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O3868A
REVIEW
THE
V O L . X L V . N o . 1.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Avc, New York, July 6, 1907
SOHMER & CO 'S IMPORTANT MOVE
*
Establish Uniform Retail Prices at Which
Sohmer Pianos Will be Sold in All Parts of
the Country—Their Letter to the Trade.
Sohmer & Co., the enterprising piano manu-
facturers of New York City, have decided to es-
tablish uniform retail prices for Sohmer pianos
in all parts of the country. This commendable
policy has long been advocated by The Review
as the only real solution of the one-price prob-
lem, and it is a pleasure to note that leading
manufacturers are perceiving the importance of
its adoption. There is no other plan of conserv-
ing the interests of the manufacturers, and main-
taining the high standard of their product. It
insures a scale of retail prices that will permit
Schmer pianos to be purchased North, South,
East and West at a uniform price, plus the dif-
ference in cost of freights and a 10 per cent, dis-
count allowed for cash.
The communication which has been sent out
by Sohmer & Co. to the trade covers the matter
very thoroughly, and is worth close perusal by
all interested:
"In these days, when there is so much of the
commercial spirit and talk of conflicting nature
in regard to the merits of the few high grade
artistic pianos made under different name?, we
believe it incumbent that we place ourselves on
record as regards the status of the Sohmer
piano.
"For a period of nearly forty years the Sohmer
piano has been recognized as that of the most
SINGL E
0
S
CENTS
-
$ 2 .OO PER VEAR
'Material, labor and all else that enters into
more kindly than at Washington, and that many
the production of our product has steadily in-
creased in cost, still we are able to offer the Son-
m e r piano at a reasonable price, on account of
o u r policy above referred to.
"The following prices will hereafter govern
who had been opposed to such an innovation are
now numbered among its friends, if not its sup-
porters as exhibitors; in fact, I found but few
who in any way expressed an unfavorable opin-
ion. The show in the Madison Square Garden
l a s t f a l l s e t m a n y o f t h e m thinking, and they
m a d e a c a r e f u l s t u d y of t h e benefltB t o b e de .
rived from t r a d e exhibitionS) with t h e
resu lt
t h a t a n y e x i s t i n g p r e j u d i c e was entirely elimi-
the different sty]es until further notice:
*
>
*
y
nated
*
*
*
* •
*
. • • " " •
| * « ^ o u Grand
* £ « Bab! T o u ° X v
' *
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Style
Concert
The
entir€
guocess
of t h e
CMning
ghow
are now
shaping themselves, the amount of floor space
in t h e a r e n a w m
b a r e I y b e s u f f i c i e n t for the
and those who do not
piano
manufacturerS)
is
^
assured> a n d
make
725
825
&n
earl
tbemgelves
from
the
application
left
on]y
matt ers
way
for
a choice of
space
may
flnd
locati
the
gallery. The dealers in their convention pro-
nounced themselves as greatly in favor of a Na-
Giand
tional
Fifteen dollars extra is charged for Louis XV
legs on grands.
"The above prices are net on deferred pay
ments subject to interest. A discount of 10 per
cent, is allowed for cash, plv the freight from
New York.
.
"No dealer or salesman has the right to alter
the prevailing prices, and we earnestly hope the
same will be strictly adhered to.
"Wishing you every possible success in your
efforts for the best interests of customer and
dealer, as well as ourselves, we remain with
thanks for past favors, yours very truly, Sohmer
& Co."
artistic in musical results. As we have grown
TAYLOR=GARDNER CO. AFFAIRS.
in experience, so has our product increased in
popularity, because cf its unquestioned merit
in a 1 that tends to the production of an instru-
ment individual in character.
"The house of Sohmer in the early days of its
existence adopted a conservative policy, in re-
fusing to pay for the expression cf hired per-
formers, many of whom were totally ignorant
of the first principles of piano construction, or
scale drawing. These essential points are known
to those enly who have both theoretical and
practical knowledge, whereby they are fully able
to produce results sought after. Every member
of our firm is practical in all that the word im-
plies. We are naturally proud of our achieve-
ments, and to-day we stand alone in the quality
of our product. We have never allowed our-
•
Ascribe All Their Troubles to Freight Block-
ades Last Winter—Finances in Good Shape.
