Music Trade Review
Issue: 1887 Vol. 10 N. 18 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
276
look at the general agents of the Esteys! Hardly a
single change in the last twenty years of a general
agent, and with the growth and development of the
MET Lieut. Gov. L. K. Fuller, of Vermont, business, when the members of these older houses
Vice-President of the Estey Organ Company, on have died or gone out of business, the Esteys have
his way home to Brattleboro the other day, and purchased the business from the estate or remaining
we fell into conversation about the rights of agents partner, but not in a single instance in the entire
and other important questions. " As regards the world have they violently removed an agent or estab-
rights of agents," said Gov. Fuller, " t h e law is dif- lished a branch house. Such a record of perman-
ferent in different States, and any general statement ency is hard to find. When proper business methods
would not be accurate for all. The only safe plan are pursued the claim that anybody in this trade
for manufacturers and dealers in different localities should have just reason to complain more than in
is to consult with the ' law merchant.' Common law another trade is the sheerest nonsense."—Exchange.
does not always prevail in these matters, as fre-
quently they are questions of statute."
THE STATE OF TRADE.
" Do you believe that under the present system a
dishonest agent could wreck a firm? " the Governor
PECIAL telegrams to Bradstreet'8 report an im-
was asked.
proved trade at Cincinnati, Louisville, Detroit,
"The best rule I know of in dealing with scoun-
Omaha, St. Joseph, San Francisco, at Dallas,
drels Is to have nothing to do with them," he re- New Orleans and Savannah. In the South improved
plied. "Practically you ask how near a music weather with rains Southwest did much to brighten
dealer can walk to the edge of ruin and not suffer the crop prospect and stimulate trading. Needed
loss. There is a trade saying that a music dealer rains in Nebraska and elsewhere West also helped
can walk further out on the edge of forbidden awaken an interior demand. The central western
ground, in a commercial view, and not go over, than cities named announce an increase in demand for
the representatives of any of the trades. The house staple goods. No material improvement has been
of Estey have always adopted a conservative course, noted at Boston, Pittsburg, Cleveland, $Temphis j
and I have had very little experience with the par- Davenport, Burlington, St. Louis, Kansas City or
ticular phase which the subject develops. Very Galveston. At Philadelphia, Chicago and at Mil-
largely, losses through agents arise out of the at- waukee the movement has been irregular, and, on the
tempt of one dealer to getaway another's customers, whole, less than last week. Railway traffic returns
and they both go to selling to the same party and indicate that the distribution of merchandise and
sooner or later get bit."
produce has been adversely affected by the new rates
" Do you heavy Eastern manufacturers intend to under the Inter-State act, owing to uncertainty as to
gobble up all the dealers throughout the country their effect.
An investigation by BradstreeVa into the operation
and become a monopoly in the music trade? "
" We never have conducted our business on the of the new railway freight rates shows that: Old
basis of crushing rivals. An attempt at monopoly rates are very generally cut 10 @ 30 per cent.; new
would lead to this. We proceed on the basis of rates are generally though irregularly higher, and
justice and fair-dealing to all. We do believe that it quoted firm, causing an actual increase in cost of
would be better for some of the brilliant and aspir- moving goods, east of Missouri river points, from 20
ing dealers, who so often change agents and meet to 40 per cent., with a number of exceptions showing
with losses of goods, to proceed on the same basis." both smaller and heavier increases; large shippers
"How about agents who use a first class agency have been greatly disturbed by the changes in many
cases; some centralized industries have been put at
as a mask to cover operations in cheap goods? "
" Some agents, it is true, do receive the agency of a heavy disadvantage owing to competition from
a first-class instrument and use that advantage to other centres, notably salt and iron. Traffic officials
place an inferior one in the market, but to no are making many new special rates to cover such in-
greater, if as great, an extent is this done than in stances, practically extending the number of freight
other mercantile pursuits. If my observation is classes indefinitely. The manufacturing industries
good for anything it is that as high a degree of in- continue busily employed, with, perhaps, 10,000 or
tegrity and as lasting and permanent connections 12,000 employees on strike throughout the country,
are found in the music trade as in any other kind of aside from the 3,000 New England shoe employees,
who are locked out. April promises to exceed March,
business in the world."
11
Is it not quite a common practice with some both in number of strikes and strikers, with a total
houses to bid for the well-established agents of of 17,000 of the latter recorded for two weeks. The
preliminary totals for the first quarter are 253 strikes,
others?"
" This is a pretty deep subject, but I confess at including 116,275 strikers in 1887, as compared with
once that I have no sympathy with the whining 40 (or more) strikes and 108,100 strikers in 1886.
