Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1913 Vol. 56 N. 4

Page 64 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
62
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
MUSIC A STRONG FACTOR IN ARMY AND NAVY LIFE.
HARMONICA IN VAUDEVILLE.
Over Two Thousand Musicians Employed in Nearly Sixty Bands in Both Branches of the Serv-
ice—Poor Compensation of Bandsmen Made Up for by Special Privileges.
Excellent Music Rendered by Clever Performer
Attracts Attention.
It is not generally known that Uncle Sam, while
not accused of being a musical character, gives
employment to more than 2,000 musicians in the
Army and Navy. In the former are almost three-
score bands—thirty for the infantry, fifteen for
the cavalry, ten for the artillery, one for the engi-
neers, one for West Point and one for the Porto
Rico regiments. These musicians all furnish
marching music for the permanent establishment.
Presumably the twelve battalions of Philippine
scouts enjoy the spirit-stirring advantages of bands,
although the duties of those organizations are such
as to suggest silence, secrecy and stealth. Alto-
gether the United States must have more than
2,000 musicians on its army roll. The regimental
bands are not large, but those attached to engi-
neers and the Military Academy ara of exceptional
strength. The navy, too, has its bands, that of the
Marine Corps being famous.
In performance the army bands vary one from
another. While no one perhaps is positively bad,
it is no uncommon experience to find the band of
one regiment musically very much superior to that
of another. Such differences are to be expected
when a branch of a service has no one recognized
chief or head. Everything depends upon the indi-
viduality of the bandmaster, or, as he is generally
known in our service, the chief musician. If he is
a professionally cultivated man whose enthusiasm
survives the humdrum routine of years of duty,
the band shows the stimulating effect of his char-
acter and acquirements. If he is content to get
along with just escaping censure of his superior
officers the band is simply well enough. Our Gov-
ernment does not pay fancy wages to its musicians,
though those who serve twenty years or so may
look forward to a rate of compensation at least
equal to the earnings of a superior and very in-
dustrious mechanic.
To offset the wage disadvantage, the Govern-
ment consents that military bands should play for
civil employers on terms mutually satisfactory
whenever leave of absence can be granted without
WEYMANN & SON
Incorporated
Manufacturers oj
detriment to the musicians' military duties. In con-
sequence the earnings of army musicians are very
frequently considerably in excess of what is set
down in the pay table. The opportunities for em-
ployment in the South and West are more numer-
ous than in any other section of the United States,
for there the army musicians do not come in com-
petition with the labor question. In the South and
in some of the less populous of the Western States
the army furnishes the only bands to be depended
on for ordinarily good musical performances.
From trme to time the bandsmen have agitated
for the creation of the office of bandmaster-general,
but, they have been successfully opposed by the
War Department, which thinks there is a sufficient
variety of "generals" now in the higher organiza-
tion. Possibly a step which the Government has
jus,t taken will lead ultimately to the elevation of
the musical .character of our army bands and to a
rise in the status of their leaders. Five military
bandsmen selected after a competition will go to
the Institution of Musical Art in New York for a
year's higher-instruction. They will be admitted on
scholarships offered the army by Frank Damrosch,
and presumably the expectation is that when they
rejoin their organizations they will do much to
elevate conditions.
We are somewhat handicapped as compared with
the great military Powers, for they draft musicians
precisely as they draft other men for service. The
bands of Germany and of France include many
musicians of approved standing and special talent.
Austria and Great Britain both have military band
schools maintained by the Government, and other
countries in pne.way or another think the army
musician is a military individual worth cultivation.
On the Continent of Europe the military bands fur-
nish a great deal of the best music which the
proletariat hear, playing in parks and other pub-
lic resorts on a schedule laid down by the Govern-
ment. The famous bands of the British Guards
are wonderfully good musical organizations, but
their proficiency reflects the wealth of the officers
of those elite corps, since the pay and special in-
ducements given by the Government are supple-
mented by the contributions from the regimental
band fund.
The Famous
Weymann Mandolutes and
"Keystone State" Instruments
1010 CbeitniT St., Philadelphia, Pa.
THE PATON-PERRY CO.
Leominster, Mass.
Manufacturers of
"Made In America Quality"
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Ebony Pegs—Shell Pick etc. Send for samples & prices
EXCELSIOR DRUMS ™ STANDARD
Some dealers may s a y that t h e y cost more
than others.
E x c e l s i o r drama cost more b e c a u s e t h e y
are w o r t h more, Cost more to m a k e .
We could m a k e them cost l e s s by u s i n g
c h e a p e r material, u s e l e s s c a r e In making;
them, and dispense w i t h t h e n e w patented Im-
provements.
