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THE
MUSIC TRADE
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
B. B«ITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NtrKLtN,
CARLETON CHACE.
AUGUST J. TIMPK,
L. M. ROBINSON,
WM. B WHITE,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOMW H. WILSON. 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
PHILADELPHIA:
K VV KAcrpmAN.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARI.INOEN, 87 South Wabash Ave
ALBERT G. BRENTON, Assistant.
Room 806. Telephone, Central 414
MINNEAPOLIS a n d ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
ADOLF EDSTEN.
S U I FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE. MD.: A ROBERT FRENCH.
CLYBE JENNINGS
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND^ STANLEY H. SMITH
MILWAUKEE, W I S . : L. E. MEYER.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
h.ntned
at th* \e-a> York Post Off ire as Second Class
Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION* (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
$.S MI an ihrr countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. $2.60 per inch single column, per insertion.
On quarterly or
jrarlt .-..nuaiiv a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
PlftVPF PI ait A And
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
• M1JCI ~t IflUW O1IU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
I V r h n l f f l l Hpn.flrtlllPn.te
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
1CCDU1C4I UKpal tUlCUIS. dealth with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1908
Diploma
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Mtdal.. Lewis-Clark Exposition. 1906
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES NUMBERS 5982 5983 MADISON SQUARE
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address •• "Elblll, New York.**
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 2, 1912.
EDITORIAL
M
REVIEW
Inspection and service, in view of the insurance it carries, is the
cheapest kind of trade building.
I
^HAT remarkable young woman, Helen Keller, though deaf
as well as dumb and blind, has repeatedly written that she is
able to enjoy music by standing close to a piano and putting one
hand on it. Several psychologists have expressed the opinion that
she deludes herself, and that she cannot possibly be impressed by
music in a definite manner. To study the problem personally*
Prof. W. Stern, of the University of Breslau, visited Miss Keller.
He sat down and played the piano, while she leaned with her
body against it and also placed one hand flat on the lid. First, he
played a simple melody in a four-four measure, the rhythm of which
he specially accentuated. Miss Keller soon began with her other
hand to beat time, on the whole correctly, and when the piece was
ended she called it a "soldiers' march."
The professor then played Strauss' "'Blue Danube" waltz,
which visibly agitated her; her whole body began to vibrate and
sway while her facial expression also indicated enjoyment in an
unmistakable manner. This piece was pronounced a "country
dance." Chopin's funeral march she called a "lullaby," which was
not so inappropriate, the professor remarks, as it might seem, for,
as a whole, this piece is less tragic than elegiac and sentimental.
Miss Keller was also able to tell when a very high or a very low
key was touched, and she recognized a trill promptly.
Legal Questions Answered for the
Benefit of Review Readers
€|We have opened a Department wherein legal
questions, which have direct bearing on music
trade affairs, will be answered free of charge.
Messrs. Wentworth, Lowenstein & Stern, attor-
neys at law, of 6o Wall Street, New York.
^jMatter intended for this Department should be
addressed plainly, Legal Department, The Music
Trade Review.
ERCHANTS in all lines are realizing that there is some-
thing more to successful retailing these days than simply
Editor Music Trade Review:—I. I desire to buy second-hand
closing the sale and getting the money. In the sale of an article
pianos. After buying them I shall repair that which is needed, as
that is at all complicated, service is proving a factor that cannot be
tuning, new keys, material, polishing, etc. After the repairing is
overlooked if the merchant is going to meet competition and come
done, putting the piano in first-class condition again, I will scratch
out on top, for the proper service means' that the purchaser will
off entirely the maker's name and print thereon my own. Will this
remain satisfied—a real essential in building up trade.
be within the law and can I do it? In selling the repaired piano
The importance of service as it is understood by the manu-
under my name, will it be a fraud upon my customer, and could he
facturer and his agent, is well illustrated in the automobile field
bring suit upon same against me?
where every assistance is given to the owner of the machine to
2. How can I best protect myself in selling pianos upon in-
keep it in perfect running order and in a condition to give satisfac-
stalment, so that my customer, before all instalments are paid, can-
tion. One company has gone so far as to establish a patrol of
not sell, give away or devise my piano? If a person does so, can
mechanicians on motorcycles along the main traveled roads in the T follow it and claim it?
vicinity of New York for the purpose of inspecting and, where
3. Will there also be a criminal charge against a person who
necessary repairing and regulating the cars of that particular manu-
does so?
Respectfully yours.
W. W.
facture encountered. The man who is having engine trouble, even
1. As an abstract proposition, based upon the facts alone in
though it does not cripple the car, will certainly appreciate the
the above query, it would not be a fraud; if a man takes another's
services' of the patrolling repairmen at a distance from his home
watch from his vest pocket and does it without felonious intent, it
station. The service should augment sales to a point where the is not larceny, but it would be very hard to convince a court or
cost of the service should represent only a small proportion of the
jury that a man taking another's watch did so without felonious
extra profits.
intent. If our correspondent went further than merely putting
A good player-piano costs as much and more than many makes
his name on the piano and advertised the piano as his make, he
of automobiles and its mechanism is as delicate, yet how many
might find himself amenable to Section 421 of the Penal Law,
dealers take the trouble to send an expert around at intervals to
which provides, "that any person . . . who in a newspaper,
see if the player is running properly. The fact that the purchaser
circular or other publication . . . knowingly makes or dis-
makes no complaint means nothing, for a complaint, as a rule, is seminates any statement or assertion of fact concerning . . .
only registered when there is a complete breakdown. Dust in the the quality . . . the method of production or manufacture of
bleed-holes, tracking adjuster out of gear, or a small leak in the his merchandise . . . which is untrue or calculated to mislead,
power plant, can seriously interfere with the effects obtainable with
.-.hall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
the instrument without stopping it entirely. The owner and his
2. By requiring your customer to sign a conditional sale
friends are dissatisfied with the performance of the instrument in
agreement or chattel mortgage and filing the same in-the office of
what they believe to be its normal condition and the reputation of
a Register or Town Clerk where the customer resides.
the player suffers. Perhaps several' sales are jeopardized or lost
3. If a person sells mortgaged property he violates the penal
owing to the fact that an expert has not inspected the instrument.
laws of the State of New York.