Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1912 Vol. 55 N. 23

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Name Protection a Vital Necessity.
N
AME protection and price maintenance are of vital interest to
the creative and distributive forces of every industry.
A court has already decided that the maker of a breakfast
food is entitled to protect the product against price cutters and is
entitled to treat them as infringers where the box in which such
breakfast food is sold is patented.
Manufacturers of packed goods of every kind, therefore, can
secure protection by marketing their products in a patented carton
or other container to invoke the patent law against the price cutting
infringer.
If an article packed in a patented container with a patented seal
affixed is sold at a reduced cost it will make the retail merchant
an infringer of the patent. To stop price cutting on shoes all that
is necessary is to pack them in patented cartons.
In fact, all articles of merchandise may be subjected to this
plan in order to stop price cutting.
In some trades the retailers have removed the well-known
products from cartons and boxes and have repacked them with
other kinds of merchandise not "so well known and presumably
much inferior.
In other words, there has been such trading on names and
reputations that the Government presumably will afford more ample
protection in the future than it has in the past.
Price maintenance and name protection constitute a subject of
vital interest to men in all industries.
So far as name imitators are concerned, in every trade there
have been some men who have borne the same patronymic as the
founders of great enterprises, who have sought to profit by a name
reputation which they in no manner assisted in building up.
The courts have viewed many of these cases as constituting
rank piracy and recent decisions show that there is an obvious de-
sire on the part of the courts to recognize name value as a distinct
and individual part of a business.
Then, again, there is also the manifest desire to protect the
public.
As a matter of fact it is not only the manufacturers who are
to blame, but they place in the hands of dishonest dealers products
with which they may deceive the public, oftentimes through mis-
leading advertising.
The public is led to believe that it is buying originals in many
cases instead of a most offensive imitation.
The piano industry in common with others has suffered. We
have had during the past few years a number of sporadic attempts
to trade upon the reputation of old-established houses.
We have had instances-as well where men bearing the same
family name have put forth instruments which have caused con-
fusion with old-established enterprises and which have enabled deal-
ers to use them in an unfair competitive sense.
Now, every piano merchant, no matter where located, is in-
terested in having certain principles maintained which are vital to
the stability of piano selling.
If men who have labored for many years to build up a name
reputation are not afforded adequate protection, then what does
human endeavor in a special field amount to?
What protection have stockholders in any enterprise if men
bearing the same patronymic can embark in business to-morrow at
half a dozen places and put forth products which are alleged to be
as good, if not better, than the original?
What encouragement is there for a man to invest his capital
in an enterprise if its value can be depreciated to-morrow through
the creation of kinds of competition which are destructive to busi-
ness stability?
It seems perhaps imposing a hardship upon men by prohibit-
ing them from entering certain lines of trade on account of the
existence of family names as trade-marks. True, but a name
reaches such value that it becomes an asset to a commercial enter-
prise, and citizens of this Republic who have invested money in a
corporation one of the assets of which is a name value, are entitled
to protection by the courts and presumably they will receive it.
For many years past at various intervals we have seen adver-
tising put forth by piano merchants in certain sections of the
country reeking with misrepresentation and fraud. We have seen
slurs upon great names of piano history, we have seen many false
statements made, w T e have seen names used very similar to estab-
lished names, with a deliberate intention of deceiving.
All of these things are know r n to the trade, and it is but fair
to assume that the courts of this country will protect the rights
of all. Name protection by all means should be maintained.
Rearrangement of Instalment Terms.
T
O those who hope or look for a rearrangement of instalment
terms in the piano trade, the recent move of a New York
furniture house in reducing length of credit in that particular
should point the way to better conditions.
In the furniture trade the average instalment terms call for
full payment of the accounts in less than two years, and the prices
of the furniture is generally advanced to a point which cover the
cost and bring some profit. And yet the terms have not been satis-
factory to the dealers in many cases.
In the piano trade the term of instalment payments extends
to between three and four years, in many cases with little added
to the price of the piano with the exception of interest, to cover
the tying up of the money for that long period.
The furniture house in question has changed its terms from a
couple of dollars down and two dollars per week on a hundred to
not less than one-third down at time of purchase and the balance
on notes for three and six months, respectively.
The argument is presented that under the new plan the pur-
chaser has the account cleaned up sooner than by the old way and
is not bothered by collectors or by the necessity of visiting the store
weekly to make payments. The point is made that the new terms
apply to all lines handled by the house and cover all special sales.
Why cannot the piano merchants sell pianos on a substantial
initial payment and on a series of notes maturing at periods within
the year? The plan appeals to all those with business instincts' and
elevates the time payment practice to a higher commercial level.
Too many piano buyers pay in instalments not because they
have to, but because such a method is possible and is made simple
for them. They could pay off more rapidly and just as easily if the
proposition were presented to them in a different light.
