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THE
MUSIC TRADE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
CARLETON CHACE.
L. M. ROBINSON,
AUGUST J. TIMPH,
W M . B. WHITE,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 87 South Wabash Ave
Telephone, Main 6950.
Room 806. Telephone, Central 414
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS a n d ST. PAUL:
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ADOLF EDSTEN.
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DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
CINCINNATI. O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE. MD.i A. ROBERT FRENCH.
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
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
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ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
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REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
PlnV#1*-PfftnA A nil
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
• M1JC1 "I 14IMU d U U
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
TM*nal<*9l f f c o n a p f m o n f c
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
C l I M l l A l VCffal 11UCI1IS. dealth with, will be found in another section of this
pa M>er. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
i ill 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 Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition. 1906
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS S982-S98S MADISON SQUARE
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address " "ElbilL New York."
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 16, 1 9 1 2 .
EDITORIAL
I
^HE problem of the used piano, which, as every man who sells
pianos knows, is steadily growing more acute, does not seem
to be getting" any nearer favorable solution—if anything, the situa-
tion steadily grows more alarming.
In this connection it might be interesting to refer to the man-
ner in which the automobile dealers are taking up the problem of
the used car that has become out of date. In many respects the
difficulties that confront the automobile dealer bear a close resem-
blance to those that keep the piano dealer awake at night thinking.
The latest suggestion from the automobile man is that if a
customer purchases a new machine, the disposal of the used car
should rest with him. In other words, it is suggested that no
allowance be made for used cars when new ones are purchased,
but that the used car be placed in salable condition by the manufac-
turer or dealer and sent to a central market to be maintained by all
the dealers in a certain territory.
In this market only second-hand cars will be sold and as used
machines are disposed of, the price realized will be credited to the
account of the customer; in other words, his is the risk and in the
event that the used car is not disposed of, the customer is still under
obligation to paying full price for his new vehicle.
• Of course, the usual cry will be heard that such a solution of
this problem is impossible—that even if it answered to the automo-
bile trade it would not do for the piano man. But surely the sug-
gestion should offer an idea that can be developed into something
tangible for the relief of the piano dealer. A central market for
used pianos would kill about 75 per cent, of the misleading adver-
tising and would keep the dealer's wareroom floors clean and per-
mit Him to go to the annual convention with a smooth, instead of a
wrinkled, brow.
REVIEW
eighty-eight note rolls—an accumulation of about three years—which
were cleaned out of stock. Incineration was preferred to throwing
them on the market where they may have been disposed of by the
department or ten cent stores at prices that would certainly have
disturbed selling conditions among legitimate handlers of music
rolls' throughout the country. This undoubtedly involves quite a
monetary loss, but Arthur A. Friestedt, manager of the company,
takes the very wise position that this action conserves the best
interests of the trade, prevents price disturbance and helps to enlarge
the demand for new and profitable music rolls.
/ ^ H A R L E S H. STEINWAY has contributed an article to
V_^ Printers' Ink which appears elsewhere in this issue entitled,
"Building Up Prestige and What It Entails."
Mr. Steinway has presented succinctly the history of Steinway
& Sons and how the ideal foundation of the business was estab-
lished by his grandfather in this country.
The article is more than ordinarily interesting not merely
because it comes from the head of the house of Steinway, but it
presents some points which it is desirable to emphasize in this day
of commercialism. That Steinway & Sons have been the most
generous contributors to American musical development is con-
ceded and that the directors of this enterprise have never been
swerved from certain idealistic principles must also be admitted,
and after reading the article the conclusion must be drawn that the
Steinways 1 through four generations have always appreciated what
prestige meant and also that sentiment has largely dominated the
house. Mr. Steinway says: "Our policies have been dominated to
a large extent by—shall I say sentiment? It is a question if senti-
ment is not necessarily inseparable from a business of the sort we
have built up, from a prestige founded on the satisfaction of the
sentiments, musical, literary, aesthetic."
Mr. Steinway shows in an interesting manner how his house
has never been swerved by the trend towards commercialism and
presents reasons why the directors have never succumbed to the
clamor for a cheap Steinway piano.
The article should be read by every dealer in America, whether
affiliated with the Steinway house or not, because there are many-
points in it which are worthy of the closest perusal.
Legal Questions Answered for the
Benefit of Review Readers
C[We have opened a Department wherein legal
questions, which have direct bearing on music
trade affairs, will be answered free of charge.
€|This Department is under the supervision of
Messrs. Wentworth, Lowenstein & Stern, attor-
neys at law, of 60 Wall Street, New York.
tjjMatter intended for this Department should be
addressed plainly, Legal Department, The Music
Trade Review.
REVIEW subscriber is having trouble with his partner whose
habits are not of the best. The affairs of the company are
somewhat involved, and Mr. A. desires to protect the interests of
his creditors.
He writes, therefore, to ask if he can force a dissolution of
partnership and compel his partner to take what he has due him
in the firm in outstanding accounts, as the company has more bills
due than it has cash on hand to meet them. Mr. A. has not the
money to buy out B. for cash.
He asks: "Can one partner compel another to buy or sell at
any time and can one partner compel another partner to drop out
of the firm when he has withdrawn all the money his interests
amount to?"
After reading Mr. A.'s communication, alleging misdeeds on
the part of B., The Review's Legal Department states that Mr. A.
would be entitled to maintain an action for the dissolution of the
EFERENCE is made in another nart of The "Review to the copartnership and for the appointment of a receiver and that if
radu-al action taken bv the United States Music Co., of Mr. A. could satisfy the court as to the facts stated the court
would undoubtedly appoint Mr. A. as receiver.
Chicago, 111., in disposing of some twenty thousand sixty-five and
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