Music Trade Review

Issue: 1912 Vol. 55 N. 16

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
CARLETON CHACE.
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
L. M. ROBINSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON. 824 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINCEN, 87 South Wabash Ave.
REVIEW
trade industry, of which it forms such an important part, for the
sales of pianos in such an environment cannot help but elevate the
art of piano making. It places it on that artistic plane which it
always should occupy, and in this respect the members of the in-
dustry cannot fail to view with pride and pleasure the occupancy
by the Aeolian Co. of this magnificent trade and musical emporium.
Thousands of visitors thronged the new Aeolian Building this
week extending congratulations to the officers of the Aeolian Co.
on taking possession of what promises to be one of New York's
landmarks of culture, refinement and musical progress. In these
felicitations, so well merited, The Review desires to be associated.
The advance of the business of the Aeolian Co. in recent years,
with its branches throughout the world, has been phenomenal. It
has moved along new and original lines, free of traditions, blazing
new paths in piano trade history, scoring success after success.
ALBERT G. BRENTON, Assistant.
Room 806. Telephone, Central 414
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
/CORRESPONDENTS of The Review throughout the country
v_y continue to report steadily improving business. Elation and
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
confidence have taken the place of apathy and discouragement so
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND-: STANLEY H. SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
MILWAUKEE, WIS.: L. E. MEYER.
prevalent in many industries a year ago, and if expert observers are
LONDON,' ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
sound in their deductions we have now struck the gait of good times
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
in the piano trade, and in every other industry in this country.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
This was confirmed in a very substantial way by the official
; SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
crop
report of the Department of Agriculture issued late last week,
| 83.50: all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
in which the figures show enormous harvests in all crops, some of
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
them exceeding all records. The figures of a month ago, surprising
REMITTANCES, in other Jhan currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
I.vman Rill.
^
as they were, have been added to materially. Hence the one great
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
PlflVPI* Plllim 9nil
issue of the past year, the increased cost of living, should be favor-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
VCpai
ably affected by this immense harvest, for the country is assured
itXilUlim V
C p a i IllIClllS. deaUh with, will be found in another section of this
paper.
i l works,
k information
i f i concerning
i h
which
ih
aper. We also publish a number of reliable
r libl technical
of a surplus food supply that must in due course influence prices.
will
ill b
be cheerfully
h f l l given
i
upon request.
t
The change in conditions within twelve months is a most grati-
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
fying one. Then there was a chorus of admissions that while busi-
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1008
ness was better than it had been, the gain was slow, and in the face
Diploma.... Pan-American Exposition. 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal.. Lewis-Clark Exposition. 1905
of tariff agitation, and the Presidential campaign, business would
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 5982-S98S MADISON SQUARE
probably come to a standstill and even retrograde.
Connecting all Departments.
The opinion has undergone a remarkable change. Perhaps it
Cable address " "ElbllL N e w York."
might be termed unprecedented, for who can remember a Presi-
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 19, 1912.
dential campaign when manufacturers, merchants, contractors and
business men generally are making their plans and actually car-
rying them out with so little concern about the effect of the election
upon their fortunes?
EDITORIAL
Concerns both small and large report better conditions; more
orders, quicker sales and prompter collections.
Travelers in the piano industry who are in close touch with
NEW epoch in the musical progress of New York, both in
the trade at all points are an unit in the conviction that real pros-
art and trade circles, has been reached through the occu-
perity is coming, and that nothing can stop it, not even political
pancy this week by the Aeolian Co. of its superb new musical
agitation, and as for the Presidential election, there is a feeling that
palace on Forty-second street, facing New York's equally beautiful
no matter how it results the immediate future is secure.
Public Library.
The labor troubles in New York have interfered very mate-
In the plans of its construction, in its furnishings, in its pro- rially with the plans of local manufacturers, but this trouble is
vision for the requirements of the musical people of the metropolis,
almost at an end, and whatever differences existed between the
it stands out as one of the greatest and most unique structures of
various manufacturers and their workmen are being adjusted along
the world.
amicable lines.
It must be classed as a great educational power in the com-
From the very start the men pursued a wrong line of action.
munity, as it caters not only to the needs of purchasers of musical Had they any complaints it would have been better had they sub-
instruments in all walks of life, but through its concert halls it is mitted them to their employers direct than to enlist the aid of an
destined to spread broadcast a wider appreciation of music.
outside organization to dictate to the manufacturers what they
It must be remembered that the Aeolian Co. was among the
should do. A friendly talk would have been much more effective
first to put into practise the idea of providing free public concerts.
than coercive demands, and it would have ensured the men steady-
Apart from the advertising value of this move, no one can deny
employment without any disruption of manufacturing. But as we
that through these concerts hundreds of thousands of people have
remarked, the labor troubles are petering out, and the outlook for a
been enabled to more keenly appreciate the value of good music.
busy fall and winter trade in the wholesale field is excellent.
And in this way the community has been benefited.
The concert plans of the past will not only continue in the
ANUFACTURERS in all lines of business, particularly those
future, but on a larger and broader scale, because in its new
following developments in the field of labor, have been
establishment it has splendid facilities for this purpose. Apart
keenly interested in what is known as the hatters' boycott case,
from the great concert hall on Forty-third street, which forms a
