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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GEO. B. KELLHR,
L. E. BOWERS,
W. H. DYIVES,
P. H. THOMPSON,
J . HAYDBN CLARENDON,
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
L. J. CHAMBERLIN,
A. J . NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE
ERNEST L. WAITT, 100 Boylston St.E. P. VAN HARLINGBN, Room 806, 156 Wabaah Ave.
Telephone, Central 414.
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS a n d ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
R. W. KAUrFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
CHA8. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI, O . : BERNARD C. BOWBN.
BALTIMORE. MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
REVIEW
Foster-Armstrong interests are industrial leaders. They are busi-
ness men of acknowledged high executive and business ability and
it is to be presumed that they have gone as deeply into the matter
of consolidation in an analytical way as it is possible for men to
delve into any business subject. All of the conditions have been
analyzed and debated. The effect of such a consolidation upon the
various united products has not been indifferently discussed; the
effect upon the dealers who are to-day representatives of the con-
cerns and the future attitude of the controlling corporation toward
them has not been the matter of idle theorizing. It has been de-
bated and weighed, step by step, and while this great corporation
is not prepared to-day to announce a definite policy beyond deal-
ing in generalizing terms it is safe to assume that its attitude
toward its dealers will be fair and considerate, and it must be con-
ceded that with such a combination of pianos under one direction
it places at once in the hands of the board of directors a powerful
argument which can be used by those who are representing the
American Piano Co., the official title of the controlling corporation.
P
RESUMABLY there will be no specific policy announcement
by the American Piano Co. until the early fall, if even at
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
that time a formal statement by the officers should be deemed neces-
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
sary. The whole proposition resolves itself into a clean cut busi-
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
ness consolidation which was effected for trade purposes and at
Canada. $:s..">0 ; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2,00 per Inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
present there will be no change in the management or operation of
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
the local plants. It is quite naturally the purpose of the organizers
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
to reduce expenses wherever possible. That is really the basis of
I.yman BUI.
argument used in the proposed consolidation. In a centralized body
M u s i c Publishers*
An Interesting feature of this publication Is a special depart-
Department V> ^» ment devoted exclusively to the world of music publishing.
it is possible to create economies in the purchase of raw materials,
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
supplies of various kinds and operating expenses. It is also pos-
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. Charleston Exposition, 1902
sible through organization to better facilities in every way- The
Diploma.Pan-American
Exposition. 1901
Gold Medal. ...St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .. .Lewis-Clark Exposition. 19O.i.
move certainly is an epoch-making one in music trade circles, and
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 a n d 4678 GRAMERCY
since its announcement it has created the liveliest kind of comment
Connecting a l l D e p a r t m e n t s .
whenever music trade men have met.
Cable a d d r e s s : "Elbill, N e w York."
.
Considerable conjecture has been indulged in as to possible
NEW YORK, JUNE 20, 1908
player combinations which might follow as the outcome of the big
merger. It is to be assumed that a number of important announce-
ments may follow as a natural sequence to the initial move during
the next few months. It is the biggest play ever made on the
EDITORIAL
music trade chess board and one that possesses economic and finan-
cial possibilities which are destined to have an important effect upon
O announcement of a combination ever put through in the the music trade industry. When a controlling company can ar-
music trade industry, and few in any other line, has received
range for local representatives in a single city for Knabe and Chick-
through the press reports the prominence which the big Knabe-
ering pianos and the entire Foster-Armstrong line, it means at once
Chickering and Foster-Armstrong merger secured in the columns
that a tremendous power lies in the hands of the directing forces.
of the press all over the country. On the ioth inst, Wednesday
morning following the announcement that arrangements had been
HERE has been much speculation as to the effect of the new
made whereby a union between these big piano manufacturing
merger upon the dealers representing the companies in the
forces had been completed, notices appeared in every part of the combination in the various cities throughout the country. It may
country giving publicity to this combination. In the local dailies
be safely assumed that the new organization will endeavor to culti-
in the various cities items appeared concerning the merger, varying
vate trade and not to antagonize retail interests. No matter how
from a half to an entire column in length, so that this great music
great a corporation may be, no matter how far its influences reach
trade combination was at once well known throughout the length
out, yet business men know to-day the real basis of an enduring
and breadth of the land. Some of the papers had scare headings trade foundation lies in the close relations with the distributing
announcing the formation of the "Piano Trust."
force who reach the public direct. Without patronage no business
Then, too, the formal announcement was made so that it was man can long continue. To hold patronage, amicable relations must
the chief topic of interest during the recent music trade convention
exist between the manufacturing and distributing forces, therefore
in New York. Hundreds of men had the opportunity of reviewing
it is safe to predict that the board of directors of the American
this matter and making predictions as to its future effect upon the Piano Co. will not work along lines which will be calculated to dis-
trade and obtaining the views of their confreres in a manner which
turb the pleasant relations which should exist between piano manu-
would not have been possible if the announcement had not been
facturers and their local representatives, and sensational reports to
made just at the time when hundreds of piano men were gathered the contrary should not be heeded.
at the convention.
,
HEN Major J. M. Cleland was asked by The Review his
HE formation of a twelve million dollar corporation in the
opinion of the music trade conventions of 1908 in com-
music trade industry would be a theme of absorbing interest
parison with those of preceding years, he remarked: "I am confi-
at any time, but when the combination includes such great piano
dent from what I have seen that each year develops some advance-
interests as Knabe, Chickering and Foster-Armstrong it becomes
ment in the association plan. That there is a feeling of camaraderie
at once a matter of widespread conjecture and speculation as to existing between members of the trade is apparent, and I am told
what ultimate effect this move will have upon the music trade in-
that before my connection with music trade affairs that sort of
dustry.
feeling was not noticeable save by its absence. In other words, the
In making predictions regarding a move of this kind it must
association has developed a friendly feeling between the competing
first be considered that the consolidation was not the result of hasty
interests in the music trade industry and that good feeling is con-
action. On the contrary, it had been under the closest considera-
stantly aiding to bring about bettered conditions. It is true there
tion and investigation for months by those directly interested and it may be no radical changes, but each year something is accomplished
must be conceded that the men who head the Chickering-Knabe and
which helps us all, and I believe that the meetings held here in New
LONDON, ENGLAND: 69 Hasinghall St., E. C.
W. LIONEL STURDI, Manager.
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