Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSiC TRADE! REVIEW
nificance—because Japanese pianos are in ques-
tion. As Japanese pianos have already gone as
far as Penang, the supposition is justified that
John Barrett Thinks We Have Reason to Fear
they soon will find their way to India. Add to
Their Competition as Soon as the Panama
this the very fortunate circumstance for Japan
Canal Is Built—The Japanese Situation
that there new exists among the exotic and yel-
from a German Viewpoint.
low races, and even among the indifferent and
If the Japanese are not destined to capture a indolent Hindus, a very strong inclination to
large part of the world's trade, it will not be the Japan—an inclination which seems to grow in
fault of the advertising which they are receiving the same degree as the hatred of Europe and
from the leading authorities in Europe and in the Europeans increases; for since the Japanese-
America. According to John Barrett, director Russian war, Japan is looked upon by those races
of the International Bureau of American Repub- as leader and champion in the coming mighty
lics, the Japanese are getting ready to compete conflict against Europe some day to break out,
for that part of the $500,000,000 commerce of according to the imagination of thosa brown
the Pacific Coast in South America, which will and yellow races. In consequence of this in-
JAPANESE AS_PIANO MAKERS.
11
TRADE NOTES FROM CLEVELAND.
Dealers Getting Down to Work After Summer
Season—Many Visitors Within the Last
Couple of Weeks Owing to the Good Work
of the Merchants' Board of Trade—Starr
Co.'s Headquarters—Wamelink's Good Trade
—Muehlhauser-Locke's Good Order for Behr
Pianos—Henry Dreher in Canada Hunting
Game—Story & Clark Activity.
(Special to The Ueview.)
Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1907.
With the end of the summer season and the
discontinuance of shorter hours on Saturdays
and evenings the piano trade in this city have
settled down to hustle and get their share of
what is believed will be a heavy winter busi-
ness.
Many dealers from other States have visited
the city within the last couple of weeks and the
local trade have therefore been busy entertaining.
They took advantage of the special rates secured
by the Wholesale Merchants' Board, of this city,
who have just concluded a very successful ex-
cursion for out-of-town merchants who desired
to make their fall purchases in Cleveland.
The policy which was adopted last spring of
entertaining the visiting merchants was renewed
this fall, but on a much more elaborate scale.
The board engaged the entire capacity of the
Euclid Garden Theatre, seating 2,000 people, for
one evening during the excursion week; for one
of the afternoons they had a section of reserved
seats at the Cleveland League Baseball Park,
and on the same afternoon, for those of the vis-
itors who preferred it, they provided an auto-
mobile ride through Cleveland's park and boule-
A 1'lANll A M I UHliAN l ' l . A N T I N T O K 1 O . J A P A N .
vard system, with light refreshments at the
be made possible through the completion of the dination, the Japanese are enabled to ask very
grounds of the Euclid Club. On the following
Panama Canal, and in which musical instruments high prices for their exported pianos, absolutely
afternoon a fast passenger steamer was engaged
figure to some extent. England and Germany disproportionate to their deficiencies and the
to afford the visiting merchants a sail on Lake
are also getting in line for the trade conflict, carelessness of their construction.
Erie.
but Japan, according to the best accounts, is get-
"In Korea, now absolutely under the control
One hundred and twenty-five thousand circulars
ting to work in a systematized way. According of Japan not only politically, but also in com-
to Mr. Barrett, competition from Japan in pianos merce, the Japanese exporters dare to ask the were mailed, notifying merchants of the excur-
and organs in that section of South America is same prices for their pianos, often manufactured sion, explaining the manner in which the reduced
assured. Of course this is looking far ahead, by putting together old and worn-out materials rates could be obtained and outlining the forms
but it is well to keep track of such keen com- and only fitted up by a splendid new polish—as of entertainment arranged for. In addition, a
petitors as the Japanese, who have been aptly European exporters get for their instruments, stamp bearing the words, "Wholesale Merchants'
termed the Yankees of the East.
elaborated in every detail. And even if the Board Week" was used on all mail matter sent
The situation in Japan in regard to the piano admiration for Japan may perhaps by and by out by the wholesale houses of Cleveland during
three weeks previous to the affair.
The results were most gratifying, a large num-
ber of merchants being attracted, many of whom
visited Cleveland for the first time.
The Starr Piano Co. have issued an order
designating this city as headquarters for the
Northern Ohio division, with A. L. Vernon as
district manager. All the present branches will
be continued, but it is thought the new move
will add strength to the organization.
J. T. WameMnk & Sons Piano Co. are doing
an excellent business in Mason & Hamlin and
Henry F. Miller pianos. They have recently dis-
posed of several high-priced Mason & Hamlin
grands.
The Muehlhauser-Locke Co. have experienced
a heavy demand for Behr Bros, pianos, and not
long ago placed a large order with J. A. Krumme,
I'lAXO AXD ORGAN FACTORY OF THE MATSl'MATO MUSIC CD.. TOKIO. JAI'Ax.
Jr., Behr Bros.' traveler, when he was in the city.
industry has been summed up by a trade paper be diminished, the Japanese piano manufacturers
The B. Dreher's Sons Co. recently closed out
published in Germany as follows: "One gets the will be enabled to lower their prices two-thirds or
all their line of used pianos by means of a very
impression that the Japanese are seriously pre- more, and still pocket enough profits to prosper.
successful "red tag" sale, ably seconded by lib-
paring to establish a large and comprehensive Our correspondent is told by French and Ger-
eral advertising. They now have nothing but
manufacturing industry, combined with far- man captains of steamers that frequently very
new stock upon which to begin the fall campaign.
reaching export, and the piano manufacturers in old instruments are imported to Japan—instru-
Henry Dreher left last week upon a Canadian
Europe should direct their attention to this new ments which are of no value, and it has been
hunting trip after big game.
and dangerous competitor in the Far East. Of
incomprehensible to them what the Japanese
The Story & Clark Piano Co., and H. E. Me-
course, the Japanese instruments are at present were going to do with such old boxes. The
of the lowest grade only, as is nearly every- captains certainly did not know that these boxes Millin, Jr., who handles the Vose, both report
thing manufactured in different branches of trade were imported either for patterns or to be re- good sales, with excellent prospects for a heavy
in Japan for the purpose of export to China, modeled into entirely new Japanese pianos—a fall and winter business.
Korea and Manchuria. But still this competition process now comprehensible to every one familiar
C. J. Tornbom is the name of a new piano deal-
of Japan in the piano trade is of peculiar sig- with the circumstances explained above."
er in Northwood, N. D.
POOLE
PIANOS
Appeal to cultivated tastes. They are
marvels of beauty and form at once a
valuable accessory to any piano store
6 and 7 APPLETON STREET. BOSTON, MASS.