Leading domestic money markets are easier than
some manufacturers setup over the loss of an agent
by reason of that agent selling stenciled goods or last week. Funds have continued to return from the
going into the manufacturing business for himself. country, and discount rates have declined. Domestic
The Eastern manufacturers have had the largest exchange on New York shows the effect of improved
share of the sweeps of the trade, as it seems to me, merchantile collections and accumulation in the
but if they have been prudent in dealing with their hands of country bankers, with rates at the West at
good agents and in the management of their busi- par, or above, or materially higher than last week.
ness, they have retained them, and if not, they have
The bank clearings at thirty-six cities, as specially
been able to take care of themselves. Why, just telegraphed to Bradstreet'8, for six days ended yester-
LIEUT. GOY. FULLER ON AGENTS AND
AGENCIES.
1
S
day, aggregate $1,007,913,837, as compared with
$1,097,913,837 last week and $888,506,468 in the cor-
responding week last year. The decline of nearly 1 per
cent this week may be easily explained by the check to
trade begun over a week ago. The New York stock
market has exhibited active manipulation and high-
er prices for a few stocks, followed by ;i reaction in
which the general list declined, leaving the situation
unsettled. The general feeling is bullish as to the
future.
STILL MORE ABOUT THE RICHEY PIANO
COVER.
CHICAGO, March 28, 1887.
DEAR MBS. RICHEY :
Your piano cover has been used In our school room
nearly a year. I can not say too much in its praise.
It not only protects, but beautifies the piano. In
short, it speaks for itself.
Yours truly,
EMELINB MAKSH,
Teacher in Thos. Hoyne School, room 1,
Cor. Cass and Illinois Sts.,
City.
CHICAGO, I I I . , March 28, 1887.
MRS. SARAH R,U:HBY :
Your patent piano cover, which I have in use since
May, 188G, has proved perfect, regarding protection
of instrument and wear of material.
Very truly yours,
Lois M. AIKEN.
73 N. State St.
BROKE OUT IN ANOTHER PLACE.
OMING down Centre street one day this week
we noticed a very attractive window and called
in to learn why and wherefore. On entering,
the familiar face of our young piano merchant, Mr.
Crane, beamed upon us wreathed in smiles as heask-
ed how we liked his new place. Thinking to learn
before venturing an opinion we were escorted over
the building. There are three floors, the lower one
Mr. Crane will use for boxing, repairing, &c, the
next floor has one of the finest assortments of pianos,
and organs we have ever seen in Pottsville. There
were half a dozen makers all represented in different
styles besides sheet music and small instruments.
The upper floor is not settled for exhibition yet, but
will be used for stools, piano covers, books &c. The
floor surface of Mr. Crane's new quarters covers al-
most 2,500 square feet. After our tour we were en-
tertained by selections on an elegant Crane upright
piano for half an hour and departed well pleased with
our call and proud of our new music store, which is
one of the largest in Eastern Pennsylvania outside of
Philadelphia.—Pottsville, Pa., Daily Republican.
C
HOW'S TRADE?
A conversation between two pianoforte manufact-
urers.
Manufacturer No. 1.—"How's trade—are you busy?'
Manufacturer No. 2. Busy ! Well, I should say so.
We are running night and day—faside)— to get a note
discounted.—Frevmd's Music and Drama.
THE MOLLER ORGANS.
Builders and Manufacturers of Pipe arid Reed Organs.
We make a specialty of the following described G R A N D T W O MANUAL P E D A L P I P E O R G A N S .
Built after our improved plan. Fatented June 1st, 188fi. This organ can be sniped any distance and put in place by
any experienced person, which enables it to be handled as conveniently as a piano by dealers.
DESCRIPTION.
GREAT ORGAN MANUAL.
1.—8 foot pitch Open Diapason, - Bl
Dulciana,
a— 8
01
Melodia, -
3—8
61
Principal, -
4—4
7 . - 8 foot pitch Unison Bags,
-
17 Pipes.
8—4 "
" Rohr Flote, -
- 61 "
9.—16 "
" Pedal Bourdon Stop, 27 "
MECHANICAL REGISTER.
10.—Coupler Great O r g a n b y O c t a v e s .
ll._
'•
••
"
•• P e d a l .
SWELL ORGAN.
1-4
"
Swell
13—
"
"
"
" Great.
5 . - 8 foot pitch Stopped Diapason, 37 Pipes.
14 B e l l o w s S i g n a l .
G—8 "
" Selitional,
-
- 31
We guarantee this organ in volume, sweetness of tone, perfect in action and durability, to any organ built after
same schemw. Full descriptions and testimonials from some of the best judges in the United States, free upon appli-
cation. We also build the LARGE a, 3 a n d 4 MANUAL STATIONARY CHURCH AND CONCERT
ORGANS, with all the modern improvements. Our R E E D ORGANS are of elegant design, and contain many
valuable improvements.
