Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1908 Vol. 46 N. 24

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
GEO. B. KELLER,
L. B. BOWERS,
W. II. D I K E S .
F. II. THOMPSON,
J. HAYDEN CLABENDON,
15. RIUTTAIN WILSON,
L. ,T. CHAMEERLIN,
A. J. N I C K U N .
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE
ERNEST L. WAITT, 100 Boylston St.E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Room 806, 156 Wabash Ave.
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Music Publishers'
An interesting feature of this publication is a special depart-
Department V ^» ment devoted exclusively to the world of music publishing.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
rails Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition, 1902
D?plo?ua.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. ...St. Louis Exposition, 1904
ilnhl Medal
Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting a l l Departments.
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NEW
YORK,
JUNE
13, 1 9 0 8
EDITORIAL
T
HE conventions of igo8 have now become history, the throngs
have gone and men have commenced to calmly review the
proceedings. It is understood that some lively debating occurred
at the Manufacturers' meeting which was not included in the sup-
plied reports, but the talks were plain, straightforward, temperate
and right from the shoulder, and because there was disagreement
between some of the members regarding the issues brought up for
discussion it does not follow that there is the slightest reason for the
belief that disagreements will weaken the association structure in
the slightest. On the contrary the Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion seems to have come out stronger after the lengthy, well-argued
discussions in New York. The members understand each other
better and there is evidently a stronger vein of sympathy existing
between them.
The manufacturers view the association as an incubator of good
feeling, and from good feeling springs certain beneficial results
which are helpful to the industry as a whole. That the association
will not take any radical stand as opposed to the business policy cff
individual members of the organization seems to have been disposed
of pretty thoroughly. The association may go clearly on record as
opposing the traffic in special brand pianos but will not impose
penalized restrictions upon its members in order to definitely locate
the origin of certain pianos.
So, as far as the Piano Manufacturers' Association is con-
cerned it frowns upon the special brand traffic, but will do nothing
more than resolute against its continuance. Judging from the vari-
ous opinions expressed it seems that this position is supported by
more than the majority of the members and therefore they seem well
satisfied with the convention results. A number of the men believe
it impossible to impose restrictions upon manufacturers of pianos
or of anything else which are contrary to their fixed policy and re-
tain them as members of a trade organization. The whole thing
resolves itself to one query—is it better to run the association on
present lines or to have a split on the special brand proposition?
The query has been answered. The association reply is in.
REVIEW
T
HE Dealers' Convention was a success and there were many
interesting papers read at the various sessions which are
reproduced elsewhere in The Review. A number of the members
of the Dealers' Association favor the plan of concentrating upon
one trade topic at each convention rather than de-centralization and
scattering over a number of topics. There is no question but that
the men who write on the various subjects handle their topics with
ease and understanding, and they make mighty interesting reading,
and yet the question is asked by a number, what are the actual re-
sults obtained from the association ?
Without particularizing we should say there are very many
beneficial features that have resulted to the trade through concerted
action. The business is run along cleaner lines. Men have a greater
respect and admiration for each other and they respect the other
fellow's feelings more than was noticeable in days agone. The
whole trade atmosphere is gradually clearing and there is less compe-
tition of a demoralizing character than was formerly in vogue. In
fact, as the association has developed in strength and membership
piano selling has increased in dignity and character. It seems as if
the good work established would tend to increase in influence each
year, and it is well for the trade that it should. There is every
reason to believe that the industry will be steadily benefited on
account of the existence of the Dealers' Association as a cohesive
force for trade weal.
PROMINENT Western manufacturer who was present at
A
the convention remarked to The Review : "I am confident
that we are going to have a good fall business. Understand, I do not
mean a phenomenally large trade, but as I view the situation there
will be a lively demand for pianos during the early fall months, and
it is my intention to' accumulate a stock of goods to meet the de-
mand which' 1 am confident will materialize later. The stocks of the
dealers are very low and they will not be content to sit down and
do no* business. On the contrary, if I interpret their spirit correctly,
they will hustle, and it's hustle that will create business."
