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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GBO. B. KHM.IR,
L. E. Bownns,
W. H. DYKES.
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
J. H i THEN CLARENDON,
AUGUST .T. TIMTK.
F. H. THOMPSON,
A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE
ERNEST L. WAITT, 100 Boylston St.B. P. VAN HARLINGHN, Room 806, 156 Wabash Ave.
Telephone, Central 414.
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
R. \V. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTHN.
SAN FRANCISCO:
CHAS. N. VAN BURHN.
S. H. GRAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI, O . : BERNARD C. BOWBN.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 69 Rasingball St., E. C.
W. LIONEL STURDT, Manager.
REVIEW
than last year, and that there is a much greater proportionate in-
crease in the cotton crop, has had a good effect, and is another
reminder of the prosperity of the agricultural class, which must
ultimately extend its influence beneficially through all the channels
of trade. Conditions in the music trade have been steadily im-
proving, and it must be conceded that there was ample ground for
improvement, for the trade conditions in this industry for the past
year have been far below normal. Constant repossessions in all
parts of the country have kept the dealers' warerooms fairly well
filled without having to draw upon the manufacturers. The result
of this widespread repossession activity has been the curtailment
of sales in new lower priced pianos. Hence the manufacturers of
pianos of that grade have suffered through lack of orders. Deal-
ers who have taken back pianos for the non-payment of instal-
ments, have put them out again at low prices, and these have, in a
large degree, taken the place of lower priced instruments. Thus,
the curtailment in the sales of what we may term the commercial
pianos, has been noticeable this year. Happily these repossessions
have practically ceased, and now dealers are. compelled to replenish
their stocks from the factories and not from their customers' homes.
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Lymun Hill.
Music Publishers'
An Interesting feature of this publication Is a special depart-
Department V V» ment devoted exclusively to the world of music publishing.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Meda{.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal. ...St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal
Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4077 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address: "Elbill. New York.**
NEW
YORK,
NOVEMBER
28, 1908
EDITORIAL
HERE is unquestionably a better tone in the selling department
J-
of trade than has been in evidence for many months past
and dealers everywhere have gone on record as viewing the future
of the trade optimistically. We have been in receipt of a number of
communications from readers who expressed pleasure at the senti-
ments contained in The Review of last week, in which the dealers
of the country expressed their faith in the betterment of trade in
the strongest kind of terms.
Certainly, the business outlook has materially improved since
election day. Orders are coming in to manufacturers and dealers
more freely than before. This condition appears to result, not
from any special expectation of lower prices either in the music
trade or in the great staples such as steel and iron, but rather from
the development of a more matured confidence in returning pros-
perity.
Some manufacturers, indeed, report that recent orders are very
gratifying in their volume, and they look upon them as a happy
indication that trade is getting back to something like normal con-
dition, even when judged by the recollection of the swift pace of
recent vears.
W
ITHOUT making too much of the evident improvement,
there is certainly a hopeful tone prevalent throughout the
country as a whole, which presents a very striking contrast to the
dismay and apprehension which prevailed a year ago. At that time
there was the necessary curtailment of expenditure and business
activity, while now, with abundant money, there is a general re-
sumption of enterprise and increasing attention to the cultivation
of trade along practically all lines of effort. The more full em-
ployment of the railroads is one of the indications of the growing
volume of business and the prosperity, that some of them will have
their capacity taxed by the moving of crops and the carrying of
merchandise. In this encouraging condition of things the Govern-
ment's report that the yield of corn is 15,000,000 bushels greater
T
HERE has been splendid activity evidenced in the retail field
during the past few weeks, and conditions now indicate a
rush trade as the holiday season approaches. Business, however,
in the manufacturing centers will not be up to the old-time standard,
simply because thousands of people have been out of employment,
and they must have sufficient money to pay for the necessities of
life before they can think of indulging their tastes in acquiring
pianos and musical instruments. But the trade atmosphere is clear-
ing all the while.
E
VER since the formation of that big corporation known as the
American Piano Co., dame rumor has been persistently
active in circulating contemplated moves planned by that corpora-
tion. Hardly a week has passed without some astonishing bit of
news developing in a half dozen cities, in which the name of the
American Piano Co. has figured extensively. After all, it is but
natural that there should have been considerable activity in the
rumor field, for when the American Piano Co. was formed, it was
by the union of several great piano making institutions, all of which
played a prominent part in the piano output of this country. When
the direction of these various companies became centralized, it was
a logical deduction that new plays would be made upon the trade
chessboard, which would be more or less interesting to those who
figured directly in the move, and to outsiders as well. There has
been, when we come to sum up the great work of this corporation
within the past few months, a good many moves which have not
been entirely satisfying to outsiders, but the directors of this corpo-
ration probably will not consult the feelings of outsiders when
making trade changes. It should be understood, however, that this
corporation is not iconoclastic in its moves. It is guided by men
who seek to build trade and not to tear down business structures.
Quite naturally the coming together of important trade interests
was with fixed purposes in view. In the first place, there was a
material saving in expenses and many other important business
essentials, which is hardly necessary to itemize at this time, but the
directors of the American Piano Co. are not desirous of disturbing
business relations with any concern which are satisfactory; on the
contrary, they are interested in encouraging and stimulating those
trade relations which make for business enlargement. The business
of a great producing company can only be successful when the
distributive forces are making money. If there are breaks and dis-
sensions then there is a consequent loss of trade, for the business
cannot be profitable and most men are in business to make money.
Some of the rumors which have been circulated persistently anent
the American Piano Co. are to the effect that this company would
be overbearingly autocratic in its dictates.
T
H E S E statements are circulated with the obvious intent of
arousing disquietude among the dealers. Such statements
are glaringly absurd and will not bear the slightest analysis. The
American Piano Co. are interested in creating pianos and selling
them to responsible parties. The directors are in a position to
cater to the varied interests of the dealers, thus supplying all de-
mands which may be reasonably made upon them. They are not