which has been before the United States Court over ten years, and!
part of the new Aeolian Building, and which will be utilized by
has been in second trial since August 20. The jury on October 11
many of our great symphony orchestras, and noted artists in both
returned a verdict of $80,000, which was the full sum asked by
vocal and instrumental fields the coming musical season, the
D. E. Loewe & Co., the independent hat manufacturers of Danbury,
Aeolian Co. has a special hall of its own, where its friends and the who opposed Samuel Gompers and organized labor.
public generally will be entertained in that manner which has made
As required by the anti-conspiracy clause of the Sherman law,
Aeolian Hall so popular not only with the people of this city,
Judge James L. Martin, of Brattleboro, Vt., who has been hearing
but with the thousands of visitors who come to the metropolis to
the second trial, trebled the amount to $240,000, which with its
enjoy the hospitality and courtesy of this great institution.
costs of $10,000, makes the biggest award ever granted by a Con-
The opening of the new Aeolian Hall also dignifies the music
necticut jury. It gqes beyond the award of the jury of December^
PHILADELPHIA:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
CLYDE JENNINGS
A
M
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
1909, which gave damages to Loewe of $74,000, or $222,000 when
trebled.
Both sides, the American Anti-Boycott Association and the
American Federation of Labor, concede it to be the greatest case
of capital versus labor ever tried out in an American court. The
verdict sustains Loewe's contention that he and his workmen may
legally do as they please without interference on the part of the
local union leaders, the United Hatters of North America, or the
American Federation of Labor, with which they are affiliated.
It is understood that the decision will be appealed to the United
States' Supreme Court. If not favorable, Samuel Gompers states
that the labor unions are determined to take the matter to Con-
gress. The decision as it stands is not only a victory for the open
shop, but demonstrates that the labor union must assume responsi-
bilities like any organization of capital when it decides to promul-
gate a boycott.
I
T is worthy of more than passing mention that piano merchants
and travelers nowadays report an increasing demand through-
out the country for pianos of quality—of recognized reputation.
This is a condition full of hope.
It is only a few years ago since the coupon, or picture puzzle,
campaign was in full swing, undermining the faith of the public
in piano values and demoralizing the entire retail trade. Many
piano merchants had then become so inflicted with the coupon fever
that they seemed willing to sacrifice their future for immediate
profits.
The danger of this policy was pointed out in The Review time
and time again. Meanwhile the parties who originated and stimu-
lated this disastrous policy were thwarted in their plans of ruining
the industry. The craze was suppressed, but the damage then in-
flicted was so great that to-day the retail trade of the country is
suffering seriously from its after effects.
This is shown in the class of retail piano advertising which
has come under observation during the past year. It is apparent
that piano selling has degenerated into a question of low prices and
long terms. To read some of these advertisements one would
imagine that there was not a piano of quality made—that the fight
for trade seemed to center solely on how cheap a piano could be
sold, no matter how absurd and ridiculous the terms may be from a
business standpoint.
It is a cause of satisfaction that to-day there is a reaction
toward the piano of quality.
Piano merchants are realizing that they are not in business for
a day, but for all time, and that their enduring success is only
REVIEW
5
Legal Questions Answered for the
Benefit of Review Readers
have opened a Department wherein legal
questions, which have direct bearing on music
trade affairs, will be answered free of charge.
€jThis Department is under the supervision of
Messrs. Wentworth, Lowenstein & Stern, attor-
neys at law, of 60 Wall Street, New York.
tjMatter intended for this Department should be
addressed plainly, Legal Department, The Music
Trade Review.
possible by paying more attention to development of trade in pianos
of reputation—of quality.
There is a place for the cheap piano, and there will always be
a large trade in these instruments, but it is mighty poor business
to sell commercial pianos at an abnormal price—a price approxi-
mating that of a really high class, meritorious instrument. This
is too commonly done.
Piano merchants who value their reputations are not indulging
in these practises. They are presenting the claims of pianos of
quality in a manner that has gained for them the confidence of the
public in these instruments and in themselves.
As a result the manufacturers of these pianos are experiencing
an increasing demand for their products, all of which demonstrates
an improving condition as compared with the low standard that
existed following the dreadful puzzle, or coupon campaign.
It is now the duty of piano merchants to put more emphasis
on the piano of quality—to awaken to the fact that the American
public should be supplied with instruments of recognized worth—
pianos of repute. That the exploitation of instruments of this char-
acter will bring them a class of patronage more profitable and more
resultful, both to their prestige and their finances, than can be
obtained by confining their efforts to the overdone competition of
low prices and indefinite time payments.
The American public wants the best, and with money in its 1
possession it will gravitate to those establishments that are asso-
ciated with quality products.
A STANDARD OF VALUE FOR USED PIANOS
(Continued from page 3.)
new purchase which may be made within two or three years; but this plan is not good merchandizing.
No furniture merchant or tailor or jewelry dealer would stand for such business inconsistency.
The piano merchants by adopting such a course are fooling themselves, and there is no reason why
the retail purchaser should not pay a full monthly rental for his piano; and right here let me ask why
it would not be a good plan to standardize used pianos on the basis of a deduction of rental values when
taking them back as part payment for new instruments?
It is a great subject and one of deepest interest to piano merchants nationally. I shall be very glad
to hear from my readers everywhere as to why this would not be a proper move to make to establish
a standard, if possible.
Why should not the Piano Merchants' Association take up such a matter as this and settle it, and
then, having once definitely denned a standard of value which is fair to all, stick to it?
The piano business has been retarded in its progress by reason of many unsound business methods
which have been adopted in various departments of the industry.
It is quite time that they were readjusted and remodeled to suit the present-day environment.
No matter about what we did years ago—conditions have changed and men must change as well.
Sound business methods which fit in the trade structure of to-day is what we need.

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