Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Kvery man in touch with the commercial sit-
uation at all knows that the increase in the
Broad-Minded Retailers Realize That Manufacturers Must Charge More to Save Themselves, cost of materials and labor is not confined to
But Demand an Increase That Is Equitable—Means Protection for the Entire Trade
any one particular trade, and that the complaint
There has been a great deal said and written exists in the trade, will insure the price increase of the piano manufacturers about price cost is
not in any sense an artificial one.
regarding the greatly increased cost of the ma- being on a fairer basis."
According to reports of the Department of
The opinions quoted were volunteered by the
terials that go into the manufacture of pianos,
and of a necessity of higher wholesale prices dealer, and should be considered not only by the Labor the expenditures for wages alone in man-
for all instruments to prevent the manufacturer manufacturer, but by all piano merchants. ufacturing industires of the United States has
from suffering actual loss. To date, however, The piano dealer for the most part ties up with increased from 20 per cent, to 60 per cent,
there has been no systematic effort to arrive one or several manufacturers, for it is good during the past year, part of the increase being
at the actual percentage of cost increase except business to handle specified lines of pianos, ad- due to the greater number of men employed
in comparatively few individual cases and the vertise them and build up their reputation for and part to higher wages. Wages in the iron
increases announced by piano makers have quality in his territory. If the manufacturer, and steel industry, for instance, have increased
been few and comparatively light. Most of through failure to increase his price, is forced 60.3 per cent., while the number of men em-
what has been said about the shortage of stock, either to lower the quality of his product or ployed has increased 36 per cent. In the car
higher prices of material, and increases in suspend operations the dealer will suffer much building industry increased wages total 51 per
wholesale prices has come from the manufac- more through the loss of the effort he has put cent, with 36 per cent, more men. Producers
turers, who are naturally the most directly af- back of the pianos than he would through and manufacturers are working at high speed,
which for the most part means costly work.
fected, but it is interesting to know that the charging $40 or $50 more for the instrument.
more capable dealers have also been giving
the matter consideration.
HAMILTON PIANO DEALERS DINE
AUCTION OF ST. JOHNSVILLE PLANT
The attitude of the broad-minded dealer is First Annual Banquet of Canadian Music Men Machinery and Equipment of Engelhardt-Sey-
indicated in the following expressions of
bold Plant Sold to New Jersey Machinery
Held at Hotel Royal, Hamilton, Ont.
opinion given to The Review by a prominent
Exchange—Real Estate Was Not Sold
piano merchant in New England, who says:
HAMILTON, ONT., May 1.—Hamilton's members
ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y., May 1.—At the sale of
"We long ago agreed that we would have to of the music trades recently furnished a splen-
pay more for our pianos and should pay more, did example of the fraternity spirit when the the personal and real assets belonging to the
and believe that a normal increase in whole- staffs of the various houses numbering between estate of the Engelhardt-Seybold Co., located
sale prices with a consequent increase in the fifty and sixty gathered at the Royal Hotel for in this city, which was held last Wednesday by
retail charge should be a good thing for the their first annual banquet, T. C. Wright occupy- the Central Trust Co., of Illinois, trustee, and
trade at large, provided the manufacturers are ing the chair. R. Links, better known as "Dad," by order of the United States District Court,
fair about it, and do not try to take advantage the man in whose mind the idea of the banquet all the machinery and other equipment of the
of the prevailing situation to 'clean up' as it originated told the banqueters of one of his plant was purchased by the New Jersey Ma-
were. The dealer who stops to think about the first sales when he was trying to close a deal chinery Exchange. The real estate was not dis-
matter realizes that we must pay more for our with a man whom he knew very well. He put posed of at the sale owing t o insufficient bids.
pianos or lose out in some other way, either a piano in the man's home on trial, in return
through the cutting down of the quality of ma- for which he got a cow which he milked regu- HARRY MARCUS_VISITS NEW YORK
terials used, or through the bankruptcy of the larly while the piano was being tested. Before
Manager of the Piano Department of the Em-
manufacturer whose product he has been sup- the deal was closed two other piano men also
porium, of San Francisco, Buys Stock
porting for some years. If the manufacturer placed a piano in the home of the same pros-
has been selling his pianos at $160 or $165 pect, so that he had three from which to choose.