Getting Results From Holiday Trade.
R
EPORTS from Review correspndents in widely separated sec-
tions of the country are a unit in declaring that business
with merchants everywhere is in excellent shape. Our export and
import trade has now mounted up into tremendously large figures
and the nation's trade for the year will exceed four billion dollars,
Our farmers and stock raisers are blessed with good prices for
their products, mechanics arc enjoying good wages and people in
all lines of effort are accumulating a surplus,
Taken all in all the outlook is most encouraging for the piano
merchant in this the closing month of the year. In view of the
holiday trade he should just at this time paste the word "hustle"
in large type in his office so that he can observe it early in the
morning. And it should not be hidden from the gaze of his staff,
for we are facing an active and prosperous winter, and the men
who put strenuosity in their work will corns QUt at the right end
of the business cafnpajgn this year,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIENA/
MUSIC TRADE CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA.
CHICKERING QUARTER GRAND
The Pianos Most in Favor Are the German, English and American in the Order Named—The
People of That Country Are Musical and There Is Quite an Opening for an Increased Trade
for American Musical Instruments, According to United States Consul Killmaster.
One of the Big Favorites at the Wanamaker
Piano Salons—Most Effectively Introduced
to Public Notice.
Washington, D. C, Dec. 3, 1912.
G. B. Killmaster, United States Consul at New-
castle, writing to the Department at Washington,
regarding music trade conditions in Australia, says
that the people of that country are music loving
and that mostly every home has either a piano or
organ. He adds that the pianos most in favor are
the German, English and American, in the order
named. The American instruments compose only
about 5 per cent, of the total. There is no prejudice
against them, and it is said they would find a
readier sale if they were as good instruments in
tone, appearance, etc., as the German pianos and
were sold at as low a pr:ce. German pianos sell
at retail for $250 to $600 and wholesale for $165 to
$300. They are generally purchased by dealers for
one-third cash and the balance on consignment,
and are usually sold on the time-payment plan,
with payments of $5 to $12.50 per month.
The piano warehouses here are branch establish-
ments, the chief houses being located in Sydney
and Melbourne, where all the importing is done,
and the supplies being forwarded here as required.
No piano parts are imported here, but a firm in
Sydney imports German parts and assembles them
there.
Uprights of 4 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 6 inches
high are the most popular style on this market.
Rosewood, natural mahogany and walnut finishes
are preferred to the black woods. Cost is an im-
portant consideration in the sales, and as long as
the mechanism is good not so much attention is
paid to the case. The heat and moisture material-
ly affect piano§ here.
The market for organs appears to be good, those
with solid wood cases of burr walnut and dull
finish and medium and chapel styles being pre-
ferred.
The organs are advertised and sold much the
same as pianos, wholesale prices running from $70
to $200 and retail prices from $100 to $400.
A large number of gramophones have been sold
here lately, with a correspondingly large number of
records. Some of these instruments are Australian
made and are of very good quality, but are usually
sold under some name, such as Hessaphone, etc'
Popular selections on cylinder records are pre-
ferred. A considerable number of machines with
concealed sounding horns are in use and seem to
be popular, but the probable market for high-grade
machines is not large. Machines are mostly im-
ported from the United States. Quotations f. o. b.
American ports are usual.
The new Chickering quarter grand piano is the
subject of a forceful advertisement appearing in
daily newspapers this week over the signature of
John Wanamaker, New York. This handsome
product of Chickering & Sons is attracting a great
deal of favorable attention from the music-lov-
ing populace of New York, and the Wanamaker
piano salons are crowded each day with pros-
pective purchasers and visitors who wish to hear
this instrument.
Not only are these visitors charmed with the
deep, rich tone of this admirable example of Chick-
ering quality, but they are more than pleased with
its handsome appearance and artistic finish. As
stated in the advertisement. "A new Chickering
production is an event in the musical world," and
judging from the number of sales closed in the
past fortnight, the event is being celebrated by
numerous lovers of finely constructed pianos.
The new piano is five feet seven inches in length,
four feet five and three-quarter inches in width,
and three feet two and three-eighths inches in
height; case of figured mahogany; keyboard of
seven and one-third octaves, new overstrung scale,
three strings, patent agraffe bridge, harmonic bar,
double fallboard, sostenuto pedal, and retails for
$725.
LOVETT MAKES ASSIGNMENT.
NEW MILWAUKEEJONCERN OPENS.
MAHER BROS. EXPAND.
Canton, O., Piano Dealer Claims Assets of
$25,000 and Liabilities of $12,000.
F. Leslie Clarke Piano Co. Has Handsome
Quarters at 710-12 Grand Avenue, That City
— K . A. Graner's Success with Haddorff—
Tel-Electric Line to Gram—Goerch's Plans.
(Special to The Review.)
