Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC TRADE NEWS FROM GERMANY
Manufacturers and Retailers in Germany Are Enjoying a Greatly Increased Business—Gen-
eral Conditions Show Steady Mend—The Outlook for 1910 Most Promising in All Lines
of Trade—Some Interesting Developments in Connection with Royalties on Records.
(Special to The Review.)
Berlin, Germany, Jan. 31, 1910.
The very great depression experienced in the
piano trade during the summer months was suc-
ceeded by such brisk business during the Christ-
mas season that the latter will bear comparison
with any of the most successful years. As was
only to be expected, there has been a considerable
falling off since Christmas, but it is nevertheless
evident that conditions have undergone a radical
cuange since the early part of last year.
Twelve months ago the piano industry in Berlin
was altogether at a standstill, whereas the other
centres of the trade, such as Leipzig, Dresden
and Stuttgart, had less reason to complain. This
year Berlin has the advantage and the other
towns have fallen more to the rear.
Improvement in German Trade.
Reviewing the condition of German trade in
general during the past year, an improvement is
to be noticed almost everywhere, even though it
be but a slight one. The ill effects of the year
1908 were felt right up to the end of June, when
business began to pick up. However, the re-
covery during the second half-year was only
sufficient to counterbalance the shortcomings of
the previous six months and was altogether in-
adequate to bring the trade up to the level of
the years 1905-1907.
One of the best gauges for the activity of in-
dustry at large is the coal consumption. Ever
since the year 1903 there has been a constant in-
crease in the consumption of coal. After making
due allowance for the increase in the quantity of
coal used for private purposes, which would
arise as a natural result of an increase in popula-
tion and the growing wealth of the community,
there still remains enough to clearly demonstrate
the increase in commercial production. The con-
sumption has risen on an average by about 7
per cent, per annum. The increase during 1908
over 1907 amounted to barely 3 per cent. Last
year the increase was only such as might be ex-
pected from the increase in population, although
it would be safe to assume that during 1909 con-
siderable quantities were used which were taken
over from the previous year, and which are not
allowed for in the statistics.
A review of the railway goods traffic leads to a
somewhat more favorable conclusion. The total
receipts of the German railways from goods
traffic during the first half of 1909 amounted to
763 million marks as compared with 761 million
marks for the same period of the preceding year.
During the five months July-November the re-
ceipts amounted to 728 million marks as against
690% million during the corresponding period
of 1908. There was an increase in the goods
traffic with foreign countries amounting to 5
per cent, of the total value, which was fairly
evenly divided between imports and exports. The
actual figures for the exports were: 5,137 million
marks in 1907, 4,787 million marks in 1908 and
5,017 million marks in 1909.
to expect that the exports will soon reach the
level of former years and will furnish ample
employment for German industry.
An Interesting Record Situation.
The German Grammophon Co. sprang a peculiar
surprise upon the commercial world at New Year.
A lawsuit is pending in which a firm of pub-
lishers have taken action against a disc manu-
facturer on the ground of his having unlawfully
manifolded the words of a song, the musical
score of which is not protected by copyright.
Judgment has been rendered against the disc
manufacturer in two instances, the courts having
decided that he has not the right to make use of
the words of the seng without paying royalty.
This judgment has, however, not become legally
effective, owing to the case having been appealed
a second time. In spite of this the Grammophon
Co. have introduced royalty stamps for all discs
which are protected by ordinary copyright. This
innovation was made effective on Jan. 1. This
proceeding is most surprising, as the Gram-
moph'on Co. have never had any dealings with
the composers of the words of the songs and
have therefore fixed the royalty of 2-17 cents quite
arbitrarily at about 3 per cent, of the selling
price of the disc. The Grammophon Co. give as
their reason for the voluntary purchase of
royalty stamps that they wish to protect their
customers against subsequent claims for damages.
They hope in this way to do an increased busi-
ness with the dealers and to steal a march on
other manufacturers who have not adopted the
royalty stamp idea. The dealers have, however,
refused the proffered bait, very correctly reason-
ing that there is still time to tax stock when the
courts have definitely decided that publishers
are entitled to copyright protection for the words
used on the discs. It also remains for the pub-
lishers to see how they will obtain damages in
respect of discs which have passed into private
hands. Should, however, the courts finally de-
cide that the discs are not subject to royalty, the
Grammophon Co. would have to endeavor to re-
fund the amounts paid for royalty stamps, which
would be a tremendously difficult and trying
undertaking, unless they wished to expose them-
selves to a charge of having obtained money by
false pretences. As far as can be judged up to
the present, it would seem that the Grammophon
Co. have made a very great mistake and the
dealers will doubtless choose the easiest way out
of the difficulty by confining themselves as far as
possible to the sale of discs which are not subject
to royalty.
