hold no mysteries states that the consumption
of wine at these establishments is largely in-
fluenced by the music played by the orchestra.
Certain tunes, it seems, have the power of mak-
ing those who hear them feel an overpowering
desire for champagne. Two of these are "Amour-
euse" and "Sourire d'Avril." We are credibly
informed that when either of these airs booms
out over the room the head waiter bustles about
giving orders, while behind the scenes the head
cellarman calls for extra help in readiness for
the inevitable demand. Why this should be so,
we do not know. But it certainly is so. This
discovery opens out a new field for composers.
The musician with his wits about him will write
airs (at huge prices) specially for the restau-
rants. Probably the idea could be developed.
If waltzes make a diner want champagne, rag-
time might drive him to hock. A really clever
composer could play on the feelings of his audi-
ence to such an extent that, having mixed their
drinks horribly for an hour or so, they would
be sent home to their respective addresses in
cabs. There is a fortune waiting for such a
composer.
N. B. Pratt, traveling representative of the
Lester Piano Co., Philadelphia, Pa., was in town
last week. He will leave shortly for an extended
trip, which will take him away from the home
office about three months. Mr. Pratt has been
for a long time associated with the wholesale
department of the piano industry, and he under-
stands the requirements of the trade in every
particular. He stated to The Review that the
Lester output for the year would be in excess of
that of any other season, and that he was looking
forward to an immense holiday trade, as all
the Lester dealers were placing large orders.
O'CONNOR PIANO CO. INCORPORATED.
Among the incorporations filed with the Sec-
retary of the State of New York on Monday was
that of the O'Connor Piano Co., of New York,
with a capital of $100,000. The directors are:
J. O'Connor, A. Conrow and W. G. Chiddick, Jr.,
of New York. As already announced in The
WHERE ALL THE PIANOS GO.
Peter F. Campbell, Secretary of the. Lauter
Co. Chats Interestingly on This Subject.
C. H. Betts, of Salem, will shortly open a
piano store in that city, with V. P. McGreery in
charge. Mr. Betts was recently in Cleveland
selecting a stock of pianos.
HENRY DREHER AFTER BIG GAME.
Henry Dreher, well-known as an enthusiastic
and successful hunter of big game and incidental-
ly head of the prominent piano house of B.
Dreher's Sons Co., Cleveland, O., left last week
on a two weeks' hunting trip for moose, deer and
caribou in the wilds of New Brunswick, Canada.
He was accompanied by Phil Dorn and W. D.
Sayle.
E. S. Curtis, formerly retail salesman for the
Starr Piano Co., has been assigned to the terri-
tory comprising portions of Kentucky, Ohio and
Indiana, and incidentally become a full-fledged
traveler, the company's appreciation of his pre-
vious work in their interests.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
ROTO
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
Gao. B. K I L L M .
W. N. TYLER.
P. H . THOMPSON.
BMILIB FHANCIS BADSB.
L. B. BOWERS. B. BRITTAIN WILSON, WM. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBBBLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. TAN HARLINOBN, 195-197 Wabasb Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS a n d ST.PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BJBNEST L. WAITT, 278A Tremont St.
R. W. KAITFMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BUBBN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-427 Front Bt
CINCINNATI. O.:
LONDON. ENGLAND:
NINA PUGH-SMITH.
60 Haslnghall St., B. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION,(Including postage). United States, Mexico, and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per Inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite
reading matter. $75.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
LyujHD Hill.
Directory ol Plaao
__
. .
MannUduren
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
f o r d e a I e r B a n d others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prim
Paris Exposition, 1900 /Silver MedaJ.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold 4/PdoI.Lewls-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable address: "ElblU New York."
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 3 , 1906
REVIEW
to protect their own interests. They will hardly be content to buy
pianos from the same source that supplies the catalogue houses. At
least it is hardly reasonable to believe that they will.
VERY visitor to Germany must be impressed with the im-
mense industrial strides that country is making in all lines
of trade. German piano manufacturers are supplying England and
English colonies throughout the world with thousands of pianos,
and there seems to be no halting in Germany's prosperity. The
great towns are busy producing every kind of manufactured prod-
ucts, and the piano business is particularly good. All of the fac-
tories are being rushed to their utmost.
Once a year the people of Germany have an opportunity to
study their own prosperity in comparison with the progress of the
rest of the world. They have reason to be proud of the showing, as
indicated by the Jahrbuch for 1905, and if they exult over it Amer-
icans know how they feel, for we, too, think we are conquering the
world.
