Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE! REVIEW
11
Comparative figures given out by the Census Bureau show that this
industry made much greater progress in the five years between 1900
and 1905 than it did in the ten years between 1890 and 1900. The value
of the products furnishes perhaps the best indication of growth. This
item shows an advance from $36,868,169 in 1890 to $44,418,978 in 1900,
which was an increase of only $7,550,809, or 20.5 per cent, as compared
with the remarkable increase of over $25,000,000, or 56.6 per cent., in the
five years between 1900 and 1905.
The leading State in production of musical instruments is New York,
which reported products to the value of $24,277,927, representing more
than one-third of the total product of the United States. The State
ranking next in importance as regards this industry was Illinois, of which
the aggregate product was $13,997,728. Next comes Massachusetts, with a
product of $8,538,073; then Connecticut, with a product of $5,279,085. New
York has been a leader in this industry for more than 25 years. Massachu-
setts was the second State in importance in 1880 and again in 1890,
but in 1900 was outranked by Illinois, in which State the recent develop-
ment of the industry has been rapid.
The manufacture of pianos is largely centralized in New York City,
which reported a production of 82,532 upright pianos in 1905, representing
almost one-third of the total number produced in the United States. The
number produced in Chicago was 42,933. Boston produced 12,989.
In presenting the statistics of this industry the Census Bureau classi
fled the establishments with respect to their principal product under four
main heads, namely, pianos, organs, piano and organ materials, and
instruments and materials not specified. There were 249 piano establish
ments, 94 organ establishments, 101 establishments producing principally
SHOWIXG HEART Op THE PIANO DISTRICT ON F I F T H AVENUE.
ance they are lacking in some essentials; but they are interesting
because sent forth by the Federal Government.
The sky-line of New York is constantly changing, and in no other
i <>#
1 HE EVERETT QUARTERS ON WEST 'S2D STKEET.
piano and organ materials, and 181 establishments manufacturing instru-
ments and materials not specified. The value of products for these four
classes of establishments was, respectively, $46,922,471, $6,041,844, $13,-
128,315, and $3,481,710.
The manufacture of piano and organ materials has in recent years
attained considerable importance as a distinct branch of the industry,
and the value of such materials is shown separately for the first time
at this census. The figures do not include the value of the materials
produced and used by the manufacturers of the instruments. The aggre-
gate value of the piano and organ materials manufactured for sale was
$13,128,315. Nearly one-third of the total product was reported for the
City of New York.
The summary which we have made from the bulletin will be read
with interest.
Some of the Government reports which have been issued regarding
special trades are full of inaccuracies, and when they make their appear-
WANAMAKEK'S FIANO HEADQUARTERS.