Music Trade Review

Issue: 1907 Vol. 44 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
REVtW
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLIV. No. 8.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, February 23,1907
and also upon men. Here in Tangier there is not
even a hand cart or a wheelbarrow, but there
are so many passenger donkeys that one has to
As Trade Producers Interestingly Discussed by
jump from side to side to keep out of their way.
a Member of the Piano Trade—The Same
They go along without bridles or halters, di
Amount of Money Placed in a Trade Paper
rected by the cries and the sticks of the donkey
Has Brought Most Satisfactory Returns.
boys, who follow behind. They are the drays of
One of the largest advertisers in the piano Tangier.
"These pack donkeys carry enormous loads. I
field gave his views to The Review during the
past week on circularizing the trade. He said: saw to-day two little fellows, one not much high-
"I am a believer in circulars to a certain extent, er than my waist, almost covered by an upright
and use them under conditions where they will piano, which rested on their backs as they
bear out my regular line of advertising, but walked through the main streets of the city.
when it comes to depending upon them for re- Every one knows what such a thing weighs, and
sults—well, I don't. Unless circulars are backed now six men are required, to lift one in our coun-
up by judicious advertising in the trade press, it try. The piano was in a pine box and the little
is like casting seed to the wind, trusting that by beasts carried it on their bare backs, steadied by
some lucky chance it may fall in fertile ground. two porters who walked at the side.
As to the cost, I consider trade paper advertising
The animals had enormous ears, and their rat-
by far the most economical. Say I send out like tails, shaved close, made me think of ab-
three thousand circulars. Printing, envelopes, breviated blacksnake whips. Both were ragged
postage and labor will make them cost at least and knotty and scarred with the sores where
from four to five cents each—a total of from their masters had cut away the skin in order
$120 to $150. I can figure that 25 per cent, will that they might the easier hurry them onward
go in the waste-basket, and of the balance not by goading the raw flesh."
over 10 per cent, will be read by the recipient,
and the chances are 20 to 1 that I will not get
GROWTH OF OUR TRADE.
an order through them.
"The same amount judiciously expended in the That With Non-Contiguous Territories Gains
$31,000,000 Over 1904. .
trade paper will bring me before more members
of the trade, and when they have become fa-
(Special to The Review.)
miliar with my product through that medium,
Washington, D. C, Feb. 16, 1907.
then they will be interested in any printed mat-
The enormous growth in American trade with
ter they may receive. Of course, it is hard to
trace direct results from trade paper advertising, its non-contiguous territories in the last calendar
as a rule, but in the long run I have found I year, as contrasted with 1904, is shown in figures
obtained general results in many ways. The compiled by the Bureau of Statistics of the De-
trade (the dealers) become familiar with my partment of Commerce and Labor and made pub-
name, and the road representatives do not have lic to-day. This commerce aggregated $131,000,-
to break the ice. Then the dealer sizes up the 000, compared wjth $100,000,000 in 1904.
Of this trade $59,000,000, in round numbers,
manufacturer by the publicity he gives his prod-
uct, and when they see him splurge they consider consisted of merchandise shipped to those terri-
his product must have merit to warrant the out- tories and $72,000,000 worth of merchandise re-
lay. Some day, when the 'Best' piano advertis- ceived from them. Of the $59,000,000 worth of
ing has sunk in deep, then they get a carefully merchandise sent to the non-contiguous terri-
worded circular in a sealed envelope. They read tories about $22,000,000 worth went to Porto Rico,
it, and when our man 'drops in to say good-morn- $17,500,000 to Alaska, $12,500,000 to Hawaii, and
ing,' they are in a fit frame of mind to ask ques- $7,000,000 to the Philippines.
tions. Once get a man asking questions in re-
Of gold received from Alaska, the total domes-
gard to your product, the rest is easy. He is in- tic production was in 1904 a little over $9,000,000,
terested, and will buy. The piano manufacturer and in 1906 $18,500,000.
who does not use printers' ink is the one that
complains of selling expenses, and whose road
THE DEMANDS OF TRUCKMEN.
men make the poorest showing."
WHY CIRCULARSJH) NOT PAY
Some Rumors That Piano Carters Would De-
mand More Money .for Cartage Charges.
SINGL
$!.OO°PEFVEAR ENTS
FUEHR & STEMMER CO.
Will Locate Factory in Belvidere, III.—Splen-
didly Equipped for Their Growing Business
— W i l l be in Operation by March 15—Of-
ficers Will Continue to Remain in Chicago.
(Special to The Review.)
Review Office, 198 Wabash Avenue,
Chicago, 111., Feb. 20, 1907.