.A-d-d-x-ess 3VC. IF*. M O L L E B OJElGrJ^JST CO-, H a g e r s t o ^ r n , ILEcL-
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
276
look at the general agents of the Esteys! Hardly a
single change in the last twenty years of a general
agent, and with the growth and development of the
MET Lieut. Gov. L. K. Fuller, of Vermont, business, when the members of these older houses
Vice-President of the Estey Organ Company, on have died or gone out of business, the Esteys have
his way home to Brattleboro the other day, and purchased the business from the estate or remaining
we fell into conversation about the rights of agents partner, but not in a single instance in the entire
and other important questions. " As regards the world have they violently removed an agent or estab-
rights of agents," said Gov. Fuller, " t h e law is dif- lished a branch house. Such a record of perman-
ferent in different States, and any general statement ency is hard to find. When proper business methods
would not be accurate for all. The only safe plan are pursued the claim that anybody in this trade
for manufacturers and dealers in different localities should have just reason to complain more than in
is to consult with the ' law merchant.' Common law another trade is the sheerest nonsense."—Exchange.
does not always prevail in these matters, as fre-
quently they are questions of statute."
THE STATE OF TRADE.
" Do you believe that under the present system a
dishonest agent could wreck a firm? " the Governor
PECIAL telegrams to Bradstreet'8 report an im-
was asked.
proved trade at Cincinnati, Louisville, Detroit,
"The best rule I know of in dealing with scoun-
Omaha, St. Joseph, San Francisco, at Dallas,
drels Is to have nothing to do with them," he re- New Orleans and Savannah. In the South improved
plied. "Practically you ask how near a music weather with rains Southwest did much to brighten
dealer can walk to the edge of ruin and not suffer the crop prospect and stimulate trading. Needed
loss. There is a trade saying that a music dealer rains in Nebraska and elsewhere West also helped
can walk further out on the edge of forbidden awaken an interior demand. The central western
ground, in a commercial view, and not go over, than cities named announce an increase in demand for
the representatives of any of the trades. The house staple goods. No material improvement has been
of Estey have always adopted a conservative course, noted at Boston, Pittsburg, Cleveland, $Temphis j
and I have had very little experience with the par- Davenport, Burlington, St. Louis, Kansas City or
ticular phase which the subject develops. Very Galveston. At Philadelphia, Chicago and at Mil-
largely, losses through agents arise out of the at- waukee the movement has been irregular, and, on the
tempt of one dealer to getaway another's customers, whole, less than last week. Railway traffic returns
and they both go to selling to the same party and indicate that the distribution of merchandise and
sooner or later get bit."
produce has been adversely affected by the new rates
" Do you heavy Eastern manufacturers intend to under the Inter-State act, owing to uncertainty as to
gobble up all the dealers throughout the country their effect.
An investigation by BradstreeVa into the operation
and become a monopoly in the music trade? "
" We never have conducted our business on the of the new railway freight rates shows that: Old
basis of crushing rivals. An attempt at monopoly rates are very generally cut 10 @ 30 per cent.; new
would lead to this. We proceed on the basis of rates are generally though irregularly higher, and
justice and fair-dealing to all. We do believe that it quoted firm, causing an actual increase in cost of
would be better for some of the brilliant and aspir- moving goods, east of Missouri river points, from 20
ing dealers, who so often change agents and meet to 40 per cent., with a number of exceptions showing
with losses of goods, to proceed on the same basis." both smaller and heavier increases; large shippers
"How about agents who use a first class agency have been greatly disturbed by the changes in many
cases; some centralized industries have been put at
as a mask to cover operations in cheap goods? "
" Some agents, it is true, do receive the agency of a heavy disadvantage owing to competition from
a first-class instrument and use that advantage to other centres, notably salt and iron. Traffic officials
place an inferior one in the market, but to no are making many new special rates to cover such in-
greater, if as great, an extent is this done than in stances, practically extending the number of freight
other mercantile pursuits. If my observation is classes indefinitely. The manufacturing industries
good for anything it is that as high a degree of in- continue busily employed, with, perhaps, 10,000 or
tegrity and as lasting and permanent connections 12,000 employees on strike throughout the country,
are found in the music trade as in any other kind of aside from the 3,000 New England shoe employees,
who are locked out. April promises to exceed March,
business in the world."
11
Is it not quite a common practice with some both in number of strikes and strikers, with a total
houses to bid for the well-established agents of of 17,000 of the latter recorded for two weeks. The
preliminary totals for the first quarter are 253 strikes,
others?"
" This is a pretty deep subject, but I confess at including 116,275 strikers in 1887, as compared with
once that I have no sympathy with the whining 40 (or more) strikes and 108,100 strikers in 1886.