CLOUGH & WARREN ACTIVITY.
Working Overtime and Running Factory to
Capacity in Order to Catch Up with Orders.
(Special to The Review.)
Detroit, Mich., Feb. 15, 1910.
Although the Clough & Warren Co. are work-
ing overtime and running their factory at Adrian,
The Outlook for the Present Year.
Mich., to the limit of its capacity, the company
The outlook for 1910 is not unpromising. The is behind in its orders for early spring delivery.
depression during 1908 was chiefly caused by The last week has been the best this old estab-
enormous over-production. The feeling of reti- lished company has ever had. Orders have come
cence which dominated trade afterwards had the in so rapidly from traveling representatives that
effect that only the most necessary articles were the workmen have been unable to keep up with
manufactured. Now that the demand is con- them. It may be possible that the Clough &
stantly increasing, manufacturers will take full Warren Co. will be compelled to run double
advantage of the improvement. Another interest- shifts at their factory if their traveling salesmen
ing fact is that the buying power of the agricul- continue as successful during the rest of the
tural population is continually increasing, owing spring season as they have been so far this year.
to the heavy protective duties on agricultural
products and to several very favorable harvests.
W. C. LANNING IN TEXAS.
If Germany is successful, by suitable concessions
in the German duty, in warding off several
W. C. Lanning, formerly with Sohmer & Co..
threatened protective measures on the part of
New York, is now connected with the Ross &
foreign countries, there seems to be every reason Heyer Co., piano dealers, of Fort Worth, Tex.
" T h e y Chose
the Best"
"They"
are Messrs. Heintz-
man & Co., (Limited),
the leading piano man-
ufacturers of the Do-
minion of Canada.
''The Best"which they chose
is the player mechan-
ism of the Autotone;
and they chose it from
a m o n g All p l a y e r -
pianos.
^ p H E name and reputation of the
Heintzman Piano arc very jealously
guarded by its makers. When they de-
cided, therefore, to equip it with a self-
playing mechanism they determined that
they would not stop short of the most
musically efficient in existence—a mechan-
ism moreover that should be so con-
structed as not in the slightest degree to
injure cither tone or action of the finest
piano.
They passed in very careful review
ALL the better known player-pianos, only
to reach the conclusion that the best
player-piano manufactured is
The
Hardman Autotone
The Piano all can play by hand or
perforated Music Rolls
In spite of the heavy import duty, which
they realized must be paid on a mechanism
of American manufacture, negotiations
were at once begun with Messrs. Hard-
man, Peck & Co., regarding the installa-
tion of the Autotone player mechanism in
Heintzman pianos.
The Makers of the Autotone had been
from time to time approached by the
makers of the best American pianos with
propositions similar to that presented by
Messrs. Heintzman & Co., of Canada.
They had consistently declined to allow
the Autotone playing mechanism to be in-
stalled in any piano in this country not
made by themselves, or under their direct
supervision and control.
But here, they were dealing with a for-
eign country, where they had no factory
of their own; so, especially in view of the
reputation enjoyed by the Heintzman
Piano, the flattering request of its makers
was willingly acceded to.
The playing mechanism, therefore, of
the Heintzman Player-Piano will be iden-
tical witli that of the Hardman Autotone.
It will be made in New York by the
same makers and shipped in a complete
state to Canada, there to be installed in
the very excellent instrument which it is
to transform into "a Piano ALL can play,
either by hand or perforated music rolls."
Hardman, Peck & Co.
(Established 1842)
138 Fifth Avenue, New York
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
8
MUSIC TRADE! REVIEW
HOBART M. CABLE CO.'SNEW CATALOG
NO REASON FOR BUSINESS APATHY
An Interesting Publication Carefully Edited,
Printed
and Illustrated,
Issued by the
Prominent
Chicago
Manufacturers—New
Styles Pictured and Described.
Says Clarence H. Mackay—Courts Still Know
the Law and People Have Common Sense
—Fear of Future Nonsensical—Only Attacks
We Have Is One of Bugaboos—He Finds
South Hustling and Prosperous.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., Feb. 16, 1910.
One of the handsomest catalogs which has
reached the Chicago office of The Review for
many a day is that just issued hy the Hobart M.
