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10
IHE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN CHILE.
Consul A. W. Winslow of Valparaiso States
That There Is a Great Field for American
Instruments in That
Country—Germany
Now in the Lead—Some Interesting Figures.
IVIU3IO
TRADE
REVIEW
This is a trade destined to grow as the country
develops, and it will pay to cultivate the field
thoroughly, as no musical instruments are manu-
factured in Chile, nor will there be any for many
years to come.
The duty on musical instruments is 35 per
cent., based as a general thing on a varying valu-
ation of so much a gross kilo, which in the case
of upright pianos is 47.5 cents (United States
gold) per kilo of 2.2 pounds.
According to Consul Alfred A. Winslow, of Val-
paraiso, the Chilean people are great lovers of
music, and that country offers a most promising
market for American goods. He says:
There are two very creditable conservatories of
TRADE IN THE MONUMENTAL CITY.
music in Chile, and a large number of the young
people of this country study in Europe. A young Improvement in Business Seems Permanent—
lady's education is considered very incomplete
Knabe Factory Working Overtime—1,000
unless she is able to play the piano fairly well.
Unfilled Orders on Hand—Retail Trade Also
There should be a fine opening in Chile for a
Good—R. Lertz & Son to Occupy New Quar-
medium grade of American pianos and wind in-
ters on Jan. 1—Other Items of Interest.
struments. At present there are a surprisingly
small number of American pianos in this country,
iSpecial to The Review.)
in face of the fact that the few in use here are
' Baltimore, Md., Sept. 28, 1908.
so highly appreciated. This comes from too high
There is no doubt now that the long looked for
a price, and absence- of an active campaign for improvement in the local piano trade is here to
the business on the part of the American manu- stay. This is the general impression held by
facturer. It is principally the latter, for in gen- all the dealers of this city and they are more
eral the Chilean will pay well for a superior than satisfied with the encouraging outlook. The
article when he is satisfied that he is really get- business of the various firms during the month
ting the worth of his money. It should be re- of September has been a vast deal better than
membered that nearly everything pertaining to that for several months past and it improves
music has been European, and naturally it will each week.
require some active work to turn the tide. At
Manager J. H. Williams, of Wm. Knabe & Co.,
present most of the dealers in musical instru- states that the increased demand for pianos is
ments in Chile are Germans, and they get the being felt at the factory and the orders are com-
bulk of the business.
ing in so fast as to put the work actually be-
The most effectual way to go after this business hind. The full force of 600 men are working
would be to send a first-class salesman who is overtime, yet there are 1,000 orders unfilled. The
familiar with Spanish to thoroughly cover the local sales also continue to keep up in good style.
country and liberally distribute advertising mat- Ernest Knabe is in New York on a business trip
ter printed in Spanish. He should also advertise and is expected to return to Baltimore by the lat-
in the newspapers and periodicals of the country. ter part of the present week.
Such a campaign, followed by a good general
Charles Keidel, J r , secretary of the American
agent or two for Chile, would show good results Piano Co., is still in the West looking after busi-
beyond a doubt. The Chilean is pleased with ness interests of the firm.
things American. He is fond of American music
Superintendent Mallabre, of the Knabe factory,
when he can get it, which is not often, however. has just returned from a business trip to Boston.
Germany, the United States and France control He went there after having returned from
the market in the order named, while other Euro- Europe, where he spent his vacation. .
pean countries handle a smaller proportion of the
President G. Fred Kranz, of the Kranz-Smith
trade. In 1907 the imports of grand pianos from Piano Co., local agents for the Chickering piano,
Germany amounted to $36,055, as against $26,364 reports that there has been a decided improve-
in 1906; from the United States, $2,734, as against ment in the business the past month. The sales
$1,199; and France, $296, against $156. Imports have been larger and the rental business has
of upright pianos from Germany in 1907, $125,- taken a big boom. The firm's salesrooms have
262, against $132,616; United States, $3,592, been newly decorated and everything has been
against $5,941, and France, $2,330, against $342. put in order for the fall season. Mr. Kranz, who
In band instruments, imports from the United is also president of the Musical Art Club of this
States in 1907 amounted to only $300, as com- city, announced that the first fall meeting of the
pared with $14,251 from Germany, and $9,590 organization to-night was a most interesting one.
from France. I t will thus be seen that the
R. Lertz & Son, who are the local agents for
United States has much to gain in that field
the Steinway piano, will move into a spacious
though against severe competition.
new building on East Baltimore street, between
19
Charles and Light streets about the first of
January. The building when completed will be
number 15 East Baltimore street. This building
has a frontage of 25 feet and is 143 feet in length.
The statement was made that the new warerooms
will allow the firm much larger quarters than
those occupied at the present time. The building
will be three stories high. The structure occu-
pied at present by the firm, has been sold to The
Hub, a large department store, which will extend
its present building. This structure was occupied
less than a year ago by R. Lertz & Son at which
time it was brand new. It is located at 7 North
Charles street.
Manager Ansell, of the Baltimore street store
of Cohen & Hughes, has arrived home after a suc-
cessful business trip through Maryland. He re-
ports that business has shown quite an improve-
ment the past few weeks and believes that this
fall will prove a prosperous one for the dealers
judging from present indications.
NEW BILL OF LADING NOV. 1ST.
I Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., Sept. 26, 1908.
Upon the recommendation of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which was made after
public hearing upon the matter, at which all
interests were afforded an opportunity to be
heard, the carriers will, on Nov. 1, 1908, adopt
a new uniform bill of lading combined with a
new shipping order. This combined bill of lad-
ing and shipping order was prepared by a repre-
sentative committee of shippers and carriers
after many conferences with banking and other
interests.
On and after Nov. 1 the shipper may have the
option of shipping property either subject to the
te:ms and conditions of the uniform bill of lad-
ing or under the liability imposed upon common
carriers by the common law and the federal and
State statutes applicable thereto.
If the shipper elects to ship under the terms
and conditions of the uniform bill of lading and
shipping orders, the rate provided in the official
classification and tariffs will apply. If the ship-
per elects not to accept the conditions of the
new uniform bill of lading and shipping order,
the property ?o carried will be at carrier's lia-
bility, limited only as provided by common law
and by the laws of the United States and of the
several States in so far as they apply, but sub-
ject to the terms and conditions of the uniform
bill of lading in so far as they are not incon-
sistent with such common carriers' liability, and
the charge therefor will be 10 per cent, higher
(subject to a minimum increase of 1 per cent,
per 100 pounds than the rate charged for prop-
erty shipped) to all the terms and conditions
of the uniform bill of lading and shipping order.
"THE MASTER: One who has attained eminence."
A DEFINITION WHICH APPLIES
APPROPRIATELY TO THE
Master Player-Piano
Recognized as one of the most reliable Instruments.
MADE ENTIRELY at our own factory.
WINTER & CO., 220 Southern Boulevard, N.Y,