Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW
All packages for India should be iron-bound,
which would make it so difficult and dangerous
For the Past Month as for the Same Period to meddle with that the average ship and ware-
house thieves would give up their vocation. Be-
Last Year—Conventions Did Not Greatly Add
sides, the seal would fix responsibility, and the
in the Way of Orders—Stocks Have Been
Strengthened, However, to Meet the Fall De- responsible hands through which the box or pack-
age might pass would be more particular to
mand.
whom access to the room in which packages are
Business was considerably out into by the con- stored is given. It is thought that American
shippers need only have their attention called to
ventions last week, but nevertheless sales were
this matter to insure the proper packing.
far from nil. In fact, some of the houses booked
orders, the greater portion of which was for
immediate delivery, the remainder to follow
later. The principals were not disappointed at
the outcome, for on occasions of this kind trade
Even in sending out their bills, Buegeleisen &
is not always the uppermost topic, excepting in
Jacobson, New York, display a vein of originality.
a general way. It was admitted that there had
been practically no spring business to speak of
as compared with former years; but everyone felt
confident that the fall would bring about a radical
change in the situation. On the strength of these
conferences at first, hands the leading small
goods houses of the country will strengthen their
stocks so as 1o be fully prepared for a demand
that is already foreshadowed.
In the same spirit firms who have completed
their annual catalogs are holding them back for
the fall campaign, which promises to be brisk
and active, the orders going to concerns that pre-
sent their lines in the most forcible and attrac-
tive way. The same feeling exists regarding the
offer of novelties and goods entirely new to this
market. Ordinarily they would have been placed
As the firm observed this week: "We put a
on the market during the spring, as originally
catchy sticker on our monthly statements. In
intended; but conditions were against such pro-
the course of the year we run on them a gamut
cedure, and wisdom dictated deferring their ap-
of human emotions, so to speak. The one used
pearance until the fall buying commenced to
for May takes the accompanying cut, with the
make itself evident.
following:
'You'd be surprised with the fine
Of trade in general, past and prospective, an
quality of tone, workmanship and finish you can
experienced distributer of musical merchandise
get for $5 in the new Durro violin, No. 530.' Of
spoke in the following strain to The Review:
course, this was properly displayed, and the fol-
"As you have known all along, business with this
lowing is one of the comments made on the re-
portion of the music dealers has been strong
verse side by a dealer who handles many violins,
only on occasions and in spots. At times it
but sells more Durros than any other: 'Yes, it
looked as if sales would remain reasonably steady, did surprise us; best in the market for the
but they did not, nevertheless. Spring business was money. Have sold them as high as $20 and $25.
of no consequence, and we do not now look for
However, don't on that account raise prices.'
anything until the fall buying sets in, which we
This sticker scheme might be a good thing for
are sure will be heavy. There is no reason to
the dealers. They can put them on correspon-
figure otherwise. Yes, we had the pleasure of
dence, bills, etc., as he sends them out, thus push-
meeting many of our friends during the conven-
ing, at a slight expense, high-class goods."
tion, but you know precious real business is done
during such times. New York did itself proud."
REGARDING VIOLIN FINISHES.
BUSINESS NOT AS LARGE IN VOLUME
SOME ORIGINAL PUBLICITY.
PACKING GOODS FOR INDIA.
An American traveling salesman, after citing
many cases of looting, stated to Consul-General
William H. Michael, of Calcutta, that the petty
thieving on vessels and at ports from the time
goods leave the United States until they reach
the business houses of India has become unbear-
able, and when asked for a suggested remedy re-
plied that it might be found in proper packing.
Commenting on certain finishes and character-
istics of violins, an expert spoke as follows: "The
varnish used by the Italian masters was perfectly
transparent, showing the grain of the top, like
reeds lying side by side, and on the maple,
bringing out the depth and colorings of the wood,
showing with sparkling luster, like the rays of a
summer sunset, all the beauty that nature gave
to the choicest of maple. In my search for tone
I have found that no two Italian violins were
9 1 N . «J. R . R . A V E . , N E W A R K ,
IV. J .
OK.
MANUFACTURBR
OF THE CELEBRATED
BRASS BAND HARMONICAS
TROSSINGEN, Germany
NEW YORK, 393 Broadway
Eagle Brand Drum and Banjo Heads; 20th Century Drums,
Rex Banjos, Mandolins and Guitars.
FACTORS
THE TRADE.
alike in thickness, yet each maker gave his in-
strument about the same quality of tone. There
must be a reason for this.
"The best of music sounds poor on a piano
which is out of tune; inharmonious vibration de-
tracts from power, volume and sweetness, and
hereupon were based my observations. It oc-
curred to me that if the wood of the violin were
made to vibrate harmoniously with the strings
and with the fingered tones, it would increase
both volume and sweetness. Upon this principle
I set to work, and after years of study solved the
problem that other makers have tried to master,
but gave up after a few trials. I am now able to
make a top that will vibrate as a harmonious
whole and to attach a back which is also in har-
mony with the top. My finished work proves that
this was the principle upon which the Italians
made their famous instruments; why one was
thick and the other thin; why the vibration of
the wood alone demonstrates the correct amount
of wood to be left in a plate, and how uncertain
it is to attempt to make instruments with a
given thickness; why makers in general are offer-
ing one violin for a song and another for a large
sum, proving beyond a doubt that they were work-
ing in the dark, with no sure guide, and trust-
ing to luck for the outcome of their violins. It
is the following of this prime principle that gives
violins that rich, rolling tone, that unmistakable
quality, that soulful timbre which is found in
violins of the best Italian make. Violins should
have that same degree of soulful quality, together
with the roundness of tone, that are character-
istic of the best makes."
BOOSTING THEIR HOME CITY.
The Curtice-Baum Co. had a representative on
the 2,354-mile trade excursion of Omaha business
men through Nebraska and neighboring States,
for the purpose of "boosting' their home city.
The excursion was under the auspices of the
Omaha Commercial Club.
Nat Osborne, for some considerable time con-
nected with the Helf & Hager Co., has joined the
professional department of the Fred Fischer Co.
VIOLINS
BOWS, STRINGS
AND
HIGH-CLASS TRIMMINGS
Bl EliELEISEN & JACOBSON
113-115 UNIVEPSITY PLACE
One block west of Broadway
N E W YORK
Prof. Hugo Heermann
F. B. BURNSf& CO.
THE N E W NOVELTY LINE OF PIANO SCARFS
It will pay yon to write for a line ol samples to be sent on approval.
39
The Eminent Violinist and
BLACK DIAMOND Strings
GENTLEMTEN : —
I am sailing to Australia next week, and shall
pass through New York between the 5th and
8th of May ("Bluoher," Hamburg-Amerlka Line).
Will you send enclosed order for Violin (J
strings BLACK DIAMOND to address given be-
low, or do you have 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