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TH
WHO SECURED THESE ORftERS
From Indian Princes as Reported by Our Ger-
man Contemporary?
A correspondent of our esteemed Berlin con-
temporary, The Music Instrumenten Zeitung,
writes from India that "an agent of an Ameri-
can firm of piano-makers has been soliciting
orders for specially built pianos from the rich
Indian princes. Most of these instruments were
in extravagant and exotic styles, some in white
and light blue and gold, others inland with
mother-of-pearl or mosaic arabesques, precious
stones, or with bronze, silver or gold work. Not
only this, but all rorts of new and different
shapes have been invented. The agent either de-
signs these instruments or takes instructions
from the rajah, which are carried out as faith-
fully as possible. The sums paid are, of course,
phenomenal."
The que:tion is, Were any of our American
piano manufacturers lucky enough to secure
these orders? Many of our manufacturers just
now would be tickled to death to secure orders
from these Indian princes, particularly when the
American princes of finance are pleading hard
times, and if the Newport newspaper correspond-
ents are to be believed, not paying the butcher,
the baker or the candlestick-maker.
Seriously,
we are of the opinion that the Indian corre-
spondent of our German contemporary has
evolved a story which is entirely in keeping with
the atmosphere of the remarkable country of
which he is a resident.
CELEBRATE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
J. C. Martin & Co., the piano dealers of Wash-
ington Court House, Ohio, celebrated their fifth
anniversary in business last week with an elab-
orate reception attended by their customers and
friends for miles around. The headquarters of
the firm are in Dayton, the Washington C. H.
branch being in charge of D. W. Mai tin. It is
estimated that fully 10,000 people visited the
store on the day of the celebration and a sou-
venir was presented to each.
J. C. Martin & Co. handle the Sohmer, Hard-
man, Lester, Davenport & Treacy, Hamilton,
Cote, Ellington, Howard, Vough and other makes
of pianos, Mason & Hamlin and Miller organs and
the Simplex player.
MISSOURI MERCHANTS WIN FIGHT.
(Special to The Review.)
St. Joseph, Mo., July 25, 1908.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has up-
held the claim of the Missouri jobbers that the
freight rates from the Atlantic seaboard to Mis-
souri river points were excessive, and decided
that reductions should be made on the five
freight classes of 9, 7, 5, 4 ana 3 cents, respec-
tively per 100 lbs., between the Mississippi and
the Missouri rivers. Seventy-five Missouri river
jobbers began proceedings in February, 1907, in-
volving more territory, freight tonnage and rev-
enue than in any case brought before the com-
mission in twenty years, and several hearings
were held. It is believed that the new ruling
will, save practically $750,000 yearly to the job-
bers. J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co. were among
those who fought for the reduction.
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
though tramps had gotten into the car and
walked on top of the instruments. In some
cases the veneer was cracked right through.
PATENT WAR AGAINST ENGLAND.
Germany and the United States May Wage I t
According to Reports from Europe.
A despatch from Berlin to the New York Sun
says a German-American anti-English patent
alliance will apparently be the outcome of the
hardships which Germany and America claim are
inflicted upon them by the new English patent
law which goes into force on August 28. This
law compels the exploitation in England of
patents take out in England; in other words, a
patented article in England must be manufac-
tured in that country.
The German Industrial Union, which recently
presented a petition to the Imperial Chancellor
asking that diplomatic measures be taken to se-
cure a modification of the law, has received in-
quiries from an influential American firm asking
whether German manufacturers are prepared to
join forces with their American colleagues in a
retaliatory patent campaign against England.
The German Industrial Union is not averse to
this suggestion, since it is realized that a war
of reprisal waged by Germany alone would stand
a small chance of being effective, because tne
number of German pa'tents registered in England
far exceeds the number of English patents regis-
tered in Germany. The relentless canceling of
unexploited English patents in Germany and
America simultaneously would, it is felt, prove a
more adequate weapon against the English law.
MATHIAS AND COLEMAN INCORPORATE.
Mathias & Coleman have applied to the Su-
perior Court of Lowndes county, Ga., for a char-
ter to buy, sell and manufacture sewing ma-
chines, wagons, as well as pianos, organs and
musical merchandise of all kinds. The capital
stock is given as $12,000, with the right to in-
crease same to $100,000.
