Music Trade Review

Issue: 1907 Vol. 45 N. 13

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
ffUSIC TIRADE
V O L . X L V . N o . 1 3 . PubUshed Every Saturday by Edward LymanBill at 1 Madison Aye., New York, September 28,1907
TO PREVENT MISUNDERSTANDING.
How S. M. Wessel
—Conditions Are
That They Have
Later—Excellent
Acknowledges Time Sales
Set Before Purchasers so
No Excuse for Complaints
Pointer, for Dealers.
THE KNABE IN RUSSIA.
Hermann & Grossman, the Leading Musical
House in St. Petersburg, Secure the Repre-
sentation for Russia—The Deal Was Closed
by Ernest J. Knabe While in Berlin.
SINGL E
S
CENTS
-
$ 2 .OO°PER VEAR
November 1. Mr. Palmer -has planned to locate
in the western part of Nebraska. He came
from England about two years ago, and was
with the Schmoller & Mueller Music Co. for
several months before going with the Hospe Co.
NEW CONTRACTS IN TEXAS
The firm of Hermann & Grossman have recent-
ly
been
appointed
agents
for
the
Knabe
in
the
Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 23, 1907.
Have Been Framed Up by the Cable Company
Here is a sample of a statement sent out to Russian Empire. This firm are considered the
to Meet Provisions of the Anti-Trust Laws
customers by S. M. Wessel, of the Kansas City leading musical house in St. Petersburg and other
of That State.
Music Co., this city, which it would be well for important cities, with connections extending
In order to comply with the drastic provisions
other dealers to follow, and which would at once throughout the entire Russian Empire. Ar-
relieve the trade of any false representations rangements for the establishment of this agency of the Texas anti-trust laws the Cable Com-
pany have framed up new contracts with the
by their salesmen, or any misunderstanding with
dealers providing that they may sell instruments
the customer:
in any part of the State, which privilege is
"Dear Sir—I acknowledge receipt of note and
also reserved by the manufacturers. This move
mortgage covering
piano
signed
was made as it was feared that to restrict terri-
by yourself under date of September 6th, with
tory would conflict with the law, and as viola-
first payment of $25, and subsequent payments of
tions mean a penitentiary sentence upon convic-
$6 each, payable on the 6th day of each succeed-
tion, extreme caution is the rule. So far-reach-
ing month, with interest of 6 per cent, on de-
ing are the provisions of the new laws that even
ferred payments.
the best legal talent of the State are not sure
"Remittance may be made by postoffice or ex-
just what constitute real or technical violations,
press money-order, and if you will on October 6
and are standing pat until a test case comes up
remit $6.03 and on November 6 remit $6.06, and
before the courts. With a prospect of prison
on the 6th day of each succeeding month, remit
upon
conviction, however, no martyr has been
$6 and add 3 cents to the former remittance, you
found to sacrifice himself for the test.
will keep your instalments and the interest
thereon, up to date, and if, at any time, you
wish to remit a larger amount than $6, figure
SIGNS ON FREIGHT TRAINS
interest on whatever amount you wish to remit
Will Not be Allowed in Future by Many Rail-
from September 6, 1907, to the date you make
roads—The Reasons Why.
the remittance, and you will thus keep thor-
oughly acquainted with the condition of your
It has been noted recently that several rail-
account.
roads have refused to permit the placing of plac-
"The entire interest you will pay on the ac-
ards or signs on carload, or trainload shipments
count, if you pay on the basis of your contract,
of pianos. One road claims that the signs pre-
will amount to about $22, but if you find your-
sent an unsightly appearance, while another de-
selves in position to remit $10 per month, the
clares that an entire trainload of freight was
interest you will pay will amount to about $12.
destroyed by fire owing to sparks from the en-
You can thus see that the larger the payments,
gine igniting a sign attached to one of the cars.
the smaller amount of interest you will be called
According to present prospects it seems as though
upon to pay."
that profitable and very convincing form of ad-
If the customers do not want to meet the
MR. UI-LMAN.