Certainly it will. It must be admitted that conditions have
improved materially within the past two weeks. A good many fac-
tories in all lines have put back more men which is unusual at this
season of the year, and it proves conclusively that the accumulated
retail stocks over the country have been exhausted and there is a
demand during the summer months for goods which will compel
their manufacture. The army of unemployed will be diminished
during the summer, and the enactment of the law authorizing
the issue of one-half billion dollars in additional currency has helped
to clear the financial atmosphere, and the last cloud is now hastily
disappearing from the monetary horizon.
T
HERE was some fear that we might see a return of the panicky
conditions of last fall when the West called for money for the
movement of crops, and when we have had our nerves once shaken
we are apt to be a trifle timid, but now there is no possibility of a re-
currence of serious disturbances in the monetary world, when the
time comes for the moving of the crops, which promise to be abun-
dant. In other words, the country is insured against a monetary
stringency which might threaten the great business interests. We
may not be called upon to test the efficacy of the currency law be-
cause it is probable that there will continue to be an ample supply
of currency for all needs and certainly the rates of interest have
lowered recently showing that money is plentiful. This insurance
is a mighty go'od thing for the country and the emergency currency
bill will have in our minds a stimulating effect upon the business
interests of the country. The simple fact that such a law is in
existence will give a feeling of security which otherwise would have
been lacking had Congress adjourned before passing this safeguard
legislation. It's going to help out business in every line. It's going
to bolster up credit and we must figure that the recent panic was
purely a monetary and credit crisis as all of the National potentiali-
ties remained uninjured.
T
HERE were some who had predicted that the feeling would be
so intense by reason of the warring and divided camps in the
Pia"no Manufacturers' Association that the breaking point would
almost be reached. This prediction, however, was not verified, for
though the debates were strong and earnest there was not manifest
in the slightest particular a desire to reach the abusive standpoint,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
and after all the talk and dire predictions it is true that the lines
uf discussion were not tensely drawn even for a short time. A
logical line of reasoning was followed from start to finish.
Col. Conway covered the association's position very succinctly
in his address at the banquet on the evening of the 5th inst, when
he stated: "In discussing the afternoon session with some friends
I said that if I had never received any other evidence of the splen-
did result of our contact during the past twelve years along the
lines of moral uplift the evidence of this afternoon would have sat-
isfied me that we were not organized in vain. We had a very
vexatious and a very troublesome question, one on which every
man had his opinion, and had a right to have it. I have no' earthly
use for a man who has no opinion, and yet we thrashed that out
for over three hours and there was not a word said except in kind-
ness, and when the meeting was finished and the voting counted we
were all one. That could not have happened ten years ago'. The
value and worth of this organization have been in the past, is now,
and will be in the future measured by our contact between each
other and the moral force of its character and standing together for
the higher elevation of our trade."
No one can deny, who has discussed with the members the
meetings of the past week, that the association is stronger than ever.
It is a factor in this trade which is to be considered in every phase of
trade development.
T
H E retiring president of the Piano Manufacturers' Association,
Edward S. Payson, has fulfilled the duties of the office abb
and well. He leaves behind him a clean record and more than that
he has the love and esteem of every member of the trade, for it may
be truthfully said of Mr. Payson that
"None know him but to love him.
And none name him but to praise."
In his address at the banquet Tuesday evening, Mr. Payson
said that the hundreds of loving letters during his recent severe ill-
ness which he had received gave him more vitality than all of the
medicines and nursing of the doctors. Mr. Paysou's reference to
his love for his fellow associates was touching and affecting, and
the splendid character of the man and his nobility of thought was
well revealed in his utterances at the banquet.
F
RANK A. LEE, the newly-elected president of the Piano Man-
ufacturers' Association, is a man who will make good in any
office. Mr. Lee is One of those virile energetic business men of the
Taft type who have capacity for any undertaking. Mr. Lee controls
manufacturing interests in the East and West and retail establish-
ments in various cities. He therefore is in the truest sense a repre-
sentative man of the music trade industry, and in assuming the
responsibilities of office there is no question as to the ability and
fairness with which he will preside at the association councils during
the next twelve months.