If w e did, h o w e v e r , E x c e l s i o r Drums would
not be tlie Standard a s t h e y are to-day. Write
for c a t a l o g u e .
EXCELSIOR DRUM
The adaptability of the harmonica for use as
a: musical instrument, was excellently presented
last week to the New York theater going public by
means of a splendid performance by Britt Wood,
at one of' the leading vaudeville houses in
New York. This talented player rendered a num-
'ber of difficult selections on an ordinary twenty-
five cent harmonica, and his act evoked hearty
applause. The audience was apparently deeply
impressed by the musical effects obtained on the
instrument, and New York dealers will doubtless
receive many inquiries and sales as a result of
these vaudeville performances.
HERMANN WEISS IN EUROPE.
Hermann Weiss, 3!>3 Broadway, New York,
American representative of Ch. Weiss, the well-
known manufacturers of harmonicas and the
Fluta, is at present in Europe visiting the factories
at Trossingen, Austria. Mr. Weiss expects to t>e
away 'but a short while, and will probably be back
in New York the latter part of next week. Job-
bers and dealers are using to good advantage the
Weiss display card, which is sent out in various
colors. The card is lettered very attractively and
compels the attention of all who see it.
A Satisfied Customer
ia our best adrertisement and musi-
cians using YORK Instrument! are
—satisfied. YORK Instruments haye
been teBted In the grind of experience,
with the lire of a public musical oplm-
lon, and hare not been found wanting.
This test has corered a period of SO
years and each year has made YORK
a greater success.
Does this mean
anything to you? If you are on the
anxious seat we want you to
"LET US PROVE IT"
by sending our catalogue and dealers' proposition. Do
it today or some live on* may do you oat of your
chance.
J. W% York & Sons, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
WORKS
A. G. SOISTMAN, Vlce-Pres. and Gen. Manager
Tenth and Market Streets,
CAMDEN, N. J.
National Musical String Co.
B
UEGELEISEN
& JACOBSON
113-115 University Place
NEW YORK
Y//////7ZZ&
Largest Jobbers in America of
ODERN
.USICAL
ERCHANDISE
M
WRITE FOR NEW CATALOG
A PROBLEM
SOLVED!
Wamnttd that nsMtr Baw Straw Rings nor Caps oan fan oft on Bow Serowt at anovo Illustrated.
£o adYanoo hi price If Violin Bows aro pnrohasod having tbo Patented Sorow Attaohod to the Frog.
W M . R. GRATZ I M P O R T C O . ,
New Brunswick, N. J .
35-37 Wist SlstStrttt, low York City
MUSICAL
Merchandise
Cincinnati
Chicago

Page 65 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIENA/
POPULAR CORNET STYLE HANDLED BY WM. R. GRATZ
SOME INTERESTING DECISIONS
Recently Handed Down by the Board of General
Appraisers Covering Imports of Parts of Mu-
sical Instruments.
One of the latest styles of cornets placed on ex-
hibition in the warerooms of the Wm. R. Gratz Im-
port Co., 35 West 31st street, is the long model cor-
net, No. 7000, shown herewith. This is one of
several new long cornets exhibited by this com-
pany, and it is achieving considerable popularity.
The length of model No. 7000 is 15% inches,
and it has a very nicely engraved bell. It is fur-
nished with pearl valve buttons, can make a quick
change to A, is furnished with high and low pitch
and has two water-keys. There is already a strong
demand for the instrument.
PLEASED W1THCONDIT1ONS.
PREPARING CATALOG SUPPLEMENT.
Joseph W. Mock Chats of His Visit Through the
South and Middle West—Looks for a Big
Year in Musical Merchandise Trade.
Buegeleisen & Jacobson Will Soon Have Ready
a Supplement to Their Catalog as Well as
Literature Covering Their Piano Scarf and
Cover Department—Business Active.
Joseph W. Mock, secretary of the Wm. R.
Gratz Import Co., 35 vVest 31st street, New York,
who returned Monday from a three weeks' trip
through the South and Middle West, is enthusias-
tic over the prosperous outlook in the musical mer-
chandise field.
"I was agreeably surprised to note the
enthusiasm evident. in the South," stated Mr.
Mock in a chat with The Review. "I am certain
that the people in the South will experience one
of the best years they have had in over a decade,
and optimism and encouraging reports are evident
on every hand.
"Musical merchandise dealers in every city
spoke enthusiastically of the prospects for the
business during this year, and this activity is not
confined to any one line of goods but ranges from
band instruments down to harmonicas. The orders
that I received in the West and in the South were
of the substantial variety, which is an indication
of a steady demand for musical merchandise in
every part of the country."