A generation ago France had the largest population of the
civilized European states, except Russia. Now Germany is not
only ahead, but rapidly passing out of the class of both France and
Great Britain. The German population is growing at the rate of
nearly a million a year, England at less than half that rate, and
France scarcely at all.
Notwithstanding this increase, business and manufacturing
have grown still faster, so that the number of unemployed in Ger-
many is now less than ever before. The percentage is one and six-
tenths, or about one-third of the percentage in England.
Railway earnings reflect the general prosperity. During fifteen
years the profits have increased from two and two-tenths per cent,
to six per cent., and the number of miles by eight thousand; and if
further evidence of the general well-being were needed, it may be
found in the bank deposits and the receipts from the income tax,
which there is imposed upon the man of small means as well as upon
the rich.
E
HERE are some other facts about German growth that are not
revealed, or only partially revealed, by statistics. Chief
among them is the bold and successful invasion of the markets of
the world by German productions. German merchants and agents
ENERAL business continues excellent, and the difficulty in
swarm in every commercial city of every continent, pushing their
V J getting goods is still a marked feature of the trade situation.
wares successfully on the tradesmen and consumers of every race.
Not only in this trade, but in many others are manufacturers get-
The reasons for the abounding prosperity of Germany lie largely
ting unpleasantly behind in their orders. Prices, too, owing to the
in
national
character, intelligent, energetic, practical, which mani-
state of things in the iron and metal markets, and the heavy de-
fests
itself
in
the best trade-schools and technical education in the
mand upon stocks and manufacturing facilities, are advancing al-
world,
in
commercial
laws frankly intended to promote German in-
most daily in one line or another. Manufacturing costs still con-
terests.
Every
effort
in this direction is enthusiastically promoted
tinue to creep up, and it is certain that a moderate advance will be
by
an
Emperor
who
is really an alert and immensely energetic
necessary in piano prices ere long.
"business
manager"
for
all his people.
One prominent piano man while discussing the subject of
Alfred
Dolge,
the
well-known piano felt manufacturer, who
prices remarked recently that he had always been actuated by the
passed
his
early
youth
in
Germany, where he learned the art of piano
desire to give his dealers every advantage of the price conditions
making,
recently
remarked
to The Review that it was the practice
of the market, and although he had been compelled to advance
at
the
time
he
was
a
resident
of Leipsic, for the German piano
prices on all his instruments once, he felt that another advance
manufacturers
to
send
their
practical
men and departmental heads
would be imperative within the near future.
to England to learn factory system and piano building according
HE furniture men are considerably exercised over the growth
to the English standard. Germany has well learned her early
of the mail order business, and according to a furniture trade
lessons, for to-day she is selling more pianos to the English trade
paper: "Furniture manufacturers all over the country are taking
than the British manufacturers themselves are turning out. She
the initiative in a movement to curtail the extensive business done
has beaten the Britisher in his own market, and thus if the tariff
everywhere by the big mail order and catalogue houses and the were removed permitting easy access to this country the German
retail furniture dealer in the small town is rejoicing. The manu-
piano would be no small factor in these United States.
facturers now have sent out notices to the mail-order people that
their contracts will hold good only until January I, 1907, and that
HE technical work recently produced by this newspaper in-
after that time they will have to buy upon the same terms as the
stitution known as "Theory and Practice of Pianoforte Build-
retail dealer."
ing" has created widespread interest everywhere, and from present
Certainly if the statement made is correct, the action on the indications it will become the standard work of the piano industry.
The few copies which have been sent out thus far have elicited the
part of the furniture men will go a long ways towards cutting off
warmest praise, and we have now on the press a large edition so
the catalogue house competition. The catalogue house people will
then either have to create their own factories, or sell on the same
that we shall be able to take care of all the demands which come
basis as the retail dealer. It is said that the big catalogue houses
to us.
George Rose, managing head of the great English house of
in Chicago which are offering $87.50 pianos are getting prices on
Broadwood & Sons, and one of the leading scientists of Europe,
their instruments which are far below those paid by the regular
writes: "I have perused the book with much pleasure and 'Theory
piano dealer. If this is the case, it might be well to note the atti-
and Practice of Pianoforte Building' should be in the hands of every
tude of the manufacturers in a kindred trade, and it will not be long
practical and interested man in the trade."
before the dealers themselves—provided the mail order competition
George A. Witney, head of the Brockport Piano Mfg. Co.,
becomes the least bit acute in the piano line—will take some action
EDITORIAL
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