IMPROVED CONDITIONS IN PITTSBURG.
(Special to The Review.)
Pittsburg, Pa., July 27, 1908.
Business men in all lines in this city are
greatly encouraged over the improved condi-
tions in that city and vicinity, and look for a
return to normal early in August. The mines,
coking plants and mills are starting up with
full forces, and the only difficulty appears in get-
ting sufficient laborers, many having returned to
Europe during the depression. Piano dealers
report a great improvement in collections, and
while many people have fallen rather far behind
in their payments, they are rapidly catching up
again as they continue at work.
HOW HE SOLD A FISCHER GRAND.
When Thomas Quinlan, manager of the piano
department for Hayden Bros., Omaha, Neb., re-
ceived an invitation to a lawn party given by
a prominent banker of Florence, Neb., he per-
suaded his intended host that a grand piano was
a necessary adjunct to the fete and sold him a
Fischer grand.
9
A TRAIT OF AMERICAN CHARACTER.
We Allow Our Country to be Pushed to Verge
of Financial Precipice, Feeling Confident We
Can Pull It Back.
There is one trait of our national character
which foreigners can never comprehend, and that
is our unshakable faith in ability to "come out
all right in the end." We stand idly and more
or less indifferently by and allow a country to
be pushed to the verge of a financial or political
precipice under the impulse of some kind of
popular craze or another, entirely confident that
just before it slips over we take hold of it and
pull it back. We have done this again and again
and nothing seems to shake our faith in our
ability to repeat the operation whenever occa-
sion arises. It costs us enormously, not only in
reputation, but also in money, and retards our
growth and progress in a thousand ways, but
nothing seems likely to cure us of the habit,
unless it be a great national calamity due to our
failing in some crisis to take alarm quickly
enough.
FOUR NEW LINDEMAN AGENTS
Appointed by President Norris During His Re-
cent Business Trip.
L. W. P. Norris, president of the firm of liinde-
man & Sons, 137 West Twenty-third street, re-
turned Monday last from a most successful trip
through New York State, and this is also at-
tested by the closing of four new and important
agencies. Mr. Norris also stated tnat the out-
look for fall was good, In New England and
along the New York Central every dealer was
planning for it and a general revival was due as
soon as the vacation season closed.
BUMPER CROPS SAYS J. J. HILL.
The Outlook in the Northwest Fine and Piano
Men Are Rejoicing Thereat.
(Special to The Review.)
Minneapolis, July 27, 1908.
"There will be more grain of all kinds
throughout the Northwest, as conditions stand
to-day, than there was last year," said James J.
Hill to-day. "If some unfortunate condition does
not arise the increase will be from 5 to 10 per
cent, over last year's crop. The Red River Val-
ley, which during the last few years has not
made very good showing, will do much better
this year. West of the mountains the crop will
be light."
When asked what the Canadian farmers would
have to offer for the market, Mr. Hill said their
crop will undoubtedly be larger than ever.
"They have a virgin soil," he added, "so their
crop will be large. Our farmers have not taken
care of their land, and, consequently, the yield
will be proportionately light. The railroads are
well able to handle all grain which will be
offered to them. The trouble lies In terminal
facilities. If we could only unload grain when
it gets to the terminals it would be all right.
Three trips for our grain cars will move all
grain along our line."
DEATH OF THOS. J. WILMOTH.
Henry B. Willis, for ten years head tuner for
DAMAGES FOR PIANOS WRECKED.
the Wilcox & White Co., Meriden, Conn., died
The D. S. Johnston Co., Seattle, Wash., re- of heart trouble recently, while spending his
cently recovered full damages from the railroad vacation in Brattleboro, Vt., his old home. The
on a carload of pianos which were received in funeral was held in the latter city and a host of
a badly scratched and marred condition, as friends sent flowers and messages of sympathy.
Thomas J. Wilmoth, father of C. H. Wilmoth,
manager for the Stieff warerooms, in Charlotte,
N. C, died recently at his home in that city at
the age of 76 years. He was survived by a widow
and one son.
Extraordinary Durability
Artistic Design
Touch Light and Responsive
Correspondence with active
dealers solicited.
William Tonk ft Bro.
INCORPORATED
452-458 TtHth Avi., Ntw Ytrk