E. J . KNABE.
Mil. GROSSMAN.
vertising will have to be discontinued in future.
requirements as set forth by Mr. Wessel in his
statement to them, then it would be well were recently closed in Berlin by Ernest J,
to see them when the first payment is due and Knabe, Jr., of Wm. Knabe & Co., while he was MILLER PIANOS TO NOTED INSTITUTION.
determine whether there has been a misunder- on a tour of Europe. Mr. Grossman, of the
Ten Henry P. Miller pianos, eight uprights
standing or whether they are not the proper Russian firm, came from St. Petersburg to Ber-
people to trust with the goods longer than the lin in order to confer with Mr. Knabe. and and two grands, were recently purchased direct
first monthly payment is due? The fact of it is, placed the first order for his firm, this order from the manufacturers, by Abbott Academy,
that in the majority of cases the contract is calling for sixty Knabe grands. It is the in- Andover, Mass. The LaSalle Seminary also
received and a receipt for first payment acknowl- tention of the house of Hermann & Grossman possesses an even dozen Henry F. Miller pianos,
edged, and there is the end of the office deal un- to push the sale of the Knabe as is indicated having purchased a new one only recently.
til the purchaser is two or three months behind, by their initial order, and as they are leading
NEW PLAN TO CAPTURE "PROSPECTS."
while if served with a letter at the start like factors in the musical world in Russia they
that reproduced above, they will at once either will make a specialty of the Knabe in the vari-
A new plan of piano advertising was recently
come back with one excuse, or misunderstanding, ous concerts which come under their control.
or else will pay up rapidly and save the interest. Some of the leading artists of Europe play inaugurated by W. A. Orn, a piano dealer of
The plan is one that should be followed up by under the management of Hermann & Gross- Burlington, Iowa, who gave a moonlight excur-
all retail houses, and the better class of cus- man, and they will thus make use of the Knabe sion on the Mississippi and invited 350 of his
customers and prospects. Music for dancing was
tomers would be found, or the salesman who grand on their concert tours.
furnished by an orchestra and an immense talk-
makes so many "easy promises" would go into
ing machine.
some other business.
W. E. PALMER TO OPEN FOR HIMSELF.
(Special to The Review.)
Piper and Mclntire, piano dealers of Manches-
ter, N. H., had an exhibit of McPhail, Vose.
Christman and Kingsbury pianos at the New
Hampshire State Fair, held in Concord recently.
Will E. Palmer, for some time manager of
the sales department of the A. Hospe Co.,
Omaha, Neb., expects to resign his position, and
engage in the piano business for himself on
West & Bayless, the piano dealers of Wheaton,
111., recently made an excellent exhibit of Starr
and Newman Bros, pianos at the Wheaton county
fair, held in that town.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
ffiYHW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
#
J. B. SPELLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
GHO. B. KEIXEH,
W. H. DYKES,
P. H. THOMPSON.
EMILIE FBANCBS BATUMI,
L. E. BOWERS, B. BRITTAIN WILSON, W H . B. WHITE, L. J. CHAMBERLIN, A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 195-197 Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 278A Tremont S t
PHILADELPHIA:
It. W. KADFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
SAN FRANCISCO:
CHAS. N. VAN BDREN.
S. H. GRAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI, O.: NINA PUGH-SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
LONDON. ENGLAND:
69 Basinghalt St., E. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post OJiee as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage). United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada. $3.50 ; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. $2.00 per inch, 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, should be made payable to Edward
Ly.man Hill.
Directory ol Piano
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
'
:
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Mannlielnren
f o l . d e a i e r s and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal.. . S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. . . .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 1745 and 1761 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.

Cable address: "ElPlll New York."
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 28, 1907
EDITORIAL
I
T is said that one of the several topics discussed at the meet-
ings of the executive committee of the Piano Manufacturers'
National Association, which was held in this city this week, was the
stencil, or special brand piano, and its effect upon, the piano trade
of this country. The articles which have appeared in the various
trade papers written by Charles H. Parsons, former president of
the Piano Manufacturers' National Association, and W. L. Bush,
present vice-president, have been widely discussed, largely for the
reason that these gentlemen have been prominently identified with
association affairs for a number of years in a high official capacity,
hence their views are supposed to represent an official opinion and
to a degree the association sentiment. Then again, it is a fact that
some of the manufacturers have become greatly interested over
the encroach of the special brand upon the domain of the regular
piano product. There are some who believe that the special brand
production has reached such an acute stage that it may bring about
the dismemberment of the present piano manufacturers' association.
H E special brand proposition is a difficult one to grapple.
