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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
cost of living in Europe rapidly increasing and de-
mands for commensurate wages being made by
By Samuel Buegeleisen, Head of Buegeleisen & Jacobson, Who Recently Returned from Europe the workers, the situation is certainly not very
Where He Closed Many New Agencies for His House and Purchased Rare Old Violins— encouraging.
"On my return from abroad, I am more than
Prices Going Up Abroad Owing to Cost of Material and Labor—Domestic Outlook Good.
gratified at the excellent business we have •closed
Samuel Buegeleisen, head of the prominent mu- workingmen for the violin manufacturers those during the period that I was away. Our summer
sical merchandise house of Buegeleisen & Jacob- people who have still remained in the industry are business to date has broken all records, and the
son, 113 University place, New York, who recently naturally rushed with far more work than they number of new accounts that we have opened dur-
returned to New York after an extended trip can adequately handle, and as a result are demand- ing the past few months has been exceptionally
ing better pay.
large. The outlook is most promising for the re-
abroad, gives an unusually interesting account of
Personally, it is my opinion that the violin makers cording of 1913 as the most prosperous year in our
conditions in Europe, particularly in the musical
manufacturing centers abroad. While away, Mr. of Europe, especially the workers on the cheaper history."
Buegeleisen, who was accompanied by his family, grades, have been one of the most underpaid in-
Mr. Buegeleisen while going across on the
visited England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Aus- dustries in the world, particularly in view of the "Olympic" snapped an interesting photograph, show-
tria-Hungary, Germany, Belgium and Holland. fact that the violin is a luxury and not to be con- ing the "Stokers' Harmonica Band" of this ocean
While this was ostensibly a vacation trip for Mr.
liner. In this band are seven harmonica players,
Buegeleisen, it soon developed into a strenuous
one cymbals, a bass drum and a snare drum. Duss
business one, for he found so many important mat-
band harmonicas are used by the players, and the
ters abroad to occupy his attention that his vaca-
music this band renders is really surprising and
tion periods were few and far between. As a mat-
exceptionally praiseworthy.
ter otf fact, Mr. Buegeleisen was so busy on this
trip that he barely managed to catch his scheduled
TO MAKE BQEHM FLUTES
steamer home, as he dosed the details for an im-
portant representation only five minutes before
And Piccolos in Boston—Christensen &
sailing time.
Schwelm Open Place at 16 Beach Street.
''While abroad, I visited every important musical
(Special to The Review.)
manufacturing center," stated Mr. Buegeleisen in
BOSTON,
MASS.,
July 28.—A new concern de-
a chat with The Review. "I am very pleased to
voted to the manufacture and repair of Boehm
inform the trade that I succeeded in securing some
flutes and piccolos has been organized at 16 Beach
valuable new agencies for our house, such as the
street, this city, by Christensen & Schwelm, both
celebrated violin bows made by Leon Pique, of
practical men who have been connected with a
Paris; the famous Franz Schubert Vienna model
number of well-known houses. Their workshop
accordions, and the well-known Friederich Muller
has been equipped with all the modern conveniences
band instruments manufactured at Vienna. As a
for the manufacture of flutes and piccolos of high
result of my trip, I will also have many new lines
quality, of which they will make a specialty. They
of novelties and new models manufactured by our
are both excellent musicians, apart from being
present factories to present to the trade in the
clever workmen.
very near future. These new lines without any
doubt will constitute one of the most attractive and
profitable propositions on the American market to- Mr, and Mrs. Buegeleisen and Son, Harry Durro,
"METALLA"_DISPLAY CARD.
day. I also was successful in arranging for nu-
Snapped on Steamer "Amerika."
A pleasing addition to the Weiss line of display
merous improvements in our present lines, which
sidered alongside of clothing or other necessities' cards and wall hangers is now being sent out to its
should prove most interesting.
"One of the prime objects of my recent trip was of life. As an actual example of existing condi- customers by the New York house of Ch. Weiss,
to find some fine old violins, which, after strenuous tions, I found that the violin manufacturers a>broad 393 Broadway, New York. This card is designed
and insistent efforts, I was finally able to locate. have more orders on hand at the present time than to feature the popular "Metalla" line of harmonicas
These rare old instruments are now on their way they can possibly fill for two years to come, as which is scoring a marked success.
