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JANUARY 16, 1926
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
J. Rossner of Weser Bros., Inc. Sees
Big Opportunities in Latin-America
Believes American Piano Industry Can Develop Substantial Trade in Those Countries Without
Great Credit Risks Provided They Conform With Tastes of Purchasers
T ROSSNER, secretary of Weser Bros., Inc.,
* New York, is one of those who see great
opportunities for American piano manufacturers
in foreign fields, providing they give proper
thought to the export business, conform with
the foreign idea of attractive case designs, and
use proper judgment in the granting of credits.
According to reports from the Department of
Commerce, a number of German piano manu-
facturers have suffered quite heavily as a result
of business failures, due in no small measure
to the practice of granting too long credits to
manufacturers here in the North to maintain
reasonable credit terms in the industry. We do
not believe the extending of such long terms
conduces toward the sale of any more goods,
but does put the goods into the hands of weak
buyers. The members of our industry ought to
sell piano quality, and not terms, if the busi-
ness is to be kept on a safe and sound basis."
That South American piano dealers are alive
to the possibilities of publicity, even to the ex-
tent of using billboards, is indicated by the
accompanying illustration which shows a high-
11
COINOLAS
Supremacy thru their
Performance
= American Pianos §
| Advertised by j
| Billboards on |
1 Venezuelan g
|
Highway
1
foreign buyers. This practice is held responsible way in Venezuela with the signboard of a local
in a large measure for the great volume of ex- music house at the right featuring Weser pianos
port piano business handled by Germany, but and Autopianos.
as experience has proven, does not revert to the
benefit of the manufacturer granting that long
credit. Although the Germans have captured
and held) a goodly share of the straight jpianoj
business in foreign countries, due both to credit
leniency and a willingness to abide by the George Ott, Local Hardman Representative, to
desires of customers in the matter of case de- ' Entertain Customers at Opera—Wodick's
sign, the American player-piano still continues
Music Shop to Occupy Larger Quarters
to be a prime favorite, because of the fact that
it has been found superior to the European
CLEVELAND, O., January 12.—George Ott, Cleve-
product in every particular.
land agent for the Hardman piano, is making
Mr. Rossner is of the opinion that American plans for the entertainment of all those who
piano men can develop a really substantial for- have purchased a Hardman from him during
eign business without any great credit risk, pro- 1925, regardless of whether it was a new or
viding they are willing to turn out ornamental used instrument. They will be his guests at
cases, such as were discarded in this country the Spring festival of the Metropolitan Grand
some years ago, but which still appeal to for- Opera Company, which is due to open a week's
eign buyers, particularly those in Latin-Amer- engagement in Cleveland the early part of April.
ican countries. In discussing this matter Mr.
Wodick's Music Shoppe, which has been
Rossner said:
located at 822 Prospect avenue for the past few
"Germany's pre-war success in the export years, is preparing to move to 1280 Euclid ave-
field was due to the fact that the manufacturers nue.
The new location will , be much more
of that country spared no pains to make articles favorable from many standpoints. It is in the
which would please their customers regardless section known as Playhouse Square, where the
of what their own tastes might be. Weser Bros, majority of the city theatres are located, and
have found the export market one that is very many of the prominent music houses. A re-
easily cultivated, but it is a very deplorable fact moval sale is now in progress to cut down the
that some American manufacturers who have stock.
already entered the export field are doing some
Erasmus Gorshe, Atwater Kent, radio and
things which, will make it very difficult to con- general music dealer of 6527 St. Clair avenue,
tinue doing business with the foreign trade on made a number of sales for Christmas just
a satisfactory basis. It has been until quite re- through being on his toes, or, in other words,
cently possible to do export business in large alive to sales opportunities. He is located in
volume on a basis of comparatively short credit, the midst of a large Slovenian colony that has
and a great deal on a strictly cash basis, but a fine singers' club. This club was broadcasting
recently some manufacturers have gone into the from a local station and, realizing that many
markets of Latin-America and extended terms would like to hear it who had no means of
which, in the writer's opinion, are ridiculous doing so, he hired a hall and installed an At-
and are bound to not only cause trouble for the water Kent outfit. The place was filled and
seller but also for the buyer unless he is the Gorshe secured enough business to repay him
most clever kind of a financier.
many times over for the trouble he took and
"It is the writer's opinion that the average the expense incurred.
terms in the export market ought not to exceed
The Cleveland Institute of Music has joined
ninety days, or four months at the outside, and the movement that will allow music schools to
it is a fact that very few importers in Latin adopt and maintain standards that will enable
America have ever received or expected terms them to be accorded academic recognitions now
longer than that. Nevertheless, as above stated, given by colleges and universities. It is a defi-
some manufacturers are offering terms as long nite offensive against music schools that abuse
as twenty-four months, which is only extending charters by issuing degrees without requiring
a condition that has made it very difficult for pupils to have sufficient training.
To Entertain Buyers of
Hardmans in Cleveland
Durability that has
defied the years
Reproduce* PUyer Organ
Known Values
Proven Satisfaction
Your territory may be open
Manufactured by
The Operators Piano Co.
715 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago
Illinois