Music Trade Review

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THE: MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
which was thus aroused soon procured two val-
uable presentations for the new museum, one be-
ing the well-known Carl Claudius collection and
the other the Fr. Lassen Landorph collection (ex-
otic musical instruments from the Far East).
Business in Germany, Particularly as Far as It Affects the Music Trade Industry, Analyzed by
Thanks to these donations and to the energy with
Our Correspondent—New Catalog Bearing Upon the Historical Musical Museum in Copen-
which the museum prosecuted its collecting, the
hagen Just Issued—Cost of Ivory Brings About a Trial of a New Substance for Piano
exhibit has grown rapidly from year to year. It
Keys—Is Being Received Rather Favorably by Piano Makers in Germany.
now consists of more than 600 numbers. The
(Special to The Review.)
contrast to the financial result. Profits not only museum receives an annual subsidy from the gov-
* Berlin, Germany, Jan. 31, 1912.
" failed to keep step with increased output, but ernment. In addition to the instruments, the mu-
A review of the year" 1911 and its influence on even fell off. In some cases the falling off was seum has a library containing works on music,
German trade and manufactures in general show not only proportionate but also absolute. One chiefly such as deal with musical instruments. Its
that the gradual improvement of the commercial
reason for this is a certain period of over-pro- sphere of activity also extends to the giving of
.•.situation as a whole, which characterized the pre- duction through which we have passed, another historical concerts, at which the old instruments
*Jce4ing year, has continued throughout 1911 in spite reason the constant fluctuation of the taxes, which are used. A gramophone library of Danish music
particularly affect trade and commerce. Last has been opened in connection with the museum.
of setbacks of different kinds.
The regular increase in the population of Ger- year's drought also had a very prejudicial influ- This collection was donated by the Scandinavian
many* is put forward as a reason why the annual ence on manufacturers' profits, first because con- Gramophone Co. and is being constantly enlarged
production must also increase; therefore, it is cessions had to be made to the workmen in re- by the addition of new discs.
Rise in Cost of Ivory.
only correct to speak of a development of trade, spect of wages, and secondly, the prices had often
For years past piano manufacturers have felt
providing manufactures and consumption are in to be put down owing to excessive production and
excess of what must be regarded as the increase the retrenchment of the public in their purchases very keenly the constant rise in the price of ivory.
naturally due lo the rise in population, apart 'from of manufactured articles (consequent on the in- Efforts were therefore made long ago to procure
a suitable substitute. Years ago celluloid was
the tendency to a better style of living, which is crease in the prices of provisions).
most widely used as a substitute for ivory, espe-
What has been said about German trade in gen-
evident among all classes of the community. It
is, however, beyond all doubt that this can be eral applies also to the musical instrument branch cially in the cheaper grades of pianos, although
its drawbacks were universally known. Later on
in particular. Increased production and falling
said of the year 1911.
a dangerous competitor to celluloid and even to
Perhaps the best proof of this is furnished by off in profits are the two main characteristics. An
exact review of the standing of the trade and the natural ivory arose in the shape of "Galalith," a
the railway statistics. During 1911 the receipts of
the German railways from goods traffic were markets will not be possible until the official Ger- substance of the nature of casein made from
about 9 per cent, in excess of the receipts for the man statistics for the year 1911 have been pub- skimmed milk. ''Galalith" has proved a very
previous year. Conditions in the German labor lished. The piano trade was not exempt from de- effective substitute. Now, however, Dr. Eichen-
market furnish proof which is equally con- mands on the part of the workmen. In most grun, a well-known chemist, has discovered a new
substance which bids fair to supersede all other
vincing. Statistics show that during the period cases increases in wages were granted without
substitutes for ivory. This new substance is
March to September the number of unemployed stoppages, and strikes only resulted in isolated
cases where the men's demands could not be known" as "Cellon." It is a plastic mass made
dwindled to a minimum. Still another proof of
from acetylcellulose. When thoroughly dry it has
the increase in manufactures is the greater con- conceded.
all the advantages of celluloid without its draw-
Fighting Swindling Firms.
sumption of coal and coke. In 1910 the increase
over the preceding year amounted to only 0.4 per
Manufacturers and dealers devoted a great deal backs; like celluloid it can be sawn, shaped,
cent., but 1911 showed an increase of 4-5 per of time and attention to fighting swindling firms. pressed, blown and glued to wood. It can be
cent, over 1910.
In most of the larger towns in Germany local sec- made in any color from a colorless perfectly
Foreign trade also shows a most satisfactory tions of the Society of German Piano Dealers transparent mass to deep black. The great differ-
standing. Imports went up 7 per cent., exports have been established and these have placed the ence between the new material and celluloid is
business on a sounder basis so far as the genuine that the new material is non-inflammable and only
10 per cent.
melts when exposed to a naked flame. This
trade is concerned.
More Business, Less Profits.
quality is of extreme importance in connection
Training of Competent Workmen.
The volume of business during 1911 is in direct
Piano manufacturers have always devoted spe-
cial care to the training of competent workmen.
Every member of the Society of German Piano
Manufacturers has pledged himself to train a cer-
tain number of apprentices in the building of
A SUPERIOR ACTION
pianos, the number to be in proportion to the
IS THE HEART OF A
number of workmen employed.
It was in-
SUPERIOR PIANO.
tended in this way to prepare apprentices for the
Royal Trade School in Stuttgart, which seemed
A SUPERIOR HAMMER
certain to be built last year and which was to
have been opened as long ago as September, 1910.
IS THE HEART OF A
Unfortunately this school has fallen through ow-
SUPERIOR
ACTION.
ing to lack of interest on the part of both em-
ployers and men, much to the regret of piano
manufacturers.
LATEST TRADE NEWS FROM GERMANY
A satisfied customer
is a real profit maker
—the best salesman a
piano dealer can possibly
have
Every Packard owner is a Packard
booster. He is more than satis-
fied—for he has received more
than "full value" for his money
That's the reason Packard pianos
are easy to sell—and that's the
reason you will find profit and
pleasure in selling them. Also it's
the reason why we are finding it
easy tfo get the better dealers
everywhere to handle them. Write
The Packard Company, Fort
^ Wayne, Indiana—to-day. If we
are not already represented in
your territory, we may be glad
to make agency arrangements
with you—and it may mean for
you the one big opportunity.
Program of Historical
Music
Museum.
The Historical Music Museum in Copenhagen
has issued a magnificent new catalog in the Ger-
man and Danish languages. This catalog does
not lay claim to be a new, independent and scien-
tific treatise on the subject of musical instru-
ments, but is principally intended for practical use,
enabling visitors to understand and appreciate the
old and rare instruments in the museum, and in
addition giving patrons of music living at a dic-
tance an exact description of the treasures con-
tained in the museum at Copenhagen. The mu-
seum was established in 1897. The funds were
raised by public subscription and from the pro-
ceeds of two historical concerts. The nucleus of
the collection consists of the old instruments
which were formerly kept in different museums
in Copenhagen (the National Museum, Danish
Volksmuseum and the Museum of Useful Arts).
Through the courtesy of the authorities the in-
struments were transferred to the new museum.
With these instruments as the foundation and
with purchases and presentations, a collection of
about one hundred instruments was brought to-
gether and placed in the Museum for Useful Arts.
The museum was opened on Jan. 31, 1898, in
connection with a general exhibition of musical
instruments loaned for the purpose. The interest
When you find this ham-
mer in a piano, you know
it is a superior piano.
It is the hall-mark of piano
superiority, and the life of
the music.
Made of superior German
felt.
ASK FOR THEM
401-424 E. 163d St., New York
Chicago Office: Republic Bldg.