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THE
MUSIC TRADE
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BKITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NiCKXiM,
CARLETON CHACE,
AUGUST J. TiMPE,
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 824 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
PHILADELPHIA:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
L. M. ROBINSON,
W M . B. WHITE,
GLAD HENDERSON.
L. E. B O W I H
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 87 South Wabash AY<-
Room 806. Telephone, Central 414
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ADOLF EDSTEN.
ST. LOUIS:
CLYDE JENNINGS
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.: STANLEY H. SMITH
MILWAUKEE, W I S . : L. E. MEYER.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Greshatn Building's, 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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$8.60; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch single column, per insertion. On quarterly oi
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
deaith 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.
REVIEW
I
N the establishment of credits it is now conceded that business
management with its orderly, exact cost accounting and money-
saving efficiency system, is a factor of tremendous importance which
is considered and weighed by banking interests who recognize its
advantages in the development of modern industrial enterprise.
Conditions in the manufacturing field are being watched more
and more, for the industry which is capably conducted has a rela-
tively greater borrowing capacity than one which has failed to keep
abreast of the times, even though it may have behind it many years
of successful operation.
Those lynx-eyed men at the head of our great credit systems,
keep a close watch, not only on the young industry, but on the old,
in the fear that the latter may be retarding its progress to its own
loss, and to the gain of its more progressive competitors. With
these changes come corresponding revisions in credits.
Institutions are judged by their actions; in other words, there
can be no resting on past achievements in the manufacturing world.
Constant advance must be in evidence. Dry rot must be eliminated,
and a close watch kept on competitors to the end that a healthy
development of business ensues.
Many manufacturers never consider that credits are frequently
judged by factory management, but the fact remains that the con-
cern that lives in the past and is not alive to present opportunities
is not in a condition to merit the financial support that is so readily
given to those men and concerns which are imbued with progressive
ideas in the control and advancement of their business.
Player-Piano and
T
HE question of fixed prices and their value in the commercial
community has been opened afresh by the suit, reported in
last
week's
Review, which was filed by the United States Govern-
Exposition
Honors Won
by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1901
ment
against
the proprietor of a breakfast food because he had
Diploma
Pan-American Exposition 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
packed it in a patented package and had marketed it under an
agreement with those who bought from him to sell again that they
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982-5983 MADISON SQUARE
Connecting all Departments.
should maintain its price at the figures fixed by him.
Cable address" "Elblll, N e w York."
The government describes this as a "Mere subterfuge and de-
NEW YORK, J A N U A R Y 4 , 1 9 1 3
vice to avoid the Sherman Law" and asserts that "there is no com-
petition between jobbers which can affect the price of the article
to the retailer, nor is there any competition between either the job-
bers or retailers which can benefit the consumers by reducing the
EDITORIAL
prices to them." Thus it is claimed that suppression of competition
creates a monopoly of interstate commerce in this article, at the
HE mercKants'bf New York are giving evidence in varied ways
hands of those who agree to maintain the prices fixed by the maker
,these*idea's: of their interest in the municipality and in its of the goods.
welfare." * 111 facf, New York is beginning to wake up. For too
The government's position in this case has caused consider-
long^a/jme-tj^ "merchants of New York have permitted the affairs
able comment in business circles in view of the fact that there is no
of the'city to'TDe run by politicians pure and simple without par-
monopoly of breakfast foods, nor is the purchase of this food com-
ticipating, as they should, in those matters which vitally concern
pulsory on anybody. There is no allegation of unfair competition,
their welfare and which is necessarily and inseparably bound up
for others are seeking to do the same thing in the same way, nor is
with the welfare of the metropolis.
anyone hindered in the free choice of selection, nor is it claimed
It is noteworthy that in a short campaign just closed, the Mer-
that those who sell under agreement to maintain prices object.
chants' Association has gained approximately fifteen hundred new
There is only one complainant and that is the government.
members, among which are a number of well-known piano houses,
In view of the price anarchism, which now prevails and which
such as the American Piano Co. and others. The association plans
has resulted in a maelstrom of special sales, and other innumerable
a future annual expenditure of $150,000 for the maintenance of a devices or excuses for slaughtering prices, manufacturers in all
traffic bureau, an industrial bureau, and a foreign trade bureau,
lines of trade are strongly of the opinion that fixed prices are es-
the purpose of the latter being to promote the welfare and growth
sential to business health. This does not mean a conspiracy for
of both the export and import trade of New York.
monopoly purposes, and where such exists it is a pertinent matter
These, of course, are in addition to its older activities, which
for government action.
include the scrutiny of legislation, affecting the commercial and
One thing is certain, the piano trade would be much better off
industrial interests of New York, both at Washington and Albany,
were the manufacturers to establish a fixed retail price for their
and the scrutiny of all acts of the city administration which con-
products—a uniform price East and West, plus the difference re-
cern the.se interests.
sulting from freight and other charges. It is the absence of fixed
The Merchants' Association and its members will take a hand
prices which has resulted in all sorts of prices being asked for the
in the future management of a city which, by its progress and
same instrument, and which enabled unscrupulous dealers to get
enterprise, compel the admiration of the world. And yet the busi-
exorbitant prices for "cheap" pianos.
ness men of New York are falling in line only after the merchants
The talking machine trade, where fixed prices exist, is in a
of six thousand other cities and towns in the United States realized
much healthier condition than the piano trade. Dealers at all times
what our merchants are realizing to-day, that it is a solemn duty
know where they are at and the purchaser is protected. Manufac-
to participate in an active way in promoting the advancement and
turers in various lines have had recourse to fixed prices as a means
welfare of the city.
of protection, and in this they had the sympathy and support of
Every day we see the evidence of a keener public interest in
progressive dealers of the country who understand the importance
the metropolis, and credit for this must in a large measure go to of conducting business along honorable and successful business
the Merchants' Association for its great campaign in successfully
lines.
arousing New York merchants to a realization of their duty and
The development of this case will be watched with exceeding-
their power.
interest by merchants in all lines of trade.
T