The Fuehr & Stemmer Piano Co., of this city,
who have been long negotiating for larger fac-
tory facilities, have at last found something
which meets their present needs. They will go
to Belvidere, 111., about 70 miles from Chicago,
and will occupy good buildings already erected
and admirably adapted for their purposes, thus
enabling them to get into full operation in the
new factory in an almost incredible short space
of time. A switch from the Chicago & North-
western Railway runs right into the plant, giv-
ing them excellent shipping facilities. The main
building is 40x100 feet, and there is also an
engine room 30x40 feet, together with ample dry
kilns and lumber sheds. The main building is of
brick mill construction, with hardwood floors and
admirably adapted in every way for the manu-
facture of pianos. Belvidere is a prosperous little
city of 10,000 inhabitants, and the Fuehr & Stem-
mer people got a fine proposition. They will
commence to move the machinery from their
present factory and ship pianos from the present
plant in Chicago to Belvidere, to be finished next
week, and by March 15 will be in full operation
at the new place. They will be able to make
from three to five pianos a day in the new fac-
tory. They will continue in the future, as in the
past, to devote their efforts to the high-grade
Fuehr & Stemmer piano, on which they have met
with excellent success. The general offices of
the company will remain in Chicago, in the Audi-
torium building, the factory being in charge of
Mr. Forsen, a gentleman of long experience and
notable ability.
TO HANDLE MEHLIN AS LEADER.
The H. A. Meldrum Co., the well-known depart-
ment store house have arranged to open a piano
department in Buffalo, N. Y., about March 4, un-
der the management of F. C. Henderson, of Bos-
ton. They will handle the Mehlin as their
leader.
JESSE FRENCH CO. CHANGES.
T. B. Long, assistant manager of the Jesse
French Piano & Organ Co.'s house in Birming-
There was a rumor afloat this week among the ham, Ala., has been appointed manager of the
Crude
Methods
of
Transportation—Pack
retailers and manufacturers that the truck- branch which this company has arranged to open
Donkeys Take Place of Piano Movers.
men were going to make another attempt to ad- in Chattanooga, Tenn. L. O. Parsons has been
In a recent issue of the Record-Herald, of Chi- vance cartage charges. With the spring coming promoted to the position vacated by Mr. Long.
cago, Frank G. Carpenter, the well-known cor- on and a great demand for trucks among the
respondent, contributed a very interesting article other lines of trade, the owners seem to think
JOINS SMITH & NIXON FORCES.
upon conditions in Tangier, Morocco, in which he they should receive more for their work and
H. O. Friedrich, who has been connected with
wrote as follows regarding the manner in which their men, and that they will be in a position
pianos are transported in that country.
to enforce their demands. The large factories the management of F. J. Schwankovsky's music
"This country, which is six times as large as that provide their own shipping facilities would house in Detroit, for quite a time, has resigned
the State of Ohio, and which contains one-tenth not be affected, but such a move would seriously to take charge of the Smith & Nixon Co.'s branch
as many people as our whole country, has no affect the weaker ones. As yet no demand has in Toledo, O. Hereafter F. J. Schwankovsky,
other roads than bridle paths, and all transpor- been made, and it is hoped by all that none Jr., will assume the management of business in
Detroit.
tation is on horses, mules, donkeys or camels, will be.
PIANO CARTINGUN TANGIER.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
FEVLW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
GBO. B. KBLIJJR.
W . N. TTLBB.
F. H. THOMPSON.
BMILIB FBANCXB BACBX.
L. H>. BOWERS. B. BBITTAIN WILSON, W K . B. WHITB. L. J. CHAMBKBLIN. A. J . NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. YAN HARLINOEN, 196-107 Wabaab Are.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
L. WAITT, 278A Tremont St.
PHILADELPHIA :
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BURBN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. II. GRAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI. O.: NINA PUQH-SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: PAUL T. LOCKWOOD.
LONDON. ENGLAND:
69 Basinghall St., E. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
REVIEW
foundation that it can successfully withstand any shocks to which
it must be exposed in days to come.
N advertiser in writing to The Review asks the following ques-
A
tion : "Do you believe in magazine advertising, and would
you advise us to enter into it?"
Yes, we believe in magazine advertising. It is excellent, and
if one has a large amount of money to expend there is no question
as to ultimate results. But we do not think that it will be profitable
for our client to invest in magazine advertising, because we know
in the first place that his expenditures would only amount to a few
thousand dollars—not enough to make an appreciable effect in the
great magazines, where a small advertisement is hopelessly lost
among the mass of general advertising which takes up more than
two-thirds of the total number of pages in the current magazines
of wide circulation. We know, too, that he has not a strong chain
of agencies over the country, therefore his advertising would not
materially help his dealers, and he would be paying too high a rate
for those whom he could directly interest.
