Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
AUGUST 2, 1919
THE
MUSIC TRADE
11
REVIEW
M. P. CAMPBELL TALKS ON EXPORT VS. DOMESTIC TRADE
"With these things in mind where will the
American export business be in five or ten years,
President of Brambach Piano Co. Realizes That While There Are Possibilities for a Tremendous when the world is settled once more?
Export Piano Business, Yet It Is Wise to Analyze Conditions and Prospects and Be Gov- "The American piano industry was built by
the retail dealers as much as it was built by the
erned Accordingly—Tells of Our Duty to the Retail Dealer of America at the Present Time piano manufacturers themselves, • and it is
Discussing the subject of export versus do- cepted by a German firm on terms much below through their hard work and good graces that
mestic trade with The Review this week Mark those of a British tender. The business, which the industry was built to a great size. The
manufacturer to-day has the whip hand and can
P. Campbell, president of the Brambach Piano amounts in the aggregate to a very large sum,
either supply the American wants or he can sup-
has
been
accepted
by
the
German
firm
at
about
Co., said: "In the immediate past we have
ply the foreign wants. As a result of the pub-
heard considerable about the necessity of ob- 20 pounds per ton less than the figure tendered
licity and advertising and the work of the dealer
taining a large export of musical instruments by a leading British company. The price quoted
there never was such a demand for American-
for America—the present time being held out in the German tender for the fabricated construc-
made pianos as there is to-day. It is only
as the psychological moment for us to capture tional work to be supplied is actually below the fair that the American manufacturers support
the world's trade in pianos and small musical price quoted for the raw material as delivered by domestic needs in this time of the great demand,
merchandise. Judging by the way orders are the rolling mills in this country. Costs of trans- as the American dealers supported the manu-
received by every manufacturer this is correct. port, therefore, do not account for the discrep- facturers in the past. There has been practically
Without the slightest trouble every manufac- ancy. How the German firm was able to offer no importation into America of musical mer-
turer could develop a phenomenally large export such low terms is a mystery to the British com- chandise in spite of the very low price at which
trade to every country in the world (with a pany. The willingness of the German house to foreign goods could be obtained.
possible exception of the Central Powers of undertake work on such conditions indicates the
"The dealer has been faithful to the Ameri-
Europe).
can industn r —now let the manufacturer be
"A matter that must not be overlooked is the
faithful to the American demand."
permanency of such a business. There are a
number of things—we must look out to see what
they will develop into in five years from now. A
product that is made entirely by machinery,
Official Instrument of New York Military Band
that draws no salary on Saturday night, knows
Concerts at Columbia University
nothing about piece-work, etc., is a proposition
that enables American manufacturers to export
At the concerts which have been given during
to a degree that will be permanent, but with
the summer on the green at Columbia University,
the degree of increase of manual labor in the
New York, by the New York Military Band,
manufacture of an article, and the uncertainty of
Edwin Franko Goldman, conductor, the Knabe
that wage, the risk of permanency increases in a
piano has been the official instrument. These
corresponding manner. In the manufacture of
concerts have been attended by a large number
pianos and kindred articles the employment of
of people, the attendance of some concerts be-
machinery is almost negligible.
ing over 20,000.
"The fact'that the world is starving for musi-
cal instruments and the old source of supply has
DEATH OF MRS. ELIZABETH HAVAS
been shut off for years, aggravating this de-
Friends of Fred Doll, of Doll & Sons, New
mand, so that when the barriers were lifted
York, extend to him their sympathy over the
a tremendous business resulted caused by an
death last Saturday of his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth
uncontrollable appetite for music and not be-
Havas, daughter of the late Jacob Doll. The
cause of a competitive low price, elected Ameri-
funeral was held on Monday and the retail store
can-made merchandise the winner.
at 116 West Forty-second street was closed on
"Will competition destroy the possibility of a
Tuesday.
permanent piano export business?
Mark P. Campbell
"It is a known fact that in Germany, before
nature of the industrial competition which is
the war, some of the so-called commercial pianos
INCORPORATED
now to be expected.'
were made by boys from fourteen to eighteen,
"Our economists, speaking of high wages,
The Standard Music Printing Co., Chicago,
who were bound out on the apprentice system
invariably report as the dominating cause the 111., has been incorporated with a capital stock
by their parents to learn the trade. This enabled
increase in the amount of gold in the country. of $5,000 by William R. Bullock, Anna Bullock
Germany to produce pianos almost with no
The medium of exchange having become plenti- and Samuel Laurie.
labor cost; America could not possibly compete
ful and the product that is consumed remaining
with this before the war.
stable necessarily increases the price, as meas-
"Going over the statistics of war losses to
ured in gold—measured in commodities it has
the Central and Allied Powers and comparing
perhaps remained the same.
the casualties with the total population it will
"For the same reason labor in other manu-
be found that it is a comparatively small per-
facturing European countries will be necessarily
centage.
