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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HIGH PRIGES STILL THE RULE FOR ALL PIANO SUPPLIES
All Materials Used in Piano Construction Are Steadily Increasing in Cost, and No Signs of a
Lowered Market Are Apparent—A Concise Review of Existing Conditions and Their Cause
Despite the fact that the cost of supplies
which enter into the making of a piano has in-
creased steadily since the beginning of the
European war, there seems to be no indica-
tion of a downward trend in the various mar-
kets.
Reports from hardwood manufacturers
show that the car shortage has had an appre-
ciable effect during the last few months in
sending up the cost of lumber of all kinds. The
car shortage shows no symptoms of lessening,
and the duration of the present situation is in-
definite, although it cannot be expected that
the trouble will continue for very long after
the crops are moved. At the same time pre-
vious experiences have shown that when there
is a scarcity of cars in the early fall the situa-
tion has not been relieved to any great extent
until after the first of the new year.
The
scarcity is greatest in the cars the hardwood
lumbermen usually use, flat cars and box cars.
The scarcity and high price of mahogany
has had a serious influence .on the piano trade,
and it is very doubtful whether any relief from
this condition will be had until after the close
of the war and the resumption of normal trans-
Atlantic shipping. Veneers of all kinds are in
good demand and are moving actively and at
good prices all over the country.
Steel and iron prices have soared, and the
cost of these metals, used in the construction
of piano plates and piano hardware, has placed
an additional burden on the manufacturer. An
unprecedented export trade, together with a
more than normal local demand, has taxed
American mills to their utmost, and has nat-
urally forced prices upward.
The copper market has probably been the
most active of all the metal markets. The
consummation of a gigantic foreign order the
latter part of September, calling for 448,000,000
pounds of copper for delivery during the first
part of 1917 tightened the market to a greater
degree than it has ever experienced. This is
the largest single order for copper that has
ever been placed, the total cost being something
like $125,000,000, and it represents practically
one-half of the total of the estimated produc-
tion of copper during the period of delivery.
It is evident that the price of copper and brass
goods will assuredly be no less than it is now
for the next six months at least.
While the demand for glue is not excessive,
prices are well maintained, and there seems to
be little prospect of lowered value, because of
the very high cost of raw materials. The small
lots of foreign glue, which occasionally come
into the market, are snapped up immediately
at high prices. Reports from Germany indi-
cate that the glue and glue stock, which nor-
mally comes into this country from that source,
is being used for hog feed and other purposes.
France has prohibited the exportation of glue,
which cuts off a very important source of sup-
ply of the high grade cabinet variety.
The varnish gum market is quiet, with no
pressure from buyers, although the curtailing
of supplies has resulted in short stocks and en-
hanced prices. Kauri gums are especially hard
to obtain in the better grades, and many pur-
chasers are complaining that lots of Kauri gum
offered have not been well sorted, poor qual-
ities having been mixed with the more desir-
able grade. East Indian gums are in better
supply, but the demand has been compara-
tively light.
There has been a nervous fluctuation in the
shellac market, which followed as a reaction
from the panic of August, due to the British
Government restrictions. After prices reached
their peak, the reaction carried them downward
to a point which was seen to be as far wrong
in this direction as were the high prices. Hence
there has been a see-sawing of prices back and
forth in the effort to adjust to new conditions.
The London market seems to dominate the sit-
uation, and has shown a disposition to unload
its holdings at the present high prices. Sup-
plies are none too large, demand is brisk, and
indications are that the rapidly growing do-
mestic demand is ample to take care of any un-
usual unloading which may develop, which will
result in a maintenance of fairly good prices.
MATERIALS,
TOOLS AND
SUPPLIES
FOR
49
Ii is believed that the primary sources of sup-
ply are short, rather than otherwise.
From the foregoing synopsis of those mar-
kets which are of interest to piano manufac-
turers, it is easily seen that piano production
costs are really greater to-day than they ever
have been before, and while more efficient man-
agement and an increased demand has mitigated
the situation somewhat, the action of many
large manufacturers in raising the wholesale
price of pianos is entirely logical, and is indeed
only an act of self-preservation against the
danger of the entire elimination of net profits.
HAROLD HAAS OPTIMISTIC
Head of Henry Haas & Son Says Piano Manu-
facturers Are Buying in Large Quantities
B. R. Haas, of Henry Haas & Son, 1909 Park
avenue, New York, left on Sunday for Chi-
cago, where he has been busy during the week
securing some large contracts for hardware for
the coming year. Harold Haas, head of the
concern, was very optimistic when seen by a
representative of The Review this week. He
stated that by the way orders are coming in
at the present time they will have a large
volume of business, which will keep the fac-
tory running on full time for many months to
come. "We find," he said, "that most manu-
facturers of piano and player-pianos are placing
very large contracts for hardware, both for
present and future deliveries, which would in-
dicate that they expect a most prosperous win-
ter.
"We have fortunately been well supplied with
material, so that we are taking care of our
customers with all possible speed. The out-
look is very good, and I feel confident that
the piano men will have one of the best years
in the history of the industry."
WOOL PRICES^TILL RISING
BOSTON, MASS., November 6.—A large demand
for fine combing wools in the grease was the
principal feature of the wool market for the
last week, during which 9,500,000 pounds were
sold. These wools appreciated in price con-
siderably as business progressed.
Fine me-
dium clips of territory wools in the original
bags sold on a basis of 95 cents to $1 a pound.
Sales of scoured wools to the manufacturers
brought dealers into the market to replace
stocks sold for large weights. Noils sold free-
ly at slightly advanced prices, and tops were
taken in large weights. The effect of the Lon-
don market opening with the new Australian
wools in the sales at prices above the parity
of the last sales was very marked.
CHARLES PFRIEMER DUCK HUNTING
PIANO MANUFACTURERS
HINGES, BUTTS, CASTERS, PEDALS, FELTS,
CLOTHS, PUNCHINGS, SWINGS, HANGERS,
KNOBS, LOCKS, ETC., AND A FULL LINE OF
TOOLS USED IN TUNING, REGULATING AND
REPAIRING. CORRESPONDENCE INVITED.
*
HAMM ACHER, SCHLEMMER & CO.
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
Charles J. Pfriemer, head of Chas. Pfriemcr,
Inc., 142nd street and Wales avenue, New York,
makers of the Pfriemer reinforced piano ham-
mer, spent a few days last week duck hunting
on Long Island. This sport is one of the favor-
ite outdoor amusements Mr. Pfriemer engages
in during the year. He is also fond of hunt-
ing big game, and usually makes a trip later
in the season for that purpose.
Richardson Piano Case Co.
Manufacturers of
Upright— f^»
Grand-
Player—
*z Piano Cases
Established
4th Avc. & 13th St.
LEOMINSTER
::
1891
::
MASS.