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, f 4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, f 2.00 per lncb, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, shonld be made payable to Bdward
\>yman Bill.
Directory ol Plamo The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporation*
on another page will be of great ralue, as a reference
Manufacturers found
for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
tirand Prtii
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medot.LewlB-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable address: "Elblll New York."
NEW
YORK, FEBRUARY 23, 1907
EDITORIAL
D
URING the last half of February there has been a material
improvement in business. Up to that time there has been a
general languishing in trade circles, and considerable disappointment
has been expressed in the retail departments of the piano industry
at the slowness of trade since the first of the year.
In reviewing the trade situation last week we referred to causes
which have contributed to this dulness. There is no good reason
why piano men should not look forward with satisfaction toward
an excellent year's business. A little slowing up does not mean that
dull trade is to follow. The pessimist has been refuted, and his
philosophy put to scorn, and business men everywhere are confident,
and confidence begets success. When all faces are turned toward
the dawn, no one can see the retreating shadows. It is, however,
the time to make the best out of generally satisfactory conditions
which surround us.
I
T is the time when business men should do a paying business,
and there can be no better occasion than the present for piano
merchants to increase the size of their deferred payments on piano
sales and to lessen the period over which the payments are to run.
It is conceded by business men in all lines that the granting of
long credit constitutes an element of weakness rather than strength,
and when piano payments extend over several years there is liable
to be a material depreciation in the paper assets of the dealer who
holds a vast amount of such instalment paper. There is no better
protection for business than to inject an element of conservatism
into the present expansive methods which have been generally pur-
sued in all trades.
W
E have had few failures in the piano industry during the
past year and a half, and this applies equally to the retail
as well as the manufacturing departments, and this year there will
be a less number than formerly, if rules of conservatism and busi-
ness prudence are firmly adhered to. The Review does not believe
in advocating an alarmist doctrine, but we feel there is no time so
good as the present to put the entire piano business on such a firm
M
AGAZINE advertising, as we view it, is unprofitable for
piano men unless they have splendid national connections.
Tn order to reap the fullest benefits, a concern should be represented
fairly by agents in the various cities throughout the land. People
who read the advertisements and are interested in the statements
made therein go to the nearest piano stores, and ask the merchants
if they have the Blank piano. Of course, they have not, and the
clever salesmen, who are not always guided by the finer instincts,
immediately take the opportunity to give the piano which is adver-
tised a gentle rap, and immediately offers a substitute. Then if the
persons who are interested in the advertisement care enough to
follow up the subject, their searches end in finding that there is no
representation of the particular piano in their vicinity. Piano pur-
chases are not made largely through factory correspondence, ex-
cepting the very cheap mail order instruments; therefore the piano
manufacturer who has a few thousand dollars only to expend in the
magazine might as well have dropped his money into the sea as far
as any actual returns come from his outlay.
A NUMBER of the larger manufacturers who have expended a
l V good deal of money in the magazines tell us that their returns
have not been anything nearly commensurate with the outlay, and
that while they have received thousands of replies which have been
sent to their various agencies, the prospects have not materialized
in a fairly remunerative way. Too large a percentage of the letters
have been written by young boys and girls who have been more
interested in gathering chromos and colored literature than in pro-
curing pianos for the home circle.
Mehlin & Sons do some clever advertising on the back page of
novels. You will see their advertisements almost everywhere on
the cars and at the news-stands, and while they do not mention in
their advertisements the name of their agents in the various cities
throughout the country, they expressly state that their pianos can
be secured from agencies in certain cities and towns, naming the
places; hence it is easy for the residents of those towns who are
interested in the advertisement to locate the Mehlin piano.
S
UBSTITUTION has and will continue to be an evil which exists
in this trade, and all trades for that matter, for dishonest
practices exist nationally of substituting an inferior article for that
which is admittedly good, on the ground that the one substituted is
"just as good." The piano merchant who has a call for a particular
piano does not hesitate to substitute the "just as good" piano, and
in too many instances he gets for the "just as good" a price which
should entitle the purchaser to become possessor of the original in-
strument asked for ; in other words, the one which has built the repu-
tation of the manufacturer.
T
HEN, too, there are many dealers who use the great names of
piano history simply as an allurement to draw customers to
the store, where salesmen are too often instructed talk the "just as
good," and even counsel the customer "not to pay too high a price
for a name." Because these practices exist in a national sense
should encourage piano manufacturers to place their own retail
prices on the instruments which they create.

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