The new display is a small all-metal card meas-
across the Atlantic, and include some exception- this section practically supplies the world, and these
uring
about 2x5 inches and tastefully designed.
orders
all
call
tor
immediate
delivery.
Incidentally
ally valuable old Italian and fine French violins.
"'Conditions abroad in the musical instrument this condition is true as regards other musical in- The coloring scheme is red, blue and black on a
light gray background, which in connection with
manufacturing centers are decidedly interesting,
a small gold border makes a very pleasing display.
and worthy of careful consideration by all mem-
The wording on the card is "Metalla, the new all-
bers of the trade. In the first place, general con-
metal harmonica made by Ch. Weiss." The new
ditions in this field abroad show a decided tendency
card
is very striking and should prove of real value
toward a marked advance in price. As a matter
to the dealer in announcing his "Metalla" line to
of fact, every single detail entering into the manu-
prospective patrons.
facturing of musical instruments is showing an
upward movement. This is especially true as re-
garding violins and 'bows. It seems that the sup-
plies of fine woods entering into the production
E. G. Evans, on the selling end of C. Bruno &
of violins are fast running low and are being held
Son, Inc., New York, has joined the Arcanum
at an enormous price by the people who have them.
Yacht Club, Brooklyn, N. Y., where his big sail
This phase o*f the situation is actually alarming
boat
is moored. Mr. Evans lives in the Bronx
and is steadily growing worse. It is practically
and in the past has been in the habit of sailing
impossible to secure a medium priced violin with
through Hell Gate to reach the ocean, but sev-
any meritorious kind of wood in it owing to this
eral narrow escapes has prompted him to take
scarcity.
chances
with the subway rather than with the
"Aside from this shortage in wood, the upward
whirlpools.
tendency in violin prices abroad may also be as-
cribed to the fact that every single detail on* violin
Julius D. Horvath, the aged violin expert, whose
manufacturing is advancing in price. Each and
studio
is at 1037 Third avenue, New York, an-
every item entering into the making of a violin is
nounces an exhibition all next week of his latest
considerably higher than it was even a year ago,
masterpiece, which he has named "Vincent," in
Stokers' Harmonica Band on the "Olympic"
and aside from this important question, the ques-
honor of Vincent Astor.
Using Duss Band Harmonicas.
tion of labor forms one of the most important
strument lines abroad, especially the accordion
reasons for price ascendancy that exists.
"In the violin manufacturing centers abroad field.
'"It has been remarked that the proposed tariff
there have been in recent years a number of new
industries created that never heretofore existed in reduction of 10 per cent, on musical instruments
BOSTON, MASS.
these sections of Europe. The residents of these will offset price changes abroad, but this is a mis-
Established 1884
centers who would ordinarily be engaged in the taken idea, as in the first place this 10 per cent,
Manufacturers
Publishers
Importers
manufacturing of violins are finding it far more reduction is figured on the cost of the articles, and
Largest and most complete stock of Musical Mer-
chandise and Accessories in the trade. Our 1918
profitable to secure employment in the new indus- actually means a difference of about 6 per cent, of
Catalog (for trade only) will be sent upon applica-
tion.
tries, and as a result there is an actual shortage the former figures. This 6 per cent, is but a small
part
of
the
increased
prices
asked
abroad
for
mu-
of labor for violin production that gives substan-
August Muller ) VIOLINS
,
tial ground for alarm. For several years this sical instruments. On this account prices are
scarcity of capable labor has been growing more bound to move upward. We have tried to hold
J. Heberlein
j . „ VIOLAS
( 'CELLOS
apparent, but it never was so pronounced as at the this condition down to a 'minimum, but it is hard
LA
PRIMA
and
CLARION
ACCORDEONS
to
say
just
what
the
future
will
show.
With
the
present time. With this increasing scarcity of
EUROPEAN CONDITIONS INTERESTINGLY DESCRIBED
JOINS ARCANUM YACHT CLUB.
Oliver Ditson Company