Cable Co. The double covers are of mouse
colored linen stock, handsomely embossed with
the name of the instruments and the insignia of
the company in black and gold. The letter press
throughout is perfect and the H. M. C. insignia
also appears in tint throughout the text. The
descriptive matter is notable, both for literary
merit and the manner in which it is arranged
and sub-headed. Not only are the features of the
Hobart M. Cable pianos clearly set forth, but
the selling arguments are marshaled in a manner
convincing to the prospective retail purchaser
and also calculated to provide the dealer with
effective ammunition. For instance, we quote a
small portion of the chapter bearing the caption
"the question of cost."
"No piano is cheap or expensive because it is
sold for a certain amount of money. Usually the
cheaper the first cost, the more expensive the
piano proves in the end. You should know that
cheapness in a piano is only in first cost and
that in purchasing a cheap instrument, the price
you pay for years of annoyance and dissatisfac-
tion is far more than the first saving.
"When this is considered, the Hobart M. Cable
is actually the cheapest piano for you to buy.
The price we ask pays for the best to be had in
materials and workmanship. We put no limit
on the expense of producing highest quality in
any department of our factories, but not one cent
Is spent that is not needed to attain musical per-
fection and durability. If the price of any piano
is more than that asked for the Hobart M. Cable,
it is not for a difference in quality."
The catalog is not overburdened with technical
detail, but the essential constructional features
which are treated therein are handled in a con-
cise and exhaustive manner and are freely il-
lustrated with sectional and complete drawings
and photographs. Views of the Hobart M. Cable
factory at La Porte, both exterior and interior,
are presented. Excellent half-tones of the various
and beautiful Hobart M. Cable styles are given.
The final pages are devoted to some "voluntary
expressions of sincere opinions" from owners of,
and dealers in, the company's instruments, to-
gether with an imposing list of colleges, institu-
tions, theaters and schools and churches in which
they are installed. The tail-piece is a reproduc-
tion of the diploma awarded by the Alaska-
Pacific-Yukon exposition, and the frontispiece is
a striking likeness of the late Hobart M. Cable.
JOINS GEO. L. SCHIRMER & CO.
A. G. Gifford Taken Into Firm—Expected in
Boston by March 1.
A. G. Gifford, for a number of years connected
with the Emerson Piano Co., Boston, and more
recently retail manager for the Schiller Piano
Co., in Decatur, 111., has arranged to return to
Boston about March 1, and will become a mem-
ber of the firm of Geo. L. Schirmer & Co., the
arrangements being made upon the recent west-
ern trip of Mr. Schirmer. Menzo L. Howard
was taken into the Schirmer firm some time ago,
and with the addition of Mr. Gifford the com-
bination should prove a strong trade factor.
FLOREY BROS. CO. INCORPORATE.
The Florey Bros, Piano Co., Washington, N. J.,
have incorporated, with capital stock of $25,000,
for the piirpose of manufacturing pianos and
other musical instruments. The incorporators
are:
Alvin F. Florey, Tilghman J. Florey and
Harvey U. Florey. It is the intention of the com-
pany to build a factory early in the spring, em-
ploying twenty or thirty men at first.
There is nothing to justify the present fear
business men and corporations have of Congress
and the courts, said Clarence H. Mackay, Monday,
on his return from an inspection of the Postal
Telegraph and Commercial Cable lines in the
South. The South itself is going ahead philo-
sophically, prospering as it goes, he said, and
there is no reason why the rest of the country
should not brace up and do likewise.
"If the telegraph business is a barometer," he
said, "the South has lost none of the impetus that
began before and continued in a modified degree
through the panic. The people down there have
become philosophical as well as prosperous, and
do not easily get excited. We began to make
plans for extensions, enlargements and general
expansion of facilities throughout the South more
than a year ago, and the net outcome of my visit
is that we shall go ahead as demands require in
all directions. Pending decisions by the Supreme
Court may be and doubtless are important; pro-
posed legislation in Congress may or may not be
enacted, but what of it?
"Properties are not going to be confiscated, and
the country is not going to smash. On the con-
trary, we have only to rid ourselves of silly ap
prehensions of wanton official assaults upon legit-
imate business to enjoy the general prosperity
which conditions warrant. If we are going to
wait until capital ceases to be timid and labor de-
mands less instead of more and statesmen stop
seeking popularity we might as well shut up shop
and go home.
"The only attack we have now is an attack of
bugaboos. The courts have not been suddenly
deprived of knowledge of law, nor the Adminis-
tration of patriotism, nor Congress of representa-
tive ability, nor the American people of common
sense. It may and doubtless will take some time
to adjust legislation to meet the requirements of
changing conditions, but that is no reason busi-
ness men should get scared and sit like bumps on
a log till all questions are finally and definitely
settled.