There is no doubt about that, because as long as there is a
demand coming from a legitimate trade for a special creation to
meet the requirements of a certain retail trade, that product will be
created whether pianos or any other line of manufactured product.
And it is absurd to say that a man is dishonorable or should be held
up to condemnation when he manufactures a product worth the
price which he asks for it, simply because he puts upon it some other
name than his own.
The practice of creating special brands exists in all trades
and dealers who have built up a reputation through years of honor-
able dealing will continue to put forth certain lines bearing either
their own trade-mark, or some special brand which they have
selected under which to exploit a particular line of goods.
T
T
HE piano business, therefore, is not different in this respect
than other lines, and it is unfair to accuse men of being
REVIEW
unscrupulous in their dealings simply because they create instru-
ments to meet a demand which is acknowledged to exist. Dealers
who sell the greatest pianos made also sell special brand pianos. The
great evil of special brand pianos lies in the fact that they have
been offered to the public at prices which should entitle the pur-
chasers to receive better piano values. The manufacturers of these
instruments have delivered to the dealers fair values, but many of
these in return have failed to give the customers as fair a deal as they
received from the manufacturers of the instruments. They have
exploited them in many cases at exorbitant prices, and they have
put forth the cheapest kind of commercial pianos at prices which
should have enabled the purchasers to become owners of good,
reliable instruments. The special brand must, therefore, be argued
from the viewpoint that it constitutes the open door to misrepre-
sentation and fraud on the part of the dealer, but the manufactur-
ers themselves hold the key to the situation. If all "the reputable
makers of pianos in this country would come together under an
agreement containing a penalty clause and put retail prices on all
their instruments—the correct prices—then they would at once
place the special brand instruments in the class where they properly
belong and remove the special as a menace to the legitimate inter-
ests of the trade. But will they do it ? There's the rub !
M
OST men, whether manufacturing pianos or any other line
of merchandise, are in business to accumulate money, and
many feel in supplying a demand for commercial pianos they are
taking the nearest and surest road to riches. Surely the demand
for special brands has advanced rapidly during the past few years,
showing that there is a sale for this class of instruments. A lot of
men, however, who decry the special brands or stencils are not
sincere in their utterances. Just the same with the trade news-
papers which have been loudest in their denunciation of the stencil
or special brand business; they have invariably done this with a
selfish motive in view. One of the most blatant while denouncing
the stencil was known to be wielding the big stick in a most at-
tractive manner over the heads of terrorized manufacturers.
T
H E great trouble is, there is a lot of rank insincerity about the
whole proposition. Men will decry the special brands and
still they go on to make them. Dealers will say that they don't like
to handle them, but still they must "keep them in stock to meet a
certain class of competition." Now, why not be honest with our-
selves and say that the special brand has gained ground purely
because it has made money for the manufacturer and for the dealer?
And that is why men have stuck to this line of business and why
they are pushing it strongly to-day.
Suppose all members of the association should agree to have
their own name cast in the iron plate, or the name of the corpora-
tion manufacturing every instrument sent forth from their fac-
tories ; they could easily form a lot of little dummy corporations and
put forth just as many special brand pianos, and still would be
within the letter of their agreement which would be violated in
spirit but not in fact. Suppose, if you will, every State should
pass a law compelling piano manufacturers to cast their names in
the iron plate of every instrument sent forth in order that the public
should be able to trace the origin of instruments purchased, would
that stop the manufacture? Not in the slightest. The dummy
corporations would again be formed.
O U P P O S E the Federal Government, as suggested by Mr.
vJ3 Clement, should pass a law that the name of the maker must
appear on every instrument offered for sale by all dealers in every
State and Territory. Would that reduce the sale of special brand
pianos? Not in the slightest, for innumerable little corporations,
with nothing behind them, could be formed for manufacturing
purposes and every manufacturer of special brand pianos may have
twenty or thirty more corporate names at his disposal, so there
would be no end to the list of special brands.
This proposition can only be viewed from the broadest possible
standpoint, and if the association splits on this rock neither one of
the dissenting parties will have accomplished much. Manufactur-
ers who are making one brand of pianos will advertise those pianos
more strongly and win a position for their instruments; but the
special will occupy a place until all of the manufacturers unite in
being perfectly honest with the entire piano purchasing trade of this
country, and put their own prices on their own instruments. If

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