N
OW r however crop reports indicate an abundant yield and a
country which can produce crops of such magnitude as the
United States is unlikely to suffer long from any kind of industrial
stagnation. Then we must figure that the farmers have had nine
years of almost uninterrupted prosperity. Their buying power is
strong and the towns dependent upon them will remain prosperous,
so that the factors which tend towards producing good times are
with us in full force and with easy money and good crop prospects
to' which an element of confidence is now added by the enactment of
the Emergency Currency law, the outlook is bright indeed for the
men in every industry and there is no good reason why piano manu-
facturers and dealers should not share to the fullest extent in the
returning tide of prosperity. They certainly are ambitious and
keenly alert to take advantage to the utmost of conditions which
are around us. No one could view the members who came to this
city to attend the convention without being impressed with the
keenness and progressiveness evidenced in the faces of the visiting
members of the music trade. If a composite photograph could be
taken of the two conventions it would reveal features of the highest
intellectual business acumen, and with such an array of business
intelligence the future of the music trade industry is in safe hands.
It is bound to go ahead. Tt can't help it—it is impossible to resist
the combined efforts of business forcefulness. The music trade
men gain by pulling together.
REVIEW
IN LIGHTER VEIN
It seems that true originality is as rare as hen's teeth.
W. L. Bush is a good fighter. That is universally conceded.
Clothes may not make the man, but they surely help a lot toward it.
Methods may change, but principles never change. The square deal
is always right.
Don't be looking for the easiest way to do things.
in finding the best way.
Spend your time
The use of liquor was never known to be of assistance in making a
man a business success.
Your success demands that you consider the man at the other end
of the bargain as well as yourself.
HUMPTY UP AGAINST IT.—"What happened to Humpty Dumpty?"
"He bought stocks on a margin."
The convention was not lacking in picturesqueness. The little side
lights here and there supplied interest for the onlookers.
Read all the store literature that comes your way. Methods of doing
business are changing every day, and the live man changes with them.
Many a man goes through life complaining that he got into the
wrong sort of work in the first place or he might have been a great
success.
THE EXACT LOCALITY.—"Did you say the prisoner hit the plaintiff
between the courthouse and postoffiee?"
"No, I didn't. I said he hit him between the eyes."
NOT TO HUSBANDS.—"A woman's 'No' means 'Yes.'"
"You think so?"
"I know so. Don't you."
"No; I am all over that illusion. I am married."
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.—He—I like the English method of spell-
ing best.
She—And why, pray?
He—Well, take "parlour" for example; having "u" in it makes all the
difference in the world.
TOO TAME.—"But you can't expect this play to make a hit," pro-
tested the manager.
"Why not?" asked the ambitious young dramatist. "Don't you think
it has enough situations?"
"Oh, yes; the story is one that. might be discussed in anybody's
parlor."
HE KNEW THE PAINTER.—Two men were standing in a picture
gallery commenting on the different artists whose work was exhibited.
"What do you think of Claymore's 'Portrait of Miss Lawrence'?"
asked one.
"It's a good deal flattered," said the other.
"Ah, then you've seen her! Who is she?"
"I haven't the least idea," was the crisp response. "Never saw her in
my life—but I know him."
WHO THEY WERE.—They were a group of sporting men, and were
unable to raise a sovereign between them. One at a time they presented
themselves at. the paddock gate.
"I am the owner of Starlight," the first said. He was well dressed and
imposing: they believed and passed him in.
"I am Starlight's trainer," said the second. His red face and bluff
manner bore out his story, and they admitted him.
The third man was small and thin. "Starlight's jockey," he said,
shortly, and hurried through the gate.
The fourth and last man of the group was very shabby indeed. "Well,
who are you?" they said impatiently when he presented himself.
"I am Starlight," was the meek reply.
THE PHILADELPHIA CONDUCTOR.—When the horse cars were in
existence there was a greenhorn known as John who con-
ducted on the Thirteenth and Fifteenth street line. He boarded
with his two aunts, who lived on Catharine street, between Thirteenth
and Broad. One day his aunts thought they would take a ride
with John and see how he was getting along, so they waited for his
car. Soon the car began to get crowded and passengers got off and on
at every square. John began to get angry. At last he became so exas-
perated at having to stop so often that when an old lady asked him to
stop at Chestnut he bawled out: "I'm darned sick and tired pulling the
bell. It's nothing but stop here and stop there, stop here and stop there.
Away with youse all down to Catharine street with me aunts, and you
get out in a bunch."

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