Music Trade Review

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THE.
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
conditions. Wero prices fixed for the first half
of next year on Imported lines, the primary
handlers would be relieved in a marked degree.
In All Branches of the Small Goods Field.—
When requested by The Review for an ex-
Prices of Imported Merchandise the Only
pression of opinion regarding trade in general,
Disturbing Feature of the Market—The Situ-
a prominent wholesaler said:
"Business con-
ation Analyzed.
tinues good and far beyond our expectations for
The remarkable condition of the small goods
this time of year. We usually have a breathing
market shows no abatement in the volume of
spell about now, in order to inventory stock and
business transacted. The chiefs of the leading
enjoy a respite from the cares and exactions of
firms in the wholesale and importing line de-
business, but this July finds us still selling and
clare the equal of the present situation is not hurrying forward shipments to meet a strong,
within their experience. Nearly all the travel-
healthy demand. Prices are very much un-
ers are in from the road, but orders have come
settled. So much so that we cannot make up
by mail in size and quantity to surprise the most
our catalog with any certainty that the figures
stolid. Prices on foreign musical merchandise
quoted win stand. This is the only drawback
are the only disturbing feature of an otherwise
to an otherwise strong condition of trade. In
pleasant current and prospective business out-
fact, we would not accept an import order with-
look. Changes are the order of the day, and
out the proviso of baing subject to market
scarcely a week passes by but what the cost of
changes."
some lines has not been lifted. According to the
latest information from abroad prices are ad-
SHIPMENTS NOW ARRIVING
vancing on accordeons and harmonicas, with
leather goods of domestic manufacture also ele-
For Fall Trade—Inquiries for Samples Are Be-
vated. A few weeks ago The Review mentioned
ing Rapidly Received.
the bullish attitude of the manufacturers of
leather
specialties—violin, mandolin, guitar
Shipments of small goods from the other side
cases, music rolls and satchels. These latest re- for the fall trade are now arriving daily, and in
ports confirm the statements then made. It was
large quantities. The goods are not broken in
also avowed that with the growing scarcity of
bulk, but are sent forward as rapidly as entry
leather and the increased cost of production
and release from the customs authorities will
prices would remain stationary for many years,
permit. Inquiries for samples of the new lines
if not for all time.
are also being received from the interior, and
Other branches of the music trade may, and the traveling men are packing samples for an
doubtless have felt a marked falling off in" early start, more to ascertain the feeling and
trade, but not so with the small goods people.
trend of the trade than with the expectation of
The talk of a business depression has not af- writing large orders. The anticipation is that
fected them in the slightest. The largest buy-
buying will be literal, and on the second round-
ing comes from the West, with the East a trifle
up of their respective territories the "plum tree"
weak and the South improving. An observation
will be ripe for a vigorous and profitable
that has become very general is that there is shaking.
now visible a distinct strengthening of senti-
ment so far as the business and financial future
F. B. BURNS' FINE LINE OF SCARFS.
is concerned, a prognostication heartily agreed
upon by the small goods distributers. The in-
Frank B. Burns, the piano scarf manufacturer,
trinsic situation is just as it has been for months
of 91 New Jersey Railroad avenue, Newark, N. J.,
and there has been absolutely no change dur-
has ready for the market a new line of scarfs
ing the last few weeks in general and underlying
entirely different from anything previously
shown. His factory is fully equipped for turn-
ing out goods of the better sort, and from the
way orders are received the trade apparently
appreciate the fact. Mr. Burns was in Chicago
Convention week and was successful in captur-
ing a number of nice oiders both in Chicago
and on the road.
AND
BUSINESS CONTINUES ACTIVE
VIOLINS
BOWS, STRINGS
HIGH-CLASS TRIMMINGS
BDEfiELEISEN & JACOBSON
113-115 UNIVERSITY
One block west of Broadway
F.
PLACE
N E W YORK
MILLER MAKING STRENUOUS FIGHT.
A. W. Miller, Kansas City, Mo., agei:t for the
Regina music boxes, who has been fighting the
police board against having the music boxes
classed as musical instruments within the mean-
ing of the city ordinances, has lost his case, the
Q. B U R N S fit CO.
THE NEW NOVELTY LINE OF PIANO SCARPS
It will pay you to write lor a line of samples to be sent on approval.
Ol IV. «J. R . R . A V E . , N E W A R K , N . «J.
The MORRIS DUET PIANO BENCH
Superior in Style, Strength and Finish
L. D. MORRIS <& CO.
Room 615, INo. 17 Van Bur-en Street
BUYING OLD FIDDLES.
How Some Fine Instruments Have Been Picked
Up Cheap.
Great numbers of fine old violins and violon-
cellos that came into the high class market of
L ondon are procured through the medium of
advertisements inserted in obscure country
papers, and especialy those of ancient cathedral
cities, says "Tit-Bits." Of course, few of the
fiddles thus obtained are veritable masterpieces,
but a great many of them are fine examples of
early English and foreign makers, and they are
often bought for ridiculously small prices by a
group of experts, who have brought the business
to a lucrative system. Many a struggling family
of long descent, in some out of the way part of
the country, happens to see in the one county
newspaper of the week that good prices are
given for old fiddles, and some long forgotten
instrument in a lumber room, or put away on a
shelf, suddenly comes to mind.
Correspondence follows; the dealer sends a
doposit in order that some fiddle spoken of may
be sent to him and examined, and he usually re-
plies that the instrument sent is dilapidated and
but so-so generally, but that he is willing to give
30s. or £2 for it. In a great many cases the offer
is accepted offhand, and in this way most of the
finest fiiddles extant of the second class come in-
to the hands of dealers. Only lately a 'cello that
came from a Shropshire farm at the price of
£2 sold the same day to a West End dealer for
nearly £100.
One of the most shrewd and respected of all
these dealers was, until a year or two ago, a
humble member of the orchestra of a London
suburban theatre. He began to advertise in re-
mote papers to the greatest limits of his scanty
wages, and is now one of the most extensive
and prosperous dealers in the trade.
ABOUT THE NEW DITSON BUILDING.
Since the erection of the Ditson building at
8-12 East 34th street, New York, the adjoining
property on the east has advanced $10,000.
From this some idea may be obtained of what
real estate values may reach shortly in that part
of the city, the new music center of the metrop-
olis. Charles H. Ditson, president of the Oliver
Ditson Co., financed the erection of the structure
personally, an unusual proceeding. A sign 25
feet by 10 will be painted on the western wall
of the Ditson building, so as to be visible at
Sixth avenue.
Prof. Hugo Heermann
The Eminent Violinist and
BLACK DIAMOND Strings
GENTLEMEN : —
CH1CAOO
Eagle Brand Drum and Banjo Heads; 20th Century Drums,
Rex Banjos, Mandolins and Guitars.
FACTORS
authorities holding that, although automatical}
operated, a music box was an instiument for the
production of music, a.:d to be classed as such.
As a result of the decision over one hundred and
fifty music boxes were removed from various
saloons last week.
THE TRADE,
I am sailing to Australia next week, and shnll
pjiss through New York between the 5th and
8th of May ("Blucher," Hamburg-Amerlka Line).
Will you send enclosed order for Violin strings BLACK DIAMOND to address given be
low. or do you hiive a Dealer's shop in New
York where I might find your strings? If so.
please let me know at the same address.
The strings are most excellent.
Yours sincerely,
II. HEERMANN.
Frankfort o/M., April, 1905.
NATIONAL MUSICAL STRING COMPANY
New Brunswick, New Jersey