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THE
fflJ JIC TIRADE
VOL. XLVI. N o . 2
PabHshed Every Saturday by Edward Lyman BUI at 1 Madison Ave., New York, January 1U 1908.
OUR EXPORT ANDJMPORT TRADE.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Increase—Exports for the Month Are Much
Smaller—PlayerShipments Make Fine Record
—The Figures in Detail Regarding the Vari-
ous Instruments Furnish Some Interesting
Particulars to Our Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, January G, 1907.
The summary of exports and imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month of
November, 1907, the latest period for which it
has been compiled, has just been issued by the
Bureau 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 November amounted to $148,616, as com-
pared with $103,613 worth which were imported
the same month of 1906. The eleven months'
total ending November shows importations
valued at $1,476,901, as against $1,242,823 worth
of musical instruments imported during the
same period of 1906. This gives an increase in
imports for the eleven months ending November
"of $234,078.
The import figures for the eleven months' pe-
riod for the three years are as follows: 1905,
$1,131,212; 1906, $1,Z42,823; 1907, $1,476,901.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for November, 1907, amounted to $284,-
605, as compared with $312,738 for the same
month of the previous year. The eleven months'
exportation of musical instruments amounted to
$3,097,851, as against $2,853,471 for the same
period in 1906. This shows an increase in ex-
ports for the eleven months ending November
of $244,380.
The export figures for the eleven months' pe-
riod for the three years are as follows: 1905,
$2,862,037; 1906, $2,853,471; 1907, $3,097,851.
Of the aggregate exportations in November
there were 1,224 organs valued at $72,556, as
compared with 1,320 organs in 1906, valued at
$97,946. The eleven months' total shows that
we exported 11,309 organs, valued at $770,969, as
against 11,839 organs, valued at $817,113, for
the same period in 1906, and 11,098, valued at
$761,543 for the same period in 1905.
In November, 1907, we exported 459 pianos,
valued at $107,001, as against 428 pianos, valued
at $105,362, in November, 1906. The eleven
months' total exports show 3,719 pianos, valued
at $911,925, as compared with 2,863, valued at
$670,448, exported in the same period in 1906,
and 2,301, valued at $527,452, for the same period
in 1905.
Of the aggregate exportations in November
there were 151 piano players, valued at $37,458.
For the eleven months' period 2,428 of these in-
struments, valued at $624,431, were sent abroad.
The value of "all other instruments and parts
thereof" sent abroad during November, 1907,
amounted to $67,590; in the same month of 1906
the value was estimated at $77,808.
""
The total exports for the eleven months under
this heading foot up $790,526, as against $801,-
126 exported during the same period of 1906, and
$759,180 exported during the same period in
1905. This shows a decrease of $10,600.
E. H. HOLT SAYSJiET TOGETHER.
Writes Regarding Some Conditions in Kansas
City Which Do Not Meet His Approval—Says
One Price Will Not Alone Remove the
Present Evils, But a Higher Conception of
Ethics Must Prevail—Says It Is Time to Join
Hands in Making the Piano Business Clean
and Profitable to All Interested.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$t.00 PER YEAR.
cantile interests; W. P. Van Wickle ia on the
membership committee and Percy S. Foster is on
the committee upon public schools.
INTERESTING INSTALMENT SUIT
Brought by D. S. Andrus & Co. Against L. J.
Stevens Whose Piano Was Destroyed by Fire
and for the Value of Which He Is Now Sued.
(Special to The Review.7
Elmira, N. Y., Jan. 6, 1908.
A most interesting case in which it is to be
decided who is responsible for a piano sold on
instalments when the instrument is destroyed by
Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 3, 1908.
fire
has come up in this city, and the decision
Editor Music Trade Review:
From the many letters and notes written on of the courts is awaited. As the result of the
present and future piano trade conditions purchase of a piano on the instalment plan, D. S.
throughout the entire United States, the one- Andrus & Co., the well-known music house of
price plan seems to be the only intelligent basis this city, are bringing suit against Leroy J.
for laying a foundation upon which a permanent, Stevens of Ithaca, who, after getting a $350
piano delivered to him and using the same, was
healthy business can be relied upon.
But the question is: Can a one-price system burned out and seeks on that account to evade
alone build and hold up the retail business? A payment of the balance of the purchase price
house can be strictly one price and be doing still alleged to be due. The purchaser had paid
worlds of good in that direction, but at the same $91 on the account. The case will likely be tried
time be demoralizing trade at a much faster pace in Ithaca next March. The original venue was
in another. The object of a strictly one-price laid in Chemung County by Attorney Frank C.
system is to install confidence in the trade. Ogden, who represents Andrus & Co. Yesterday
Without this confidence the wheels of business Attorney J. J. McGuire, representing the de-
are at a standstill, and it seems as though any fendant, secured a Supreme Court order chang-
intelligent business man who contemplates re- ing the place of trial to Tompkins County.
The Elmira firm, it is claimed, sold the instru-
maining so would lay a foundation of confidence
only. However, I regret to state the fact that ment on a contract by the terms of which Ste-
the foundation of distrust has and is being laid vens, who lives in Ithaca, was to pay $7 per
by certain music concerns in Kansas City, who month. Andrus & Co. claim the lessees were re-
carry some of the best-known standard pianos of sponsible for the safe-keeping of the instrument
the day. This is being put up to the piano-buy- after it came into their care.
In answer to the complaint, Stevens asserts
ing public in a manner, through the medium of
advertising, that looks as though one concern that although there was a written lease in which
wishes to advertise the other concern's pianos no mention is made of fire loss, or responsibility,
more than their own, and at the same time im- there was a separate, distinct and collateral
press the buying public that any sum over $250 agreement with the agent from whom the piano
for the best piano made is entirely too much. was secured. He asserts that E. Lumbard, an
Surely such knifing at one another can bring no Andrus representative, specifically stated that
good returns, as the piano buyers of to-day need Andrus & Co. ran the risk of loss by fire.
less education in this line than the piano men
WHALE PIANO CO. IN TROUBLE.
together as a whole. So the one-price system,
as good as it may be, will take a back seat as
(Special to The Hcview.)
long as such "wild-cat" methods are indulged in.
Portland, Ore., Jan. 2, 1908.
It is no use for one concern to believe they are
Deputy sheriffs have closed the doors of the
entitled to and can get all the business. While Whale Piano Co. on an execution to satisfy a
aggressiveness is the main spoke in the wheel, as judgment obtained in the State Circuit Court by
long as it is confined to our own wheels, but A. Schubert in October. Suit was brought on a
when applied to our competitors, it sets the note for $706. Judgment by default was obtained
brakes firmly on our own.
on Oct. 28, the last day before the Governor's
I think and sincerely believe the majority of holidays began.
our brother dealers will agree with me that it is
high time to clean up the old bygone methods
The Jones Music Co., a young and hustling
and boyish tactics, join hands, concentrate our music house of Cambridge, O., have removed to
efforts to make the piano business clean and new quarters in the Riggs building, that city.
profitable to all.
E. H. HOLT,
The new store is handsomely decorated and ap-
Manager May, Stern & Co.'s Piano Department. pointed and is an ideal location in every par-
ticular.
WASHINGTON DEALERS HONORED.
Miller & Basford have opened a piano house
Upon the various committees of the Washing- in Santa Rosa, Cal. Considerable business is
ton, D. C Board of Trade the music trade is expected.
well represented, several of its members having
been honored with places. E. H. Droop and O. J.
Fire destroyed the store of the Echo Co., Tona-
DeMoll are members of the committee on mer- wanda, N. Y., last week,