Music
ghoW)
b e U e f t h a t i( . w Q u l d
compel
trdde
the
presence
prom
campalgn
nQW
Qn ^
expressed
t i m e b e a mar( . t h a t
of
j
e very
win
their
would
member of the
conduct
an
a m o n g e v e r y b r a n c h of t h e t r a d e
active
and
every foot of available
g p a c e b y t h e firgt o f S e p t ember."
,
MACftlM &. HA MI IN Cf\ PYDAIVQION
lYlAMJN CC IlAiYiLlfN \A). CArANMUfN.
Capital
Enlarged to $500,000—The Full
Amount to $200,000 Authorized Immediately
Subscribed for Tremendous Growth of This
Business Throughout the Country—Now
Splendidly Equipped to Meet AM Trade Re-
quirements—The Outlook Satisfactory.
belleve
j
and geveral
- n
can
d i s p o s e O f
"
The Taylor-Gardner Co., Tacoma, Wash., who
recently went into the hands of a receiver,
ascribe all their trouble to the freight blockades
last winter. When the blockade was lifted car
after car was received, causing heavy freight,
hauling and storage expenses. The affairs of
the company are in good shape, with assets of
over $140,000 and liabilities cf about $50,000. The
company has a first-class stock, nearly all new,
and business is good, and it is believed that the
creditors will permit the discharge of the re-
ceiver in view of a full and early settlement.
DRESSEL CLOSED MANY DE4LS
(Special to The Review.)
Boston, Mass., July 1, 1907.
At a special meeting of the stockholders of the
Mason & Hamlin Co., held at their office in this
city on Saturday, it was voted to increase the
capital stock of the company by $200,000. The
full amount authorized was immediately sub-
scribed for and was paid in in full to-day, July
1. thus raising the capital stock of the company
to $500,000.
The facts set forth herein afford further testi-
mony of the steady expansion of the business of
this house in every part of the country. The
wide recognition of the musical merits of the
Mason & Hamlin pianos, both grands and up-
rights, have not merely been confined to the
United States, but famous pianists all over the
world nave paid tribute to their
selves to become contaminated with the commer-
£APT
cial spirit, and in this respect we stand on a
plane wholly by ourselves. We point with par-
donable pride to the long list of well-known ar-
tists who use the Sohmer piano in daily practice,
all of whom have bought and paid for same. This
is surely a lasting tribute to the worth of our
efforts, and for which we have cause for con-
gratulation. Testimonials of paid artists have
no bearing on the value cf a piano, as the con-
certizing of instruments is solely a money trans-
action, and in many instances misleading. Com-
ment is unnecessary. We enjoy the distinction
of producing the best piano possible, where
money, brains, skill and effort are dominant fac-
tors. With these elements at our command, there
can be but one result, and that we have achieved
"
*
For Space at the National Music Show to be
Held at Madison Square Garden Next Sep-
tember, During His Visit to the Convention
at Chicago—Says That All Existing Preju-
dices Have Been Eliminated and the Success
of the Show Is Assured.
Captain J. A. H. Dressel, the manager of the
National Music Show, in referring to his trip to
Chicago during the convention week, said: "I
went to the convention more for the purpose of
becoming acquainted with every prominent
manufacturer than selling space for the coming
show, but at the same time I closed several very
nice deals. I was pleased to flnd that the matter
cent leasing of larger factory quarters, and now
augmented capital, will enable the company to
meet the accumulated demand for these crea-
tions.
The manufacture of an artistic piano is not a
matter of a month or two, but it means a
long period before the instrument is conceived
and placed on the wareroom floor. The extreme
care exercised as to the quality of materials
used, the skilful construction of the instrument,
and then the regulation of both tone and action
—all tending to the perfect musical creation—Is
something that involves great expense and time,
With their new facilities the Mason & Hamlin
Co. will be able to have a larger number of in-
struments in process of construction, and thus
worth. The re-
.—the best!
of a National Music Show was receive inucl}
be able to supply the requirements of the trade,