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THE
REVIEW
fflJSIC TIRADE
VOL. X L V . No. 1 4 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Aye., New York, October 5,1907
GRANTING CREDIT TO JAPANESE.
The Review Correspondent in Japan Writes
Most llluminatingly on This Subject—The
Danger Lies Not With Foreign Houses Doing
Business in Japan, but With Unreliable Na-
tive Firms in the Flowery Kingdom.
(Special t»> The Review.)
Yokohama, Japan, Sept. 11, 1907.
Many firms in the music trade industry doing
business in this country have been somewhat
disturbed regarding the matter of granting credit
to Japanese firms. This has been brought about
in a Way through the fact that Consul General
H. B. Miller transmitted the following extract
from a Japanese publication to the authorities
in Washington in which he called attention to the
care necessary in giving credit to unknown firms
in Japan:
"The number of applications received by Jap-
anese chambers of commerce or foreign consul-
ates in Japan from foreign merchants asking
for assistance in opening direct import or export
business with Japanese merchants or manufac-
turers have largely increased of late. On the
authority of an official connected with commerce
and industry, contemporaries observe that some
of the Japanese firms recommended have proved
to be unsound in their standing. A certain
merchant of Osaka, who had been introduced
to a German firm, placed a large order for cham-
pagne with a firm in Germany, and having im-
ported the goods, closed the office. It is essen-
tial, concludes the official, to exercise the utmost
care in recommending a Japanese merchant to a
foreign firm in order to maintain the reputation
and credit of the Empire."
The above refers to native firms and not for-
eign houses doing business in Japan. The Jap-
anese of late have shown a tendency to transact
a direct business, owing to the willingness of
American houses to transact direct business.
This condition does not apply to continental
houses, who decline to accept orders from the
native houses except through their agencies.
Many American houses are tempted by accept-
ing direct orders, but with the millions tied up
here owing to various objections, and goods not
taken delivery of on arrival, many firms of late
have lost considerable.
It is quite a common thing here for American
importing firms to have goods received against
documents, and when delivery of same is taken
to find that duplicate orders have been placed
with Japanese for similar goods, from orders
having been placed direct. Consuls have for sev-
eral years tried to explain the result of such
actions and the British Consuls only claim that
there is but one result, that the importing house
shifts to continental houses, and in time the
American houses lose the business entirely.
A Japanese calls on a "correspondent writer,"
states his errand, and the writer proceeds to
have printed a letterhead to suit the letter, per-
haps with a million capital. For the small
sum of Yen 2.00 a letter is written in English
and the letterhead printed, and the direct in-
quiry has gone forward.
Firms desirous of direct connections with the
Japanese should not cast reflection in the direc-
tion of reputable houses located in Japan, who
have direct dealings with these people, in case
they have found direct dealings unprofitable.
Not only are many firms dishonest, but the
courts are positively against the foreigner when
it comes to filing any claim against the Jap-
anese. It is not advisable to bring suits in the
Japanese courts, as it is almost certain that
it becomes necessary to appeal to the highest
court before any decision will .be rendered in
favor of any foreigner.
Therefore caution should govern all direct
shipments. Letters of credit should be examined
and the usual A form accepted, toeing a free credit
without recourse, and not merely an acceptance
on the part of the bank, with promise to re-
turn the cash in case parties here do not pay
drafts when presented. Many of the forms have
been issued of late and accepted by American
firms.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$8.00 PER V E A R .
E. E. Cross, Pleasanton, Kans., has entered the
piano field again and intends soon to enlarge his
quarters and also to cover more territory with
his line of pianos.
THE RIGHT TO A NAME.
Recent Decisions Show Tendency of Courts
to Protect Manufacturers of Well Known
Lines Against Trading on Their Names.
The tendency of the courts to protect the manu-
facturer who has built up a reputation for mer-
chandise for years put out under his name or
that of his predecessors recently received fresh
illustration in a decision rendered by the New
Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals.
In this case the International Silver Co. sued
the William H. Rogers corporation, demanding
that the defendant be compelled to refrain from
using the name "Rogers," or to stamp upon his
goods "not the original Rogers," or "not connect-
ed with the original Rogers."
SOME KANSASj;iTY NOTES.
A lower court had held that the defendant
sufficiently distinguished his wares from the com-
Wessel Expansion—Max Stern Co.'s Display—
plainant's by adding to his name, on the stamp
Items from Topeka, Centralia, Pleasanton
applied to them, his address, thus: "William H.
and Other Points in the Southwest.
Rogers, of Plainfield, N. J.," and by using labels
in connection with the goods bearing the words,
{Special to The Review.)
"not connected with any other Rogers." On this
Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 30, 1907.
S. M. Wessel has decided that Fourteenth and ground the bill of complaint was dismissed.
The higher court, in reversing this decree, said
Grand avenues of this city, the location at which
the Kansas City Music Co. have conducted busi- that the labels bearing the words, "not connected
ness since their organization, is not best adapted with any other Rogers," which were put upon
for the music business, and he has completed the boxes, packages and wrappers, inasmuch as
arrangements for the removal of the business they did not reach the purchaser at the retail
to 1019 Main street, which is the very center of establishment, were no protection to the consum-
Kansas City's retail trade. Mr. Wessel believes er. Furthermore, said the court, even if the
a much larger percentage of the cash buyers words, "not connected with any other Rogers,"
did reach the retail purchaser they would not suf-
can be reached from the new location.
Max Stern & Co. are having a nice trade under fice for his protection, since they might well be,
the new manager, E. H. Holt, formerly of Kiesel- and usually would be, employed by an original
horst Piano Co., of St. Louis, and with their manufacturer, seeking to warn the trade when
fine large window display of pianos seem to he found on the market other goods which might
be passed off as his. In other words, they would
have no trouble getting new prospects.
Manager Henley, of Olney Music Co., reports be the appropriate announcement of an original
a number of good sales through their aggressive maker, and would, furthermore, afford an un-
plan of advertising to out-of-town people, who scrupulous retailer good opportunity to pass off
the product as the original "Rogers" goods.
are in advance of the Priest of Palace days.
Similarly the L. E. Waterman Co., of New
Geo. N. Newton Piano Co., of Topeka, have
secured the services of T. J. Wray, formerly of York, have been awarded a preliminary injunc-
Carl Hoffman Piano Co., an old piano salesman, tion against the use of the name "Waterman,"
or any variation thereof, in any manner in con-
who is well known throughout Kansas.
C. M. Veach, of Washington, Kans., is holding nection with the manufacture and sale of foun-
a closing-out sale and intends seeking a new tain pens.
field in some larger city.
B. J. Marvin, 2207 East Fifteenth street, has
CHARGES AGAINST NEW YORKERS.
purchased a new stock of instruments, and will
Piano dealers in Jersey City, N. J., are com-
enter the piano field in earnest. Mr. Marvin
plaining bitterly against the methods of some
has a large class of repairing and tuning.
C. W. McBratney, Centralia, Kans., is putting New York salesmen for obtaining business in
up a new building for his music store, having their territory. It is claimed that one of the
lately gone into the music business.
unfair schemes is to watch prospects when they
A. G. Gambrell, manager of the talking ma- leave the stores and follow them home where
chine department of the Kansas City Music Co., special inducements are made to effect a sale.
goes to Chicago, Octoter 1, to take the manage- In some instances, it is said, prospects have been
ment of a nsw talking machine house there. Mr. accosted right on the street after leaving the
Gambrell has made many friends while at Kansas store of a local dealer. All the dealers join in
City and is considered one of the best talking condemning the unfair tactics of these outside
machine men in the city,
salesmen,