lower, because of the decrease in the amount of
With 3 sounding boards
Germany's intentions regarding foreign com-
gold available.
in each (Patented) have the
petition in the future are pretty well illustrated
"Reports show that the French Bank was the
by the following article, under the caption "Re-
greatest talking points in
only one that did not increase its supply of gold
vival of German Competition—British Engineer-
the trade.
during the war. The National Bank of Germany
ing Firm Outbid," taken from the London
doubled its supply of gold and the Bank of Eng-
Times in the issue of June 20, 1919:
land made an enormous increase; however, this
" 'We learn that a large contract for construc-
must not be confused with the national supply
tional engineering in Holland has just been ac-
of gold, which is the money changing hands
among the people. This has necessarily de-
creased by the large importation to the United
States, and in itself would tend to make wages
lower in Europe and higher in America.
"Let us look at the proposition from the view-
point of the importer in South America:
"Two pianos of equal merit, one obtainable
from New York and one from London. The New
York piano may cost him $150, which money
has less actual purchasing power in the United
The Auto Grand
States than the $100 he would have to pay for
The Krell Auto Grand
the British product would have in Great Britain.
Obviously, he is paying a high price in England
The Krell Player
We fix " o n e p r i c e d -
for the piano and a low price in New York for
Quality product* that will enable the dealer to close
the piano. This, however, is no concern of his.
wholesale and retail.
a qnality business at a substantial profit.
The medium of exchange is gold and he natur-
ally buys where it is costing him the least
Write for Catalog
amount.
"There are piano factories in China and Japan
THE. WERNER INDUSTRIES CO.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
making a very fine, satisfactory piano at a
9th and Harriet Sts.,
CINCINNATI, O.
trifling cost, as wages go in the Far East.
KNABE AT COLUMBIA CONCERTS
3 Great Pianos
Krell
Duchess, Mervyn
Royal
The Heppe Piano Co.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
12
AUGUST 2, 1919
who has relieved Miss Eleanor Surendorf of the
management of the Kansas City branch. Miss
Secretary of Kansas City Advertising Club Gives His Views on This Subject—Business in All Surendorf deserted the piano business for matri-
mony at the time of Mr. Bissell's return from
Branches of the Piano Trade Very Active This Summer
France, where he served with the A. E. F. Mr.
Bissell lost no time in taking up his work with
KANSAS "CITY, MO., July 28.—Trade during the and search out advertisements that seem to have
past two weeks has been exceedingly good, con- such a question mark in their copy as to war- the Starr Piano Co. upon arriving in this country.
sidering the season, according to nearly every rant investigation as to the honesty of the state- The day he was discharged he was en route
dealer in the city. Piano dealers in this im- ments. These are then taken up by the com- to the factor}' at Richmond, Ind., and the same
mediate territory also are reporting an ad- mittee and it is decided whether or not an in- week was at his desk in Kansas City. He de-
vanced trade. The hot weather, of course, has vestigation is to be conducted, in which event clares that he believes that the business during
affected the business, but it is still far in ad- moral persuasion is attempted, and as a last the summer months will hold well throughout
vance of that done a year ago and two years ago resort the law in regard to honest advertising. the season, stating that he has been forcibly
and collections have been much better in com- Mr. Husser bad in the past found considerable impressed with the seeming financial condi-
parison with those of a year and two years ago. difficulty with several firms and individuals fur- tion of the territory, particularly of the farm-
Player-pianos have shown a nice increase in nishing pianos and talking machines to dealers ing communities, which he has not visited for
demand, still the call for straight pianos equipping I -*mes and apartments for the pur- more than a year, and that it seems so far ad-
has been so good during the last month that pose of sell-ng the goods under the pretext of vanced over the territory he left more than a
it is generally believed that the increase in the leaving the city. Since his return he declares year ago that he is of the opinion that the
popularity of the straight pianos has been a that he has found none of this business prac- business should develop exceedingly well.
E. S. Hall, of the Hall Music Co., declares
little greater than of the players. The talk- ticed in Kansas City. Mr. Husser said: "I do
ing machine business holds well, although the not believe that all thfe piano dealers who were that the business has been very good during
hot weather slump has been noticed in this making a business of this practice have left the the past two weeks. Mr. Hall has been devot-
field to some extent, particularly in the sales business or reformed, but maybe it is that ing a great deal of his attention to the develop-
legitimate business has been so good that they ment of the player-piano business, especially the
of larger-sized machines.
have
not had the time to resort to such methods Welte-Mignon instruments.