"If the heads of big concerns show the white
feather the thousands of business men engaged in
lesser affairs will be disheartened naturally, and
a period of common apathy will set in without
rhyme or reason. Such a policy is not only non-
sensical, but wrong. At least that is my opinion,
and our companies are going to act accordingly.
"We are doing more business to day than ever
before, and the apparent requirements for the im-
mediate future are greater than ever before, and
we are not going to be swerved from our original
determination to provide the additional facilities
that we foresee are going to be required."
BUSH & GERTS GRAND IN RECITAL.
Wins Unstinted Praise When Played by Mme.
Rive-King in Rochester, N. Y.—Responded
to Every Demand,
(Special to The Review.)
Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1910.
One of the most successful recitals of the sea-
son was given in Convention Hall last Friday
night by Mme. Julie Rive King for the benefit of
the RorheKtfr Teachers' Association Hospital
Fund, and in which she was assisted by Mme.
Florence Mulford, of New York.
Mme. Rive-King, at a Bush & Gerts concert
grand piano, interpreted a most ambitious pro-
gram in a manner to arouse the enthusiasm of a
large audience, and in the papers the following
morning the critics were unanimous in the praise
of her work. The way in which the piano re-
sponded to the demands made uron it was also
much commented upon.
J. W. Martin & Bio., who handle the Bush &
Gerts line in this city are highly pleased at what
they term a red-letter occasion for both the ar-
tist and the piano and state that it means another
advance in the popularity of the Rush & Gerts
piMro ju this city and vicinity.
OTHER DEALERS MAY PROTEST.
Philip Werlein's Action in Connection with
New Orleans and the Result Arouses Dealers
in Other Cities.
The protest of Philip Werlein to the news-
papers of New Orleans regarding the use of
names of automobiles in reading columns while
the names of pianos used in musical affairs
were entirely ignored, and which was referred
lo editorially in The Review, seems to have
struck a responsive chord among the dealers in
many cities, who are talking strongly of emulat-
ing Mr. Werlein's example. The fact that the
New Orleans papers readily agreed to use the
names of pianos when practical should encour-
age dealers in other cities to act.
ELECTRIC ORGAN BLOWER.
The Latest Device for Operating the Bellows
of Pipe Organs Is Entitled the "Rotasphere"
and Is an English Invention.
The electrically operated organ blower called
the "Rotasphere," a new English apparatus, is
designed to be attached to the bellows handle of
any ordinary large organ. The handle is given
its usual reciprocating motion by the rotation of
a crank, which is driven through a chain and
sprocket gear, by a bicycle wheel having a pneu-
matic tire. This wheel is turned by the friction
or a hemisphere of aluminum, which is mounted
on the spindle of a shunt-wound constant-speed
electric motor, and the rate is varied by swinging
the motor on a vertical pivot so that the arc of
contact of the hemisphere with the tire is al-
tered. The speed change is automatic. A chain
connects the organ reservoir with the swinging
motor, and a spiral spring resists the swing of
the motor, so that as the reservoir rises and falls
the chain is drawn in or pulled out, thus shift-
ing the arc of contact by its action on the motor.
VOTING SCHEME HURTS DEALERS.
Southern California Well Covered by Young
Men with Free Piano
Proposition
That
Nets Them Good Profit, but Means Trouble
for Merchants.
Piano dealers in southern California are con-
siderably worked up over the fact that several
young men are covering that territory very thor-
oughly with a scheme whereby merchants give
out coupons with purchases and on a certain date
give a piano, furnished to the young men of the
organization having the most coupons or votes.
The pianos are advertised as being worth $400,
but it is said that $225 would be nearer their
value. In several cases the promoters have re-
ceived over $1,000 from a group bf merchants
for one of the pianos.
Though the whole scheme generally spells trou-
ble for the merchants adopting it the contracts
are so carefully worded and promise so little that
there is no way the merchant can evade payment
without incurring prohibitive expense. According
to the verbal promise made, the merchant cannot
lose and many are biting.
WANT E. A. PARKS FOR MAYOR.
E. A. Parks, of the Parks Music House, Louisi-
ana, Mo., is being strongly boomed by his friends
for the nomination for mayor of that city on the
Republican ticket. Mr. Parks is very popular and
if nominated it is said he would be almost sure
of success.
De Volney Everett, a well known piano trav-
eler, has become associated with F. Radle.
It will be interesting to note the development
which occurs week by week on page 6. It is
worth your while.

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