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THE MUSIC TRADE
PIANO OUTLOOK IN CHINA.
Sales of European Instruments Increasing De-
spite Acknowledged Superiority of American
Makes—Close Attention to Local Demands.
Reason for Success of Europeans—A Lesson
for Our Own Manufacturers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Sept. 14, 1907.
Wilbur T. Gracey, Consul at Tsingtau,
China, recently transmitted a rather interesting
and exhaustive report relative to the importa-
tion and sale of pianos in that country, which
read as follows:
During the year 1906 pianos were imported
into China to a total value of 190,388 haikwan
or customs taels ($152,310), the major portion
of which came from Germany and the Continent
of Europe. The import is considerably more than
double that of any previous year. British pianos
accounted for 47,401 haikwan taels (1 haikwan
tael equals 80 cents gold). Japan sent pianos
worth 38,109 haikwan taels, which had probably
been first imported into Japan from other for-
eign countries.
The largest importing cities
were Canton, Shanghai and Tientsin, the former
accounting for 11,163 haikwan taels; Shanghai,
64,403 haikwan taels, and Tientsin, 68,052 haik-
wan taels.
It will be seen by the figures quoted that the
piano business is becoming a considerable item
in the imports of this country. The business is
handled almost entirely by two firms in Shang-
hai, Hongkong and Tientsin. (Addresses on file
at Bureau of Manufactures.) These are both
British firms and naturally incline toward in-
struments of British manufacture. The lower
cost of German makes commands a sale for them,
but it.is said that they do not stand the climate
as well as those of British or American manu-
facture.
It is contended that the better class American
goods are on the whole the most satisfactory, but
notwithstanding the great increase in the im-
porations for 1906, American pianos show a fall-
ing off from previous years. A value of 18,707
haikwan taels was imported from the United
States in 1904, which fell to 8,732 haikwan taels
in 1905, but increased slightly to 15,369 haikwan
taels in 1906. The importations from Great
Britain doubled in the three years, as did also
those from the Continent of Europe.
Part of this increase in Continental makes
is due to the fact that the climate has been
carefully investigated by the German makers, and
instruments are now being specially manufac-
tured to withstand the enormous changes. Sim-
ilar special pianos are being manufactured by
the British, and a large number of instruments
are being manufactured locally in Shanghai and
Hongkong from parts purchased in Europe.
REVIEW
There is also an excellent opportunity for the
sale of pianolas and pianos with self-playing
attachments. Those most popular are ones man-
ufactured entirely of metal. Where rubber is
used in the construction they quickly rot and
become useless. One of the greatest points in
the sale of American pianos, organs, etc., is the
fact that they are not properly packed to with-
stand the heavy strain to which they are sub-
jected. Such labels as "This side up with care,"
etc., convey no impression to the Chinese mind,
and owing to the fact that almost everything
in China is done backward, the box is more liable
to arrive upside down than in its proper posi-
tion. It is therefore necessary to expect that
piano cases will be subjected to such rough
treatment, and the piano or piano player must
be so strongly attached to the box that its stand-
ing on end or in any other position will not
affect its interior. Pianos sometimes arrive from
America so scratched and damaged that their
worth is greatly depreciated and occasionally in
such condition that repairs are impossible.
The best method of introduction is to have
agents on the spot. It is not probable that Brit-
ish firms who already have their lines of pur-
chase established will endeavor to exploit Ameri-
can wares. Tsingtau is supplied almost entirely
from Shanghai, though a few instruments are im-
ported direct from Germany.
Mr. Gracey also states that catalogs should be
sent for filing at his office, and that prices should
be given c. i. f. Tsingtau, and in German marks,
this currency being best understood.
ADMIRE THE MASON & HAMLIN.
Henri Ern, of the Cincinnati College of Music,
Writes a Most Appreciative Letter Regard-
ing This Creation.
piano so fully satisfies me, for no other piano
so harmonizes with the tone of my Stradivarius.
