Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Profit on Pianos.
lists of many makers consequently had to
be altered. If the public conceived a notion
that they were entitled to still larger dis-
counts, still more harm might arise.—Music
Trades Reviezu, London.
U
NDER the heading of "The Profit on
Pianos," the Westminster Gazette of
one day last month had a sensational report
of a case heard at the Shoreditch County-
Court, in which a pianoforte manufacturer
or agent of London sued a musical instru-
ment dealer of Cardiff for 14/. io.v. for a
piano supplied. It was alleged by defend-
ant that the plaintiff called upon him and
told him that this 14/. 10s. piano was an in-
strument to sell at 30 guineas. The ques-
tion ir> dispute was whether the piano came
up to the -warranty, and the Judge gave a
verdict for the defendant. Upon this part
of the case, however,, we do not propose to
comment; but as it has seamed to some of
our contemporaries, that a 30-jfuinea piano
can usually be bought fot 14/. \os., it is de-
sirable to put the matter right-. That some-
sort of instrument can be made for r+l. 10s.
is beyond question, and it is usually intend-
ed for the outside dealer or the auction
room. But that substantial pianos can be
produced to sell at a discount of something
like 60 per cent., is, of course, known to be
absurd to every member of the trade.
There is no such discount upon, at any rate,
the first-class, or even the medium grade
instrument, and the trade will devoutly
wish there were. But the general public,
already far too well accustomed to exces-
sive discounts in the musical instrument as
well as in other trades, will, unless the truth
be insisted upon, probably run away with
the idea that a profit of over 100 per cent,
is an ordinary thing, and will demand
larger discounts than ever. A good deal of
harm was done when the stores began to
offer 25 per cent, discounts, and the retail
of those brilliant young artists, the two
instruments responded to their every im-
pulse—now forte, now pianissimo—always
accurate and sweet-toned. It was the gen-
eral comment of the audience present at the
two performances that never in the history
of
the Peabody Conservatory had such ex-
David H. Schmidt.
quisite piano music been heard within its
AVID H. SCHMIDT, piano hammer walls. The two Steinway Grands flooded
coverer, who will move to his new the hall with a melody rich, brilliant,
factory at 163d street, next month, has sympathetic and noble. It was a great tri-
made arrangements to place therein twelve umph for the Misses Sutro; it was a great
new hammer covering machines. This will triumph for the Stein ways, for they afford-
make sixty-eight machines in all which he ed the audience the opportunity of hearing
will have in his new factory. He has also and appreciating a perfect interpretation on
purchased a boring and wiring machine two perfect instruments.—Sunday Ameri-
for hammer heads, and another for making can (Baltimore).
felt damper wedges. In his new quarters
Mr. Schmidt will be able to cope with his
The Old, Old Story.
rapidly growing business.
merchant bent on economizing,
Decided to cut off his advertising.
The Pianos and the Players.
D
A
B
RILLIANCY of execution, delicate
phrasing" and sympathetic touch on the
part of a pianist, when the instrument is
not equal to the talent of the artist, is worse
than wasting fragrance on the desert air—
it is melody marred in the making. Only
w T hen player and instrument are in accord
can the soul of genius find perfect expres-
sion. At the Peabody Symphony Concerts
Friday afternoon and Saturday night, the
keenest pleasure was experienced during
the ensemble playing of Misses Rose and
Ottilie Sutro, caused by the perfect manner
with which the two magnificent Steinway
Grand pianos responded to their perfect
skill. Every note was true to their touch;
every bar precise and pronounced. Like
liquid melody flowing from the finger-tips
" I t costs me three thousand a year," he
said,
"And I'll come out just that much ahead. "
His " ad " appeared in the papers no more;
His customers went to an "advertised"
store.
His business unheard of, ran steadily down,
And now there is one merchant less in the
town.
THF. Choratone is the name of an unique
device for playing the guitar automatically,
which will be put on the market by a West-
ern concern in a short time. The device is
placed over the strings at the neck of the
guitar and any individual destitute of a
knowledge of music can play the most dif-
ficult compositions with ease.
Gain Knowledge
Of the u innards " of a piano by a little reading. You may have
been a dealer for many years, you may Have been a tuner for a
like period, you may have played a little—maybe more; but is
it not well to get a little more practical knowledge?
Some-
thing to bank on—an authority on all matters relating to tun-
ing, repairing, toning and regulating, scientific instructions—
everything? 'Written by that eminent authority, Daniel Spillane.
The cost is only a trifle—a dollar.
The book is illustrated,
cloth bound, over a hundred pages. It is called " T h e Piano."
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
PUBLISHER,
3 East 14U1 Street^ New York.