A recent visitor to The Review sanctum was
wholesale, for instance, he finds on analysis "Dad" got the order because the prospect de- Harry Marcus, manager of the piano depart-
that his margin of profit has been cut to the cided that his piano was the worst of the three ment of The Emporium, of San Francisco, Cal.,
danger point, we feel that he is perfectly jus- and nearest in price to the value of the cow. who has been sojourning with his friends in the
tified in adding $25, $30 or even $35 to his It took just three months to close the deal. At East for the past couple of weeks, and arrang-
prices, which means that the dealer must in this banquet it was agreed that the Hamilton ing for the shipment of pianos and other musi-
turn get from $40 to $50 more for the piano. dealers close for the months of May, June, July cal goods, to meet the requirements of his
"The present time is ripe for an increase in and August at 1 o'clock on Saturdays, instead establishment.
retail piano prices, especially in manufacturing of on Wednesdays as formerly, and at 5 P. M. Mr. Marcus has scored quite a success in his
sections, where all classes are enjoying pros- on other days.
management of the piano department at The
perity the dealers can make the raise without
Emporium store. He is a believer in straight-
suffering to any extent through loss of trade. STEGERS FOR KANSAS CITY HOTELS forward, honorable methods, and he has won
If that same manufacturer, however, jumps his
the respect of his competitors in the develop-
KANSAS CITY, May 1.—Harry Wunderlich, of
price from $165 to $210 or even $225, the dealer
ment of this policy. Although long a resident
will not stand for the increase without some this city, has just secured orders for Steger & of the East, he is quite enthusiastic about Cali-
investigation, for such an increase places a bur- Sons grand pianos from the Baltimore Hotel fornia, and San Francisco in particular. Under
den on the retailer that he will find hard to and the Royal Theatre, the leading motion pic- his management the piano department of The
overcome. Some years ago it was found nec- ture playhouse here. The New Muehlebach Emporium has shown a steady growth and the
essary to increase prices for pianos to meet Hotel of Kansas City also procured Steger & present year promises to mark a new record
certain conditions, and the increase being fair Sons grand pianos from the Wunderlich repre- in output. Mr. Marcus left New York for home
and equitable went through without any trouble, sentatives, who have been very active in going on Saturday last, but planned to stop over in
the same thing to be done in the same way after good sales, and the Steger line has made a Chicago for some days.
strong impression on buyers who demand qual-
to-day.
ity instruments.
"For conditions to remain as they are would
HEARING IN WAS0N BANKRUPTCY
The newspaper advertising campaign con-
mean that the legitimate trade would be forced to
ducted by Mr. Wunderlich, featuring Steger &
play directly into the hands of the price cut-
Meeting of Creditors Is Called for April 11 By
Sons, Reed & Sons, Singer and the Thompson
ters, for working on a close and non-elastic
Referee Charles H. Butcher
pianos and player-pianos, has been very artistic,
margin the legitimate manufacturer and dealer
high class and effective in producing sales of
cannot afford to fight back. The sooner all the
Charles H. Butcher, referee in bankruptcy,
these commendable instruments.
piano manufacturers realize that they not only
who was appointed in the case of the Wason
should but must get more money for their
Piano Co., of Matawan, which was adjudicated a
WILLIAM J. GRAY VISITS CHICAGO
pianos, so much better will the general trade
bankrupt on April 19, as announced in The Re-
ALBANY, N. Y., May 1.—William James Gray, view, has given notice to the creditors of the
situation become. The man who tries to get
along without an increase in the hope of im- senior member of Boardman & Gray, piano concern that the first meeting will be held at
proved supply conditions is taking a big chance, for dealers, was in Chicago last week visiting mem- the office of the referee, 11 East Main street,
the improvement is far off, even if there is to bers of the piano trade there. It was the first Freehold, N. J., on May 11 at 10.30 A. M., at
be any, and when the increased price is actually visit he had made in three years to that terri- which time the creditors may prove their claims,
forced, the manufacturer will find that the wave tory, and he will visit many of the Boardman appoint a trustee and examine the bankrupt.
of prosperity has subsided and the market is & Gray dealers in Wisconsin and Ohio before
not prepared to stand the increase. Personally, his return. Mr. Gray recently purchased a large
H. C. Heller and S. G. Dunkleberger, dealers
1 believe that the fair-mindedness of the manu- farm located a few miles outside of Albany. in pianos and players at 28 South Eight street,
facturers, together with the competition that Business at the local headquarters here is fine. Reading, Pa., have retired from business.
THE DEALER'S VIEW! OFHNCREASED PIANO PRICES
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos