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THE
ffUJIC TRADE
V O L . XLVI. N o . 1 9 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman BUI at I Madison Ave., New York, May 9, 1908.
OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Decrease—Exports for the Month Are Much
Smaller—Player
Shipments
Made
Fine
Record—The Figures in Detail Regarding the
Various Instruments Furnish Some Interest-
ing Particulars to Our Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, May 6, 1908.
The summary of exports and imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month of
March, 1908, the latest period for which it has
been compiled, has just been issued by the Bu-
reau of Statistics of the Department of Com-
merce and Labor. The figures relating to musi-
cal merchandise, including pianos, organs, piano
players and miscellaneous "small goods" in the
musical field are as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
during March amounted to $106,112, as com-
pared with $127,213 worth which were imported
the same month of 1907. The nine months' total,
ending March, shows importations valued at
$1,113,164, as against $1,083,005 worth of musical
instruments imported during the same period
of 1907. This gives an increase in imports for
the nine months ending March of $30,159.
The import figures for the nine months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1906, $975,-
094; 1907, $1,083,005; 1908, $1,113,164.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for March, 1908, amounted to $283,784, as
compared with $293,296 for the same month of
the previous year. The nine months' exporta-
tion of musical instruments amounted to $2,554,-
968, aB against $2,361,545 for the same period
in 1907. This shows an increase in exports for
the nine months ending March of $193,423.
The export figures for the nine months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1906, $2,417,-
837; 1907, $2,361,545; 1908, $2,554,968.
Of the aggregate exportaticns in March there
were 712 organs valued at $42,711, as compared
with 1,042 organs in 1907, valued at $95,726.
The nine months' total shows that we exported
9,200 organs, valued at $559,778, as against 9,901
organs, valued at $678,296, for the same period
in 1907, and 10,191, valued at $716,788 for the
same period in 1906.
In March, 1908, we exported 312 pianos, valued
at $68,260, as against 321 pianos, valued at
$70,365, in March, 1907. The nine months' total
exports show 3,386 pianos, valued at $828,056, as
compared with 2,868, valued at $648,790, exported
in the same period in 1907, and 2,112, valued at
$482,849 for the same period in 1906.
Of the aggregate exportations in March there
were 387 piano players, valued at $121,445. For
the nine months' period 2,139 of these instru-
ments, valued at $588,818, went sent abroad.
The value of "all other instruments and parts
thereof" sent abroad during March, 1908, amount-
ed to $51,368, in the same month of 1907 the
value was estimated at $1)7.119.
The total exports for the nine months under
this heading foot up $578,316, as against $612,-
498 exported during the same period in 1907, and
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
$621,603 exported during the same period in
1906. This shows a decrease of $34,182.
will lose the sight of both eyes as the result of a
dynamite explosion last week.
HERBERT VISITS WEAVER PLANT.
ON EVE OF BUSINESS REVIVAL.
The Great Orchestral Conductor and Composer
Compliments the Weaver Co. on Their
Products—Played at the May Music Festival.
This Is the Consensus of Opinion of Men
Properly Qualified to Express Such Views
Based Upon a Study of Conditions.
While in York, Pa., recently, Victor Herbert,
his concert master, J. W. Spargur, and his man-
ager, R. W. Iverson, took the opportunity of
soing over the extensive plant of the Weaver
Organ & Piano Co. in that city, and studying
the process of manufacturing pianos and organs,
instruments in which they are naturally greatly
interested. Mr. Herbert, who is an expert
pianist as well as orchestra leader, 'cellist, and
composer, played one of the latest style Weaver
pianos, and was loud in his praise of its tonal
qualities. The party was conducted through the
works by M. B. Gibson, president of the com-
pany.
The Weaver piano had a prominent place in
the annual May festival of the York Oratorio
Society, at which Victor Herbert and his or-
chestra was one of the leading attractions. Mr.
Gibson, of the Weaver O. & P. Co., is vice-presi-
dent of the society.
(Special to The Review.)
GERMANY FEARS PATENT WAR.
Hears United States Will Compel Foreigners to
Exploit Inventions in This Country.
A dispatch from Berlin says that there is
anxiety in Germany over a rumored American
movement to compel the exploitation in America
of patents taken out in the United States by
foreigners. Already patentees in Germany, Eng-
land and France are compelled to work their
patents in the country of the patent. The Amer-
ican movement is believed here to be directed
against Germany and is causing some irritation.
The president of the Imperial Patent Office in
Berlin is quoted as saying:
"If America decides on compulsory exploita-
tion the German Imperialists will undoubtedly
regard it as a call to industrial war. England's
recent action against us in the matter of patents
has made the Germans sensitive. We are con-
vinced that America also has hostile action
against Germany in view, and we feel that this
is an injustice.
"Germany has a total of 40,000 patents en-
rolled, of which about 2,000 are American. Only
a nominal proportion of these patents have been
exploited in Germany, yet I cannot recall a case
in which the rights of unexploited American
patents have been withdrawn.
"If America now enforces compulsory exploita-
tion we must drop our passive attitude and re-
taliate in kind. The result would be a fierce
patent war between Germany and America."
MEETS WITH ACCIDENT.
A despatch from Muskegon, Mich., says that
Charles Moore Hackley, Muskegon's young mil-
lionaire with a fondness for common labor,
St. Louis, Mo., May 4, 1908.
Telegraphic responses to the inquiries of the
officers and members of the National Prosperity
League, which was launched in this pity, Fri-
day, from all parts of the country indicate that
practically all the business men of the United
States are heartily in sympathy with the ulti-
matum of "hands off the business interests,"
issued to the political parties, and the movement
started here for a revival of confidence.
Telegrams have been received from nearly all
of the large cities and their commercial organi-
zations. In a majority of cases these telegrams
indicate that the general view of the situation
coincides with that entertained in St. Louis, that
the country is on the eve of a phenomenal busi-
ness and commercial revival, and that only a
feeling of confidence must be engendered to bring
this about.
Recently one of the large dry goods houses
of St. Louis which has a large business through-
out the entire United States mailed a list of
questions to all of its traveling men who were
then in the territory. The replies received show
that while in many cases the stocks carried by
the retail merchants were lighter than for the
same time last year, there was a general feeling
of an optimistic nature.
These retailers were virtually unanimous in
saying that the Presidential year is having but
little influence on business conditions, and that
far less attention is being paid to this phase of
the situation than in past general election years.
They express the opinion that since no vital in-
dustrial issues are at stake in the outcome of the
election, there should be no depression.
EDM0ND COTE BUYS NEW FACTORY.
(Special to The Review.)
Fall River, Mass., May 4, 1908.
Edmond Cote, the piano manufacturer of this
city, has just closed an important deal whereby
he secures the Merino Mill and eight acres of
land on Alden street for a sum approximating
$25,000. The mill has been idle for many years,
but it is to be reconstructed, and Mr. Cote ex-
pects to take possession of the new property In
a few months. An addition to the old mill will
at once be commenced, 200 x 60 feet, and two
stories high.
TO SELL ASSETS FOR CASH.
The referee in bankruptcy of the P. C. Weaver
Co., Ottawa, 111., recently sent out a notice to
the creditors of that concern in which he states
that on May 9, 1908, at 10 o'clock a. m., the
estate of the company will be turned over to the
highest cash bidder. G. M. Trumble is trustee.