Leading domestic money markets are easier than
some manufacturers setup over the loss of an agent
by reason of that agent selling stenciled goods or last week. Funds have continued to return from the
going into the manufacturing business for himself. country, and discount rates have declined. Domestic
The Eastern manufacturers have had the largest exchange on New York shows the effect of improved
share of the sweeps of the trade, as it seems to me, merchantile collections and accumulation in the
but if they have been prudent in dealing with their hands of country bankers, with rates at the West at
good agents and in the management of their busi- par, or above, or materially higher than last week.
ness, they have retained them, and if not, they have
The bank clearings at thirty-six cities, as specially
been able to take care of themselves. Why, just telegraphed to Bradstreet'8, for six days ended yester-
LIEUT. GOY. FULLER ON AGENTS AND
AGENCIES.
1
S
day, aggregate $1,007,913,837, as compared with
$1,097,913,837 last week and $888,506,468 in the cor-
responding week last year. The decline of nearly 1 per
cent this week may be easily explained by the check to
trade begun over a week ago. The New York stock
market has exhibited active manipulation and high-
er prices for a few stocks, followed by ;i reaction in
which the general list declined, leaving the situation
unsettled. The general feeling is bullish as to the
future.
STILL MORE ABOUT THE RICHEY PIANO
COVER.
CHICAGO, March 28, 1887.
DEAR MBS. RICHEY :
Your piano cover has been used In our school room
nearly a year. I can not say too much in its praise.
It not only protects, but beautifies the piano. In
short, it speaks for itself.
Yours truly,
EMELINB MAKSH,
Teacher in Thos. Hoyne School, room 1,
Cor. Cass and Illinois Sts.,
City.
CHICAGO, I I I . , March 28, 1887.
MRS. SARAH R,U:HBY :
Your patent piano cover, which I have in use since
May, 188G, has proved perfect, regarding protection
of instrument and wear of material.
Very truly yours,
Lois M. AIKEN.
73 N. State St.
BROKE OUT IN ANOTHER PLACE.
OMING down Centre street one day this week
we noticed a very attractive window and called
in to learn why and wherefore. On entering,
the familiar face of our young piano merchant, Mr.
Crane, beamed upon us wreathed in smiles as heask-
ed how we liked his new place. Thinking to learn
before venturing an opinion we were escorted over
the building. There are three floors, the lower one
Mr. Crane will use for boxing, repairing, &c, the
next floor has one of the finest assortments of pianos,
and organs we have ever seen in Pottsville. There
were half a dozen makers all represented in different
styles besides sheet music and small instruments.
The upper floor is not settled for exhibition yet, but
will be used for stools, piano covers, books &c. The
floor surface of Mr. Crane's new quarters covers al-
most 2,500 square feet. After our tour we were en-
tertained by selections on an elegant Crane upright
piano for half an hour and departed well pleased with
our call and proud of our new music store, which is
one of the largest in Eastern Pennsylvania outside of
Philadelphia.—Pottsville, Pa., Daily Republican.
C
HOW'S TRADE?
A conversation between two pianoforte manufact-
urers.
Manufacturer No. 1.—"How's trade—are you busy?'
Manufacturer No. 2. Busy ! Well, I should say so.
We are running night and day—faside)— to get a note
discounted.—Frevmd's Music and Drama.
THE MOLLER ORGANS.
Builders and Manufacturers of Pipe arid Reed Organs.
We make a specialty of the following described G R A N D T W O MANUAL P E D A L P I P E O R G A N S .
Built after our improved plan. Fatented June 1st, 188fi. This organ can be sniped any distance and put in place by
any experienced person, which enables it to be handled as conveniently as a piano by dealers.
DESCRIPTION.
GREAT ORGAN MANUAL.
1.—8 foot pitch Open Diapason, - Bl
Dulciana,
a— 8
01
Melodia, -
3—8
61
Principal, -
4—4
7 . - 8 foot pitch Unison Bags,
-
17 Pipes.
8—4 "
" Rohr Flote, -
- 61 "
9.—16 "
" Pedal Bourdon Stop, 27 "
MECHANICAL REGISTER.
10.—Coupler Great O r g a n b y O c t a v e s .
ll._
'•
••
"
•• P e d a l .
SWELL ORGAN.
1-4
"
Swell
13—
"
"
"
" Great.
5 . - 8 foot pitch Stopped Diapason, 37 Pipes.
14 B e l l o w s S i g n a l .
G—8 "
" Selitional,
-
- 31
We guarantee this organ in volume, sweetness of tone, perfect in action and durability, to any organ built after
same schemw. Full descriptions and testimonials from some of the best judges in the United States, free upon appli-
cation. We also build the LARGE a, 3 a n d 4 MANUAL STATIONARY CHURCH AND CONCERT
ORGANS, with all the modern improvements. Our R E E D ORGANS are of elegant design, and contain many
valuable improvements.
.A-d-d-x-ess 3VC. IF*. M O L L E B OJElGrJ^JST CO-, H a g e r s t o ^ r n , ILEcL-
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