(Special to The Review.)
Canton, O., Dec. 2, 1912.
Referring to his assignment, H. D. Lovett, piano
dealer, said on Saturday that it was made for the
benefit of his creditors, with assets approximating
$25,000 and liabilities about $12,000. Mr. Lovett
said he was forced to the assignment and as to the
cause, he ascribes it to unfair business rating.
KANSAS LAW HELD INVALID.
Foreign Corporations Cannot Be Required to
File Statements.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Dec. 2, 1912.
The Kansas corporation regulation law requir-
ing corporations of other States trading in Kansas
to file annual statements at the State Capitol was
held invalid so far as it affects interstate commerce
by the Supreme Court of the United States to-day
in a test case brought by the Buck's Stove &
Range Co. of St. Louis.
The law was held to apply only to the domestic
corporations of Kansas. The decision followed
former Justice Harlan's ruling in a similar case.
South Dakota laws providing civil and criminal
penalties for persons selling goods lower in one
city than in another in order to suppress com-
petition were upheld by the Supreme Court.
RUDOLF
PIANOS
are conscientiously made, good
instruments; in other words,
the sweetest things out.
RUDOLF PIANO [CO.
721 East 137th St.
NEW YORK
(Special to The Review.)
Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 3, 1912.
The handsome salesrooms of the F. Leslie Clarke
Piano Co., recently incorporated by F. Leslie Clarke
were opened at 710-12 Grand avenue this week. Mr.
Clarke has secured both first and second floors of
the recently remodeled establishment, and is show-
ing a fine line of pianos and players. The new
store is located almost in the heart of the retail
district, and the display facilities are of the best.
Mr. Clarke was formerly manager of the Milwau-
kee Piano Manufacturing Co.'s store.
K, A. Graner, one of Milwaukee's musician
piano men, representative of the Haddorff line, has
been making some fine sales of late to well known
musical people of Milwaukee. Mr. Graner is a
pianist of known ability, and his interpretation of
the Haddorff qualities has built up a big business
here in the well known Rockford line.
C. L. Goersch, who has been in charge of the
Tel-Electric agency in Milwaukee since it was
opened last winter in the Empire building, has
several propositions in mind, but it is reported that
he is-to return to Gimbel Bros., and take charge of
the player department. Mr. Goersch had been as-
sociated with Gimbel Bros, for several years be-
fore taking up with the Tel-Electric and is a well-
informed and experienced player man.
The change in the local agency of the Tel-Elec-
tric to Gram was expected, when it became known
that the Tel-Electric Piano-Player Co. had discon-
tinued its Western branch in Chicago, and had
placed the agency in that city with Lyon & Healy.
The Milwaukee agency has been conducted as a
branch of the Chicago office.
DEATH OF NEW JERSEY DEALER.
George B. Sharrette, who for a number of years
conducted a music store on High street, Morris-
town, N. J., and who was also well known as an
orchestra leader, died suddenly jn that city re-
cently of stomach trouble.
Joseph Benedict, proprietor of the Joseph Bene-
dict Music House, Galesburg, 111., which handles
the Kimball and other lines of pianos in that city,
announces that he will close out the business owing
to advanced age,
Piano House of Jackson, Mich., Builds Addition
to Present Quarters.
Maher Bros., the well-known piano dealers of
Jackson, Mich., are building a two-story addition
to the rear of their present building to provide
the extra facilities required by their growing busi-
ness. When the increased space is available the
entire second floor of the present building will
be given over to player-pianos and grands. The
main salesroom and office will be located on the
first floor.
The record of the Starr pianos in the schools of
Texas was again strengthened recently through the
sale of a full carload of Starr pianos to the School
of Industrial Arts, at Denton, Tex., this being
the second order for Starr pianos placed by that
institution. The sale was made by the Field-Lipp-
mann Co., of Dallas, Tex.
BEALE& CO.,Ltd.
A N N A N D A L E , near Sydney
AUSTRALIA
PIANO MAKERS, largest piano factories in
the British Empire.
VENEER MANUFACTURERS from choice
Australian and other woods, for export.
IMPORTERS of Music and Musical Instru-
ments, and Talking Machines.
IMPORTERS of Interior Players for Pianos.
MAKERS of fine Cabinet work.
The only musical-instrument firm having
its own branches in every State of the
Commonwealth.
Particulars of anything connected with the
above lines, and of labor-saving methods and
machinery, always welcome. Give fullest de-
tails in your first letter, so as to save time.
For the guidance of intending suppliers, illus-
trations of our factories, with full description
of the work and method, may be inspected at
the office of our Agents upon presentation of
business card.
AGENTS IN U. S. A . :
ILSLEY-DOUBLEDAY & CO.
Front Street
NEW YORK

Download Page 5: PDF File | Image

Download Page 6 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.