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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
What Dealers Say Concerning Trade Conditions. <*
great extent, therefore, there are not many men
idle in our locality.
We have noticed that our collections were a
little slower this year than usual, but find that
they are improving now. We are anticipating
the largest business this fall that we have seen
in this locality.
C. A. HOUSE, Wheeling, W. Va.
I think the fall trade will be about 25 per cent,
less than last year. Repossessions have prac-
tically ceased. Only about half of the men in
this locality are employed, but the number is on
the increase. Collections are improving, and I
am looking forward to a decided but gradual im-
provement in business.
N. M. BRADLEY, Rutland, Vt.
Present indications are that our fall trade this
year will not be as good as in 1907. I know of
no reason why there should be more than the
usual number of repossessions this fall. We have
repossessed very few pianos this year and al-
ways try to keep our trade on a basis where the
cases of repossession are very small. Men in the
factories in this territory are not generally em-
ployed. Probably not more than 50 per cent, of
the usual number. We feel that there will not
be a substantial return of normal conditions be-
fore the spring of 1909, and while there is some
business all the time, there is a very decided
falling off from the September of 1907. We read
in the trade papers that business is improving
all over the country, which is undoubtedly true.
We, however, have not felt the stimulus yet, al-
though we feel confident everything is coming
around all right.
THE B. DREHER'S SONS CO., Cleveland, O.
We do not think the fall trade of this year will
be as good as in 1907. The repossessing of
pianos has not ceased An this locality. The men
are not generally employed and there are a large
number without employment at present.
The collections are not as good as they should
be. While the trade for the latter part of this
month is better than it has been for some time
we cannot see how there can be any marked im-
provement in the business until laborers and
others get full time employment.
THE BENNETT PIANO CO., Warren, Pa.
We believe that the fall trade will depend very
largely upon the outcome of the coming Presi-
dential election. I am not looking for a very
satisfactory October, but believe that if Taft
is elected things will start up so as to en-
courage active buying during the latter half of
November and December.
We do not believe that the coming three months
will equal that of 1907, nor do we care to offer
an optimistic prediction until after November 4.
While our factory has been running full during
the entire year, it has nevertheless taken twice
the effort to dispose of the output that would be
required under favorable business conditions.
We are inclined to think that predictions for the
future would at this time be rather premature.
There is no question, however, but that there is
a perceptible improvement all along the line, and
if not confronted with any further disturbing
element, there should be no reason for hesitating
to prepare for increased business.
However, we are determined to wear our con-
servative clothes for a while yet and are very
hopeful that by the end of the year we will all
be enjoying at least normal conditions.
J. H. TROUP MUSIC HOUSE, Harrisburg, Pa.
We do not think this fall trade will near meas-
ure up to the fall of 1907. Repossessions have
not ceased, and will not until the working class
of people get regular employment. About two-
thirds of the men are out of employment in our
vicinity, and the other one-third is not working
on full time. Collections have not improved the
past three months. I have not a very optimistic
view of the near future trade, for at least six
months
Sorry that we cannot see more good business
for the future, but conditions have not changed
in the least in this section.
BOARDMAN & GRAY, Albany, N. Y.
Notwithstanding the general depression of
business during the past year we are very glad
to say that we have enjoyed a good proportion of
our usual business. We have found the larger
dealers are disposed to do more with the high
grade instruments and are seeking such at a fair
price, with the result that we have not been
compelled to shut down our factory within the
past year and our business for the past two
months has been extra good. During the sum-
mer months in our retail department we have
had our usual amount of business and are en-
joying all we can expect from this department.
HIRAM HERMAN, Chambersburg, Pa.
Business of all kinds is not so awfully bad.
Among the laboring class it is going slow.
The farmer is O.K. Business outlook for the
fall and winter is good. But if Bryan is elected
no telling where we will land. Our shops here
are about 40 hours a week, against 58 and 60
when times are good. Our machine trade is
good; collections slow, but still come along faster
than Bryan's mule. Organ trade is slow. So
with pianos. We can scatter them over the coun-
try and sell, but wait a big' long time for the
money. All will be O.K. if Bryan is landed up
Salt River forever.
CRESSEY & ALLEN, Portland, Me.
This year has been extremely slow and we do
not expect the remaining months to be equal to
1907. We do not expect to repossess many more
pianos. Men are generally employed in our city,
but some of the nearby manufacturing towns are
not entirely settled. Collections are normal. We
view the future of the trade optimistically.
We look for a gradual, although not sudden,
change in business for the better. We think
that people of moderate circumstances have got-
ten behind considerably in the last eight or ten
months and that it will take them some months
of good business to recover, hence we do not ex-
pect a radical change for the better in our line
at present, but expect slow but sure improve-
ment.