A feature of the business at Kansas City is
The J. C. McDonnell Music Co. is continuing
the fact that so far this summer there have Perhaps it is the lack of residence property and
been few midsummer sales, although one or apartments for rent that has forestalled this the work upon its store at 1217 Grand avenue.
two are scheduled to begin next month. The trade, which is particularly difficult and hard to The company began the assembling of its ma-
Smith. Barnes & Strohber Co. promoted a sale deal with. Those we found necessary to take chine, the Donola, and installed a line of Cable-
early in the hot weather season that brought ex- action against by going to the courts some time Nelson pianos and players, but was so busy
cellent results. The sale was of new but ago have not been ba»k, I am told, and the with the new machine that the work of com-
slightly worn stock instruments and did not larger piano dealers declare that they hardly pleting the sales floor and the demonstrating
embrace the trade-ins that the company had expect them to return to this city to operate booths was neglected. The interior of the estab-
upon its floors. The advertising was of particu- such a business again. I have visited nearly lishment has now been completely arranged and
larly pleasing and high-class variety. The J. W. every piano dealer in the city and I have not is being done in white enamel, giving the store
Jenkins' Sons Music Co. will soon begin its an- had a single complaint in regard to the piano i neat, cool and attractive appearance.
W. J. Simonson, manager of the Kansas City
nual midsummer clearance sale of used instru- advertising of any dealer; they are all enthu-
ments, featuring a large stock of instruments siastic over the copy that is being used gener- branch of the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Piano
Co., declares that the company has been meet-
taken in trade during the past year. The Jen- ally throughout the trade in Kansas City."
kins' Co. has attracted a great deal of atten-
Harry Wunderlich, of the Wr.nderlich Music ing the best summer business that it has had in
tion with that sale in past years, the advertising Co., recently returned from a fishing trip in its history at Kansas City. "Collections," Mr.
being, of course, in the "sale" class of display Minnesota. Mr. Wunderlich reports that his Simonson says, "have been exceedingly good.
material, is distinctive and individual that business has been exceptionally good during the The outlook from this part of the business
catches the public eye and commands a reading. past few weeks and that the indications are makes things seem exceedingly bright, for when
George Husser, secretary of the Kansas City that the trade will continue good throughout the the collections show the spirit they should dis-
play all the time it is an indication that the
Advertising Club, recently returned from the summer season.
Fred Gennett, secretary of the Starr Piano Co., financial condition of the city and territory is
army and took up his work in Kansas City. Mr.
Husser is not only the secretary of the club, but oi Richmond, Ind., recently visited the Kansas good, indeed, and when that is true sales begin
heads the organization's vigilante and protective City branch for a conference with C. V. Bissell, to increase accordingly."
committee for truth in advertising. One of
Mr. Husser's jobs, which is by no means a small
"STEGER DAY" A BIG SUCCESS
NEED OF KEEPING UP TERMS
one, is to scrutinize carefully the newspapers,
The welcome-home day of Steger, 111., last
magazines and all publications appearing here J. J. Glynn, of James & Holmstrom, Strikes Note
of Warning Against Relaxation of Terms— Saturday was a great success and the parade
arranged by the "Steger Day" committee was
Sell Only to Legitimate Dealers
participated in by all the local organizations of
CHARACTER
John J. Glynn, of the James & Holmstrom the city. At the Steger & Sons factory children
"Admirable Quality; Acknowledged Reputation"
Piano Co., Inc., 23 East Fourteenth street, New were given novelty hats and all kinds of decora-
— {Standard Dictionary)
York, said this week that there seems to be tions for the parade. This patriotic little town
a tendency among some piano men to ease up "did its bit" again on this occasion.
a little on the matter of terms and there is dan-
The S. E. Overton Co., South Haven, Mich., is
ger of slipping back to the old order of things
which the recent agitation over better terms has building the third addition to its plant in re-
done so much to abolish. There still are some sponse to the rapid growth of its business. This
dealers who do not realize that it is to their firm makes piano benches and legs for talking
own advantage as well as to the advantage of machine cabinets and its product is in great
their customers that shorter terms and better demand all over the country.
Manufactured by
payments be adhered to. In discussing the mar-
ket situation with The Review he declared that
manufacturers should confine their sales of in-
struments to legitimate dealers, those who make
their living from the piano trade. It is not fair
to the legitimate dealer, he said, when individ-
uals with no regular place of business can se-
cure a few pianos and sell them just because
they see a chance to make a few dollars on the
have for 33 years
side. This business rightfully belongs to the
justified their right
dealer and the manufacturer who sells to in-
to be called
dividuals without standing is not playing fair.
Mr. Glynn went on to say that this was by no
means a common practice; but that there were
cases now and then which had come to his
attention and he believes that this should not
FACTORIES
continue.
North Milwaukee, Wis.
Chicago, III.
The music store of W. H. Beardsworth,
OFFICE
Staunton, Va., recently opened with a large stock
1872 Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, Kl.
of pianos, players, musical instruments and ac-
cessories.
PIANO ADVERTISING IN KANSAS CITY HIGHLY PRAISED
PIANOS
Smith, Barnes
Strohber Co.
Pianos of Character

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