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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
REVIEW
FAVORITE subject for discussion these days is that of South
American trade, and there has been no small share of loose
A
thinking and talking as well as an indulgence in generalities when
treating of this subject.
We have some who picture Latin America as the land of milk
and honey with endless opportunities for our manufactures; others
who consider it a waste of time and a'great expenditure of money
in an effort to cultivate a market which they claim "doesn't exist."
There is still another class of manufacturers, much smaller, of
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor course, and neither ecstatic, nor blue, who understand the require-
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
ments of the South American people the same as they understand
the requirements of the people of California, Louisiana or Minne-
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
sota, and who are finding satisfactory markets for their goods.
GLAD. HENDERSON,
H. E. JAMASON,
C. CHACE.
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J.NICKLIN,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
WM. B. WHITE,
L. E. BOWERS.
In a general way. however, we are apt to read a lot of nonsense
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
about
the tremendous markets for our products in South American
E.
P.
VAN
HARLINGEN,
87
South
Wabash
Ave
JOHN H. WILSON, 824 Washington St.
Telephone, Central 414.
Telephone, Main 6950.
countries,
but as far as pianos are concerned the market is neces-
Room 806.
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
sarily a limited one.
*
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
CLYDE JENNINGS,
George
P.
Bent,
president
of
the
Bent
Co.,
Chicago,
111.—a
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First Street.
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
man
of
unusually
keen
observation—who
has
just
returned
from
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
an
extended
visit
to
the
leading
South
American
countries,
states
LONDON. ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
that so far as South America is concerned the chances of competing
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
with Germany or any other European country are almost nil. He
Enttted at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
said to The Review: "The people of Latin America have been
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Can
literally brought up on European methods and they possess all the
ada, $8.60; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
traits
typical of continental life. Their ideas regarding pianos run
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $76.00.
largely
to the 'gingerbread' style of work; gilt ornaments and fancy
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
touches here and there appeal to the Latin American. The same
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques
PljIVPF
1 i a j C l - 1 PlUIlA
lailU anil
ailU
condition regarding the American-made instruments exists in South
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, reg
ulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos art
America that does in Europe, namely, that the volume of tone, the
p
. d e a l t ^ i t h < wi ff b e f oun( f i n another section of this.
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
size, the weight and the general style of the American piano is not
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
in accordance with the natives' bred-in-the-bone idea of what a
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
piano should be. Dealers are possessed of peculiar ideas, they
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. . .Charleston Exposition, 180?
Diploma Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
only
want to buy a few instruments, and those few must be made
Gold Medal.... Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
in
certain
styles, to suit their trade. The American manufacturer
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES NUMBERS 5982-5983 MADISON SQUARE
Connecting all Departments.
cannot afford to do this. With the European manufacturer it is
Cable address " "Elblll, New York."
different; his pianos are in nearly all cases hand finished and re-
quire only four or five days for completion, while our method of
NEW YORK, APRIL 6, 1912,
high grade finishing takes the better part of three or four months.
For this reason the European maker can cater to that particular
line of trade. A great many radical changes will have to be in-
EDITORIAL
augurated before we transact much business with South America
or Europe. The tariff laws must undergo a decided remodeling
HE business situation in the music trade field continues to be in order to interest foreign manufacturers in a general exchange
most satisfactory, and this despite the very bitter political
of business. Certainly we cannot expect to sell where we are not
campaign which is being waged in connection with the forthcom-
willing to buy. Trade, to be real trade, must be reciprocal."
ing conventions to select candidates for the Presidency of the
One need not be a seer to prophesy a tremendous trade future
United States.
in the South' America countries as soon as the habit of overthrow-
Reports from Review correspondents and traveling repre-
ing- governments, thus causing constant commercial unrest and un-
sentatives of the leading piano houses are a unit to the effect that
certainty, disappears permanently. It is a market well worth
politics this year is having less influence than in any Presidential
watching and nursing, and particularly as the opening of the
election year ever known.
Panama Canal will bring the leading trade centers so much nearer
As a matter of fact business men are no longer influenced by
the shipping ports of this country.
the superstition that a change of officials in Washington will under-
mine confidence or disturb settled conditions.
E have had occasion several times recently to refer in com-
Sometimes great issues, such as the money, or the tariff ques-
mendatory terms to the high class advertising campaign
tions, have done this in the past, but to-day the line of demarcation
carried on by the Aeolian Co. in the daily papers. It is along the
between the two leading political parties is not as clearly defined
line of interesting and educating the public to a new viewpoint on
as it was many years ago.
the Pianola piano, and the Pianola family of instruments generally,
Again, the attitude of the Government toward business in-
and of a character to dignify and uplift the industry. The latest
terests has not been over-sympathetic for the past seven years, and
advertisement of this character was that appearing above the
business men have learned to break away from traditions and
Aeolian Co.'s name in last Sunday's papers, and occupying almost
realize that their own affairs must be the first consideration and
a page, entitled, "Since Music Came." Written in colloquial style,
that politics must not dominate.
it tells the story of how music brought back the freshness, the life,
the eagerness, the spirit of youth to a gray-haired, plodding, mid-
Whatever the cause be the fact remains that there is a steady
dle-aged man, weighed down with business responsibilities and
betterment in business throughout the country and a feeling of
worry. It is an admirably written tale, and shows how the mar-
confidence that is most encouraging. This K combined with the
velous magic in music, through the Pianola, transformed a home
pleasing crop prospects following the favorable winter conditions
in the agricultural sections, have led piano manufacturers and mer- into one of joy, and a man into a new being with new aspirations,
new hopes and fortified with ambition for new conquests. It is
chants to look forward to a continuance and further development
of the improvement which is now in evidence in all parts of the quality advertising in the best sense of the word. It helps to dig-
nify not only the Aeolian Co.'s products, but the entire industry.
country, with a few exceptions in the Central West.
The impending strike of the coal miners has caused some con- It is a pleasing contrast to the rift of cheap, maudlin, degrading,
prize-gift publicity which has done so much to lower the music
cern to piano merchants throughout Pennsylvania, but there are
trade industry in the estimation of thinking people. Therefore,
abundant indications that the difficulties will be adjusted and that
hats off to the Aeolian Co. for its splendid work!
the men will resume work without resorting to a strike.
T
W