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REVIEW
THE
COPJKS, 10 CENTS.
VOL. XLIII. No. 9 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, September J, 1906. SINGLE
ts.on PKR YEAR.
SOME TRADE GLANCES IN EUROPE.
News from Over the Sea—Review Man Reports Trade Conditions from London—Eldridge R.
Johnson Will Not Be Back Until October—Growth of Talking Machine Business in London
—Views of the Head of Broadwood & Sons Upon the American Trade Situation—What Geo.
Rose Saw in the Factories in the United States During His Recent Visit—Compares Ameri-
can and English Wages—Popularity of Instalment System in the States—Movement to
Change English Laws.
(Special to The Review.)
Review Office, 69 Basinghall street, E. C,
London, England, August 23, 1906.
Trade conditions in London are improving
materially, and the dealers and manufacturers
are evidently looking forward to a brisk season.
I do not learn of any Americans in town at the
present time, although there have been many
here during the summer months, which are now
drawing to a close.
Eldridge R. Johnson, of the Victor Talking
Machine Co., will probably not return before the
first of October. Mr. Johnson has temporary
private offices in the West of London.
London is headquarters for a wonderful talk-
ing machine trade, and all of the great American
houses are well represented here. The Gen-
eral Phonograph Co., whose head is James H.
White, wifl have records on the market shortly.
Mr. White has many friends throughout the
British Isles, who predict for him a brilliant
success in his new position. Mr. White was re-
cently honored by a banquet given in his honor
by all the leading talking machine factories of
the National Phonograph Co. This was held at
the Midland Hotel, Manchester.
I presume by the time this reaches you Dr.
Michaelis, inventor of the Neophone, may have
arrived in New York. He will come in connec-
tion with business for his concern, who recently
opened up larger quarters in Canada.
Ml{. itONK TALKS OF CONDITIONS IN THE STATES.
The music trade is not particularly brisk just
at the present time, for London weather is still
hot. Mr. George Rose, the managing director
of the famous house of Broadwood & Sons, has
recently returned from New York, and his views
presented by your London namesake will be of
interest to Americans, showing how an English-
man at the head of a great music trade institu-
tion here views an industry—one that he is
connected with in another land. Mr. Rose said:
"The state of the music trade in the United
States appeared to me to be very prosperous,
and to promise even greater results in the fu-
ture. There are evidences of expansion every-
where, and it is a remarkable fact that nearly
every factory is in full swing. In every other
phase of life this tremendous activity is appar-
ent. The factories, in fact, all businesses, seem
to be run with a smoothness and evenness which
is well-nigh impossible to attain in England.
The many carefully worked-out systems and
methods of doing business speak volumes for
the keen intelligence with which all affairs are
tackled—nothing is left to haphazard guesswork.
The Americans love business for its own sake,
not merely for its reward.
"The result of this single-hearted devotion to
business is the excellent quality of workmen em-
ployed at the piano and kindred factories. The
difference in appearance between the American
and English workman must strike the intelligent
observer very forcibly. The former seem to take
a much greater pride in their outward appear-
ance and their work. They are encouraged by
their employers to think for themselves and to
take an active and personal interest in their
labors; they are not merely human machines. If
any one of them has an idea which might im-
prove the working of a department or benefit in
any way the manufacture of an article, he is
invited to put his views before his principals, not
merely before his immediate foreman. If the
idea is favorably received, he can always count
upon suitable promotion or reward. Hence a
good workman need never know what unemploy-
ment is, and it must be admitted that the rela-
tions between master and man are more inti-
mate and friendly in the States than in this
country. Of course, I do not infer that such
kindly feeling is unknown here, but I think it
is far more general in the United States."
WAGES 1IKJIIKR IN AMEHICA.
"How do American wages of factory hands
compare with the wages usually obtained in
England?"
"In a comparison of American and English
wages the difference of the cost of living must
not be overlooked. A 'bellyman,' for instance,
who works on fairly cheap pianos, receives for
piece work $25 a week ( £ 5 ) . His expenses are
greater, but even so, his remuneration is higher
than it would be in England.
"As regards the hours of labor customary in
American factories, 54 hours per week are the
average. Office hours are usually 46 1/ 1 > hours."
"How do the average retail prices of Ameri-
can pianos run, Mr. Rose?"
"Pianos of a medium grade fetch about £67.
If a medium player is bought with the piano,
the price will be about £97. Should a high-class
player be required, £130 would have to be paid.
A first-class piano is sold for £115, and when
fitted with a player of the same quality. £190.
"The instalment system is very popular in the
States, and, considering the prices of pianos, the
monthly payments required are very low, the
minimum monthly payment being about 16s."
BRITISH
PIANOS
IN
AMERICA.
"What chance have British-made pianos in
America?"
"Well, the import duty of 25 per cent, on pianos
makes it very difficult for British manufacturers
to gain a footing in the States. I think, how-
tier, that there is a fair opening for pianos made
in this country, provided they are of a good
tjUKlity, and not too high in price."
"You also visited Canada, did you not?"
''I spent a very short time only in Canada, and
so I am not in a position to say much about the
music trade in that colony. But from what I
could gather, the trade there seems to be in a
very healthy condition in consequence of the
extraordinary financial and intellectual progress
of the country- I noticed that several American
firms have started factories in Canada, no doubt
with a view to avoiding the duties."
"Now, Mr. Rose, do you mind telling our read-
ers the real reason why you undertook this
trip?'
"Not at all. I went over to the States chiefly
to examine the systems on which American fac-
tories— not enly piano factories—are being fun."
FACTORIES
RK.MOV1NC
FROM
LONDON.
A number of manufacturers have removed or
are contemplating removal from London in con-
sequence of the high taxes imposed through the
extravagance of the municipal authorities. Fol-
lowing the lead of railways in other countries
the Great Eastern Railway and London and
North-Western Railway have, offered induce-
ments to manufacturers to move their plants to
couniry districts. Musical houses are also con-
cerned in the movement.
It is feared that the removal of so many firms
will throw a great army of unemployed upon the
charities of London.
Quite a stir has been created in the talking
machine trade over the invention of a well-
known expert in talking machines. Mr. Pr.
Haussmann (Langenzalza), has recently pat-
ented a sound box made of wood. Its tone is
said to be purer and softer than that produced
by a metal sound box, and it seems to have been
especially successful in the reproduction of vocal
performances. As it is lighter than a metal
sound box, it glides over a record almost inau-
dibly. The records, of course, last much longer,
and it is said that the price of a wooden sound-
box is exceedingly cheap.
l'OK CIIANUE IN
HIRE-PI'IUIIASE LAWS.
A strong movement is on foot among London
traders to have certain laws affecting the hire-
purchase business amended or changed. As the
laws stand now there are many ways in which
a trader may he cheated by the customer without
being able to obtain redress. For instance, as a
married woman is not subject to the bankruptcy
laws they may not be held personally liable for
debts contracted by them, and this clause is
frequently taken advantage of. One of the
traders' associations has adopted resolutions to
make husband and wife equally liable for debts,
and to render the wife liable to bankruptcy pro-
ceedings as an individual, and have her income
controlled by the court. These laws are of espe-
cial interest to the music trade, as the extent
to which they indulge in the hire-purchase sys-
tem make them heavy and frequent losers. There
is also a clause inserted in the contracts here
providing that should the instrument be re-
turned within twelve months the purchaser is
liable for the full year's instalments.
All in all, the hire-purchase system as exist-
ing here means a great deal of trouble for the
trader, who is kept almost continually before
the courts in various cases, especially where ig-
norance of the obligations assumed causes the
purchaser to try and cancel his agreement.