In fact, the same genius which made Stradivarius
stand first among violin makers seems to have
produced in your instrument that beauty of tone
which shows the height of artistic conception
and the perfection of human workmanship. Your
small grand is particularly delightful, especially
in those two or three octaves above middle C,
where most pianos are defective in singing qual-
ity. I congratulate you. You deserve to be
congratulated on your product."
STARR PIANOS FOR COLLEGES.
Seven Carloads of These Instruments Go to
Judson College Within Six Years.
Seven carloads of Starr pianos to one college
within six years is the record made by the Jesse
French4 Piano & Organ Co., Birmingham, Ala.
After six years of use, and just before ordering
another carload for the fall opening, Dr. Patrick,
president of Judson College, who used the in-
struments, wrote to the piano company as fol-
lows: "Dear Sirs—I have much pleasure in say-
ing that after six years of constant use of the
large number of Starr pianos which were sold us
by you, we find them entirely satisfactory. In
fact, they have stood the severe test of eight
hours' use a day better than any other piano
we have tried, and I take pleasure in commend-
ing not only the durability, but the workmanship
and tone of these excellent instruments. Very
truly yours,
ROBERT G. PATRICK,
"President Judson College."
MOLLER, PIPE ORGAN DEDICATED.
M. P. Moller, the well-known organ builder, of
Hagerstown, Md., recently completed the erection
Numerous and frequent are the letters received of a handsome organ in the Heath Methodist
from admirers of the Mason & Hamlin pianos who Episcopal Church, Middleport, Ohio, which was
feel moved to send in a written expression of
dedicated on September 2. The organ is of
their admiration for those superb instruments. medium size, but is complete in every particular,
Among the latest to take this course is Henri being fitted with the celebrated Moller patent
Ern, the Swiss musician and composer, who re- tubular pneumatic action. The voicing of the
cently became head of the violin department of pipes and the perfect regulation of the stops
the Cincinnati College of Music, in which in- called fort unstinted praise from members of
the church and the local press in general.
stitution Mason & Hamlin pianos are used.
In a letter to the Cable Company, in that city,
he says: "I desire to express to you my entire
Edmund Bevan, agent for E. B. Bogart &
appreciation of your superb pianos, which I have Co., was numbered among the exhibitors at the
admired for several years, but have come in the County Fair, held in Wilkesbarre, Pa., and was
past two years to consider it the most beautifully more than pleased with results.
toned piano in the world. I have used them in
my concerts, also with the Schubert Trio, and
E. J. Smith and Frank Bogart have bought
played them repeatedly in private. No other out the Remff music store in Newton, Iowa.
BEST STYLE OF CONSTRUCTION.
It must be taken into consideration by piano
makers in the united States that the instruments
must he so made that they can endure excessive
dampness during the summer months, and in-
North China extreme dryness in the winter.
German manufacturers are making piano cases
of strips of wood which are not solidly glued
together, allowing the wood to expand and con-
tract without affecting the piano. Rubber is
never used, leather being substituted, as the
former becomes hard and falls away within a
few months.
The principal objection to American pianos
seems to be that the wood of which they are
manufactured swells so much in damp weather
that the keys stick together and do not rise
after being struck. Owners endeavor to obviate
this by placing small charcoal fires inside the
lower part of the piano to dry them out, but
this is never satisfactory. All classes and makes
of pianos suffer in this same way during the
damp season, but American instruments seem
to be worse than those which are specially con-
structed for the climate. American pianos seem
to retain their tune, however, better than other
makes, and especially is this so with those in-
struments manufactured and strung like a guitar,
which will usually retain their tune for at least
a year after being attended to.
YOU
as a dealer in pianos are
qualified to be a good judge
of what is right in cabinet
work, finish and all the
other little details that go
to make the finished prod-
uct. We desire to state
with all due modesty that a
better line of Cabinets than
ours for Sheet Music and
Piano Player Rolls has never
been produced.
Quality
above the average. Prices
below the average.
• S|P^ • If
ML
No. 628. JMusic Cabinet. Solid Mahogany
Crotch Swell Door.
THE UDELL WORKS, Indianapolis, Ind., U. S. A.
If you are a dealer we will take pleasure in sending our New Catalog