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THE
MUSIC TRADE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
GLAD. HENDERSON,
A. J. NICKHN,
H. E. JAMASON,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
C. CHACE,
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
L. E. BOWERS.
REVIEW
president and general manager of the Mason & Hamlin Co., he
said: "The high grade piano is, after all, 'the bulwark of the
piano business.' While I know it is true that the percentage of
profit made on a single sale of an artistic piano, as against a single
sale of a cheap piano at an enormous price, is smaller, I can prove
to any business man that the selling of high grade pianos shows
not only a bigger percentage of return on cash investments in that
part of his business, for the reason that he can turn the given
amount of cash over much oftener in the high grade business than
he can a similar amount in the cheap business. In the first place
he will get either all cash or very large payments covering a short
time period and no credit risk as against questionable paper cover-
ing three, four and five years' time."
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 37 South Wabash Avc.
W
ITHIN the past few years death has been active in remov-
ing from the ranks of the living some of the most dis-
PHILADELPHIA:
tinguished
and capable men in the music trade, and last week we
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
CLYDE JENNINGS
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
were called upon to record the death of James R. Mason, whose
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.: STANLEY H. SMITH.
loss will not only be felt by his immediate business associates, but
BALTIMORE, MD.s A. ROBERT FRENCH.
MILWAUKEE, WIS.: L. E. MEYER.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
by the entire trade at large.
Pnbllshed Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Mr. Mason was a conspicuous figure in the industry and rose
Enteted at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
by
a
staunch adherence to exalted business ideals to a high posi-
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
$3.50; all other countries, $4.00.
tion not only in the trade with which he had been closely affiliated,
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
but in outside circles as well.
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Aside from his official connection with the Sterling Co: and
Lyman Bill.
other prominent music trade corporations, he stood very high in
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques
Player-Piano and
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
the community in which he lived and was prominently connected
Ilonartmoiltc
latinjr and repairing of pianos and player-pianos arc
I i e p d l U l l t l l O . dealth with, will be found in another section of this
with official and business organizations in his home city.
paper. We also publish a number of reliable tecnical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
As a tribute to the memory of Mr. Mason, many of the busi-
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
ness houses in Derby were closed during the hours at which time
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. . .Charleston Exposition, 1902
his funeral occurred and many of the business organizations with
Diploma. .. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .L.ewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
which he was associated in the city were represented at the funeral
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 5982-5983 MADISON SQUARE
by
officers and directors.
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address •• "Elbill. N e w York."
One of the touching incidents of the funeral service imme-
diately
after the close of the ceremonies was the filing of the men
NEW YORK, MAY 11, 1 9 1 2 .
from both the Sterling and Huntington piano factories by the grave,
and as each one passed he removed from his coat a white carna-
tion and a piece of green which he had been wearing and dropped
EDITORIAL
it upon the coffin—a tribute that was both touching and impressive.
The Derby Sentinel had the following editorial regarding Mr.
IANO merchants of repute throughout the country are be- Mason:
"The death of James R. Mason, of Derby, removes from these
coming weary;, if not disgusted, with the retail sales cam-
united communities one of its foremost citizens and most success-
paigns, full of misrepresentation, which are in evidence on all sides
ful and thoroughly representative business men. To him must be
these days. The temptation to sell pianos out of their class, in
given the credit for the remarkable development of the Sterling
other words to exalt the commercial, or cheap piano, to a position
Company, of which he was the president, and which has become
to which it is not entitled, has brought about a condition that is
an industry of large proportions, in fact, one of the mainstays in
deplorable. Claims made to purchasers regarding durability and
the city in which it is located and one of the best known companies
tone quality have not been substantiated and the result is that deal-
of its kind in the country. If there were no other business in-
ers have suffered in prestige through this method of developing
terests to reflect credit upon his progressiveness, this of itself
business.
would be a sufficient monument to prove the unusually successful
It is a matter for reflection and satisfaction that those piano
business career which he led and to show, also, that his life was
merchants who are selling pianos in their class and giving the high
one
of inestimable value to the community. But aside from this
grade artistic products, made by the leading piano manufacturers
he was a director in a number of notable financial enterprises which
in the country, a proper position in their sales campaigns, are being
had come to rely much upon his sound judgment and keen fore-
properly rewarded.
sight. His executive ability was extraordinary and his integrity
Despite the great demand for the commercial piano, it is safe
was never questioned. He had the reputation of being unquali-
to say that there never was a time in trade history when there was
fiedly faithful to those who trusted him and he liberally imposed
such a chance for securing a proper return on intelligent effort in
the same confidence in others as long as he found them worthy ot
pushing the high grade artistic piano as to-day.
it. He was plain and to the point, and yet full of tact. A hard
The American people always desire the best, and in the ninety
worker himself, he prized this quality in others and placed a reason-
odd millions to whom the piano merchants of this country cater,
able estimate upon the value of it. His associations with men of
there is a very large percentage of them possessing a sufficient
recognized business standing in the community were pleasant and
degree of culture and wealth to desire the best in their homes.
helpful. Socially he was a man among men, genial, generous and
Some of these people may be fooled by misrepresentation, but
broadminded. He was approachable, affable and sympathetic, and
in the end the honest, straightforward method of handling and
because of these characteristics, inborn and inbred, he was re-
exploiting high grade, artistic pianos, will pay a handsome profit
spected and liked by those who looked to him for employment.
to the piano merchant. There must be, however, sincerity and
His
death results in a heavy and thoroughly regrettable loss to
enthusiasm back of this effort in order to win out.
his
home
city and in these united towns, and the vacancy which he
Piano merchants should not get away from the fact that the
leaves
will
not be easily filled."
great names in the piano world are to-day as potent a power in
trade promotion as ever, and they can be made more so through
T is amazing how some men ordinarily broadminded on many
their efforts. It will pay to keep the high grade piano standard
questions bearing upon business government and its expan-
flying at the masthead.
sion, are so narrow and conservative regarding the advertising
This reminds us that in a recent chat with A. M. Wright, vice-
Telephone, Main 6950.
Telephone, Central 414.
Room 806.
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
P
I