Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
70
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
HARMONICAS FOR SOLDIERS
ANSWERS SHOULD BE SPECIFIC
Christmas Bags for the Soldiers Will Be More
Welcome if They Contain Harmonicas
Replies Made to Foreign Trade Inquiries Are
Otherwise Useless
American consular officers abroad complain
more and more that business men in this coun-
try do not confine their attention to the specific
requirements of foreign markets.
Their re-
ports place special emphasis on the futility of
furnishing foreign merchants with indiscrim-
inate offers of service that have little relation
to their actual wants. While there is no lack
of energetic effort to cultivate trade with other
countries, it is pointed out that such a policy
in its effect is frequently quite the reverse of
what is intended, and that hasty, ill-considered
correspondence is likely to retard rather than
promote the establishment of trade relations.
An instance of this kind is reported by Consul
WHEN VIOLINS GET TIRED
General Alfred A. Winslow, stationed at Auck-
Constant Use I s Often Liable to Spoil the Tone land, New Zealand. A trade opportunity, says
of a Violin
he, had been published in the Commerce Reports
relative to certain equipment sought by a New
Writing to the London Referee, a correspond- Zealander. The information he gave was very
ent makes the point that it is possible to spoil specific in respect to his exact requirements.
a violin by playing on it too much, a state- The latter, to use his own words, "was inun-
ment which may come as somewhat of a sur- dated with literature of every description," yet
prise to those who have been taught that a he did not get the information for which he
violin improves with age • and use, and that asked. "As a whole," says the Consul, "re-
therefore much use is advisable. As a proof
sponses were vague and irrelevant.
Thus a
of his contention the correspondent claimed that bad impression was created on the mind of
Joachim played two Strads to death, a state- the New Zealander and a definite opportunity
ment concerning which the present writer can for American trade was lost."
venture no comment.
American business men have often emphasized
It is well known, however, that the great the need of detailed information, point out the
virtuosi generally have several instruments consular officials, yet when they get that de-
which are used according to the conditions de- tailed information they do not abide by it but
manded in playing; in large halls, with orches- insist on offering something for which the in-
tra accompaniment a big-toned, resonant vio- quirer has no use.
lin is brought out; in a smaller hall with lighter
accompaniment a different one is used; and in
R. N. WATKIN JJOOSTING BONDS
chamber music performances a third may be con-
Robert N. Watkin, of the Will A. Watkin
sidered most suitable.
Why should not violins become tired? The Co., music dealers of Dallas, Tex., has been
sonorous quality of the tone depends upon the re- appointed a member of the Retail Merchants'
sponsiveness of the wood, probably upon its Committee on the sale of the second issue of
elasticity.
Steel articles show this wear, for Liberty Loan Bonds, and has been very active
instance, a razor. Why not wooden articles? in securing subscriptions to this patriotic loan.
One of the most popular gifts that can be
made to American soldiers in France is a har-
monica, according to those who are interested
in providing comforts for our boys over there.
Various organizations which are raising funds
for the purpose of sending Christmas bags to
the soldiers point out that almost anyone can
play a harmonica, and that, being small, they
are easily tucked away in the pocket. There
is probably nothing in the musical instrument
line that will give so much entertainment to the
soldiers at such a small cost as an ordinary
harmonica.
The sound board of a piano, for example, is
Fire in the warehouse of the M. A. Keyser
thought by some to deteriorate with undue Fireproof Storage Co., Salt Lake City, Utah,
usage.
seriously damaged about 175 pianos stored there.
Therefore it may be worth while for the vio-
linist who uses an instrument excessively to
change off, now and then, and let his best vio-
lin rest for a time.
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO.
DURRO
AND
STEWART
SEND FOR
CATALOGUES
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
Buegeleisen & Jacob son
113 University Place
NEW YORK
*
- ^
OLIVER DITSON CO.
BOSTON. MASS.
Manufacturer*
' Importer* and Jobbers of
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Chicago
Vic tor Dis frfbu foi~s
IMPROVED FORM OF DRUM
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 22.—Michael J.
O'Connor, Bismarck, N. D., was last week
granted Patent No. 1,243,207 for a drum, but
more particularly for an improved form and con-
struction of the drum head, the invention hav-
ing for its primary object to provide an im-
proved head for bass drums which will produce
a deep, heavy and lasting tone.
This invention has for an additional object
to provide a one-piece integral construction of
the drum head and rim or band whereby the
head may be easily and quickly fitted and se-
cured upon the end of the body wall of the
drum.
It is an additional object of the present in-
vention to provide a convex head for bass
drums which will greatly add to the tone qual-
ities of the drum without materially enhanc-
ing the manufacturing or selling price of the
A POETIC REMEMBRANCE
"Excuse me," said the new neighbor as he
leaned over the fence, "you have a daughter
who plays the piano, I believe?"
"I have," answered the man on the porch.
"Well," said the other, "I have been a great
student of nature in my time—have spent many
years on a farm—and I want to say that your
daughter's music reminds me of the music of a
brook."
"Ah," said the pleased father, "I confess that
there is an undefinable, murmuring sweetness
running through her music that resembles a
brook, now that you have called my attention
to it."
"Yes," agreed the new neighbor, "there is all
that. And besides, there is another way in
which the resemblance is very marked. Prob-
ably you have read' that line that calls at-
tention to the fact that the brook goes on for-
ever."
Black Diamond
Strings
ESTABLISHED 1834
Cincinnati
Sxo/i/siveffr Wholesale
Prof. T. E. Gonzalez, a well-known band
leader and music teacher of Denver, Colo., has
opened a music store and school combined at
926 North Sixth street, Harrisburg, Pa.
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
MUSICAL
Merc h a n d i 5 e
T H E OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
WEMANN s=r=
THE WORLD'S BEST
Soperior Qriu MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
National Musical String Co.
Victor Distributor*
New Brunswick, N. J.
1108 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Established OT«T half a century
*