EDMUND BEVAN, Wilkesbarre, Pa.
I am positive the fall won't be as good in this
section of the country as it was in 1907, because
our main industry here is the coal mines and
terms of agreement between the operators and
the miners' union expires in February next, and,
of course, talk of strike is going the rounds;
my opinion is there will not be a strike, but the
people won't want to buy a piano until they are
sure there will not be a strike.
The people are working better time now this
month than they have for the past seven months.
I find collections are getting somewhat better. I
also think that repossessing pianos has about
ended.
PASADENA MUSIC CO , Pasadena, Cal.
It is with pleasure that I reply to your request
in regards to the business outlook for the en-
suing fall. As it is not our usual time for liven-
ing up yet, it is just a little difficult to tell how
business will compare with former years, but
we have been ordering quite heavily at the fac-
tories, which means, of course, that we intend
selling some pianos.
In Los Angeles and Pasadena both, positions
of all kinds have been very, very scarce indeed,
but as business regains its equilibrium we ex-
pect that most of our working people will have
steady employment again, at least we hope so.
The fruit in our section has turned out excep-
tionally well, and this will help matters greatly,
as it is our mainstay.
We think that collections are improving con-
siderably, and will not hesitate to accept time
sales as fast as they come in.
PEAKE & FRIEDEL PIANO CO., Wheeling,
W. Va.
Trade has been very slow. We don't expect a
heavy rush this fall for the reason the mills and
different works have no sign of opening up.
A. B. FELGEMAKER, ERIE ORGAN CO., Erie,
Pa.
The fall trade for this year is now beginning,
in our estimation, to compare favorably with the
same period last year. Our work is entirely con-
fined to church organ building. In other busi-
nesses than our own, there has not been much
improvement in this vicinity, so far as employ-
ment of men is concerned, and those connected
with the iron and steel industries are many of
them still looking for a position. Collections are
fairly good and our individual view of the trade
for the future is decidedly optimistic. Our busi-
ness is scattered all over the entire United States,
so that we cannot say that we have been ham-
pered by the slackness in districts influenced by
the iron and steel industries.
JULIUS A. J. FRIEDRICH, Grand Rapids, Mich.
I firmly believe and can safely say that busi-
ness has increased a little and the conditions are
somewhat improved, but I do not look forward
to a large trade this fall or winter. The labor-
ing class has been employed on short hours for
the past year and in view of the fact that we
are again facing another winter with increased
living expenses, we cannot look for a large trade.
Farm products are bringing a very good price,
but how are the laboring classes going to buy
the common necessities of life when they are
working on short time and are confronted with
the heavy expenses of the winter months? I
look forward to a reasonable amount of business,
but I do not look forward to a large trade, espe-
cially in this locality, as it is not in sight.
JOHN C. MORRISON, Reidsville, N. C.
After viewing the business situation, I find
that things have very much improved, that is to
say, that the situation has very much improved
for a good trade this fall; the farmers have good
crops and the prices are very good. Our factories
are all running on full time, and we have every
indication of better times.
E. M. HICKAM, Norton, Va.
The outlook for the fall trade is good and as
for collections the past six months it has been
rather slow, but not so much in the piano busi-
ness as in the furniture business. The piano
trade in this part I think I can safely say never
dropped off 10 per cent, since January in sales,
but I must say that we have worked the piano
trade harder than last fall and the business was
confined to the rural districts more than before
and as for repossessions there have scarcely been
any in this part; there was only a suspension of
collections for a while.
CLARK & JONES, Knoxville, Tenn.
We are very well pleased with our business
since September 1. We hope to hold our busi-
ness for the balance of the year very close to
1907, but it is going to take much harder work,
much more advertising and "scheming" in gen-
eral to do so.
An opinion from us on the subject of repos-
sessions would be of no value, for we have done
practically no repossessing whatever.
Regarding labor, will say unskilled labor is
fully employed by reason of abnormally exten*
sive municipal improvements we are making.
At the beginning of this work in the spring an
attempt was made to reduce wages from that of
last year, but on account of the big demand,
wages for unskilled labor soon got back to the
1907 basis. Skilled labor has, of course, been
more or less idle through reason of the reduc-
tion in forces in our mills, railroad shops, etc.
We have no particular complaint to make as
to our collections, therefore our opinion as to
their probable improvement would be of no
value.
We try to be optimistic at all times, and, as
stated above, we hope for average business for
the remainder of the year, though not so easy to
get as for the past several years.
SANDERS & STAYMAN CO., Baltimore, Md.
Although' the summer has been very dull, Sep-
tember has opened up with encouragement, and