Buegeleisen & Jacobson, the prominent musical
merchandise house at 113 University place, New
York, are busily engaged in the preparation of
a supplement to their general catalog and a
catalog devoted to their new piano scarf and cover
department. These catalogs were scheduled for
publication the first of the year, but according to
Samuel Buegeleisen the house has been kept so
busy filling orders from every section of the coun-
try that it has been unable to spare the time neces-
sary for the compilation of any new catalogs.
The supplement to the general catalog will be of
considerable value to dealers, as it will contain
descriptions and illustrations of several new types
and additional lines that did not appear in the
volume last issued. W.ork on the new piano scarf
and cover catalog is progressing steadily and
surely, and Charles T. Kaffenberger, who is in
charge of this department, states that the publica-
tion will be a work of art and a credit to the house
it will represent.
H. SCHINDLER & CO.
Silver Plated Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass Strings
Pure S i l v e r Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass Strings
14 Karat Gold Violin G Strings
Aluminum Violin D Strings
All made either Old or New Process
Gut Cello and Bass Strings
String Gauges
Micrometric
ensile
STRING MAKERS SUPPLIES
121 LAMARTINE STREET
JAMAICA PLAIN
Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
The Board of General Appraisers at Washington,
D. C, recently rendered some interesting decisions
relative to musical merchandise imported by Lyon
& Healy, of Chicago. The board upheld the im-
porters' protests in three instances and overruled it
in two cases. The merchandise in question was as
follows: (1) Blocks of wood made into the form
of violin necks; (2) tailpieces for violins; (3) pegs
for violins; (4) round pieces of granadilla wood
about seven inches in length, having a hole bored
lengthwise through the center, intended to be made
into mouthpieces for flutes; (5) round pieces of
ivory in various lengths having a hole bored
lengthwise through the center, intended to be made
into mouthpieces for piccolos and flutes.
When these articles were originally appraised
they were assessed at 45 per cent, ad valorem as
parts of musical instruments as denned by the
present tariff law. In their protests Lyon & Healy
claimed that the wooden articles should be as-
sessed at 35 per cent, ad valorem under the head-
ing of manufactures of wood, and the ivory
articles at 35 per cent, ad valorem as manufactures
of ivory.
After a thorough investigation of the merits of
the protests, the board decided as follows: The
protests of the importers are upheld relative to
the block to be made into violin necks, the grana-
dilla wood to be used for flute mouthpieces and
the pieces of ivory to be made into piccolo and flute
mouthpieces, and this merchandise is dutiable at
35 per cent, ad valorem, while in the items of the
violin tailpieces and pegs the original duty of 45
per cent, is held to be in accordance with the law.
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE INVOLVED
In Case Recently Decided by Supreme Court
Which Holds That Commission House May
Be Held Liable for Undercharges Discovered
by a Railroad After Merchant Has Settled
with Shipper.
An important principle is involved in the case
of the Pennsylvania Railroad against the Titus
Bros., recently decided by the Supreme Court in
favor of the railroad. It was held that a com-
mission house may be held liable for undercharges
discovered by a railroad after the merchant has
settled with the shipper.
Commission merchants throughout the country
have been sued or threatened with suit for small
or large amounts necessary to complete the legal
charges on shipments delivered, in some cases as
much as three years tie fore the error was dis-
covered. The commission merchant benefits in
no way by the errors; on the other hand, the ship-
per who actually pays the freight does benefit
where less than legal charges are collected, and it
would seem that he is the one to adjust the under-
charge with the railroad.
It is understood that this issue will be carried
to the Supreme Court of the United States if
necessary, in order that the question may be defi-
nitely settled and that the merchant doing business
on a commission basis may determine just where
he stands and what he must do to protect himself
against such liability.
The Traffic Bureau of the Merchants' Associa-
tion has had many inquiries from members to
whom such undercharge Claims have been pre-
sented, showing that the matter is of vital interest
to not only the commission men, but to every one
who buys goods at a delivered price and pays
freight which is later deducted in the settlement
of the invoice. As the decision now stands, the
only safe way is to require the shipper to prepay
the freight, and this is not feasible in many cases.
The Traffic Bureau is co-operating with the at-
torneys in this case and will keep members ad-
vised of fihe situation from time to time.
F. W. Effinger, of the Oliver Ditson Co., Bos-
ton, Mass., was a visitor this week at the musical
merchandise department of C. H. Ditson & Co.,
8 East 34th street, New York.

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